The present invention refers to an inventive solution in interchangeable system of cylinder combination with embedded key in door lock of automobile vehicle, equipped with free-turning anti-theft device and its field of application is the automobile industry, which uses the celebrated “systemic assembly” technique, where the suppliers of countless items of the vehicle supply the mounted item to the assembler (be it a device, mechanism, electricelectronic systems, and the like).
In order to provide veracity to the context referred to in the introduction, there follows a brief explanation of the state of the art for automobile vehicle door locks with embedded free-turning anti-theft device, wherein a person skilled in the art will be able to recognize its limitative aspects, and then later discuss the advantages brought by introducing the unprecedented interchangeable system.
Concept of automobile vehicle door lock equipped with free-turning anti-theft device: the lock is fixed on the outer panel of the automobile vehicle side door or trunk lid, and its function is to execute the locking/unlocking in the look, where the free-turning anti-theft system is applied with desmodromic key, the constructive concept of which is based on the following components:
a. Normal working condition: when the correct key is inserted into the lid, all the gorges inside the cylinder are withdrawn and this cylinder can move in relation to its intermediary shell. When the cylinder moves, movement is transmitted to the actuator component and consequently to the lever.
b. Theft working condition: when an incorrect key is inserted or an attempt is made to break in, the gorges are not withdrawn, and there is retention between cylinder, gorges and intermediary shell. This retention causes the lock to be withdrawn and lets the combination of cylinder components, gorges, inner shell and actuator turn freely around the outer shell. Under theft conditions, when applying a torque of 1.5N·m, the system turns freely and the lock is not driven to unlock the doors or trunk lid. As the actuator does not generate movement for the lever, the center of the pin that drives the lever in the actuator is on the same shaft as the outer and intermediary shell, creating free turns, rendering the radial course movement of the lever unfeasible. If there is a theft condition where the components do not deteriorate, the lock will function normally when the correct key is inserted into the combination.
A survey of the state of the art reveals that the concept disclosed above is widely known. For a better understanding of this condition, it is pertinent to cite Brazilian utility model patent MU 7402472-8, entitled “ADJUSTABLE ROTOR LOCK”, originally filed in France on May 18, 1994, revealing a lock equipped with a gyratory rotor in the intermediary stator, itself being pivoting on a fixed body, equipped with locking organs (gorges) with the rotor and the intermediary stator to join them in rotation in the absence of a key, or in the presence of a non-conforming key, and to release the rotor after introducing a conforming key, and of the kind that has an index organ of the intermediary stator with respect to the fixed body carried out in the form of an arm disposed in a lengthways accommodation formed in the peripheral wall of the intermediary stator, characterized wherein the indexing arm is carried out in the form of a beam extending lengthways normally to occupy an indexing position and which can be elastically flexed to occupy a hidden position.
Critical analysis of the solutions in automobile vehicle door locks equipped with a free-turning anti-theft device: an in-depth study of this kind of solution for door locks and trunk lids, allows the affirmation that although it fulfills its primary objective, namely to prevent thieves from unlocking the door, it is possible to identify a series of design restriction aspects that lead to the generation of demand for the invention previously described in the introduction, where it is a consensus among technical experts in the field that the constructive concept embedded in this kind of solution makes it mandatory to assembly the entire combination, that is, the assembler receives the complete lock part with the cylinder and key already mounted on the body of the free-turning anti-theft device.
The above condition prevents the preliminarily identified demand from being met, this being the separate supply of the cylinder combination with key, thus truncating a contemporary and mandatory condition which seeks to meet the demands of the market and industrial logistics.
Notably in the division of safety systems is the interchangeable system for cylinder combination with key claimed, notably in the group of products spearheaded by the door and/or trunk lock product, and even more specifically its distinctive characteristics are consolidated when applied to locks equipped with the celebrated free-turning anti-theft system.
The unprecedented interchangeable system of cylinder combination with key was idealized firstly bearing in mind the point of view wherein the client is the end consumer. In this condition, there is an explicit contemporary need for the automobile market to offer automobile vehicles that have great flexibility in the assembly of different items of the automobile vehicle, the fruit of the individualized specification generated by the consumers themselves.
In turn, when this same automobile industry is geared towards logistic aspects of assembly, costs, planning and production control, it needs to guarantee that its assembly line is as flexible as possible, with a large quantity of different items to be assembled, wherein said same items have differences in detail, rendering the logistical aspects of assembly even more critical as each vehicle has minor differences in specification.
Faced with the demand identified above of a marketing and industrial logistics nature, for the present invention the elected product, technically called “lock equipped with a free-turning anti-theft device” is applied to the structural model of doors and trunk lids of an automobile vehicle, wherein it should comprise the possibility for the assembler to opt for the assembly of all kinds of cylinders with keys, jointly with the free-turning anti-theft mechanism itself, whereby guaranteeing the mandatory flexibility in assembling the lock product for side doors and trunks with the most varied specifications, be they related to market or engineering.
Having defined the demand and paradigm for developing the invention, the applicant idealized the unprecedented interchangeable system of the cylinder combination with keys, wherein this cylinder is equipped with an unprecedented lock that guarantees the assembly and fixing to the receptacle of the intermediary shell component, and at its rear part it receives the modification in the sense that it is projected with fit-in and guide protrusions, which will be duly mounted on the unprecedented cylinder terminal component, which is nothing more than the reproduction of the rear part of the conventional cylinder, mounted preliminarily inside the outer shell.
From the point of view of the auto-parts industry, the design of the unprecedented interchangeable system of cylinder with key comprises the lock device which bears the celebrated industrial concept called “poka yoke” in the assembly of the cylinder.
Analogously, from an assembler's perspective, the assembly of the cylinder combination with key to the outer shell component also comprises the aforementioned industrial concept called “poka yoke”.
Further within the scope of the unprecedented condition of interchangeable assembly for all kinds of cylinder combinations with key, the applicant emphasizes the facility of the assembly procedure which converges excellence in quality and productivity.
Therefore, it is conclusive that the combination formed by the three “cylinder”+“lock”+“cylinder terminal” components can be understood as part of an object of practical use, translated by an automotive vehicle door lock equipped with free-turning anti-theft device, being susceptible of industrial application, guaranteeing improved productivity and assembly flexibility, with consequent gains in industrial logistics and marketing, meeting patentability requirements.
To complement the present description and to provide a better understanding of the characteristics of the present invention application, appended hereto is a set of drawings, where in an exemplary manner, though not limitative, there is a depiction of a preferred embodiment for the door lock of an automobile vehicle formed by the unprecedented cylinder with keys and free-turning anti-theft subcombination.
In light of that set forth in the background of the art, the applicant idealized an “interchangeable system of the cylinder combination with embedded key in door lock (side/trunk) equipped with automobile vehicle free-turning anti-theft device”, the distinctive characteristic of which lies in providing said lock with two distinct combinations, namely:
1. a cylinder with key subcombination;
2. a free-turning anti-theft subcombination.
Inventive activity: in unprecedented fashion, the cylinder combination with key is mounted on the free-turning anti-theft assembly when the automobile vehicle is assembled, in detriment to the unique cylinder with key combination and its free-turning anti-theft device, which is characteristic of the systemist concept, the practical result of which provides advantages of a marketing and industrial logistics nature chiefly for the assembler.
Distinctive characteristic: bearing in mind the technological base that supports the door and trunk lock equipped with free-turning anti-theft device described in the background of the art, and to meet the requirement of inventive activity above, there is presented an inventive solution that reveals for the cylinder with key subcombination, a unique cylinder, the rear part of which is truncated and equipped with protrusions that fit into the new cylinder terminal component, which is mounted on the rear part of the intermediary shell.
In turn, to guarantee the assembly and locking of the cylinder with key subcombination on the free-turning anti-theft subcombination, the cylinder presents a second unique factor, which lies in providing an additional accommodation for the lock, wherein said lock is designed to follow a profile arrangement similar to the profile of the gorges elements, which however do not have the same function, this being exclusively a lock, which in turn has a locking face that passes through the extra slit defined on the rear part of the cylinder, when free from interference from the inner wall of the intermediary shell, and withdrawn adjacently to this slit when the inner wall interferes with this same shell, during the assembly procedure, where to guarantee the return movement to its original position, that is with a protruding face in relation to the extra slit, there is defined a helical spring. Lastly, this lock is designed such that its assembly and stabilization inside the cylinder is guaranteed by its support with the linear lock element, it is used to lock the conventional gorges.
Within the scope of the assembly process of the cylinder with key subcombination, it is supported by the celebrated ‘click’ type system, where the face of the lock embedded in the cylinder, as soon as it is free from interference from the inner wall of the intermediary shell, describes lifting movement in relation to the extra slit of the cylinder, returning to its original position, thereafter to interfere with the rear edge of this intermediary shell, thus preventing the cylinder with key subcombination from being disassembled.
The detailed description should be read and interpreted with reference to the drawings presented herein, where these are highly diagrammatic, representing a preferred embodiment of the interchangeable system of cylinder combination with embedded key in door lock (side/trunk) equipped with free-turning anti-theft device of automobile vehicle and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is only limited by that set forth in the set of claims.
Technological basis: the applicant understands that it is appropriate to present a generic form of embodiment considered standard for the automobile vehicle door lock part equipped with free-turning anti-theft device, the constructive concept of which is formed by the component parts set forth in
a. Cylinder with key subcombination (S1): as revealed in
In turn, this lock (12) is designed to follow a profile arrangement similar to the profile of the gorges elements (3e), and there is defined a locking face (12d) that passes through the extra slit (3c) defined on the rear part of the cylinder (3), when free of interference from the inner wall of the intermediary shell (5), and withdrawn adjacently to this slit (3c) when the inner wall interferes with this same intermediary shell (5), during the assembly procedure, where to guarantee the return movement to its original position, that is with the locking face (12d) protruding in relation to the slit extra (3c), there is defined a helical spring (13) disposed in vertical position, where to guarantee the stability of the assembly of the combination of spring (13)+lock (12) on the side part of the body (12a) of this lock (12) a side protrusion (12c) said protrusion providing rest for the lower end of this spring (13) which in turn has its upper end limited by the upper wall of the inner cavity of the cylinder (3), as revealed in detail in
b. Free-turning anti-theft combination (S2): such as revealed through
1. Assembly of the cylinder terminal component (4): preliminarily the assembler receives the free-turning anti-theft subcombination (S2) duly assembled, with the cylinder terminal component (4) mounted on the bottom of the intermediary cylinder (5), where the helical spring (6) is mounted on its cylinder body (4c) and the side protrusion (4d) is also mounted on the actuator pin component (9),
2. Assembly of the cylinder with key subcombination (S1) on the free-turning anti-theft subcombination (S2): is described by the movement of introducing the cylinder (3) inside the intermediary shell (5), see
Next, the protrusions (3d) disposed on the rear part of the cylinder (3) are coupled to the chapels (4b), guaranteeing a perfect fit between the two subcombinations, as revealed in
3. Consolidation of the assembly: lastly, to consolidate the assembly, the assembler slides the cylinder with key subcombination (S1) to the bottom of the intermediary shell (5), whereupon at the end of this movement, the rear slit (3c) reaches the point of alignment with the edge region (5a) of this shell (5), wherein this condition means there no longer exists the compression of the locking face (12d) with its inner wall, and thus the lock (12) is free, returning to its original position thanks to the tensioning effect of the spring (13). Accordingly, when the locking face (12d) returns to the outside of the rear slit (3c) the cylinder with key subcombination (S1) is locked with the free-turning anti-theft subcombination (S2): by means of interference of this locking face (12d) with the edge (5a) of the intermediary shell (5), see
The preferred embodiment described above for the cylinder with key subcombination (S1) and the free-turning anti-theft subcombination (S2) is only provided as an example. Alterations, modifications and variations can be introduced for particular embodiments by those skilled in the art without straying from the scope of the patent, which is exclusively defined by the claims appended hereto.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1004246-6 | Aug 2010 | BR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/BR2011/000282 | 8/15/2011 | WO | 00 | 10/7/2013 |