Patent Application
20100300162
Remote vehicle locking systems are well known and various such systems are currently in use at this time. However, many of the systems consist of multiple, complex, components which are integrated into their respective vehicles. As a result, these systems represent expensive options, especially when purchased from the vehicle manufacturer. Moreover, the systems are generally designed to lock and unlock passenger doors on vehicles. They are usually not adapted for commercial vehicle security. Significantly, there are no commercially, economically installed, viable systems which are operable on work trucks having a plurality of storage compartments. It is important that such storage compartments be locked, especially at jobsites, to protect their contents from theft. Valuable tools and other property are often stolen, when one or more compartment doors are inadvertently left unlocked. In addition, given that some trucks have many compartments, each with lockable compartment doors, it is sometimes impractical and often inconvenient to manually lock all doors or use separate remotes to lock individual doors. As to those trucks which do not have remote locks, there is currently no practical means to retro-fit these vehicles so that their multiple compartment doors can be quickly, easily and remotely locked.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a remote control cam locking system which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of previous remote locking systems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control cam locking system which will lock and unlock one or multiple compartments in the same vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a remote control cam locking system which has relatively few working components and so is easily and economically manufactured.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a remote control cam locking system which can be installed both as original equipment on vehicles and as a retrofit on existing vehicles which do not have a remote control locking capability.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a remote control cam locking system which can readily and easily lock and unlock the doors of multiple compartments in a vehicle with the touch of a single button on one remote control.
These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a remote control locking system which employs a remote transmitter to send a signal to a message control module/signal receiver. This signal is ultimately forwarded to a cam control unit which positions a cam member to lock and unlock a door, using an internal latching system. The cam control unit has a motor which, through appropriate gear mechanism, rotates a drive shaft to control the position of the cam member for locking and unlocking the door. The message control module/receiver, cam control unit, and attendant components can be self-contained units, each unit configured for use on individual cam controlled doors. The system can be installed as original equipment on vehicles, but also is readily adaptable to retrofitting existing vehicles which do not have remote locking capability. The system is most beneficially provided for use on trucks and similar work vehicles with multiple compartments and their respective doors, which need to be locked and locked quickly to protect property within the compartments.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As seen in
Locking of door 2 is determined by the position of cam 14. With door 2 latched closed, and arm 18 slid down within cover 20, stop element 22 is in its lowered position, just over the cover. By positioning cam 14 perpendicular or adjacent to stop element 22, as shown in ghost depiction 14a in
The cam locking system as described, can be locked and unlocked in situ, using key 30, by manual insertion of the key into lock 8 and rotating cam 14 to its locked and unlocked positions. However, the system is specifically designed for remote operation. A commonly used remote transmitter 32 is used to send a signal to message control module/signal receiver 34, which in turn forwards the appropriate directional signals to relays 36 and 38. The relays energize cam control unit 40, which serves to rotate cam 14 in two directions, from lock to unlock to lock positions. Signals from relay 36 serve to rotate cam 14 clockwise and signals from relay 38 rotate the cam counterclockwise. As described previously, the different positions of cam 14, as seen in
Cam control unit 40, shown in detail in
Drive shaft 46 is connected to cam 14 by u-shaped connector element 62. Element 62 comprises leg members 64 and 66 at one end which straddle cam 14 and they are connected to the cam by tack welding or equivalent means. The other end of element 62 has attachment section 68, threadably connected at 70 to drive shaft 46.
Thus, when the lock or unlock signal is sent from remote transmitter 32, the appropriate signals are received and transmitted by means of the receiver/relay system described herein. Motor 44 is powered and drives gearing 48, 50, and 52, to rotate drive shaft 46. Connector element 62 in turn rotates cam in the designated directions, either adjacent to stop element 22 to the door lock position, or away from the stop element to the door unlock position.
The cam locking system of the present invention can advantageously be employed on multiple door locks on a single vehicle. For instance, many work trucks have a number of different compartments, each with their own door, handle and lock. With one press of a button on the remote transmitter, all door compartments can be locked and unlocked, thereby ensuring for the safety of valuable tools and other property within the compartments. To accomplish this, a cam control unit 40, connector element 62, cam 14, and cam support 12 would simply be installed as a unit directly over each handle assembly 4, inside each compartment door. This installation could come as original equipment from the vehicle manufacturer, or be retro-fitted on doors of existing vehicles. Mounting supports 60 are configured to easily mount cam control unit 40 on such vehicles. Moreover, the various electrical components of the system and wiring can easily be run through the vehicle and the vehicle's battery can supply the periodic, minimal electric current required.
Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
