AU2017202292B2 - Key cylinder device - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle key cylinder device (11) includes a LOCK position, an ON position, and an ACC position located between the LOCK position and the ON position. The vehicle key cylinder device (11) includes a user-operated member (10) rotatable about a rotary axis (Ax) to select one of the positions. A radial member (14) extends in a radial direction with respect to the rotary axis (Ax) . A guide groove (13) receives the radial member (14) . The guide groove (13) is shaped to set a movement route for the user operated member (10) so that the guide groove (13) cooperates with the radial member (14) in order for the user-operated member (10) to be rotatable about the rotary axis (Ax) and movable between a push-free position and a push position along the rotary axis (Ax) . An axial projection (17) is located in the guide groove (13) and projected along the rotary axis (Ax) from a location between the ON position and the ACC position. (Fig. 1D) 3141972vl 4cot CC) T1-J C-) co co co -J, m IT

Description

KEY CYLINDER DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a key cylinder device .

[0002] A key cylinder device includes a rotor that is rotated by a key, which is separate from the rotor, or a knob, which is formed integrally with the rotor. The rotor is rotated to rotational positions including an ST position that starts the engine or motor, an ON position that activates the ignition of the vehicle and allows the vehicle to travel, an ACC position that supplies accessories with power, and a LOCK position that deactivates the power supply of the vehicle and locks the steering wheel. The rotor is rotatable in a forward direction from the LOCK position to the ST position via the ACC position and the ON position.

The rotor is also rotatable in a reverse direction from the ST position to the LOCK position via the ON position and the ACC position.

[0003] Erroneous rotation of the key or knob from the ON position to the LOCK position is not desirable. Accordingly, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2014-202028 describes a key cylinder device including a two-step operation mechanism that is configured so that when the key or knob is located at the ACC position, the user has to push the key or knob in the axial direction to rotate the key or knob to the LOCK position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Even when a key cylinder device includes a two-step operation mechanism, if the user pushes the key or knob in the axial direction at the ON position and continues to do so when rotating the key or knob to the ACC position, the key or knob may be rotated to the LOCK position without temporarily stopping at the ACC position.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a key cylinder device that does not rotate to the LOCK position when the key or knob is pushed in the axial direction at the ON position.

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is a key cylinder device provided with a plurality of operational positions including at least an ON position that activates an ignition of a vehicle and a LOCK position that deactivates a power supply of the vehicle. The key cylinder device includes a rotor rotated by a key operated to select one of the operational positions, a lever sliding portion formed in the rotor, and a lever received in the lever sliding portion and moved relative to the lever sliding portion. The lever sliding portion is shaped to permit movement of the lever when the key is pushed at the ON position and restrict movement of the lever while the key is pushed at the ON position and the lever sliding portion receives rotation force directed from the ON position toward the LOCK position. [0007] With this structure, even when the user attempts to rotate the key toward the LOCK position while pushing the key in the axial direction at the ON position, the lever sliding portion prohibits movement of the lever that would result from the rotation of the key. Thus, when the key is pushed in the axial direction at the ON position, the key does not rotate to the LOCK position.

[0008] In some implementations of the first aspect of the present invention, the operational positions include an ACC position that supplies an accessory with power. The ACC position is located between the ON position and the LOCK position. The lever sliding portion contacts the lever between the ON position and the ACC position and restricts movement of the lever while the key is pushed at the ON position and the rotor receives rotation force from the key that is directed from the ON position toward the LOCK position .

[0009] With this structure, even when the user attempts to rotate the key toward the LOCK position while pushing the key in the axial direction at the ON position, the lever sliding portion prohibits movement of the lever, which would result from the rotation of the key, at an early stage.

[0010] In some implementations of the first aspect of the present invention, the lever sliding portion is shaped to permit movement of the lever when the rotor receives rotation force from the key that is directed from the ON position toward the ACC position without the key being pushed at the ON position. The lever sliding portion is shaped to permit movement of the lever while the key is pushed at the ACC position and the rotor receives rotation force from the key that is directed from the ACC position toward the LOCK position. The lever sliding portion is shaped to restrict movement of the lever when the rotor receives rotation force from the key that is directed from the ACC position toward the LOCK position without the key being pushed at the ON position .

[0011] With this structure, when the key is pushed in the axial direction at the ON position, the key cannot be rotated toward the ACC position. When the key is not pushed in the axial direction at the ON position, the key can be rotated to the ACC position but cannot be further rotated to the LOCK position. In any case, the key cannot be rotated to the LOCK position by an erroneous operation or an unintentional external force.

[0012] A second aspect of the present invention is a key cylinder device provided with a plurality of operational positions including at least an ON position that activates an ignition of a vehicle and a LOCK position that deactivates a power supply of the vehicle. The key cylinder device includes a knob that selects one of the operational positions, a rotor rotated in a rotor case when the knob is operated, a pin sliding portion formed in the rotor case, and a pin moved integrally with the knob or the rotor, wherein the pin is received in the pin sliding portion and moved in the pin sliding portion. The pin sliding portion of the rotor case is shaped to permit movement of the pin when the knob is pushed at the ON position and restrict movement of the pin while the knob is pushed at the ON position and the pin sliding portion receives rotation force directed from the ON position toward the LOCK position.

[0013] With this structure, even when the user attempts to rotate the knob toward the LOCK position while pushing the knob in the axial direction at the ON position, the lever sliding portion prohibits movement of the lever that would result from the rotation of the knob. Thus, when the knob is pushed in the axial direction at the ON position, the knob does not rotate to the LOCK position.

[0014] In some implementations of the second aspect of the present invention, the operational positions include an ACC position that supplies an accessory with power. The ACC position is located between the ON position and the LOCK position. The pin sliding portion of the rotor case contacts the pin between the ON position and the ACC position and restricts movement of the pin while the knob is pushed at the ON position and the knob receives rotation force that is directed from the ON position toward the LOCK position.

[0015] With this structure, even when the user attempts to rotate the knob toward the LOCK position while pushing the knob in the axial direction at the ON position, the lever sliding portion prohibits movement of the lever, which would result from the rotation of the knob, at an early stage.

[0016] In some implementations of the second aspect of the present invention, the pin sliding portion is shaped to permit movement of the pin when the knob receives rotation force that is directed from the ON position toward the ACC position without the knob being pushed at the ON position.

The pin sliding portion is shaped to permit movement of the pin while the knob is pushed at the ACC position and the knob receives rotation force that is directed from the ACC position toward the LOCK position. The pin sliding portion is shaped to restrict movement of the pin when the knob receives rotation force that is directed from the ACC position toward the LOCK position without the knob being pushed at the ON position.

[0017] With this structure, when the knob is pushed in the axial direction at the ON position, the knob cannot be rotated toward the ACC position. When the knob is not pushed in the axial direction at the ON position, the knob can be rotated to the ACC position but cannot be further rotated to the LOCK position. In any case, the knob cannot be rotated to the LOCK position by an erroneous operation or an unintentional external force.

[0018] Key cylinder devices according to some aspects of the present invention restrict rotation of the key or knob to the LOCK position when the key or knob is pushed in the axial direction at the ON position. Other aspects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate the examples of the technical ideas according to the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] Fig. 1A is a front view showing a key cylinder device of a first referential example at the LOCK position. [0020] Fig. IB is a front view showing the key cylinder device of the first referential example at the ACC position. [0021] Fig. 1C is a schematic diagram showing rotational positions in the key cylinder device of the first referential example .

[0022] Fig. ID is a schematic diagram showing rotational positions in a first embodiment of a key cylinder device. [0023] Fig. 2A is a front view showing a key cylinder device of a second referential example at the LOCK position. [0024] Fig. 2B is a front view showing the key cylinder device of the second referential example at the ACC position. [0025] Fig. 2C is a schematic diagram showing rotational positions in the key cylinder device of the second referential example.

[0026] Fig. 2D is a schematic diagram showing rotational positions in a second embodiment of a key cylinder device.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0027] A first embodiment of a key cylinder device will now be described. A user inserts a key into a key slot 30 and operates the key to shift a rotor 32 to one of a plurality of rotational positions. The key is separate from the key cylinder device. A first embodiment of a key cylinder device 11 will be compared with a key cylinder device 31 of a first referential example to describe the features of the first embodiment of the key cylinder device 11.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1A, the key cylinder device 31 of the first referential example includes the key slot 30 and the rotor 32. The user insets the key (not shown) into the key slot 30 from the right side as viewed in the drawing and operates the key to rotate the rotor 32 about a rotary axis Ax. The operation of the key includes insertion toward the left side as viewed in Figs. 1A and IB (insertion in axial direction) and rotation about the rotary axis Ax. The operation of the key rotates the rotor 32. The key cylinder device 31 further includes a lever 34. The lever 34 includes a distal portion that extends in the radial direction with respect to the rotary axis Ax. The distal portion of the lever 34 is received in a lever sliding portion 33, which may be a portion of the rotor 32. Operation of the key moves the lever 34 relative to the lever sliding portion 33. In the illustrated example, the lever sliding portion 33 of the rotor 32 is moved integrally with the key. This changes the position of the lever 34 relative to the lever sliding portion 33.

[0029] Fig. 1C shows the rotational positions (also referred to as the operational positions) of the key cylinder device 31. The rotational positions include an ST position that starts the engine or motor, an ON position that activates the ignition and allows the vehicle to travel, an ACC position that supplies accessories with power, and a LOCK position that deactivates the power supply of the vehicle and locks the steering wheel. The rotor is rotatable in a forward direction from the LOCK position to the ST position via the ACC position and the ON position. When the user rotates the key in the clockwise direction CW from the LOCK (FREE) position without pushing the key at the LOCK position, the lever 34 moves along a slope 35 of the lever sliding portion 33. This lifts the lever 34. A two-step operation wall 36 is located between the uppermost portion of the slope 35 and the ACC position. As the user further rotates the key, the lever 34 falls off from the uppermost portion of the slope 35 and reaches the ACC position. If the user further rotates the key, the lever 34 reaches the ST position via the ON position. When the user releases the key at the ST position, the lever 34 automatically returns to the ON position .

[0030] When the user rotates the key in the counterclockwise direction CCW from the ON position without pushing the key in the axial direction at the ON position (push-free position FREE), the key can be rotated to the ACC position. Referring to Fig. IB, the lever 34 contacts the two-step operation wall 36 at the ACC position. This restricts movement of the lever 34. Accordingly, the user cannot rotate the key in the counterclockwise direction CCW from the ACC position to the LOCK position unless the user pushes the key in the axial direction. The user pushes the key in the axial direction at the ACC position (push position PUSH) to rotate the key in the counterclockwise direction CCW from the ACC position to the LOCK position.

[0031] In the key cylinder device 31 of the first referential example shown in Figs. 1A to 1C, when the user pushes the key at the ON position (push position PUSH) and rotates the key in the counterclockwise direction CCW from the ON position, the key may be rotated to the LOCK position without temporarily stopping at the ACC position.

[0032] The inventors of the present invention have developed the first embodiment of the key cylinder device 11 shown in Fig. ID to avoid a situation in which the key is rotated from the ON position to the LOCK position without temporarily stopping at the ACC position. The key cylinder device 11 has the same structure as the key cylinder device 31 of the first referential example but differs in the shape of the lever sliding portion. The key cylinder device 11 includes a key slot 10, a rotor 12, and a lever 14 that respectively correspond to the key slot 30, the rotor 32, and the lever 34 of the key cylinder device 31.

[0033] The rotor 12 includes a lever sliding portion 13. The lever sliding portion 13 includes a slope 15 and a two-step operation wall 16 that respectively correspond to the slope 35 and the two-step operation wall 36 of the first referential example. The lever sliding portion 13 further includes a restriction wall 17. The restriction wall 17 is located between the ON position and the ACC position and is configured to restrict movement of the lever 14 while the key is pushed at the ON position and the restriction wall 17 receives rotation force in the counterclockwise direction CCW.

[0034] In this manner, the lever sliding portion 13 is shaped (patterned) to permit movement of the lever 14 when the key is rotated toward the ACC position without being pushed at the ON position. The lever sliding portion 13 is also shaped to permit movement of the lever 14 when the key is pushed at the ON position.

[0035] Further, the lever sliding portion 13 restricts movement of the lever 14 with the two-step operation wall 16 when the key is rotated toward the LOCK position without being pushed at the ACC position. The lever sliding portion 13 permits movement of the lever 14 resulting from rotation of the key when the key is pushed at the ACC position and rotated toward the LOCK position.

[0036] Additionally, the lever sliding portion 13 restricts movement of the lever 14 with the restriction wall 17 while the key is pushed at the ON position and rotated toward the LOCK position.

[0037] The first embodiment has the advantages described below.

[0038] (1) Referring to Fig. ID, when the user pushes the key at the ON position (push position PUSH) and attempts to rotate the key toward the LOCK position, the lever sliding portion 13 (restriction wall 17) restricts movement of the lever 14. Thus, when the key is pushed at the ON position, the key cannot be rotated to the LOCK position.

[0039] (2) When the user pushes the key at the ON position (push position PUSH) and attempts to rotate the key to the LOCK position, the restriction wall 17, which is located between the ON position and the ACC position, restricts movement of the lever 14 at an early stage. Thus, when the key is pushed at the ON position, the key cannot be rotated to the ACC position and does not reach the LOCK position. [0040] (3) When the user pushes the key at the ON position (push position PUSH), the key cannot be rotated toward the ACC position. When the user does not push the key at the ON position (push-free position FREE), the key can be rotated to the ACC position but cannot be further continuously rotated to the LOCK position. In any case, the key cannot be rotated to the LOCK position by an erroneous operation or an unintentional external force.

[0041] A second embodiment of a key cylinder device will now be described. The second embodiment of the key cylinder device differs from the key cylinder device of the first embodiment in that a knob, which is integrated with the rotor, is operated to rotate the rotor. A key, which is separate from the key cylinder device, is not used in the second embodiment. The user carries an electronic key, which is referred to as a SMART KEY (registered trademark). The electronic key allows the knob to be operated under the condition that the electronic key is located in the passenger compartment. Bidirectional communication is established between the vehicle and the electronic key to verify the electronic key. A second embodiment of a key cylinder device 21 will now be compared with a key cylinder device 41 of a second referential example to describe the features of the second embodiment of the key cylinder device 21.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 2A, the key cylinder device 41 of the second referential example includes a knob 42, a rotor 43, and a rotor case 45. The rotor 43 is formed integrally with or rotated integrally with the knob 42. The rotor case 45 covers the rotor 43. The operation of the knob 42 includes pushing toward the right side as viewed in Figs. 2A and 2B (pushing in axial direction) and rotation about the rotary axis Ax. The knob 42 or the rotor 43 includes a pin 44 extending in the radial direction with respect to the rotary axis Ax. The pin 44 is received in a pin sliding portion 46, which may be a portion of the rotor case 45. Operation of the knob 42 rotates the rotor 43, moves the pin 44 in the pin sliding portion 46, and switches the rotational positions (operational positions) of the key cylinder device 41. In the illustrated example, the knob 42 and the rotor 43 move integrally with the pin 44. This changes the positions of the pin 44 and the rotor case 45 relative to the pin sliding portion 46.

[0043] Referring to Fig. 2C, the rotational positions include the ST position, the ON position, the ACC position, and the LOCK position. When the user rotates the knob 42 in the clockwise direction CW from the LOCK position, the pin 44 moves in the pin sliding portion 46 of the rotor case 45 to the ACC position. When the user further rotates the knob 42 in the clockwise direction CW, the pin 44 moves to the ON position and then to the ST position. When the user releases the knob 42 at the ST position, the pin 44 automatically returns to the ON position.

[0044] When the user rotates the knob 42 in the counterclockwise direction CCW from the ON position without pushing the knob 42 in the axial direction at the ON position (push-free position FREE), the knob 42 can be rotated to the ACC position. Referring to Fig. 2B, the pin 44 contacts a two-step operation wall 47 of the rotor case 45 at the ACC position. This restricts movement of the pin 44.

Accordingly, the user cannot rotate the knob 42 in the counterclockwise direction CCW from the ACC position to the LOCK position unless the user pushes the knob 42 in the axial direction. The user pushes the knob 42 at the ACC position (push position PUSH) to rotate the knob 42 in the counterclockwise direction CCW from the ACC position to the LOCK position.

[0045] In the key cylinder device 41 of the second referential example shown in Figs. 2A to 2C, when the user pushes the knob 42 at the ON position (push position PUSH) and rotates the knob 42 in the counterclockwise direction CCW from the ON position, the knob 42 may be rotated to the LOCK position without temporarily stopping at the ACC position. [0046] The inventors of the present invention have developed the key cylinder device 21 of the second embodiment shown in Fig. 2D to avoid a situation in which the knob 42 is rotated from the ON position to the LOCK position without temporarily stopping at the ACC position. The key cylinder device 21 has the same structure as the key cylinder device 41 of the second referential example but differs in the shape of the pin sliding portion. The key cylinder device 21 includes a knob 22, a rotor 23, a pin 24, and a rotor case 25 that respectively correspond to the knob 42, the rotor 43, the pin 44, and the rotor case 45 of the key cylinder device 41. Operation of the knob 22 rotates the rotor 23 in the rotor case 25 and moves the pin 24 in the pin sliding portion 26 of the rotor case 25.

[0047] The pin sliding portion 26 of the rotor case 25 includes a two-step operation wall 27 that corresponds to the two-step operation wall 47 of the second referential example. The pin sliding portion 26 of the rotor case 25 further includes a restriction wall 28. The restriction wall 28 is located between the ON position and the ACC position and is configured to restrict movement of the pin 24 while the knob 42 is pushed at the ON position and the restriction wall 28 receives rotation force in the counterclockwise direction CCW.

[0048] In this manner, the pin sliding portion 26 is shaped (patterned) to permit movement of the pin 24 when the knob 22 is rotated toward the ACC position without being pushed at the ON position. The pin sliding portion 26 is also shaped to permit movement of the pin 24 when the knob 22 is pushed at the ON position.

[0049] Further, the pin sliding portion 26 restricts movement of the pin 24 with the two-step operation wall 27 when the knob 22 is rotated toward the LOCK position without being pushed at the ACC position. The pin sliding portion 26 permits movement of the pin 24 resulting from rotation of the knob 22 when the knob 22 is pushed at the ACC position and rotated toward the LOCK position.

[0050] Additionally, the pin sliding portion 26 restricts movement of the pin 24 with the restriction wall 28 while the knob 22 is pushed at the ON position and rotated toward the LOCK position.

[0051] The second embodiment has the advantages described below.

[0052] (4) Referring to Fig. 2D, when the user pushes the

knob 22 at the ON position (push position PUSH) and attempts to rotate the knob 22 toward the LOCK position, the pin sliding portion 26 (restriction wall 28) restricts movement of the pin 24. Thus, when the knob 22 is pushed at the ON position, the knob 22 cannot be rotated to the LOCK position. [0053] (5) When the user pushes the knob 22 at the ON position (push position PUSH) and attempts to rotate the knob 22 to the LOCK position, the restriction wall 28, which is located between the ON position and the ACC position, restricts movement of the pin 24 at an early stage. Thus, when the knob 22 is pushed at the ON position, the knob 22 cannot be rotated to the ACC position and does not reach the LOCK position.

[0054] (6) When the user pushes the knob 22 at the ON position (push position PUSH), the knob 22 cannot be rotated toward the ACC position. When the user does not push the knob 22 at the ON position (push-free position FREE), the knob 22 can be rotated to the ACC position but cannot be rotated to the LOCK position. In any case, the knob 42 cannot be rotated to the LOCK position by an erroneous operation or an unintentional external force.

[0055] The above embodiments may be modified as described below.

[0056] The lever sliding portion of the first embodiment and the pin sliding portion 26 of the second embodiment may be modified in accordance with the specification of the vehicle in which the corresponding key cylinder device is installed. For example, when applied to an automatic transmission (AT) vehicle, the key cylinder device may be modified to be applicable to a key interlock device that permits removal of the key only when the shift lever is located at the park (P) position.

[0057] The LOCK position, the ACC position, the ON position, and the ST position may be referred to as rotational positions in a vehicle key cylinder device. The key slot 10 and the knob 22 in the above embodiments may be referred to as user-operated members. The lever 14 and the pin 24 in the above embodiments may be referred to as radial members that extend in the radial direction with respect to the rotary axis Ax. The lever sliding portion 13 and the pin sliding portion 26 in the above embodiments each may be referred to as a guide groove that receives the radial member and is shaped to set a movement route for the user-operated member so that the guide groove cooperate with the radial member in order for the user-operated member to be rotatable about the rotary axis Ax and movable between a push-free position (FREE) and a push position (PUSH) along the rotary axis Ax.

[0058] The restriction walls 17 and 28 of the above embodiments each may be referred to as an axial projection of a vehicle key cylinder device, the axial projections being located in the guide groove and projected along the rotary axis Ax from a location between the ON position and the ACC position. In several examples, the axial projection (17; 28) restricts movement of the user-operated member (10; 22) from the push-free position (FREE) to the push position (PUSH) at the location between the ON position and the ACC position.

In several examples, the axial projection (17; 28) is shaped to locally narrow the guide groove (13; 26) in width at the location between the ON position and the ACC position. In several examples, the axial projection (17; 28) includes a distal end (17c; 28c) positioned at the location between the ON position and the ACC position. In several examples, the distal end (17c; 28c) of the axial projection (17; 28) may be a plane, such as a flat plane or a curved plane, positioned at the location between the ON position and the ACC position. [0059] In several examples, the axial projections (17; 28) include two stopper surfaces (17a, 17b; 28a, 28b) that are substantially parallel to the rotary axis. In several examples, the ends (17c; 28c) of the axial projection lie on end surfaces extending between the two stopper surfaces (17a, 17b; 28a, 28b).

[0060] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, one or more of the components may be omitted from the components described in the embodiments (or one or more aspects thereof). Further, components in different embodiments may be appropriately combined. The present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.

[0061] In this specification, the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprising" or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a system, method or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed.

[0062] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims (7)

1. A vehicle key cylinder device provided with a plurality of rotational positions that include a LOCK position, an ON position, and an ACC position located between the LOCK position and the ON position, the vehicle key cylinder device including: a user-operated member rotatable about a rotary axis to select one of the rotational positions; a radial member extending in a radial direction with respect to the rotary axis; a guide groove that receives the radial member, wherein the guide groove is shaped to set a movement route for the user-operated member so that the guide groove cooperates with the radial member in order for the user-operated member to be rotatable about the rotary axis and movable between a push-free position and a push position along the rotary axis; and an axial projection located in the guide groove and projected along the rotary axis from a location between the ON position and the ACC position, wherein the axial projection includes two stopper surfaces that are substantially parallel to the rotary axis.

2. The vehicle key cylinder device according to claim 1, wherein the axial projection restricts movement of the user-operated member from the push-free position to the push position at the location between the ON position and the ACC position.

3. The vehicle key cylinder device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the axial projection is shaped to locally narrow the guide groove in width at the location between the ON position and the ACC position.

4. The vehicle key cylinder device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the axial projection includes an end positioned at the location between the ON position and the ACC position.

5. The vehicle key cylinder device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the end of the axial projection lies on an end surface extending between the two stopper surfaces.

6. The vehicle key cylinder device according to claim 1, wherein the user-operated member includes a key slot, and the guide groove is included in a rotor that rotates integrally with the key slot.

7. The vehicle key cylinder device according to claim 1, wherein the user-operated member is a knob, and the guide groove is included in a rotor case that rotates integrally with the knob and covers the rotor case.