AU717567B2 - A security device - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

S. Name of Applicant: ROBERT DOSCII (AUS AA T. LD.

A.C.N. 004 315 628 Cnr. Centre McNaughton Roads Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia Actual Inventor(s): 6,eo <r M del Creek, Jery Ro.a M 1 e LUtke Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Invention Title: A Security Device Details of Associated Provisional Application No.: PN0321/94 Filed 23 December, 1995 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1- -2- A SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to a security device.

More particularly, the invention relates to a security device which can be used to prevent unauthorised tampering with a lock. It is particularly but not exclusively suitable for use in the ignition system of a vehicle.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel security device which is located at least in part within a housing and if there is any unauthorised tampering with the housing the security device changes its state so that it can no longer be used to unlock the system.

According to the present invention there is provided a security device comprising •a housing, shaft assembly located generally within the housing, coupling means for coupling the shaft assembly between lock means and switch means located within the •housing, the arrangement being such that in normal operation the lock means moves the 20 shaft assembly to activate the switch means and wherein the shaft assembly includes 0000 first and second shaft portions which, on tampering with the housing, switch means or lock means move relative to one another from an operative position to an inoperative position such that the operation of the lock means cannot activate the switch means to S an operable state.

S Where the security device is used in a vehicle ignition switch system, the lock means comprises an ignition key lock which is coupled by the coupling means to the •o.*shaft assembly. Turning the ignition key rotates the shaft assembly and this closes •contacts or the like of the ignition switch means located within the housing. If there has *0 been a tampering with the housing, or with the ignition key lock or with the ignition switch means, the first and second portions of the shaft assembly are caused to move relative to one another whereby the shaft assembly does not function in the normal way.

951222,pApxfgcp,0321.cap,2 -3- In one arrangement, the shaft assembly carries a vane which is coupled electrically to a circuit which provides an electrical interlock with the vehicle security system. T'hat is to say, both the ignition key and the electrical interlock must be correct in order for the ignition to be properly activated. If there is tampering, the movement of the shaft portions causes movement of the vane to a position where it is no longer properly coupled to the electric circuit. The coupling between the vane and the circuit may be optical and/or electrical.

In one arrangement the electric circuit includes optical elements and the vane is normally held in close proximity to the optical elements so as to provide reflected signals. When tampering occurs, the vane moves away so that the appropriate reflected signals are not received by the optical elements. T'he vane is difficult to access because it is located within the housing so that once tampering has caused disabling movement of the shaft means, it is very difficult to render the system operative again.

0 0The invention also provides an ignition switch lock assembly comprising an ignition key lock, an ignition switch, a shaft assembly for coupling the lock to the switch characterised in that the shaft assembly is expansible, the arrangement being such that if there is tampering with the key lock or switch, the shaft assembly changes its 20 length so as to render the ignition switch inoperable.

/The invention will now be further described )with reference to the accompanying 0drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a security device of the invention; Figure 2 is a more detailed sectional view of an outer shaft portion of the device; 0 Figure 3 is a side view of part of the shaft assembly; Figure 4 is an end view of the outer shaft; a Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6; Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line 7-7; Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8; Figure 9 is a side view of the inner shaft portion; 951222,p:\oper\gcp,0321.cap3 -4- Figure 10 is another side view of the inner shaft portion; Figure 11 is a sectional view along the line 11-11; Figure 12 is an exploded view of an ignition lock assembly which includes the security device of the invention; Figure 13 shows the assembled ignition lock assembly; Figure 14 is an end view of a preferred form of vane; Figure 15 is a sectional view through the vane; Figure 16 shows the ignition lock with the shaft assembly expanded; Figure 17 is a fragmentary view of interlocking ports of the assembly during 10 assembly; Figure 18 shows an exploded view of a modified security device; Figure 19 shows the modified security device assembled; Figure 20 is a side view of the inner shaft; Figure 21 is another side view of the inner shaft; 15 Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view along the line 22-22; :Figure 23 is a side view of the outer shaft portion; Figure 24 is a longitudinal section through the outer shaft portion; Figure 25 is an axial view of one end of the outer shaft portion; S"Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view along the line 26-26; 20 Figure 27 is an axial view of the other end of the outer shaft portion; Figure 28 is a more detailed view of the bore of the outer shaft portion; Figure 29 is an end view of the vane; Figure 30 is a cross-sectional view through the vane; Figure 31 is a perspective view of the switch housing; Figure 32 is a side view of the switch housing; Figure 33 is a sectional view along the line 33-33; and Figure 34 shows an assembled ignition lock assembly incorporating the modified security device of Figures 19-33.

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically a security device 2 having a shaft assembly 4 incorporated therein, in accordance with the invention. The ignition lock includes a housing 6 including a switch housing portion 8 and an outer housing 10. The outer 951222,p:\opea'gcp,0321.cap,4 housing 10 is closed by means of an end cap 12. The end cap 12 is normally permanently connected to the outer housing 10 so that the components within the outer housing 10 cannot normally be tampered with.

The shaft assembly 4 has an outer end 14 which projects through a bore in the end cap 12. The outer end 14 includes a socket 16 which is coupled to the output shaft 17 of an ignition key lock 19, as diagrammatically shown in Figures 12 and 13. The shaft assembly includes an inner shaft member 18 which projects into the switch housing 8 and cooperates with a socket 21 of a rotary switch assembly 23. When the 10 user of the vehicle inserts a key in the ignition lock and turns it the shaft assembly 4 is rotated. Provided the correct response is received from an electric circuit 20, the *vehicle's ignition can be operated in the usual way. If, however, there has been an attempt to tamper with the ignition lock 19, the switch assembly 23 or the housing 6, the circuit 20 will no longer produce the correct signals and the vehicle's ignition will 15 not be activated, as will be described in more detail below.

The circuit 20 includes photoelectric elements 24 and 26. The shaft assembly 4 includes a reflecting vane 28 which is normally held in proximity to the elements 24 and 26 so as to reflect light from the sources to the detectors of the elements. If there 20 has been tampering, the vane 28 is no longer held in this correct position relative to the elements 24 and 26 so that the correct signals are not reflected back to the detectors.

The circuit 20 functions in the same way as the circuit disclosed in co-pending Australian Patent Application No. PL5159/92 and the content of that specification is incorporated herein by reference.

The shaft assembly 4 includes an outer shaft 30 and an inner shaft 32, the inner shaft being slidably received within the outer shaft. The outer shaft 30 includes at one end the socket 16 which is coupled to the ignition key lock and, at its other end, includes a stepped recess 33. The inner shaft 32 has an intermediate portion which is of complementary shape to the stepped recess 33 so that it can slide axially therein but cannot rotate therein. A compression spring 36 acts between the inner end of the recess 33 and the inner end of the shaft 32. More particularly, the inner end of the shaft 32 951222,pA\opi~gcp,0321ap5 -6includes a rounded projection 38 which cooperates with the end of the spring 36 so as to keep the spring axially aligned. The compression spring 36 tends to bias the inner shaft 32 away from the outer shaft 30. The shaft assembly 4 is capable of both axial and rotational movement relative to the housing. The inner shaft 32 includes a bushing 22 which forms a bearing with a bore 123 in a partition wall 25 between the switch housing portion 8 and the outer housing 10. The inner shaft and outer shaft are kept in their operative positions by means of reaction forces provided by a socket 21 of a rotary switch assembly 23 and a shaft 17 of ignition key lock 19 which are coupled in use to cooperate with the inner shaft member 18 and socket 16 respectively, as 10 diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 12 and 13.

The vane 28 is held in its correct operative position on the shaft assembly 4 by means of a vane biasing spring 40 which acts between a collar 42 integrally formed on the end of the outer shaft 30 and a hub portion 44 of the vane 28. In Figures 1 and 16, 15 the spring 40 is shown as being conical in shape but it is to be understood that it could comprise a compression spring which is of uniform diameter. Movement of the vane 28 under the influence of the spring 40 is prevented by means of a steel ball 46 which is located in part within a bore 48 in the outer shaft portion 30. The ball 46 bears against the intermediate portion 34 of the inner shaft 32 but it projects from the outer 20 periphery of the outer shaft 30. In the preferred arrangement the hub portion 44 of the vane includes a recess 50 which receives the part of the ball 46 which projects from the bore 48. The vane 28 is thus held captive on the vane assembly at a predetermined distance from the collar 42. In normal use the vane 28 will be at a predetermined distance from the elements 24 and 26 to selectively reflect light back to the light detectors. The arrangement can be such that light must be reflected to one of but not both of the detectors of the elements 24 and 26. To achieve this function the vane is constructed as illustrated in Figures 14 and 15. It will be seen that the vane has a reflecting surface 52 having a gap 54 which would normally be centred adjacent to the elements 26 so that light is not reflected back to the detector thereof. If light is received by the detector, this is interpreted as an invalid condition and the circuit 20 (or other control circuitry coupled thereto) would not produce the ignition enabling response. The vane 28 includes keyways 56 which cooperate with projecting keys 58 on the outer shaft 951222.opefgcp,0321.ap6 -7so as to prevent rotation of the vane 28 when it is in its correct axial position on the assembly 4 (see Figure 3).

If the constraints on the end of the shaft assembly 4 are removed, such as by removal of the rotary switch assembly 23 or the ignition key lock 19, the inner shaft 32 will be moved axially relative to the outer shaft 30 under the influence of the spring 36.

Axial movement will continue until the point where the end of the inner shaft 32 becomes adjacent to the ball 46. When this occurs, the ball 46 will move into the stepped recess 33 within the outer shaft 30. The vane 28 is then free to move under the 10 influence of the vane biasing spring 40. When the vane 28 has moved, it will reach a point where it no longer reflects sufficient light to the elements 24 and 26. This will be interpreted as an invalid condition and the ignition will be disabled. Additionally the a.o. keyways 56 will disengage the keys 58 and therefore the vane 28 will be free to rotate *5*o on the outer shaft 30. Thus the correct alignment of the gap 54 in the reflecting surface 15 with the elements 24 and 26 will probably not be maintained.

In normal operation of the ignition key lock 19, the operator uses a key to rotate the shaft 17. This will cause a consequential rotation of the shaft assembly 4 because S" of the coupling to the socket 16. Further, the inner and outer shafts 32 and 34 cannot 20 rotate relative to one another because of the somewhat flattened shape of the bore 33 and the intermediate portion 34, as best seen from Figures 5 to 11. Rotation of the shaft assembly 4 causes consequential rotation of the rotary switch assembly 23 because the square end of the inner shaft member 18 is received within the socket 21 of the rotary switch assembly 23. Thus, the user can use the ignition key to operate the rotary switch assembly in the normal way. When, however, tampering occurs the reflecting vane 28 will be displaced, as described above and the ignition system is disabled. This disabling takes place whether or not the shaft assembly 4 is still capable of transmitting torque between the shaft 17 and rotary switch assembly 23. It would be possible of course to have an arrangement in which once the outer and inner shaft portions 30 and 32 had been separated from their operating positions, they were no longer capable of transmitting torque between them.

951=Fp:opa\cp,0321cap,7 -8- In the preferred form of the invention, the inner shaft 32 is provided with a curved recess 60 adjacent to its inner end which can accommodate the ball 46 so that it does not interfere with the spring 36, as shown in Figure 16. The recess 50 in the hub 44 of the vane 28 includes an inclined face 62 (see Figures 13 and 15) which normally engages the ball 46. When the inner shaft moves so that the recess 60 is beneath the bore 48, the ball 46 is forced downwardly by virtue of the inclined face 62 acting on the upper surface of the ball.

In illustrated embodiment, the shaft assembly 4 includes means for temporarily 10 holding the outer and inner shafts together to facilitate assembly. To accomplish this, the outer shaft 30 is provided with a pair of resilient fingers 64 which extend from mounting posts 66 projecting from the collar 42. The inner shaft 32 is provided with oo *a pair of hook members 68 which project from the intermediate portion 34. The hook members 68 interlock with the fingers as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 17. In S 15 this condition, the interengagement of the fingers 64 and hook members 68 temporarily holds the inner and outer shafts in a semi-compressed condition. In the final assembly, when the device of the invention is coupled to the ignition switch and the ignition key lock, further compression takes place and this causes disengagement of the fingers 64 with the hook members 68 so that in the final assembly these components will be S" 20 separated as shown in Figure 1. In the final assembly, the inner and outer shafts are constrained against relative movement by the switch assembly 23 and the ignition key lock 19. If one or both of these constraints are removed by tampering with the switch assembly 23 or the ignition key lock 19, disabling movement of the shafts will occur.

Figure 18 diagrammatically illustrates a modified security device 100 of the invention. In this embodiment the same reference numerals have been used to denote parts which correspond to those of the previous embodiment. Also in this drawing, the shaft assembly 4 has been omitted for clarity of illustration. This is the same as that of the previous embodiments. The main difference between the device 100 and the device 2 is that the two parts of the housing 8 and 10 which are integral in the first embodiment are separate in the second embodiment. The housing parts are preferably cast from zinc die cast material. The housing part 8 includes a rebated portion 102 9S1222,p\qpeegcp,032lUcap8 -9which is received within a socket of the housing part 10. A pair of pins 104 is inserted into respective aligned holes 106 and 108 so as to hold the two housing parts together.

The pins 104 are preferably formed from hardened steel so as to make the connection of the housing parts resistant to tampering. The housing part 8 includes a grommet recess 110 which in the completed assembly receives a grommet 112 applied to the lead wires 113 of the circuit 20. The slot 110 is formed in a projecting formation which includes longitudinally extending slots 114 which receive the side edges of a cover 116 which projects from the housing part 10. The cover 116 clamps against the grommet 112 so as to provide stress relief to the lead wires 113 of the circuit Figures 19 to 34 illustrate in more detail the modified security device 100. The security device 100 functions analogously to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 17 and therefore details of its mode of operation need not be described.

15 In the modified security device, the mechanism for restraining rotation of the vane 28 relative to the shaft assembly 4 is modified. More particularly, the keyways 56 and 58 are omitted. The inner bore 43 of the hub 44 of the vane is provided with an inwardly projecting boss 120 in which the recess 50 is formed, as shown in Figures 29 and 30. The boss 120 functions as a key which is received within a keyway 122 20 formed on the outer surface of the outer shaft 30, as shown in Figures 23, 24 and The keyway 122 can be regarded as a gap in a wider diameter portion 124 integrally formed with the outer shaft 30. The cooperating boss 120 and keyway 122 function in substantially the same manner as the cooperating keyways 56 and keys 58 so that the vane 28 will function in the correct way.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

951222p\opeA'gcp,0321.cap,9

Claims (22)

1. A security device comprising a housing, shaft assembly located generally within the housing, coupling means for coupling the shaft assembly between lock means and switch means located within the housing, the arrangement being such that in normal operation the lock means moves the shaft assembly to activate the switch means and wherein the shaft assembly includes first and second shaft portions which, on tampering with the housing, switch means or lock means move relative to one another from an ,g operative position to an inoperative position such that the operation of the lock means cannot activate the switch means to an operable state.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 including biasing means for biasing the first and second shaft portions away from one another. 15

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the lock means is coupled to the first shaft portion and the switch means is coupled to the second shaft portion such that the lock means and the switch means maintain the first and second shaft portions in their operative positions against the action of the biasing means. •20

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the first shaft portion includes a recess and the second shaft portion is slideably received therein and wherein the biasing means comprises a compression spring located in the recess and acting between said first and second shaft portions. 0 25

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the housing includes a switch chamber in which said switch means is located and a control chamber and wherein said shaft assembly passes through said control chamber.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the housing includes a partition separating said chambers and wherein the partition includes a bore which cooperates with a bushing provided on the second shaft member. 951222,p:\opet\gcp,0321.ap,10 11

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the switch chamber and control chamber are separate and are shaped to be coupled together in a manner which is resistant to separation.

8. A device as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7 including control means located in the control chamber, the control means being responsive to the positions of the first and second shaft portions.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the control means includes disabling 10 circuitry which operates to disable the switch means or override normal signals therefrom.

A device as claimed in claim 9 including a conditionable element which is mounted on the shaft assembly, said conditionable element being held in an operable 15 position when the first and second shaft portions are in their operative position and :'wherein the conditionable element moves to an inoperative portion when the first and second shaft portions are in their inoperative positions.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the conditionable element is slideably 20 mounted on the first shaft portion.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11 including a control spring which acts between the first shaft portion and the conditionable element and holding means operable to hold the conditionable element in its operative position.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the holding means includes a ball which is located in an opening in the first shaft portion and also engages both the second shaft portion and the conditionable member, the arrangement being such that when the first and second shaft portions move to their inoperative position the ball disengages the conditionable member which then moves under the influence of the control spring to its inoperative position. 95122ZPAoPei~gcP.0321 xc.1 1 12

14. A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the conditionable member is constrained against rotation on the shaft assembly when it is in its operative position but is free to rotate in its inoperative position.

15. A device as claimed in claim 10 to 14 wherein the disabling circuit includes sensors which are sensitive to whether or not the conditionable element is in its operative position.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein conditionable element includes a 10 reflecting surface and said sensors are sensitive to radiation reflected from said surface.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the reflecting surface is generally circular but having a gap therein and wherein at least one sensor is disposed adjacent to the gap so that it does not receive reflected radiation when the conditioning means 15 is in its operating position. 0** 9* 0

18. A device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said at least one sensor in use receives "reflected radiation from the reflecting surface when the conditionable element has moved to its inoperative position.

19. An ignition lock assembly comprising a security device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the switch means comprises a rotary ignition switch assembly and the lock means comprises a key operated lock assembly.

20. An ignition switch lock assembly comprising an ignition key lock, an ignition switch, a shaft assembly for coupling the lock to the switch characterised in that the shaft assembly is expansible, the arrangement being such that if there is tampering with the key lock or switch, the shaft assembly changes its length so as to render the ignition switch inoperable.

21. A security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 95l222popa'tgcp,0321xcap,12 13

22. An ignition lock assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. one. 0* S. S 0@ 0@ 0 *OSO @OSS 0 *000 C *00@ 0500 00 CS S S COOS SC *C C CO S CS CS C C CC C S S CS CC S CC OS DATED this 22nd day of December, 1995 15 ROBERT BOSCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE 951222,p\opot~gcp,0321.cap,13