Lock Apparatus

The present invention relates to a lock system and a lock assembly of the type where the combination of the lock is determined by a substantially card-like code member which may be removed and/or substituted and where the lock is operated by a substantially card-like key member, equipped with a code adapted to the code of the code member. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention is suitable for use on automobiles.

The lock comprises a housing in which are arranged means which are activated by the code member and/or the key member. The present invention will now be described and discussed in conjunction with automobiles. It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention is not limited to such use.

Commonly, a lock system for automobiles comprises lock(s) for the doors and/or the trunk. Further, the system incorporates an ignition lock and a lock for the steering wheel. For lock systems of this type, a system is required wherein the various locks may be operated by a single key or by a limited number of different keys. Further, a system wherein one key may operate some of the locks in the system, but not all, is required.

In addition, a system where at least the steering wheel is locked mechanically is required. Further, it is desirable to provide the automobile with a lock system where the key(s) is intended to operate the lock only a limited length of time. It is further desirable with a locking system where certain keys in the system for example will not permit locking of the doors of the vehicle etc.

It has previously been proposed to use a lock comprising a housing, in which is movably supported a locking member for movement between locked and unlocked position. The housing and locking member have aligned bores containing blocking pins supported for movement between a first position in which the locking member is movable relative to the housing and a second position in which the blocking pins block movement of the locking member relative to the housing. The blocking pins are moved axially by means of substantially card-like key member which may be inserted into a traverse slot in the housing. The combination of the lock is determined by a substantially card-like code member which is removably arranged in a second tranverse slot in the housing and which moves the locking pins in axial direction in the respective borings. The correct key member is equipped with a code adapted to the code on the inserted code member.

The blocking pins are thus affected mechanically by the code member and/or the key member. Both the code member and the key member are equipped with bores which are arranged in a predetermined pattern corresponding to a matrix of bores in the housing and the locking means.

The bores of the the key member supplement the bores of the code member so that they together form a complete matrix corresponding to the matrix of bores in the housing and the locking means. By inserting a key member correctly coded with respect to the code member inserted in the housing, the locking effect of the blocking pins will be suspended and the locking means may be moved relative to the housing.

It has further been proposed to use an electronic locking system for automobiles, incorporating micro-processors, where the doors and the ignition system and optionally the steering wheel lock may be activated by means of a solid-state keyboard. In order to activate the various locks of the locking system, the keys on the keyboard are touched or pressed down in the same sequence as the sequence stored in the micro-processor.

The disadvantage with such a system is the complete dependency of supply of current from a current source in order to operate the system. If the current supply fails or the micro-processor for one or other reasons is disconnected from the current supply the code is deleted from the memory, whereby the lock(s) subsequently cannot be activated without having to take special caution. For such type of locking systems, an additional mechanical locking system is required in addition to the electronic system in order to eliminate the disadvantage due to power interruption or failure.

According to the present invention said disadvantages are overcome by a locking system provided with locks where parts of the key member code are read mechanically by means of said blocking pins, while parts of the code are read optically/electronically by means of diodes emitting infrared light or the like. According to one preferred embodiment, the lock comprises a housing, a locking member, blocking pins arranged in borings in the housing and the locking member, the blocking pins being movably arranged in axial direction between two extreme positions where they either prevent or permit movement of the locking member relative to the housing, depending on whether a correct key member is applied or not.

Further, the lock comprises one or more light diodes internally arranged in borings in the housing, said diodes emitting infrared light and being connected to and activating one or more relays etc.

The same code and the same key member may preferably be used for operating both the door lock and the ignition and steering wheel lock of the vehicle. At least the combined ignition and steering wheel lock is of a type where the code is partly read mechanically and partly read electronically. The mechanical part is preferably used for operating the lock on the steering wheel, while the electronically read part is preferably used to activate ignition, light alarms etc. For such type of a locking system a particular key member which only is coded in accordance with the code on the electronically read part should preferably be incorporated, whereby the electrical system of the vehicle could be independently operated.

Further, a separate key which only is intended to operate the mechanical part of the locking system could be incorporated, if desirable.

The optical/electronical reader of the lock should preferably be arranged at the far end of the slot, alternatively at the outer end of the slot or in between the section reading the code mechanically.

According to the present invention, the locking member is provided with one or more bores or openings extending through the locking member. The bores are arranged in the region of the optical/electronical reader unit. Said opening may have such lateral extension that only the key member and/or the code member lies between each pair of diodes in the area of the optical/electronical reader unit. Alternatively, the locking member may also be arranged between each pairs of light diodes, said locking member being equipped with bores or openings going through the entire lockin070000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000