GB2175342A

GB2175342A - Remote control of door lock

Info

Publication number: GB2175342A
Application number: GB08512555A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brendan Ormsby; James Neeson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-17
Filing date: 1985-05-17
Publication date: 1986-11-26
Also published as: GB2175342B; GB8512555D0

Abstract

A locking system for use in a motor vehicle having an openable door and a main lock for the door comprises a bolt movable from an open position to a closed position for locking of the door, and remote control means at the location of an operator of the vehicle for actuation of said catch means. Preferably, said remote control means comprises a rod including a handle for operation by said vehicle operator. Preferably, the rod includes an additional emergency handle, <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Locking system for motor vehicle doors The present invention relates to a locking system for motor vehicle doors, and especially for the passenger doors of taxis and like vehicle.

Up till now there has been a problem in taxis that unauthorised opening of a passenger door has been readily possible: such opening may be inadvertent or may indeed be deliberate to avoid fare paying. It was possible for the taxi operator (driver) to lock the passenger doors but this was inconvenient since it required the operator to leave his seat to carry out the locking (or unlocking) operation. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this problem.

According to one aspect of this present invention there is provided in a motor vehicle having an openable door and a main lock for the door, an auxiliary locking system for said door comprising catch means movable from an open position to a closed position for locking of the door, and remote control means at the location of an operator of the vehicle for actuation of said catch means.

Preferably, said remote control means comprises rod means inciuding a handle for operation by said vehicle operator. Preferably, the rod means includes an additional emergency handle. In a preferred embodiment the rod means are mounted for rotation between said open and closed positions. The auxiliary locking system may be adapted to lock only a single vehicle door, but in a preferred embodiment the system functions to lock at least a pair of vehicle doors.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided in a motor vehicle having an openable doors provided with a lock, remote control means for said lock whereby said lock can be set in a locked or release condition from the location of a vehicle operator, e.g. driver. Preferably said remote means for the lock comprises a rod mechanism.Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic elevational view of an auxiliary locking system for a passenger door of a motor vehicle, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the locking system of Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic isometric view of the locking system of Fig. 1; Figure 4 shows a plan view of an auxiliary locking system for passenger doors of a motor vehicle, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a position-warning switch device of the locking system of''Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, an auxiliary door locking system 1 is provided for a taxi type motor vehicle, especially a Hackney Cab: Fig. 1 in effect shows parts of the motor vehicle bodywork in lateral crosssection. The locking system 1 comprises a horizontal rod 2 rotatably housed in a tube 3 secured to the vehicle floor 4 by means of brackets 5. One end 6 of the rod 2 extends into the hollow interior of a vertical vehicle door pillar 7. The vehicle door (not shown) facing pillar 7, and the pillar 7 carries a lock aperture for the main door lock all in conventional manner.

The rod end 6 has a lateral pin 8 defining a switch element secured thereto and, on rotation of the rod 2, the pin 8 penetrates an aperture (not shown) in the door end wall to preclude outward opening of the door. The other end 9 of the rod 2 is cranked to provide an operating handle 10. The locking system 1 is arranged to lock a nearside passenger door and the handle 10 is located adjacent but to the rear of the driver's seat so as to be operable by the seated driver while remote from the nearside passenger door.The rod 2 additionally includes an emergency handle 11 operable by a passenger to permit door opening in the event of driver indisposition: normally movement of the handle 10 would promptly draw the attention of the driver to unauthorised tampering with the handle 11 and additional means could be provided for the driver to promptly arrest the handle 10 in these circumstances. The locking system 21 iof Figs. 4 and 5 is arranged to lock the two car passenger doors of a vehicle such as taxi cab. Thus the system 21 includes a rotatable rod 22 extending into opposed vehicle door pillars corresponding to pillar 7 of Fig. 1 and each end 26 of this rod 22 carries a pin 28 which is pivoted to lock a respective passenger door independantly of the main door lock and similarly as in Fig. 1. The rod 22 is supported by bushed collars 25 attached to the vehicle floor. The operating handle 30 similarly positioned as handle 10 of Fig. 1 is coupled to the rod 22 by a sleeved connection 35. Additionally a warning indicator device is provided to indicate the setting of the locking system and this device comprises a switch device including a tail form switch element 38 secured to the rod 22 by a collar 39.

Means can be provided with either of the two locking systems mentioned to link them to the existing main door lock system whereby in an emergency, but not otherwise, both the main door lock and the auxiliary door locking system can be operated to allow the door to be opened in one operation.

1. In a motor vehicle having an openable

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Locking system for motor vehicle doors The present invention relates to a locking system for motor vehicle doors, and especially for the passenger doors of taxis and like vehicle. Up till now there has been a problem in taxis that unauthorised opening of a passenger door has been readily possible: such opening may be inadvertent or may indeed be deliberate to avoid fare paying. It was possible for the taxi operator (driver) to lock the passenger doors but this was inconvenient since it required the operator to leave his seat to carry out the locking (or unlocking) operation. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this problem. According to one aspect of this present invention there is provided in a motor vehicle having an openable door and a main lock for the door, an auxiliary locking system for said door comprising catch means movable from an open position to a closed position for locking of the door, and remote control means at the location of an operator of the vehicle for actuation of said catch means. Preferably, said remote control means comprises rod means inciuding a handle for operation by said vehicle operator. Preferably, the rod means includes an additional emergency handle. In a preferred embodiment the rod means are mounted for rotation between said open and closed positions. The auxiliary locking system may be adapted to lock only a single vehicle door, but in a preferred embodiment the system functions to lock at least a pair of vehicle doors. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided in a motor vehicle having an openable doors provided with a lock, remote control means for said lock whereby said lock can be set in a locked or release condition from the location of a vehicle operator, e.g. driver. Preferably said remote means for the lock comprises a rod mechanism.Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic elevational view of an auxiliary locking system for a passenger door of a motor vehicle, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the locking system of Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic isometric view of the locking system of Fig. 1; Figure 4 shows a plan view of an auxiliary locking system for passenger doors of a motor vehicle, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a position-warning switch device of the locking system of''Fig. 4. Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, an auxiliary door locking system 1 is provided for a taxi type motor vehicle, especially a Hackney Cab: Fig. 1 in effect shows parts of the motor vehicle bodywork in lateral crosssection. The locking system 1 comprises a horizontal rod 2 rotatably housed in a tube 3 secured to the vehicle floor 4 by means of brackets 5. One end 6 of the rod 2 extends into the hollow interior of a vertical vehicle door pillar 7. The vehicle door (not shown) facing pillar 7, and the pillar 7 carries a lock aperture for the main door lock all in conventional manner. The rod end 6 has a lateral pin 8 defining a switch element secured thereto and, on rotation of the rod 2, the pin 8 penetrates an aperture (not shown) in the door end wall to preclude outward opening of the door. The other end 9 of the rod 2 is cranked to provide an operating handle 10. The locking system 1 is arranged to lock a nearside passenger door and the handle 10 is located adjacent but to the rear of the driver's seat so as to be operable by the seated driver while remote from the nearside passenger door.The rod 2 additionally includes an emergency handle 11 operable by a passenger to permit door opening in the event of driver indisposition: normally movement of the handle 10 would promptly draw the attention of the driver to unauthorised tampering with the handle 11 and additional means could be provided for the driver to promptly arrest the handle 10 in these circumstances. The locking system 21 iof Figs. 4 and 5 is arranged to lock the two car passenger doors of a vehicle such as taxi cab. Thus the system 21 includes a rotatable rod 22 extending into opposed vehicle door pillars corresponding to pillar 7 of Fig. 1 and each end 26 of this rod 22 carries a pin 28 which is pivoted to lock a respective passenger door independantly of the main door lock and similarly as in Fig. 1. The rod 22 is supported by bushed collars 25 attached to the vehicle floor.The operating handle 30 similarly positioned as handle 10 of Fig. 1 is coupled to the rod 22 by a sleeved connection 35. Additionally a warning indicator device is provided to indicate the setting of the locking system and this device comprises a switch device including a tail form switch element 38 secured to the rod 22 by a collar 39. Means can be provided with either of the two locking systems mentioned to link them to the existing main door lock system whereby in an emergency, but not otherwise, both the main door lock and the auxiliary door locking system can be operated to allow the door to be opened in one operation. CLAIMS

1. In a motor vehicle having an openable door and a main lock for the door, an auxiliary locking system for said door comprising catch means movable from an opening position to a closed position for locking of the door, and remote control means at the location of an operator of the vehicle for actuation of said catch means.

2. An auxiliary locking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote control means comprises rod means including a handle for operation by said vehicle operator.

3. An auxiliary locking system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rod means includes an additional emergency handle.

4. An auxiliary locking system as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the rod means are mounted for rotation between said open and closed positions.

5. An auxiliary locking system as claimed in any preceding claim adapted to lock a single vehicle door.

6. An auxiliary locking system as claimed in any preceding claim adapted to lock a pair of vehicle doors.

7. In a motor vehicle having an openable door provided with a lock, remote control means for said lock whereby said lock can be set in a locked or released condition from the location of a vehicle operator, e.g. driver.

8. Remote control means as claimed in claim 7 comprising a rod mechanism.

9. A vehicle locking system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.