SE1950550A1

SE1950550A1 - Cargo room locking device for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: SE1950550A1
Application number: SE1950550A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Eigil Petersen
Original assignee: Birepo As
Priority date: 2018-05-14
Filing date: 2019-05-08
Publication date: 2019-11-15
Also published as: NO20190604A1; DK201870292A1; DK180285B1; SE543810C2

Abstract

A cargo room locking device comprising a first element (30), a second element (13), a blocking mechanism (15) including a blocking element (16) with an elongated element extending in the longitudinal direction of the blocking mechanism (16), a drive mechanism (40) including an electrical motor (50) for displacing the locking element (22) movable between an advanced position and a retracted position. The drive mechanism of the cargo room locking device allows the locking element (30) to be movable between an advanced position and a retracted position. By activation of the drive mechanism, the blocking element will be enable to be moved from a blocking position, where the blocking latch extends though the aperture in the van hereby preventing displacement of the vehicle doo and unblocking position where the blocking element is moved out of engagement with the aperture in the locking bar.

Description

Cargo room locking device for a vehicle SummaryThe invention relates to a cargo room locking device for preventing unauthorized entry into a storage compartment (cargo room) of a vehicle such as the cargo room in a van.

BackgroundTo prevent theft of the equipment located inside the cargo room of a vehicle, one opinion is to provide the vehicle with an additional mechanical locking device,such as a padlock and or a door bolt lock with a tumbler. lt has been known forseveral years to provide a locking device on the exterior side of the cargo roomto achieve an additional protection of the cargo inside the van.

One of the disadvantages of this locking device is that the locking device is ac-cessable from the outside of the cargo and therefore accessable for the burglar.Another disadvantage is that the locking device requires drilling of a hole ontothe exterior surface of the vehicle. This obstructive mounting step prevents thevehicle owner from removing the locking device, due to the circumstance thatthe removal of the additional locking device requires that the hole in the vehicleneeds to be repaired in the case that the additional locking device needs to be removed from the vehicle afterwards.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a cargo room lockingdevice , which is configured to be accommodated inside the chassis of a vehiclewith less components and which furthermore is able to provide additional protec-tion for preventing unauthorized access to the interior of the cargo room in thevehicle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cargo room locking device, which can be retrofitted at various locations in the cargo room of the vehicle,preferably the cargo room in a van.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the cargo room locking devicefor a vehicle with a cargo room comprising a locking mechanism and a first ele-ment:- the locking housing includes a locking element connected to a drive mech-anism having an electrical motor;- the first element is configured to be mounted and fixated in a first sectionof said vehicle; - wherein the first element has a first end connected to the locking housingand has at least one cylindrical section with a first threaded outer surfaceextending the length of the cylindrical section; - wherein the drive mechanism is configured for displacing the locking ele-ment between an advanced position and a retracted position being atleast partially inside said first element (30).

The cargo room locking device of the present invention prevents anyone fromgaining access to the interior of the cargo room in the vehicle, as the presentcargo room locking device prevents anyone from opening the sliding door(s),side door(s) or the back door(s) to the cargo room in the vehicle. The lockingdevice can advantageously be mounted at an opening of the vehicle, such as inthe door frame of the chassis.

The present invention can be used in combination with the locking system pro-vided by the vehicle manufacturer as it provides an additional locking. This allowsthe present cargo room locking device to be integrated with a factory door lockremote or integrated with an aftermarket alarm system for those who want to getin and out of their cargo van conveniently. Locks can also be tied into a toggleswitch and hidden under your dash out ofsight. As the cargo room locking deviceis installed inside the rear and side doors it is possible to achieve solution makingthe cargo room locking device tamper-proof as the additional cargo room lockingdevice will not be visible from the outside of the vehicle. A cargo room lockingdevice according to the invention can be made even more tamper- proof when the lock is electrically operable.

By using a cargo room locking device comprising a locking housing and a firstelement, it is possible to accommodate the present cargo room locking device ina simple manner, as the installation of the present cargo room locking device canbe done by simply drilling a circular hole in the chassis. lt is hereby avoided thatthe installation would involve extensive bodywork repair, if the cargo room lock-ing device is to be removed aftervvards, which would be the case for a rental orleased van. As one hole is to be drilled into the chassis and the correspondingdoor, this present invention provided an attractive solution as an aftermarket in-stallation system, as it does not require or involves an extensive installation pro-cedure. The circular hole can easy be covered by a plug inserted into hole, whichwould hide the hole aftervvards.

By using an electrically actuated drive mechanism for displacing the locking el-ement located in an interior space in the chassis of the vehicle, it is ensured thateven if a successful attempt is made to obstruct the existing cargo room lockingdevice on the cargo room door of the vehicle, the is made, this additional cargoroom locking device would still hinder anyone from gaining access, as the pre- sent cargo room locking device provide an additional precaution measurement.

By using a drive mechanism connected to the locking element, it is possible toachieve a movement of the blocking element between a first position (lockingposition), where the locking element extends though the aperture in the vehiclehereby preventing displacement of the sliding door(s), side door(s) or backdoor(s) locking bar and second position (unbloking position) where the lockingelement is moved out of engagement with the aperture in the vehicle or hole drilled into an interior wall of said vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method of mounting acargo room locking device having a locking housing and a first element compris- ing the steps:- providing a locking housing including a locking element connected toa drive mechanism including an electrical motor for displacing thelocking element between an advanced position and a retracted posi- tion; - providing the first element wherein the first element has a first endconnected to the locking housing and has at least one cylindrical sec-tion with a first threaded outer surface extending alongthe cylindricalsecüon; - drilling a first hole in a first section of a vehicle; - mounting the locking device in said hole provided in the first sectionofa vehicle by connecting one fastening element on both sides of saidhole. ln this context, the term “dead bolt, deadbolt or dead lock” is used to define alocking mechanism distinct from a spring bolt lock because a deadbolt cannot bemoved to the open position except by rotating the key. ln this context, the term “spring bolt lock” is used to define a cargo room lockingdevice , which uses a spring to hold the bolt in place, allowing retraction by ap-plying force to the bolt itself. A deadbolt can therefore make a door more resistantto entry without the correct key. ln this context, the term “latchbolt or latch bolt” is used to define a latch type,which is part of a lockset having a spring-loaded bolt with an angled edge. Whenthe door with a lachbolt is pushed closed, the angled edge of the latchbolt en-gages with the lip of the strike plate; a spring allows the bolt to retract. Once thedoor is fully closed, the bolt automatically extends into the strike plate, holdingthe door closed. The latchbolt is disengaged (retracted) typically when the userturns the door handle, which via the lockset's mechanism, manually retracts the latchbolt, allowing the door to open.

Detailed descriptionThe invention will now be explained in more detail below by means of examples of embodiments with reference to the schematic drawing.

FIGS 1A-1 B show a schematic drawing of the cargo room locking device accord-ing to a first and presently preferred embodiment, where the cargo room locking device can be moved between an advanced and a retracted position.

FIGS 2A-2B show a schematic drawing of the cargo room Iocking device 10 asshown in fig 1A and fig.1 B, where the cargo room Iocking device is installed onan interior wall 112, 122 of the vehicle 100.

FIGS. 3A-3B show a perspective and cross sectional view of the Iocking elementconnected to the actuator rod of the drive mechanism.

FIGS. 4A-4B show a perspective and cross sectional view of the fastening means used for fixation of the first element.

FIGS. 5A-5B show a perspective and cross sectional view of the second element.

FIGS. 5C-5D show a perspective and cross sectional view of the fastening means used for fixation of the cargo room Iocking device.

FIGS. 6A-6B show a perspective and cross sectional view of Iocking element used as a spring-loaded bolt in the cargo room Iocking device.

FIG. 7 shows a vehicle having the present cargo room Iocking device installedon an interior wall located on the side of the vehicle.

FIG. 8 shows a vehicle having the present cargo room Iocking device installedon an interior wall on the back door of the vehicle.

A preferred embodiment of the cargo room Iocking device for a vehicle such asa van of the present invention, identified generally as 10 in the figures. The cargoroom Iocking device is intended for preventing unauthorized access to the interiorof the cargo room of a vehicle.

The cargo room Iocking device 10 is configured to be mounted and fixated in theinterior space of a vehicle comprising a cargo room and at least one pivoting orsliding door as example see FIGS. 2A-2B and FIGS. 7-8.

FIGS. 1A-1 B show the cargo room Iocking device 10 for a vehicle with a cargoroom comprising a Iocking housing and a first element 30. The Iocking housingincludes a Iocking element 16 extending in the longitudinal direction of the cargoroom Iocking device. The cargo room Iocking device includes a drive mechanism20 and a housing 22 having a number of mounting means 12. The drive mecha-nism 20 is used for displacing Iocking element 16 and the housing 22 coveringthe electrical motor 24 located inside the drive mechanism 20. The electrical mo-tor 24 is positioned perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction of thecargo room Iocking device 10. The electrical motor 24 is connected to a gearingmechanism, where the electric motor turns a series of spur gears that serve asa gear reduction. The last gear drives a rack and pinion gear set that is connectedto the actuator rod 17. The internal gearing mechanism is used to convert therotational motion of the motor into the linear motion needed to move the lock. Aspring 14 is arranged around the actuator rod 17, where the spring is providedfor achieving a latching effect of the Iocking element 16 in order for the Iockingelement to function as spring-loaded bolt with an angled edge, which will be ex-plained in detail with reference to FIGS. 6A-6B.

The drive mechanism 20 is configured for displacing the Iocking element 16 be-tween an advanced position and a retracted position. FIG 1B shows a schemat-ical drawing of the cargo room Iocking device, where the cargo room Iockingdevice is in an advanced position and where the electrical motor is activated byan operator as shown in FIG 1B , the Iocking element 16 is moved into retracted position.

FIGS. 1A-1 B show a first embodiment of the cargo room Iocking device 10 wherethe housing 22 is connected to a first end of the first element 30, more specificallyon the interior wall surface of the first element 30.

FIGS 2A-2B show a schematic drawing of the cargo room Iocking device 10 asshown in fig 1A and fig.1 B, where the cargo room Iocking device is installed onopposite wall portion 112, 122 of the vehicle 100. The wall portions 112, 122 aremade of metal, preferably thin plated metal. The first element 30 and second element 40 is configured to be mounted and fixated in a section of a vehicle 110 120 as shown in FIGS 2A-2B and FIGS. 7-8. The fist element 30 fixates the cargoroom locking device 10 relative to the interior wall 112, 122 of the vehicle 100and the drive mechanism 20 used for displacing the locking element 16 betweenan advanced position and a retracted position is arranged in the interior space120' of the vehicle.

As it would be evident from the FIGS, by using a spring 14 surrounding the ac-tuator rod 17 of the drive mechanism, it is possible to allow the locking element16 to bias between a first and a second position. This provides the further ad-vantage that it is still possible to lock the vehicle using the existing central lockingsystem, as the present locking is operatable independently hereof, hereby allow-ing the drive of the vehicle to close and open the sliding door or the back door ofthe vehicle afterwards.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3B, the drive mechanism 20 has an actuator rod 17with a first connecting end 18 for engaging the locking element 16. For the sakeof simplicity the spring 14 arranged around the actuator rod 17 has been left outon FIG. 3B.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4B, the fist element 30 has an opening 31 configuredfor allowing the locking element 16 of the locking housing to be displaced be-tween a first and second position. The first element 30 is configured to bemounted and fixated to a second section of a vehicle 110. The first element 30has a first end 32 and has at least one cylindrical section 33 with a first threadedouter surface 34 extending along the cylindrical section. The housing 22 of thedrive mechanism 20 is inserted into the opening 31 and the drive mechanism isconnected to the first element 30 by inserting a number of screws into the holes35 located in the circumference of the first end 32. The housing 22 will arrest theinner end portion 36 positioned on the inner surface of the inner opening 31 ofthe first element 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5B, the second element 40 has an opening config-ured for receiving the locking element 16 of the locking housing and the second element is configured to be mounted and fixated to a second section of a vehicle 120. The second element 40 has an elongated geometry and has at least onecylindrical section with a threaded outer surface 42 extending the length of thesecond element 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 5C-5D, each fastening element 50 has an threadedportion 52 and being configured for engaging the threaded portion of the first el-ement 30 and the second element 40 for enabling a fixation of the first element30 relative to a first section of a vehicle 110 and fixation of the second element40 relative to a the second section of a vehicle 120. The fastening element isdepicted as a flange nut having a wide flange at one end which acts as an inte-grated non-spinning washer severing to distribute the pressure of the nut overthe part secured. The flange can be serrated to provide an additional lockingaction.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A-5B, the locking element 16 function as a latch boltand has an aperture located in the longitudinal direction of the locking elementfor allowing the connecting end 18 of the actuator rod 17 to be inserted into theaperture. A pinhole 162 is arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal directionand extends the thickness of the locking element 16. By inserting a pin throughthe pin hole 162 is possible to restrain the locking element 16 in a releasablemanner relative to the drive mechanism 20. The locking element 16 has anglededges 163 for engaging with the second element and the spring 14 allowing thelocking element (latch bolt) to retract.

The drive mechanism 20 shown in FIG 3B is connected to a first connecting endof the first element 30, more specifically on the interior wall surface of the firstelement 30 Referring now to FIGS. 7-8, when the door with a locking element (lachbolt) ispushed closed, the angled edge of the locking element engages with the secondelement; the spring allows the bolt to retract. Once the door is fully closed, thebolt automatically extends into the second element, holding the door closed. Thelocking element will disengage (retracted) when the drive mechanism is acti- vated, which via the electrical motor retracts the locking element (latchbolt) al-lowing the door to open. The first element 30 and second element 40 is config-ured to be mounted and fixated in a section of a vehicle 110 120 as shown inFIGS 2A-2B.

The cargo room locking device 10 is configured to be accommodated inside thechassis of a vehicle and is able to provide additional protection for preventingunauthorized access to the interior of the cargo room in the vehicle, as the pre-sent cargo room locking device prevents anyone from opening the slidingdoor(s), side door(s) or the back door(s) of the cargo room in the vehicle. Thecargo room locking device can be retrofitted at various locations e.g. slidingdoor(s), side door(s) or the back door(s) of the cargo room of a van. The cargo room or cargo hold has a double walled structure comprising two skins. The The locking element is arranged on the interior side of the van, but is not depictedwith dotted lines, which would be more appropriate. The embodiment shown inFIG. 2A is referring the installation depicted in FIG. 7, whereas the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B is referring to the installation depicted in FIG. 8. ln a present preferred embodiment, the motor is an electrically driven actuator,the power source preferably consist of a low voltage (12 V) battery. A not showncontrol unit is configured to control the operation of said electrical motor and canreceive signals from a remote control during operation of the drive mechanism.

By using a control unit to operate the electrical motor, it is possible to operatethe cargo room locking device from a distance and thereby utilize a remote con- trol of the locking bar between a locking position or an open position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method of mounting acargo room locking device (10) having a locking housing (20) and a first element (30) comprising the steps:- providing a locking housing including a locking element (16) con-nected to a drive mechanism (20) including an electrical motor for dis-placing the locking element (16) between an advanced position and a retracted position; - providing the first element (30) wherein the first element (30) has afirst end (32) connected to the Iocking housing (22) and has at leastone cylindrical section with a first threaded outer surface (34) extend-ing the length of the cylindrical section; - dri||ing a first hole in a first section of a vehicle (110); - mounting the first element of the Iocking device in said hole providedin the first section of a vehicle (110) by connecting one fastening ele-ment (50) to the first element on both sides of said hole.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to a number ofspecific and advantageous embodiment, it is understood that the present inven-tion is by no means limited to the above disclosure of the above described ad-vantageous embodiments, as the features of the above embodiments may becombined to provide additional embodiments. The additional embodiments areall construed to be part of the present invention. Furthermore, the present inven-tion is to be understood compassed by any equivalent or similar structure asdescribed above and also to be encompassed by the scope limited by the belowclaims defining the protective scope of the present patent application.

Reference numbers ln the following is given a list of reference numbers that are used in the detailed description of the invention. cargo room locking device 10mounting means 12 spring 14 locking element 16 (latch bolt)aperture 161 pinhole 162 actuator rod 17 connecting end 18 drive mechanism 20 locking housing 22 electrical motor 24 first element 30 opening 31 first end 32 cylindrical section 33 first threaded outer surface 34hole 35 second element 40 threaded outer surface 42fastening element 50threaded portion 52 power source vehicle 100 first section of a vehicle 110first section part 112 second section of a vehicle 120interior space 120' first section part 122

Claims

12 Claims

1. A cargo room Iocking device (10) for a vehicle with a cargo room, comprising a Iocking housing (22) and a first element (30): the Iocking housing (22) including a Iocking element (16) connected to adrive mechanism (20) having an electrical motor; the first element (30) being configured to be mounted and fixated in a firstsection (100) of said vehicle; wherein the first element (30) has a first end (32) connected to the Iockinghousing (22) and has at least one cylindrical section with a first threadedouter surface (34) extending along the cylindrical section; wherein the drive mechanism (20) is configured for displacing the Iockingelement (16) between an advanced position and a retracted position beingat least partially inside said first element (30). A cargo room Iocking device according to claim 1, further comprising asecond element (40) having an opening configured for receiving the lock-ing element (16) in an advanced position and being configured to be mounted and fixated to a second section (120) of said vehicle. A cargo room Iocking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drivemechanism (20) is configured for allowing the Iocking element to moverelative to the first element (30) without activation of said electrical motor,preferably against the action of a spring (14). A cargo room Iocking device according to any of the proceeding claims,wherein the drive mechanism (20) includes an actuator rod (17) with a firstconnecting end (18) for engaging the Iocking element (16). A cargo room Iocking device according to the proceeding claims 2-4,wherein the second element (40) has an elongated geometry and has atleast one cylindrical section with a threaded outer surface (42) extendingalong the second element (40). 13 _ A cargo room Iocking device according to the proceeding claims, further comprising a number of fastening elements (50) configured for engagingthe threaded portion of the first element (30) and the second element (40)for enabling a fixation of the first element (30) relative to a first section ofa vehicle (110) and fixation of the second element (40) relative to the sec- ond section of a vehicle (120). _ A cargo room Iocking device according to any of the proceeding claims, wherein said electrical motor is connected to a power source for supplyingpower to the electrical motor and wherein a control unit is configured tocontrol the operation of said electrical motor and can receive signals from remote control during operation of the drive mechanism. A vehicle having a cargo hold comprising a cargo room Iocking deviceaccording to any of the claims 1-7 mounted on a wall defining said cargohold on the inside thereof. _ A method of mounting a cargo room Iocking device (10) to a vehicle ac- cording to any of the claims 1-7 comprising the steps: - drilling a first hole in a first section ofa wall (1 12) of said vehicle (110); - mounting the first element (30) of the Iocking device in said hole pro-vided in the first section of said vehicle (110) by connecting one fas-tening element (50) to said first element (30) on both sides of saidhole. 10_A method of mounting a cargo room Iocking device comprising a further step: - providing a second element (40) comprises an opening configured forreceiving the Iocking element (16) and configured to be mounted andfixated to a second section of said vehicle (120); - drilling a second hole in a second section ofa wall (122) ofsaid vehicle(120). 14 - mounting the second element (40) in said hole provided in the secondsection of said vehicle (120) by connecting one fastening element (50)to said second element (40) on both sides of said hole.