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(11) | EP 0 727 553 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Locking device |
| (57) A locking device comprises a lock body (2,12,20) which is provided with a key insertion
hole (15b,15c) for receiving a key (3,13,23,33). This lock body is composed of at
least two parts (5,6;15,16;21,22) one of which is separable in a locked state of said
locking device by said key. |
[0001] This invention relates to a locking device comprising a lock body provided with a key inserting hole for receiving a key.
[0002] A locking device which can be used for vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, etc., and for buildings usually comprises a lock body for locking the object such as vehicles, buildings, etc., and a key for locking or unlocking the lock body. In the locked state, the key is separated from the lock body secured to the object and is carried by the user thereof.
[0003] There has been known, for example, a locking device 40 for motorcycles, etc., comprising a locking member 42 provided with a lock body 41 and a key 43 as shown in Fig.10. The locking member 42 is provided with two legs 44 and 45. On the leg 44 is mounted a lock body 41 which is of a cylinder lock type structure, and when the key 43 is operated, a cylinder is pushed to project out a locking pin (not shown) toward the other leg 45 so as to be locked in a state that the locking pin is engaged with the other leg 45.
[0004] As shown in Fig.11, the locking device 40 has the locking member 42 installed on the brake disk 50 with the brake disk 50 interposed between both legs 44 and 45 thereof, and, while being locked by fixing the locking member 42 on the brake disk 50 through the lock body 41, the locking member 42 hits against the brake caliper 51 and functions to prevent a tire 52 from rotating. The numeral 53 in Fig.11 denotes a front fork.
[0005] Also in this locking device 40, similarly to the conventional locking device, the key 43 is separated from the lock body 41 and is carried by the user after the locking member 42 is fixed on the brake disk 50 through the lock body 41.
[0006] However, in case of any cylinder lock type locking device describrd above, since the key can be pulled out of the lock body either in locked state or in unlocked state except while operating the locking device, if the user is in a hurry, is thinking something, or has his attention attracted to something else while operating the locking device, he might have no sure memory of locking or unlocking, and, consequently, he might leave the site with the locking device or the vehicle unlocked believing that he has locked it and might be robbed of it. Especially by using such locking devices for motorcycles, there is a further problem in that the rider might ride astride it, start the engine and attempt to drive it forgetting that he has locked it, and, components such as brake disk fixed by the lock body might be damaged.
[0007] Although a simple locking device from the lock body of which the key can not be pulled out in the unlocked state but can be pulled out only in the locked state is widely used on bicycles, etc., as a locking device capable of eliminating these problems, since the key for the locking device of this type is left inserted in the lock body in the unlocked state, there is such a problem that the bicycle may be locked by another person against the owner's will. Further, cylinder lock type locking devices are strongly recommended from the viewpoint of safety and reliability.
[0008] Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved locking device as indicated above which is capable to always indicate to a user whether it is locked or unlocked.
[0009] According to the invention this objective is solved for a locking device as indicated above in that said lock body being composed of at least two parts one of which being separable in a locked state of said locking device by said key.
[0010] In order to enhance the indication it is advantageous to provide said separable part with key holding means for holding said key in the locked state of the device.
[0011] According to a further embodiment of the invention the lock body of said locking device comprises outer and inner cylinders whereby the outer cylinder is fixed to a locking member and has a cylinder type lock structure connected to said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder is capable of being removably connectable with said inner cylinder by engaging means.
[0012] According to another embodiment of the invention these engaging means are an engaging groove provided in the inner surface of said outer cylinder and an engaging pin provided at the outer surface of said inner cylinder and being capable of engaging with said engaging groove.
[0013] Although according to still another embodiment of the invention said cylinder type lock structure comprises a key inserting hole for engaging said key for operating said lock body it is still possible to use the different means for locking or unlocking, respectively said locking device. In this case it is advantageous that a said lock body comprises an inner cylinder and a cylinder type lock structure provided with a axially slidable cylinder therein, whereby said cylinder type lock structure is fixed to a locking member and said inner cylinder having a cylindrical body provided with an upper plate having a key inserting hole at its outer end and an open bottom end, and that said inner cylinder is capable of being removably connectable with said cylinder type lock structure by engaging means.
[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said locking device is a motorcycle locking device and said key is the ignition key of said motorcycle.
[0015] Other preferred embodiments of the present invention are laid down in further dependent claims.
[0016] On a locking device constructed as described above according to this invention, since part of the lock body is also pulled out together with the key in engagement with the key after locking, while only the key is pulled out as usual after unlocking, the shape of the key itself in the unlocked state is obviously different from that in the locked state, and, even if the memory of locking or unlocking operation is carelessly lost, the state of the lock is easily confirmed by looking at or feeling the key.
[0017] In the following, the present invention is explained in greater detail with respect to several embodiments thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig.1 is an exploded perspective view of a locking device as an embodiment of this invention;
Figs.2(a) through 2(d) are perspective views explaining the operation the locking device of Fig.1, arranged in the order of operations;
Figs.3(a) through 3(d) are schematic side views of the lock body corresponding to Figs.2(a) through 2(d);
Figs.4(a) through 4(c) are sectional views of the lock body taken along the lines A-A of Fig.2(a), B-B of Fig.2(c) and C-C of Fig.2(d), respectively;
Fig.5 is an exploded perspective view of a locking device as second embodiment of this invention;
Figs.6(a) through 6(d) are perspective views explaining the operation of the locking device shown in Fig.5, arranged in the order of operations;
Figs.7(a) through 7(c) are partial sectional views of the locking device taken along the lines D-D of Fig.6(a), E-E of Fig.6(b) and F-F of Fig.6(d), respectively;
Figs.8(a) through 8(c) are views explaining the operation of another embodiment of a cylinder type lock structure, arranged in the order of operations;
Figs.9(a) and 9(b) are schemtic structural views showing the operation state of another embodiment of the inner cylinder;
Fig.10 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional locking device; and
Fig.11 is a drawing showing the operating state of the conventional locking device.
[0019] Fig.1 is an exploded perspective view of a locking device according to this invention. Figs.2(a) through 2(d) are perspective views explaining operations of the locking device arranged in the order of operations. Figs.3(a) through 3(d) are schematic side views of the lock body corresponding to Figs.2(a) through 2(d). Figs.4(a) through 4(c) are schematic sectional views corresponding to the operating states of Fig.2.
[0020] As shown in the drawings, the locking device comprises of a locking member 1 provided with a lock body 2 and a key 3.
[0021] The locking member 1 is provided with two legs 1a and 1b. The leg 1a of which has a lock body mounting hole 1c formed vertically therethrough, while the other leg 1b has a locking hole 1d formed therethrough into which is inserted a locking pin projected out of the lock body 2.
[0022] The lock body 2 is provided with an outer cylinder 4, an inner cylinder 5 and a cylinder type lock structure 6.
[0023] The outer cylinder 4 is constituted of a cylindrical body having an opening at its top end and an integrally formed bottom plate 4a at the bottom end of the cylindrical body, and is press-fitted in the lock body mounting hole 1c formed through the leg 1a of the locking member 1. The bottom plate 4a of the outer cylinder 4 has a through hole 4b bored therethrough, and the inner surface of the outer cylinder 4 has an engaging groove 4c formed thereon in a hook shape to be engaged with an engaging pin 5c of the inner cylinder 5 (to be described later). The cylinder type lock structure 6 is rotatably fixed on the bottom plate 4a of the outer cylinder 4 through suitable means so that its locking pin 6d may penetrate the through hole 4b of the outer cylinder 4.
[0024] The cylinder type lock structure 6 is composed of a cylinder 6a and a casing 6b vertically slidably receiving the cylinder 6a. The cylinder 6a has a key inserting hole 6c formed through its upper portion and a locking pin 6d formed at its lower end, and is so constructed that the locking pin 6d can be pushed downward of the casing 6b only when the key is inserted in the key inserting hole 6c. Further, the cylinder type lock structure 6 is so constructed that, when the cylinder 6a is pushed downward by operating the key 3, the locking pin 6d provided on the lower end of the cylinder 6a is projected out of the bottom surface of the casing 6b, then, when the key 3 is rotated rightward by a suitable angle (45° in this embodiment) with the locking pin 6d projected out, the cylinder 6a is locked on the casing 6b with the locking pin 6d projected out.
[0025] The inner cylinder 5 is constituted of a cylindrical body provided with an upper plate 5a at its upper end and with an opening bottom end, and the upper plate 5a has a key inserting hole 5b provided therethrough corresponding to the key inserting hole 6c of the cylinder type lock structure 6. The inner cylinder 5 has an engaging pin 5c projected radially outward of its outer surface. The inner cylinder 5 is inserted between the outer cylinder 4 and the cylinder type lock structure 6 so that its engaging pin 5c may be engaged with the engaging groove 4c of the outer cylinder 4, and is moved along the shape of the engaging groove 4c together with the cylinder type lock structure 6 by the operation of the key 3.
[0026] The inner cylinder 5 has a holding means provided at its inside upper portion for holding the key 3. The holding means is composed of two plate springs 5d and 5e which are held on the inner surface of the inner cylinder 5 so as to be opposite to each other along the shape of the key inserting hole 5b.
[0027] The function of the locking device constructed as described above is described hereafter referring to Figs. 2,3 and 4.
[0028] Figs.2(a), 3(a) and 4(a) show the lock body 2 in the unlocked state in which the key 3 has been separated from the lock body 2. In the unlocked state, the inner cylinder 5 is in a state with the bottom portions of the plate springs 5d and 5e in it supported by the top portion of the cylinder 6a of the cylinder type lock structure 6, the engaging pin 5c projected out of the outer surface of the inner cylinder 5 is positioned in the terminus end a of the engaging groove 4c of the outer cylinder 4 (See Fig.3(a)), and the key inserting hole 5b provided through the top portion of the inner cylinder 5 coincides with the key inserting hole 6c provided through the cylinder type lock structure 6.
[0029] If, in this state, the key 3 is inserted into the key inserting hole 6c of the inner cylinder 5, the key 3 passes the gap between the plate springs 5d and 5e disposed in the inner cylinder 5 expanding this gap, and is inserted in the key inserting hole 6c of the cylinder type lock structure 6 to bring the cylinder 6a of the cylinder type lock structure 6 into a state in which the cylinder 6a can be pushed downward (See Fig.4(b)).
[0030] Figs.2(b), 3(b) and 4(b) show the state in which, after inserting the key 3, the inner cylinder 5 and the cylinder 6a of the cylinder type lock structure 6 have been pushed down. As shown, when the cylinder 6a is pushed down, the locking pin 6d provided on the bottom of the cylinder 6a is projected out of the bottom portion of the cylinder type lock structure 6. In this state, the engaging pin 5c of the inner cylinder 5 has been brought down to the position b along the engaging groove 4c of the outer cylinder 4 (See Fig.3(b)).
[0031] Figs.2(c) and 3(c) show the state in which the key 3 has been rotated rightward by 45° from the state described above. When the key 3 is thus rotated, the cylinder 6a of the cylinder type lock structure 6 is locked to the casing 6b at that position, the locking pin 6d is kept inserted in the locking hole 1d of the locking member 1, and locking is completed between the leg 1a and leg 1b.
[0032] In this state, the engaging pin 5c of the inner cylinder 5 has been moved to the point c leftward in Fig.3 along the engaging groove 4c of the outer cylinder 4 (See Fig.3(c)).
[0033] Figs.2(d), 3(d) and 4(c) show the state in which the key 3 has been pulled up from the state described above. In the state with the locking pin 6d locked as shown in Figs.2(c) and 3(c), the inner cylinder 5 is in a state with its engaging pin positioned at the lower left end spot c of the engaging groove 4c of the outer cylinder 4, and the engaging groove 4c is extended from this spot c upward as far as the upper end of the outer cylinder 4 and is opened there. Therefore, when the key 3 is pulled up, since the key 3 is elastically held by the plate springs 5d and 5e in the inner cylinder 5, the inner cylinder 5 holding the key 3 is pulled up together with the key 3 off the lock body 2 and is separated from the lock body 2.
[0034] Since the inner cylinder 5 is held by the key 3 in the locked state as shown in Figs.2(d), 3(d) and 4(c), it is easily decided by only looking at the key 3 after locking whether the lock body 2 of the locking device 1 is in the locked state or in the unlocked state.
[0035] When unlocking the locking device 1, the key 3 is inserted in the cylinder 6a of the lock body 2 so that the engaging pin 5c of the inner cylinder 5 may be engaged with the engaging groove 4c of the outer cylinder 4 (See Figs.2(c) and 3(c)), and is rotated leftward by 45° to turn the cylinder 6a into the free state (See Fig.2(b) and 3(b)). When the key 3 is pulled up thereafter, although the cylinder 6a and the inner cylinder 5 are raised upto midway together with the key 3, since the engaging pin 5c of the inner cylinder 5 is caught by the terminus end a of the engaging groove 4c, the inner cylinder 5 and the cylinder 6c are left in the outer cylinder 4, and only the key 3 is pulled out.
[0036] Although the inner cylinder 5 in the first embodiment described above is so constructed that it is separated from the lock body 2 together with the key 3 after locking by operating the key, the component to be separated from the lock body together with the key 3 is not limited to the inner cylinder 5 in this embodiment. The locking pin and the cylinder nay of course be separately constructed so that the cylinder may be wholly separated from the outer cylinder together with the key after locking.
[0037] Further, although the leg 1a of the locking member 1 and the outer cylinder 4 of the lock body 2 are formed separately in the first embodiment above, these components is formed integrally.
[0039] Fig.5 is an exploded perspective view of a locking device 10, Figs.6(a) through 6(d) are operation explaining perspective views of the locking device 10 arranged in the order of operations, and Figs.7(a) through 7(c) are shematic partial sectional views corresponding to the operating states of Fig.6.
[0040] As shown in the drawings, the locking device 10 is composed of a locking member 1 provided with a lock body 12 (since this locking member 1 is of the same structure as that of the first embodiment, detailed description is omitted by giving its components the same reference numerals as the coresponding components of the first embodiment) and a key 13.
[0041] The lock body 12 has an inner cylinder 15 and a cylinder type lock structure 16. The cylinder type lock structure 16 is provided with a vertically slidable cylinder (no reference numeral given) therein, and this cylinder has a locking pin 16a formed on the bottom end thereof. Further, the cylinder type lock structure 16 has a key engaging portion 16b (See Fig.7) formed therein to be engaged with the key groove 15a of the inner cylinder 15 (to be described later). When the inner cylinder 15 is inserted in the cylinder type lock structure 16 so that the key groove 15a may come into engagement with the engaging portion 16b, it becomes possible for the cylinder to be rotated and pushed in (or pushed in and rotated), and, when the cylinder is pushed in, a locking pin 16a is projected out from the bottom so that the cylinder may be locked with the locking pin 16a projected out. The cylinder type lock structure 16 described above is press-fitted in the lock body mounting hole 1c formed through the locking member 1.
[0042] The inner cylinder 15 is constituted of a cylindrical body provided with an upper plate 15b at its top end and having its bottom end opened, and the upper plate 15b has a key inserting hole 15c formed therethrough so that a key 13 may be inserted therein. The inner cylinder 15 is provided with an engaging pin 15d projected radially outward of its outer surface, and is inserted in the cylinder type lock structure 16 so that the engaging pin 15d may be engaged with the engaging groove 16c suitably formed on the inner wall of the cylinder type lock structure 16. The engaging pin 15d and the engaging groove 16c are suitably formed so that, in the unlocked state, the inner cylinder 15 is separated from the key 13 and is left in the cylinder type lock structure 16, while, in the locked state, the inner cylinder 15 sticking to the key 13 is separated together from the cylinder type lock structure 16.
[0043] As is clearly seen in Fig.7, the inner cylinder 15 is provided with means for holding the key 13 in its upper inside portion. The holding means is composed of two plate springs 15e and 15f similarly to that in the first embodiment, and these plate springs 15e and 15f are held in the inner cylinder 15 so as to be opposite to each other on both sides of the longitudinal centerline of the key inserting hole 15c.
[0044] The function of the lock body for the locking device of the second embodiment constructed as described above is described hereafter referring to Figs.6 and 7. Hereafter, the unlocked state referrs to the state in which the locking pin is pulled in, and the locked state referrs to the state in which the locking pin is projected out.
[0045] Figs.6(a) and 7(a) each shows the unlocked state of the lock body 12. In this state, the key 13 is separated from the lock body 12, the inner cylinder 15 is mounted on the cylinder type lock structure 16, and the key groove 15a of the inner cylinder 15 is in engagement with the key engaging portion 16b of the cylinder type lock structure 16. When the key 13 is then inserted into the key inserting hole 15c of the inner cylinder 15 as shown in Figs.6(b) and 7(b), the key 13 passes the gap between the plate springs 15d and 15e disposed in the inner cylinder 15 expanding this gap, and is mounted on the inner cylinder 15. Differing from the first embodiment, the key 13 is only mounted on the inner cylinder 15 and will not come into the cylinder.
[0046] Fig.6(c) shows the inner cylinder 15 and the cylinder type lock structure 16 in the state pushed down after the key 13 is inserted, and, as shown, when the cylinder is pushed down, a locking pin 16a provided on the bottom of the cylinder is projected out of the bottom portion of the cylinder type lock structure 16.
[0047] When the key 13 is rotated from this state by 45° as shown in Fig.6(c), the cylinder in the cylinder type lock structure 16 is locked at its position, and locking between the legs 1a and 1b on the locking member 1 is completed.
[0048] Figs.6(d) and 7(c) shows the state with the key 13 pulled up from the state described above. Since the inner cylinder 15 is so constructed that it comes to its position where its engaging pin 15d can be disengaged from the engaging groove 16c of the cylinder type lock structure 16 when the cylinder in the cylinder type lock structure 16 is locked in the locked state, and, further, since the key 13 is held by the holding means of the inner cylinder 15, the inner cylinder 15 holding the key 13 is pulled up together with the key 13 and is separated from the cylinder type lock structure 16.
[0049] Since the inner cylinder 15 is held on the key 13 in the locked state as shown in Figs.6(d) and 7(c), it is surely decided by only looking at the key 13 after locking whether the locking device is in the locked state or in the unlocked state.
[0050] On the contrary, when the key 13 and the inner cylinder 15 are inserted in the cylinder type lock structure 16 so that the engaging pin 15d of the inner cylinder 15 comes into engagement with the engaging groove 16c of the cylinder type lock structure 16, and are operated inversely of the locking operation above, the locked state is cancelled band the locking device is turned into the unlocked state. In this unlocked state, the inner cylinder is separated from the key and is left in the cylinder type lock structure 16.
[0051] The lock body in the second embodiment described above can be manufactured by modifying the conventionally known so-called tubular-type locks.
[0052] Although the keys 3 and 13 in the first and second embodiments described above may be for exclusive use for this locking device or may be common with a key for other use, if, for example, this locking device is mounted on a motorcycle and one key is used in common for the locking device and for the motorcycle, it becomes impossible to insert the key in the key inserting hole for the motorcycle and start the engine while the locking device is in the locked state, because the inner cylinder is held on the key. Therefore, such a locking device is effective in that it is impossible to start the motorcycle engine with the locking device left locked causing damages on the cylinder type lock structure and its related components.
[0053] Although the inner cylinder 5 or 15 is so constructed as to become separable from the outer cylinder 4 or from the cylinder type lock structure 16 through combinations of the engaging pin 5c or 15d provided on the outer surface of the inner cylinder 5 or 15 and the engaging groove 4c provided on the inner surface of the outer cylinder 4 or the engaging groove 16b provided on the inner surface of the cylinder type lock structure in the first and second embodiments described above, this structure is not limited to those in these embodiments, but nay be any one if only the inner cylinder is left on the cylinder type lock structure when unlocked, and the inner cylinder is separated, together with the key, from the cylinder type lock structure when locked. Figs.8(a) through 8(c) are schematic partially sectional views of a lock body 20 showing another embodiment of the structure above: among which Figs.8(a) shows the unlocked state, Fig.8(b) shows the locked state, and Fig.8(c) shows the state of the key pulled up from the lock body in the locked state. In these drawings, the numerals 20, 21 ,22 and 23 denote a lock body, cylinder type lock structure, inner cylinder and key, respectively.
[0054] The cylinder type lock structure 21 has a flange portion 21a projected radially inward at its top surface, and this flange portion 21a has a notch portion 21b formed so as to be passed through by an engaging pin 22a of the inner cylinder 22. Although not shown, the inner cylinder 22 is provided with a key inserting hole and holding means, and has an engaging pin 22a formed on the outer surface thereof to be projected radially outward therefrom.
[0055] Fig.8(a) shows the unlocked state of the lock body, in which the engaging pin 22a on the inner cylinder 22 is engaged with the flange portion 21a of the inner cylinder 22 and can not be pulled upward.
[0056] Fig.8(b) shows the state of the lock body in which the key 23 and the cylinder (not shown) of the cylinder type lock structure 21 are pushed down and the cylinder is locked by rotating the cylinder above by, e.g., 180 degrees with the key 23 and the inner cylinder 22. The notch 21b of the cylinder type lock structure 21 and the engaging pin 22 a of the inner cylinder 22 are required to be positioned so that they may coincide with each other when the cylinder 22 is pushed down and locked (that is, in the locked state), and, by being thus positioned, it becomes possible for the inner cylinder 22 to be pulled up in the locked state.
[0057] Fig.8(c) shows the state of the lock body with the key 23 pulled up in the locked stated. In this instance, since the inner cylinder 22 holds the key 23 through its holding members, and its engaging pin 22a coincides with the notch 21b of the cylinder type lock structure 21 so as to be in a state capable of being pulled up, the inner cylinder 22 is pulled up together with the key 23 and is separated from the cylinder type lock structure 21.
[0058] Further, although the holding means for holding the key 3 or 13 are constituted of plate springs 5b, 5e or 15e, 15f in the previous embodiments, the structure of the key holding means is not limited to that in these embodiments, but may be an arbitrary one if only the key can be held with a suitable force when inserted in the inner cylinder and can be separated from the inner cylinder when required; for example, the holding means may be constituted of a pair of rollers 31 and 32 as shown in Figs.9(a) and 9(b).
[0059] Fig.9(a) is a schematic sectional view of an inner cylinder 30 having holding means constituted of rollers. These rollers 31 and 32 are regulated so that they may rotate only in one direction (shown with arrows F in Fig.9(a)) by a regulating member (ratchet mechanism, for example). Therefore, when the key is inserted in the inner cylinder 30, the rollers rotate so as to take it in and guide it, and the inserted key is frictionally engaged with these rollers 31 and 32 and can not be pulled out.
[0060] Since the regulating member above is so constructed that the regulation on the rollers 31 and 32 can be eliminated by moving the rollers 31 and 32 a little by inclining the key 33 or the like, if the user inclines the key 33 when pulling out it from the inner cylinder 30, it becomes possible for the rollers 31 and 32 to rotate in the reverse direction (shown with arrows R in Fig.9(b)), and key pulling out becomes possible.
[0061] Further, the structure of the cylinder type lock structure is not limited to that of this embodiment, and it may be a lock of any type which is operated by a key inserted when locking or unlocking, and the locking member in the locking device is not limited to that in this embodiment.
[0062] Further, although this invention has been described referring to a motorcycle locking device having two legs for locking the brake disk interposed therebetween, the structure and use of the locking device is not limited to those of this embodiment, but may be arbitrary if only the lock body is so constructed that part of the lock body can be separated, and the key can be held by the separable portion above, and this invention can be applied to a door lock.
[0063] Further, although this embodiment is so constructed that, through the combination of the engaging pin provided on the inner cylinder and the engaging groove (or flange) provided on the cylinder type lock structure side, the inner cylinder in the locked state may be separated from the cylinder type lock structure together with the key in the locked state, while the inner cylinder may be left on the cylinder type lock structure in the unlocked state, such a locking device can be constructed so that the inner cylinder may be left on the cylinder type lock structure in the locked state while the inner cylinder may be separated from the cylinder type lock structure in the unlocked state according to the position of the engaging pin, the form of the engaging groove, etc. For example, in case of the locking device in the first embodiment shown in Figs.1 through 4, it is only required to turn the generally L-shaped engaging groove 4c over by 180° to form it into an inverse L shape, and in the embodiment shown in Fig.8, it is only required to form the notch 21b formed at the flange 21a of the cylinder type lock structure 21 at a position coinciding with the engaging pin 22a in the unlocked state.
[0064] The locking device according to this invention comprises a lock body provided with a key inserting hole so as to be locked or unlocked by turning a key in the key hole into a locking or unlocking position, and is characterized in that the key inserting hole is provided therein with a key holding member for holding an inserted key, and at least a part of lock body portion defining the key inserting hole can be, in a state engaged with the key, separated from the lock body in the locked state. Therefore, the shape of the key itself in the unlocked state is different from that in the locked state, and the state of the lock, that is, whether it is locked or unlocked, is easily confirmed.
1. A locking device comprising a lock body (2; 12; 20) provided with a key inserting
hole (5b; 15c) for receiving a key (3; 13; 23; 33) characterized in that said lock body (2; 12; 20) being composed of at least two parts (5, 6; 15, 16; 21,
22) one of which being separable in a locked state of said locking device by said
key (3; 13; 23; 33).
2. A locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that said separable part (5; 15; 22) is provided with key holding means (5d, 5e; 15e,
15f; 31, 32) for holding said key (3; 13; 23; 33) in said locked state of said device.
3. A locking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said lock body (2) comprises outer and inner cylinders (4, 5) whereby said outer
cylinder (4) is fixed to a locking member (1) and comprises a cylinder type lock structure
(6) connected to said outer cylinder (4) and said inner cylinder (5) capable of being
removably connectable with said inner cylinder (4) by engaging means (4c, 5c).
4. A locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that said engaging means are an engaging groove (4c) provided in the inner surface of
said outer cylinder (4) and an engaging pin (5c) provided at the outer surface of
said inner cylinder (5) and being capable of engaging with said engaging groove (4c).
5. A locking device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said cylinder type lock structure (6) comprises a key inserting hole (6c) for engaging
said key (3) being capable of operating said lock body (2).
6. A locking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said lock body (12) comprises an inner cylinder (15) and a cylinder type lock structure
(16) provided with an axially slidable cylinder therein, whereby said cylinder type
lock structure (16) is fixed to a locking member (1) and said inner cylinder (15)
having a cylindrical body provided with an upper plate (15b) having a key inserting
hole (15c) at its outer end and an open bottom end, said inner cylinder (15) capable
of being removably connectable with said cylinder type lock structure (16) by engaging
means (15d, 16b).
7. A locking device according to claim 6, characterized in that said engaging means are an engaging pin (15d) provided at the outer surface of said
inner cylinder (15) and an engaging groove (16b) provided on the inner wall of said
cylinder type lock structure (16) and being capable of engaging with said engaging
pin (15d).
8. A locking device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said inner cylinder (15) is provided with at least one key groove (15a) being operatively
engagable with at least one key engaging portion (16b) provided at the inner wall
of said cylinder type lock structure (16) for operating said locking member (1).
9. A locking device according to at least one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that said key holding means are two plate springs (5d, 5e; 15e, 15f) opposing each other
adjacent said key inserting hole (5b; 15c).
10. A locking device according to at least one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that said key holding means are two rollers (31, 32) the axes of rotation of which are
arranged in parallel adjacent said key inserting hole, the rotating direction of said
rollers (31, 32) being regulated by a regulating member, for example a ratchet mechanism
, being controllable to allow one rotating direction or the opposite rotating direction,
respectively.
11. A locking device according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said locking device is a motorcycle locking device and that said key (3; 13; 23;
33) is the ignition key of said motorcycle.