TRUCK BODY COMPARTMENT LOCKING MECHANISM

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to vehicle locking systems in particular but not exclusively to a modifiable operational compartment locking mechanism and central locking system for specialised truck canopy bodies.

BACKGROUND ART

Specially designed truck canopy bodies for mounting to a truck or utility vehicle or pickup truck chassis are known.

Prior art truck bodies with multiple compartments are usually designed for a particular trade or profession, for example, for electricians, linesman, plumbers and drainers, hydraulic hose repairers and the like.

In order to secure the lids of the compartments of the truck bodies, each lid usually has a separate latching mechanism which is usually manually operated and locked with a key. Where there are a number of vehicles in the workplace with numerous compartments having locks fitted, it becomes very time consuming to manually lock and unlock each individual compartment.

Some examples of the prior art include US 5,727,835 (Krush et.al) and US 6,702,358 B2 (Comstock).

US 5,727,835 is directed to a storage container having a security system for mounting within a bed of a vehicle. The security system may be operated by a vehicle battery and includes an alarm system utilizing the safety equipment of the vehicle such as a horn and a parking light. Unless disarmed, the alarm becomes activated whenever the lid of the storage container is opened.

US 6,702,835 B2 is directed to a truck bed cover lock having two locking units positioned to interact with the existing latch locks present on most bed covers. Each locking unit contains an actuator which is electrically connected to the existing or added on electric

locks in a truck. When the door locks in the truck are electrically locked the actuators extend a sliding latch into position behind the latch locks present on the bed cover thereby preventing the bed cover from being opened. Conversely, when the truck locks are electrically unlocked the actuators retract the slinging locks and permit the bed cover to be opened.

While both US 5,727,835 and US 6,702,835 B2 describe prior art locks for vehicle compartments they do not disclose a lock where the locks operation can be easily modified to accommodate prior art existing locks and especially where the modification can be effected by simply altering the configuration of a single component of the lock. The lack of this versatility in the prior art has resulted in numerous different systems and types of locks. There is therefore a disadvantage in having many manufacturers attempting to achieve a solution to the problem and the difficulty in not being able to modify existing locks to perform the intended function.

In addition, when a vehicle is parked on a worksite, without a simple and effective solution, the checking and locking of each and every compartment with a key is a non- profitable and tedious process. Theft of valuable equipment often occurs where compartments are not locked or inadvertently left unlocked.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a versatile and easily modifiable compartment lock or means to modify prior art compartment locks for commercial vehicles and to seek to ameliorate or alleviate the limitations and disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect therefore, the invention resides in a truck body compartment lock including in combination,

a housing having a flange member for flush fitting to a compartment lid, the flange having a bracket mount for internal latch means, the housing having an external handle

for operating the latch means between a locked and an un-locked position with respect to a strike plate,

a manual key operated lock to lock and unlock the latch,

two way solenoid means adapted to operate the latch mechanism between the locked and un-locked positions independently of the key operated lock,

a link between the solenoid actuator or plunger and the latch mechanism, said link specially adapted to accommodate and cooperate with a barrel mechanism of the operated lock by having a specially configured void or cut-out portion in the link through which the barrel passes, wherein a locking tongue of the barrel makes contact with opposing sides of the void or cut-out portion when locking and unlocking by key operation, the barrel tongue positioned without contact with and between the opposite sides when solenoid operation only is required for locking and unlocking the latch, and

wherein in operation, the lock can be locked or un-locked by providing electrical current to the solenoid or manually by the key operation according to the positioning of the locking tongue within the void or cut-out portion.

Preferably the shape of the void or cut-out portion can be modified by inserts to change the shape of the voids or cut-out portions wherein the cooperation of the link with respect to the barrel mechanism and locking action with respect to the latch operation is also changed.

Preferably there is spring urging means to urge the link into direct contact with the latch mechanism, wherein the link is responsible for retaining the latch in the locked or unlocked position.

Preferably individual locks are coordinated to operate with an existing central locking system of the vehicle and wherein there can be remote operation by RF signal transponder and relay means.

Preferably there is feedback means associated with the solenoid action to indicate by indicators whether the latch is in the locked or un-locked position.

More preferably, the feedback means is electronic microswitch means triggered by the position of the latch or solenoid actuator and said indicators are a pair of differently coloured lights or light emitting diodes (LEDs) which are alternatively illuminated depending on whether the latch is in the locked or un-locked position.

More preferably, the electronic microswitch feedback means can be associated with a LCD screen display located in the cabin of the vehicle to display which latches of the locks are in the locked or unlocked position.

In another aspect, the invention resides in a kit to convert existing and prior art compartment locks to operate as hereinbefore described, the kit including: a) a bracket as herein described for mounting the lock and internal latch means, b) two way solenoid means as herein described to operate the latch means, c) a linkage member as herein described to operationally connect the solenoid means to the latch means,

wherein in operation, the lock can be locked or un-locked by providing electrical current to the solenoid or manually by the key operation according to the positioning of a barrel locking tongue within a void or cut-out portion of the linkage member as herein described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention be better understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1 shows a perspective internal view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of the invention of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the invention of Figure 1 in the unlocked position.

Figure 4 shows the latch of Figure 1 in the locked position.

Figure 5 shows an external view of the invention fitted to a compartment.

Figure 6 shows a schematic of the LCD display system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Consistent numbering has been used across all drawings for the ease of identification of identical or similar parts and components.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 , will show a preferred truck body compartment lock 10 according to the invention. The lock mechanism is housed in housing 12 in communication with a flange 14 for flush fitting to a door or a compartment lid 16 of a truck body. There is an external handle (not shown) for operating the latch 18 with respect to a striker plate 20 on the truck body. There is manual key means 22 to lock and unlock the latch. The manual key means operating via an upright tang 22a engaging a cut out or slot 24a in the linkage 24 between the latch mechanism 18 and the solenoid plunger 27a. In this view the lid 13 of the housing 12 has been shown in cut away to expose the internal workings of the lock. The linkage 24 is preferably urged by a spring 24b to bring the linkage in direct contact with the latch mechanism to hold the latch in the locked or unlocked position.

Also shown is a microprocessor switch 26 with a switch lever 26a passing through the bracket means 28 supporting the latch. The switch lever 26a engages a screw 18a

attached to the latch 18 (shown in broken lines) in ordered to detect whether the latch is in the locked or unlocked position. The micro switch means is connected to indicators, preferably lights or light emitting diodes (not shown) which alternatively illuminate depending on whether or not the latch is in a locked or unlocked position. The micro switch means and the indicators comprise the feed back means of the invention herein before description.

Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown the preferred truck body compartment lock 10 of Figure 1 as a side elevation view. The external handle 40 operates the latch 18 through a threaded shaft 30 having lock nuts 32, 34 on either side and locking the latch 18 to the shaft 30.

The latch has a screw 18a which operates the switch lever 26a of the microprocessor switch 26 to indicate as part of the feedback, whether the latch is in the locked or unlocked position.

The linkage 24 between the latch 18 and the solenoid 27 enables the manual key operation 22 to also lock and unlock the latch. Depending on the position of the tang 22a of the manual key lock system within the cut out 24a in the linkage, the locking and unlocking of the latch can be preformed solely by the solenoid 27 without manual key operation. The latch 18 and threaded shaft 30 are supported in a bracket 28 attached to the housing 12 of the lock mechanism. Preferably the bracket has an aperture or void 28a to allow the passage of the switch lever 26a of the micro switch 26.

Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown a plan view of the lock 10 of Figure 1 where in the latch 18 is in the unlocked position. In this view the linkage 24 is in the rearward position as indicated by arrow 25 has disengaged with the indent 18b of the latch. As the latch has been rotated (shown by arrow 29) into the unlocked position, the screw 18a in the latch 18 has disengaged from the switch lever 26a there by allowing the micro switch 26 to send a signal to the indicators (not shown) that the latch is in the unlocked position. As shown the cut out 24a in the linkage 24 in this position also enables the linkage 24 to

be mainly operated by engaging with the tang 22a of the manual key lock mechanism 22.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the latch 18 in the locking position wherein the linkage 24 is fully extended to engage the indent 18b in the latch mechanism 18c. As the latch has been rotated into the locked position the screw 18a is in contact with the switch lever 26a thereby operating the micro switch 26 to provide a signal to the indicators indicating that the latch is in the locked position.

Also shown in this position is the tang 22a of the key mechanism 22 engaging the void 24a in the linkage so that the latch 18 can be unlocked manually by using the key 22b.

Referring now to Figure 5 there is shown an external view of the lock 10 showing the tee - shaped handle 40 which can be folded for safety and aesthetic reasons into the flange 14 together with the external key hole 22c for the manual operation of the lock. The flange 14 is bolted to a compartment door 16 which closes against an L shaped section 42 also operating as a striker plate for the latch (not shown).

In a preferred example as shown by Figure 6, there can also be microswitch electronic feedback means associated with an LCD display screen 30 located in the cab of the vehicle. The LCD screen would display whether or not the latches 32, 34, 36, 38 of each individual lock of the compartments is in the locked or unlocked position. Preferably there will be a microswitch or sensor control and junction box 40 for the collection and processing of lock status to be sent to the LCD display 30.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.