The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 12, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 22, 2007
Masanari Okuno, Aichi, JP;
Hiroyasu Hasegawa, Aichi, JP;
Nobuhisa Inoue, Okazaki, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho, Aichi, JP;
Abstract
A steering lock apparatus for locking a steering shaft of a vehicle. The steering lock apparatus includes a motor and a lock assembly that is moved by the motor. The lock assembly includes a lock bar that moves between a lock position at which the lock bar is engaged with the steering shaft and an unlock position at which the lock bar is disengaged from the steering shaft. A magnet receptacle portion is arranged on the lock assembly. A magnet is attached to the magnet receptacle portion and moved integrally with the lock assembly. A magnetic field detection element detects a present position of the lock assembly based on a magnetic field of the magnet. The magnet is magnetically held and positioned in the magnet receptacle portion by magnetic attraction force produced between the magnet and a part of the lock assembly.