Bi-stable mechanism and anti-theft device for a motor vehicle comprising such mechanism
US4350852A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1980 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/18864
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a bi-stable (toggle) mechanism for a vehicle anti-theft device comprising a lever 5 pivotally mounted by a shaft 6, the said lever being subject to the action of a spring 10 and movable from one stable position through a center position to a second stable position. In the mechanism according to the invention, the said spring 10 consists of a hairpin type spring of which one end 9 is connected to one end of the said lever 10 and the other end 11 mounted so as to pivot at a fixed point 12. The distance between the ends 9, 11 of the spring 10 when the lever 5 is in either stable position is greater than the distance between the point 12 of location of the spring 10 and the point of engagement of the spring end 9 with the lever end when the lever 5 is at its center position whereby the spring becomes more compressed as the lever approaches the center position where the lever is unstable. The distance between the two ends 9, 11 of the hairpin spring 10 is less than half that length of the lever 5 which is included between its shaft 6 and the point 12 at which the hairpin spring 10 is located.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.