A steering lock assembly to lock and unlock a steering shaft by use of a key. The rotation of the rotor through key manipulation is controlled by a knob provided back of the steering lock assembly with a spacing to make impossible one-hand operation. Only when the knob is depressed, control means permits the rotor to rotate from an unlock position to a lock position with the result that car accidents due to inadvertent pulling out of the key on a down-hill ride is avoided.

When a key cylinder is caused to come off a body, a regulating lever moves. As a result of such movement, a block member moves to engage with an engagement groove of an engagement body, so that the rotation of a cam shaft can be blocked. In addition, a lock piece enters between the block member and a cover. Even if the regulating lever is broken, the rotation of the cam shaft is blocked by the block member, and even if one attempts to move the block member in a disengagement direction, the movement of the block member is blocked by the lock piece.

Sensors such as switches are arranged to detect the insertion of a key into a key cylinder, the rotation of the key to one or more operative positions, the position of a transmission shift level, the depressions of a brake pedal and the like, and to produce signals which are processed by logic circuits in a manner to determine the energization mode and timing of the solenoid or the like motor arrangement in a manner which locks or releases a safety button which must be pressed before the steering column of a vehicle can be locked. The mechanism which performs the locking operation is mounted on the exterior of the housing in which the key cylinder is disposed, thus facilitating assembly.

An inhibitor in an automobile steering column coincidental lock of the type having a stationary armored sleeve and a key controlled barrel in the sleeve rotatable in an unlocking direction from a LOCK position to and through an OFF position and in a locking direction from the OFF position to the LOCK position. The inhibitor includes a stepped annular shoulder on the barrel facing an annular end face on the sleeve, a blocking pin on the sleeve biased against the annular end face, and a release pin on the barrel adjacent the step in the annular shoulder. The blocking pin intercepts the step in the annular shoulder in the OFF position of the barrel to prevent attainment of the LOCK position. A finger button on the barrel is depressed by the driver to move the release pin to an extended position pushing the blocking pin into the sleeve out of the way of the step to permit rotation of the barrel to its LOCK position. The inhibitor cannot be defeated by pushing the finger button ahead of the OFF position of the barrel.

A steering wheel lock device comprising a key rotor housed in a rotor case and adapted to be turned between a lock position and an operative position by a key inserted into said key rotor, said key rotor being allowed to move in its axial direction by pressing operation of the key; a cam rotated in association with the key rotor so as to move the lock member; a regulating member having a distal end portion; a regulating projection formed on the outer peripheral surface of the key rotor in such a manner that when the key rotor is turned from the lock position to the operative position, the distal end portion of the regulating member passes past the regulating projection relative thereto, thereby allowing rotation of the key rotor toward the operative position, and when the key rotor is turned from the operative position to the lock position with the key rotor kept in a non-pressed condition, the regulating projection is engaged with the distal end portion of the regulating member, thereby preventing the key rotor from turning to the lock position; and a bypass passage provided in the outer peripheral surface of said key rotor so as to bypass said regulating projection.