Vehicle storage box locking device

Abstract

A locking device for a storage box in a vehicle includes a lock configured to place the storage box in a closed state or an open state, and an actuator configured to drive the lock. The locking device further includes a button configured to place the storage box in the open state. The locking device is configured to perform an authentication of a portable key when the button is operated and the storage box is closed. When the portable key is authenticated when the button is operated, the lock is configured to place the storage box in the open state. When the portable key is not authenticated when the button is operated, the storage box is configured to be held in the closed state without the lock being driven. When the portable key is authenticated when the storage box is closed, the lock is configured to be driven to place the storage box in the closed state. When the portable key is not authenticated when the storage box is closed, the storage box is configured to be held in the open state without the lock being driven.

1 . A locking device for a storage box in a vehicle, comprising:
 a lock configured to place the storage box in a closed state or an open state;   an actuator configured to drive the lock; and   a button configured to place the storage box in the open state,   wherein the locking device is configured to perform an authentication of a portable key when the button is operated and the storage box is closed,   wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the button is operated, the lock is configured to place the storage box in the open state, and wherein, when the portable key is not authenticated when the button is operated, the storage box is configured to be held in the closed state without the lock being driven, and   wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the storage box is closed, the lock is configured to be driven to place the storage box in the closed state, and wherein, when the portable key is not authenticated when the storage box is closed, the storage box is configured to be held in the open state without the lock being driven.   
     
     
         2 . The locking device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lock is further configured to maintain the storage box in the closed state, when the storage box is held in the closed state for a predetermined period of time and when the portable key is not authenticated. 
     
     
         3 . The locking device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an authenticator configured to perform the authentication of the portable key,   wherein the authenticator is configured to terminate the authentication when the authenticator determines that the portable key is a valid portable key for the vehicle, and   wherein the authenticator is configured to continue the authentication when the authenticator determines that the portable key is not the valid portable key for the vehicle.   
     
     
         4 . The locking device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking device is configured to be implemented on the storage box of a motorcycle. 
     
     
         5 . A locking device for a storage box in a vehicle, comprising:
 an open/close latch configured to change the storage box between a closed state and an open state;   an open lever configured to drive the open/close latch in an open direction;   a lock knob configured to be
 disposed outward of a vehicle body, 
 manually changed from an unlocked position to a locked position, 
 placed in the unlocked position from the locked position only by an actuator, and 
 selectively placed in one of 
 the locked position, wherein the storage box is configured to be brought into a locked state by prohibiting the open/close latch from being driven in the open direction, and 
 the unlocked position, wherein the storage box is configured to be brought into an unlocked state by enabling the open/close latch to be driven in the open direction, 
   the locking device further comprising   the actuator configured to selectively place the lock knob in one of the locked position and the unlocked position,   wherein the locking device is configured to authenticate a portable key, when the open lever is operated when the storage box is in the locked state, wherein when the portable key is authenticated when the open lever is operated, the lock knob is configured to be driven into the unlocked position, and wherein when the portable key is not authenticated, the lock knob is configured to be held in the locked position, and   wherein the locking device is configured to authenticate the portable key, when the lock knob is changed from the unlocked position to the locked position, wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the lock knob is operated, the lock knob is configured to be held in the locked position, and wherein when the portable key is not authenticated, the actuator is configured to place the lock knob in the unlocked position.   
     
     
         6 . The locking device of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an authenticator configured to perform the authentication of the portable key,   wherein the authenticator is configured to terminate the authentication when the authenticator determines that the portable key is a valid portable key for the vehicle, and   wherein the authenticator is configured to continue the authentication when the authenticator determines that the portable key is not the valid portable key for the vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The locking device of  claim 5 , wherein the locking device is configured to be implemented on the storage box of a motorcycle. 
     
     
         8 . A locking device for a storage box in a vehicle, comprising:
 securing means for placing the storage box in a closed state or an open state;   actuating means for driving the lock device; and   releasing means for placing the storage box in the open state,   wherein the locking device is configured to perform an authentication of a portable key when the releasing means is operated and the storage box is closed,   wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the releasing means is operated, the securing means is for placing the storage box in the open state, and wherein, when the portable key is not authenticated when the releasing means is operated, the storage box is configured to be held in the closed state without the securing means being driven,   wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the storage box is closed, the securing means is for placing the storage box in the closed state, and wherein, when the portable key is not authenticated when the storage box is closed, the storage box is configured to be held in the open state without the securing means being driven.   
     
     
         9 . A locking device for a storage box in a vehicle, comprising:
 latching means for changing the storage box between a closed state and an open state;   levering means for driving the latching means in an open direction;   securing means disposed outward of a vehicle body for
 manually changing the locking device from an unlocked position to a locked position, and 
 selectively placing the locking device in one of
 the locked position, wherein the storage box is configured to be brought into a locked state by prohibiting the open/close latch from being driven in the open direction, and 
 the unlocked position, wherein the storage box is configured to be brought into an unlocked state by enabling the open/close latch to be driven in the open direction, 
 
   the locking device further comprising   actuating means for selectively placing the securing means in one of the locked position and the unlocked position,   wherein the locking device is configured to authenticate a portable key, when the levering means is operated when the storage box is in the locked state, wherein when the portable key is authenticated when the levering means is operated, the actuating means is for driving the securing means into the unlocked position, and wherein when the portable key is not authenticated, the actuating means is for driving the securing means into the locked position, and   wherein the locking device is configured to authenticate the portable key, when the securing means is changed from the unlocked position to the locked position, wherein, when the portable key is authenticated when the securing means is operated, the actuating means is for driving the securing means to be held in the locked position, and wherein when the portable key is not authenticated, the actuating means is for placing the securing means in the unlocked position.   
     
     
         10 . A method for changing a locking device of a storage box from a locked state to an unlocked state by performing authentication of a portable key uniquely set for a vehicle, the method comprising:
 determining whether the storage box is in a closed state or an open state;   performing the authentication of the portable key, using a locking device, when a button is operated and the storage box is closed;   placing the storage box in the open state, when the portable key is authenticated when the button is operated;   holding the storage box in the closed state without the locking device being driven, when the portable key is not authenticated when the button is operated;   placing the storage box in the closed state, when the portable key is authenticated when the storage box is closed; and   holding the storage box in the open state without the locking device being driven, when the portable key is not authenticated when the storage box is closed.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 maintaining the storage box in the closed state, when the storage box is held in the closed state for a predetermined period of time and when the portable key is not authenticated.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 terminating the authentication of the portable key when a determination has been made that the portable key is a valid portable key for the vehicle.   
     
     
         13 . A method for changing a storage box in a vehicle between a locked state and an unlocked state by performing authentication of a portable key uniquely set for the vehicle, the method comprising:
 determining whether the storage box is in a closed state or an open state;   performing the authentication of the portable key, using a locking device, when an open lever is operated when the storage box is in the locked state, the performing comprising
 driving the lock knob of the locking device to place the storage box in the unlocked state, when the portable key is authenticated when the open lever is operated, and 
 holding the lock knob of the locking device to place the storage box in the locked state, when the portable key is not authenticated; and 
   performing an authentication of the portable key, using the locking device, when the lock knob of the locking device is changed from the unlocked position to the locked position, the performing comprising
 holding the lock knob of the locking device to place the storage box in the locked state, when the portable key is authenticated when the lock knob is operated, and 
 actuating the locked knob to place the storage box in the unlocked state, when the portable key is not authenticated. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 terminating the authentication of the portable key when a determination has been made that the portable key is a valid portable key for the vehicle.