Key operated ignition lock for motor vehicle has retractable retaining ball extending into key slot to retain key

摘要

The key operated ignition lock has a rotor (14) with a slot (16) to receive a key (12) and rotatably mounted in a stator (18). A retaining ball (22) to hold the key in the rotor is fitted between it and the stator. The ball is movable from a position in which it extends into the slot and a retracted position. The stator has a radial recess (26) coinciding withe the stopped position of the rotor in which the ball (22) is displaceable between the extended and retracted positions.