GB2259488A

GB2259488A - A device to inhibit or limit depression of a control pedal in a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2259488A
Application number: GB9122990A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bryan Charles Harrison; Danny Charles Keaney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-09-11
Filing date: 1991-10-30
Publication date: 1993-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-30
Also published as: GB2259488B; GB9122990D0; GB9119402D0

Abstract

An anti-theft device to inhibit or limit depression of a control pedal in a vehicle including first and second sections (1, 2) arranged around a vehicles control pedals (22, 23). The first section (1) has a leg (7) extending towards a surface (8) towards which the pedals (22, 23) are usually depressed. Attempts to depress either of the pedals will cause the log to engage the surface and thus prevent operation of the pedal function. The first and second sections (1, 2) are hingedly connected to each other at one end and can be locked together at the other end by means of a removable barrel lock (3) which extends through a bore (15) in the second section (2) into locking engagement in a blind bore (4) in the first section (1). The second section also carries a portion 17 which is arranged, in use, to extend into a space defined between the pedals (22, 23). <IMAGE>

Description

A DEVICE TO INHIBIT OR LIMIT DEPRESSION OF A CONTROL PEDAL IN A VEHICLE The invention relates to a device to inhibit or limit depression of a control pedal in a vehicle.

With the upsurge in car theft and car-related crime, several vehicle security devices have been developed.

One such device is a double-ended hook type which limits use of the steering wheel and inhibits depression of a vehicle control pedal by hooking onto the steering wheel at one end and a selected control pedal at the other end. This device is intended to ensure that the vehicle is immobilised even in the event of a break-in.

Unfortunately, however, many security devices present little or no barrier to a determined thief, who, it is claimed, can remove devices, such as the doubleended hook, within a minute, while sitting in the driver 5 seat with the drivers door closed. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for inhibiting or limiting depression of a vehicle control pedal.

According to the invention there is provided a device to inhibit or limit the depression of a control pedal in a vehicle comprising a member to be secured to the pedal and arranged, in use, to extend between the pedal and a surface, towards which the pedal is normally depressed, whereby attempts to depress the pedal will cause the member to engage said surface.

Where the pedal is, for example, the clutch pedal, the device will prevent a thief operating the clutch to engage a gear once the engine is running.

The member may include a first section positioned, in use, between the said surface and the pedal and a second section positioned whereby the pedal is disposed between the first and second sections. The first and second sections may be separate parts which can be interconnected to form the member. The interconnection of the first and second sections may be by means of a hinge. A hinge interconnection is particularly useful in that it assists location and removal of the device.

The member may be secured by a removable lock. The lock may be arranged to secure the aforesaid first and second sections together. The lock may extend through the said second section for locking engagement with the first section to secure the first and second sections together. In a preferred embodiment, the lock extends into a substantially blind bore in the first section to prevent or inhibit access to that part of the lock in the bore. After assembling the device on the pedal, the lock may simply be pushed into position on the member so that a locking element on the lock snaps into a locking position to secure the device in position on the pedal. The lock may be completely removable from the member to enable the member to be removed from the pedal.

The member may include a leg engageable with said surface. In one embodiment of the invention the member may include a plurality of legs.

In one embodiment the member may be secured to a plurality of control pedals. In such an embodiment, the member may include a portion which extends into a space between two adjacent control pedals. Said portion may be carried by one of the said first and second sections.

An example of the device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of one embodiment of the device, in accordance with the invention, shown in an open position with its lock removed, Figure 2 is a plan view, drawn to a larger scale, of the device of Fig.l shown in a closed position, Figure 3 is an elevation similar to Figure 1 (but drawn to a larger scale) showing the device in a closed position, Figure 4 shows a hinge.pin assembly used in the device of Figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 is an end view of the removable lock, Figure 6 is an elevation of the removable lock, Figure 7 is a plan view of the aforementioned first section of the device of Figures 1 to 3, Figure 8 is an elevation of the first section shown in Fig.7, Figure 9 is an end view of part of the first section shown in Fig.8 looking in the direction of arrow IX in Fig.8, Figure 10 is a cross-section through the aforementioned second section of the device of Figs.l to 3 on line X-X in Fig.2, Figure ii is an elevation of another embodiment of the invention for two pedals and with two legs and Figure 12 is an elevation of a further embodiment of the invention for one pedal and with one leg.

The device shown in Figure 1 to 3 for inhibiting or limiting the depression of a control pedal in a vehicle comprises a first section 1, a second section 2 and a removable barrel lock 3 (shown removed).

The first section 1 is formed with a blind bore 4, which terminates at its lower end as shown in Figure 1 at a plug 4a, an arm la, spaced apart mountings 5 and 6 (see Fig.2) and a leg 7. The blind bore 4 is positioned at one end of the first section 1 and the leg 7 and the mountings 5 and 6 are located at the other end. The leg 7 extends towards a bulkhead 8 of the vehicle, said bulkhead 8 constituting the aforementioned surface in this embodiment.

Alternatively the leg 7 can extend towards a floor or other surface of the vehicle. The mountings 5 and 6 are spaced apart in such a way that the second section 2 can be positioned between them, substantially spaced from the arm la. The mountings 5 and 6 have mounting hinge bores 9 and 10. The mounting hinge bore 9 is blind and is formed in mounting 5. The mounting hinge bore 10 is formed in mounting 6 and includes a counter bore 12.

The second section 2 comprises an arm 2a which has a hinge pin bore 13 at its left hand end, as viewed in Figs.l to 3, The hinge pin bore 13 is coaxial with the mounting hinge bores 9 and 10 respectively, such that when a hinge pin 14 is inserted the sections 1 and 2 can pivot relative to each other with one degree of rotational freedom. A bore 15 is formed at the opposite end of the second section 2 and, when the device is in the closed position, the bore 15 is coaxial with the blind bore 4. The bore 15 has a counter bore 16. The arm 2a has thereon a projection 17 which is wedge-like in cross-section.

Once the hinge pin 14 is in position, a plug 14a is inserted into the counter bore 12 so that the plug lies flush with the mounting 6.

The removable barrel lock 3 (see Figs.1, 5 and 6) is cylindrical and has a lock shoulder 18 for location in counterbore 16 and a locking element 19. The locking element 19 can snap past a shoulder 20 in the blind bore 4.

The device can be located on to the pedals 22, 23 of the vehicle, typically the clutch and brake pedals of a manual gearbox vehicle or the brake and throttle pedals of an automatic gearbox vehicle. To locate the device onto the pedals 22, 23 (see Figs.1 and 3), the first section 1 is placed between the pedals 22, 23 and the bulkhead 8 with the leg 7 extending towards said bulkhead 8. The second section 2 is closed such that the pedals are disposed between the arms la and 2a of said sections 1 and 2 (see Fig.3).

The lock 3 is then pushed through the bore 15 in the second section 2 and into the blind bore 4 so that the locking element 19 snaps past the shoulder 20 to lock the first and second sections together. Once assembled, the device inhibits depression of the pedals 22, 23 disposed between the two arms 1a, 2a of sections 1 and 2 due to the close proximity of the leg 7 to the bulkhead 8, floor or other surface.

To remove the device, a key 24 for the lock 3 is inserted and turned. A catch pin 25 is disposed in the blind bore 4 below the shoulder 20 and is engageable with the locking element 19 to limit rotational movement of the lock 3 when the key is turned. Once the locking element 19 engages the catch pin 25, further rotation of the key will cause the locking element 19 to be withdrawn into the body of the lock 3. The lock 3 can then be removed from the bores 4 and 15 and the device is free to be removed.

Fig.11 shows a device identical to that shown with reference to Figs.1 to 10 except that the device is provided with two legs 7, one at each end of the arm la of the first section 1.

In a further embodiment (see Fig.12) the device is arranged to secure one pedal only. In such an embodiment the device has one leg 7 located on the arm la of the first section 1. The device does not have the projection 17 from the arm 2a on the second section 2, as there is only one pedal and therefore there is no space between pedals into which the projection can be disposed. In Fig.12 parts corresponding to parts in Figs.1 to 11 carry the same reference numerals.

Claims

1. A device to inhibit or limit the depression of a control pedal in a vehicle comprising a member to be secured to the pedal and arranged, in use, to extend between the pedal and a surface, towards which the pedal is normally depressed, whereby attempts to depress the pedal will cause the member to engage said surface.

2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the member includes a first section positioned, in use, between the said surface and the pedal and a second section positioned such that the pedal is disposed between the first and second sections.

3. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the first and second sections are separate parts which can be interconnected to form the member.

4. A device according to Claim 3 wherein the interconnection of the first and second sections is effected by means of a hinge.

5. A device according to any preceding Claim wherein the member is secured by a removable lock.

6. A device according to Claim 5 when appendant to Claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the lock is arranged to secure the first and second sections together.

7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein the lock extends through the second section for locking engagement with the first section to secure the first and second sections together.

8. A device according to any of Claims 5, 6 or 7 when appendant to Claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the lock extends into a substantially blind bore in the first section to prevent or inhibit access to that part of the lock in the bore.

9. A device according to any of Claims 5 to 8 wherein the lock is arranged to be pushed into position on the member so that a locking element on the lock snaps into a locking position to secure the device in position on the pedal.

10. A device according to any of Claims 5 to 9 wherein the lock is completely removable from the member to enable the member to be removed from the pedal.

11. A device according to any of Claims 5 to 10 wherein the lock is a removable barrel lock.

12. A device according to any preceding Claim wherein the member includes at least one leg which is arranged to engage with said surface in use.

13. A device according to Claim 12 wherein the member includes a plurality of said legs.

14. A device according to Claim 12 or 13 when appendant to Claim 2 or any Claim appendant thereto wherein the or each leg extends from the first sect ion.

15. A device according to any preceding Claim wherein the member is arranged to be secured to a plurality of control pedals in use.

16. A device according to Claim 15 wherein the member includes a portion which is arranged to extend into a space between two adjacent control pedals.

17. A device according to Claim 16 when appendant to Claim 2 or any Claim appendant thereto wherein the portion is carried by one of the first and second sections.

18. A device according to Claim 17 wherein the portion is carried by the second section.

19. A device to limit or inhibit the depression of a control pedal in a vehicle, the device being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.