GB2276133A

GB2276133A - Vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2276133A
Application number: GB9305476A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Daniel Coxon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-17
Filing date: 1993-03-17
Publication date: 1994-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-17
Also published as: GB2276133B; AU6215894A; WO1994021495A1; GB9305476D0

Abstract

A vehicle anti-theft device comprises a tubular structure (7) through which a locking bar 9 may pass. Studs (4) are used to replace a plurality to wheel locking nuts on a vehicle tyre (1) carried by a wheel (2). When the vehicle is to be immobilised member (6) comprising axially extending arms are gauged with the outer threaded portions of the studs (4) and are arranged so that the tubular portion (7) is aligned so that the locking bar may be inserted through it and locked in place with a padlock 8 inserted through an aperture 10 in the bar 9. The end of the locking bar remote from the tubular portion (7) is arranged to engage the ground to prevent rotation of the vehicle wheel. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE This invention relates to a device for prevention of theft of cars or other automobiles.

The risk of theft is a significant hazard for car owners particularly in inner city areas. Although a variety of antitheft arrangements have been proposed, these have failed to prevent an increasing number of cars being stolen. Even if a car resists an attempt at theft after being broken into, a significant amount of damage may be incurred. A need exists for a robust anti-theft arrangement which is clearly visible from the exterior of a vehicle.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a vehicle anti-theft arrangement comprises a plurality of fixtures adapted to be secured to the retaining nuts of a wheel and a ground engaging member lockable to the fixtures to prevent movement of the vehicle.

The arrangement which has the general function of a wheel clamp is lighter, less bulky and more easily carried than existing wheel clamps.

According to a second aspect of the invention a vehicle anti-theft arrangement comprises a plurality of studs each adapted to replace a locking nut of a vehicle wheel, each stud having a threaded formation arranged to engage a respective member, each member being engagable with a locking bar, the locking bar being adapted to engage each said member and to extend into engagement with the ground adjacent said wheel, locking means being provided to releasably secure the locking bar to said members.

According to a third aspect of the invention a vehicle anti-theft arrangement comprises one or more fixtures adapted to be secured to a vehicle brake pedal, and which one or more fixtures is engageable with a member, the member being engageable with a locking member engageable with a vehicle bulk head.

The members may have male or female threaded portions adapted to engage complimentary threaded portions on the studs.

Each member may have a structure adapted to engage the locking bar.

Conveniently the structures incorporate apertures perpendicular to said threaded portions, the apertures being arranged to receive the locking bar.

The locking means may comprise a padlock. Preferred locking means incorporates an integral lock.

Preferably, each of the plurality of studs is internally threaded, and each member comprises a collet threadably engageable with a stud.

In use, in order to engage the members with a respective stud it is merely necessary to position the member over the respective stud and then to cause the collet to move into the stud and to become threadably engaged with the stud.

Embodiments of the invention will now be further described by way of example only but not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a wheel with the anti-theft arrangement in place; Figure 2 is an exploded cross-section through the wheel; Figure 3 is a cross-section illustrating an alternative locking arrangement; Figure 4 is a side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 3; Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative locking arrangement; Figure 7 illustrates a tubular structure adapted to cooperate with the locking arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6; Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the invention comprising members having collets engageable with studs; Figure 9 is an alternative arrangement in which the two members are a fixed distance apart from one another; Figure 10 is yet another arrangement of the second embodiment of the invention in which the members are engageable with an attachment assembly; Figure 11 is yet another arrangement of the second embodiment of the invention; Figure 12 is a more detailed representation of the locking arrangement of Figure 8; Figure 13 is a detailed representation of a member of the locking arrangement of Figure 12; and Figure 14 is a schematic representation of an anti-theft arrangement according to a third aspect of the invention, attached to the brake pedal of a vehicle.

In the following description the same reference numerals are used to denote like parts in corresponding figures.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Vehicle tyre 1 carried by a wheel 2 and having threaded studs 3 in conventional manner is secured using locking nuts 4.

The locking nuts incorporate inner and outer threaded portions, the inner threaded portions being adapted to engage the wheel studs 3 and the outer portions which may carry the female thread as shown or male thread as convenient, are adapted to engage complimentary threads 5 on respective members 6.

Members 6 comprise axially extending arms surmounted by tubular structures 7 through which a locking bar 9 may pass. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the tubular structures 7 may be replaced by alternative formations adapted to engage an otherwise shaped locking bar 9. For example the locking bar 9 may include a slot into which T-shaped heads carried by the arms 6 could be slidably received. A padlock 8 or other locking means passing through apertures 10 in the locking bar 9 serves to prevent withdrawal of the locking bar from the tubular structure 7.

In use of the apparatus the studs 4 are used to replace a plurality, preferably two of the vehicle locking nuts. When the vehicle is to be immobilised the members 6 are gauged with the outer threaded portions of the studs 4 and are arranged so that the tubular portions 7 are aligned so that the locking bar may be inserted through it. The end of the locking bar remote from the tubular portion 7 is arranged to engage the ground to prevent rotation of the vehicle wheel.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the locking bar 9 is arranged to be received in the tubular portion 7 but with the tubular portion 7 incorporating a lock 13 arranged upon actuation to prevent withdrawal of the locking bar 9. The lock may serve to drive a stud 12 into engagement with a formation on the interior surface of the tubular portion 7 (not shown).

Figures 5 to 7 illustrate an alternative locking arrangement. The locking bar 9 incorporates a barrel lock 21 arranged to be actuated by key 20. A locking plate 22 secured to the barrel 21 is arranged to rotate when the lock is closed and to protrude from a slot 23 in the side of the locking bar 9. The tubular portion 7 as shown in Figure 7 incorporates a slot 24 arranged to communicate with the slot 23 so that the locking member 22 engages slot 24 to prevent removal of the locking arrangement from the vehicle wheel. The barrel 21 may be disposed in spaced relation to the axis of the locking bar 9 so that the locking member 22 moves eccentrically with respect to said axis.

Referring to Figures 8 to 13 a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Referring first to Figure 8, a vehicle tyre (not shown) carried by a wheel 80 comprises wheel nuts 81 which are used to replace one or more of the original wheel nuts (not shown).

The locking nuts 81 comprise a first inner threaded portion adapted to engage with wheel studs (not shown) and a second inner threaded portion which is adapted to engage with a collet within a respective member 82 of an anti-theft arrangement 83 (shown in more detail in Figures 12 and 13). The members 82 comprise axially extending arms attached to a locking bar 84, which in this example has a rectangular cross section. One of the arms 82 is in a fixed position whilst the other arm 85 has a variable position as it is slidably mounted on the locking bar 84 by means of a collet 86. Each of the members 82, 85 is adapted to engage with a locking nut 81.

Figure 9 illustrates an alternative arrangement of an anti-theft device. In the arrangement shown in Figure 9 the two members 82 both have a fixed position relative to one another, and are both associated with a lock 91. In the arrangement shown in Figure 10 a security arrangement 100 is adapted to fit on to wheel of the vehicle. Securing tubes 110 replace a plurality of wheel nuts.

Referring now to Figures 12 and 13 a member 82 is shown in more detail. The member 82 comprises a collet 130, a collet pin 132, a spring 134 and a lock radial pin 136. The member 82 further comprises a lock assembly housing 138 and a lock 140.

When the lock 140 is pushed into the member 82, the collet pin 132 is forced into the collet. This in turn forces the collet into threaded engagement with the locking nut 81.

This secures the nut into the lock assembly housing. To unlock the anti-theft device, it is merely necessary to unlock the lock associated with the member 82. Typically the lock will comprise a radial tumbler pin lock.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 8 only one member 82 has a lock associated with it, whereas the embodiment shown in Figure 9 has a lock associated with each of the two members.

Referring to Figure 14, a further embodiment of the invention is shown, adapted for attachment to a brake pedal of a vehicle. The device 140 is similar to that illustrated in Figures 8 to 13 and comprises a hinge bolt 141 engageable with brake pedal 142. The hinge bolt 141 is connected to lock assembly 143 of a type described hereinabove. The locking assembly 143 is connected to a member 144 which in turn is attached to a bracket 145 attachable to the bulk head 146 of the vehicle. The member 144 is slideable relative to lock assembly 143 by means of collet 147 which is similar to collet 86 illustrated in Figure 8 and described hereinabove.

To activate the lock assembly 143, the footbrake is depressed.

Claims

1. A vehicle anti-theft arrangement comprising a plurality of fixtures adapted to be secured to the retaining nuts of a wheel and a ground engaging member lockable to the fixtures to prevent movement of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle anti-theft arrangement comprising a plurality of studs each of which studs are adapted to replace the locking nut of a vehicle wheel, each stud having a threaded formation arranged to engage a respective member, each member being engageable with a locking bar, the locking bar being adapted to engage each said member and to extend into engagement with the ground adjacent said wheel, locking means being provided to releasably secure the locking bar to said members.

3. A vehicle anti-theft arrangement comprising one or more fixtures adapted to be secured to a vehicle brake pedal, and which one or more fixtures is engageable with a member, the member being engageable with a locking member engageable with a vehicle bulk head.

4. A vehicle anti-theft arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the members have either male or female threaded portions adapted to engage complementary dead threaded portions on the studs.

5. A vehicle anti-theft arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each member has a structure adapted to engage the locking bar.

6. A vehicle anti-theft arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the structures incorporate apertures perpendicular to said threaded portions, the apertures being arranged to receive the locking bar.

7. A vehicle anti-theft arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a padlock.

8. A vehicle anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the locking means incorporates an integral lock.

9. A vehicle anti-theft arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the plurality of studs in internally threaded, and each member comprises a collet threadably engageable with a stud.

10. A vehicle anti-theft arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.