AU599230B2 - Car lock - Google Patents

Description

599230 MAIL OFFICER.. Ii E a 9L Stt Sv Ir *1 ti "i iI 1-f This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correct for printing.

LODGED AT SUB-OFFICE 9 MAY 1988 Melbourne

APPLICANT:

St t tt t ANTHONY JOHN SEARLE PI 1805/87 PI 5763/87 NUMBER: FILING DATE: 08 May 87 07 Dec 87 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Act 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INVENTION ENTITLED: i- CAR LOCK The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 8!: 1. h 1 This invention relates to a car lock and, specifically, to a lock of the type which can be interconnected between an operating pedal of the car and the steering wheel which provides both a limitation as to the movement of the pedal and to the movement of the wheel.

f In manual cars, such locks are normally fitted between the clutch and the steering wheel, but, in automatic cars, they are fitted between the brake too and the steering wheel.

Car locks of this general type are known and, basically, have been formed of two tubular members, one of which telescopes within the other, and the smaller diameter one of which is provided with a form of grooves or teeth which can interengage with a lock member, usually in a ratchet arrangement, so that the two components can be telescoped together, locking occuring automatically, and, when it is desired to separate the S* components, a lock barrel in connection with the ratchet mov:?: the ratchet out of engagement with the teeth so that movement can occur.

These forms of lock have substantial disadvantages.

The main one of these is that they are relatively flimsy, can readily be sawn through and, normally, the ratchet can be deformed or destroyed by relative rotation between the two components which can permit the lock to Sl be separated.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a lock of this general type which overcomes the disadvantages of previously known locks.

Further, there have been certain problems with locks of this general type -i when used with sports steering wheels, which have an exposed, or readily -2- A H Searle/62/May88 111 a 7' l j l l: i w 1 1 1 I J"

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9B 0 009 Ir000 0o~ 0000 *i tr t t II 4 0r6* I1 I C0 Se't exposable central nut, by means of which the wheel is held on to the steering shaft, and that is that by removing this nut, the wheel can be removed, the lock can be disengaged, the wheel replaced and the vehicle stolen.

A second object of the invention is to provide a steering lock which can overcome this disadvantage.

The invention, in its broadest sense, includes a car lock having two components, one of which is adapted to be located behind an operating control of the vehicle, and the other, over the steering wheel of the vehicle, the components having complementary faces whereby they can move longitudinally, one relative to the other, in close abutting relationship, a receiver over part of one of the components which receiver, in cross section is complementary to the other component, to restrain the transverse movement of the components and at least one aperture through the receiver and its associated aperture component and at least one aperture through the other component which can be brought into alignment with that in the receiver and its associated component whereby a lock can be passed through the receiver, the other component and the component associated with the receiver and locked.

In a preferred form of lock there is, a shroud associated with the receiver and adjacent the aperture therein, which shroud receives the exposed hasp of the lock, whereby access to the lock is restricted.

The shroud may be of a hard steel, such as stainless steel, and may have a pair of wings which lie on either side of the hasp of the lock and may also extend over the body thereof.

The shroud may be moveable along the receiver, or it may be fixed thereto.

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I1 I *I I I II I. I In the second aspect of the invention, I provide a steering lock of the general type described hereinbefore having an associated lock member which is adapted to be connected to the side of a steering wheel, away from the connection of the lock member therewith, to overlie the hub of the steering wheel and to be releaseably connected to the lock member.

The form of releaseable connection may be by means of a subsidiary lock or the like or, alternatively, the subsidiary lock member could be located and connected to the lock by an extension passing into an aperture in the lock or associated with the lock or the like, the arrangement being such that, when the lock is located, but subsidiary lock member cannot be removed therefrom.

Preferably, there may be more than one aperture through the receiver and its associated component, so that more than one lock can be used, and it is preferred that the other component has a plurality of apertures so that the lock can be effectively used with different vehicles.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I shall describe, in relation to the accompanying drawings, particular forms of car lock made in accordance with the invention.

In these drawings: Fig. I shows a view of a first form of lock made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 shows a view with the components of the lock assembled; -4r88 Sear e/2/Ma) i Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of a more sophisticated form of lock; It tt Elr lid? I I It ri

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I* Ii 4 *1 I 00v F Fig. 4 shows the arrangement where the lock used with the embodiment of Fig. 3 is effectively shrouded; Fig. 5 shows a form of steering lock which can be used with a lock of the type of the earlier Figures; and Fig. 6 shows the steering lock in position.

In this specification the word "car" is used generically and can include other vehicles having the essential operating controls for the lock to be effective.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 the components are preferably made of a stainless steel bar, which is rectangular in section, although any shape of bar which can present a surface complementary to a second component can be used.

In this description, we shall refer to the components as being rectangular with the abutting surfaces, as will be described, being the wider surface of the rectangle.

As mentioned, we prefer that the bars are made of stainless steel because it is very difficult to readily saw through this material with a normal hacksaw although, if required, the bars could be made of mild steel which could be case hardened and then surface treated, as by chroming, although such material would not be as satisfactory as stainless steel.

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*s 4 *4i 0 One of the bars 11 may, part way along its length 15, be twisted through 900 and may have an inturned U 16 at one end.

TLis bar may have, adjacent its other end, a receiver or shroud 17 which can have a U-shaped cross section with the width of the U being such that the arms can lie closely beside the sides of the bar and be connected thereto by welding substantially along its length and, again, it is preferred that the shroud be made of a stainless steel.

Passing through the shroud and the associated bar there may a pair of spaced apertures which are of a diameter sufficient to receive the hasp of a padlock.

The other bar 12 is of the same material as the first bar 11 and can be received between the upper surface 19 of first bar and the shroud 17 and can move longitudinally relative to the first bar 11.

The bar 12 may have a pair of holes which correspond to the holes through the shroud 17 and the first bar 11 or it may have a number of pairs of holes to enable the two bars 11, 12 to be located in a number of different positions, but with holes of the two bars and the shroud 17 in alignment so that a lock can be passed through one of these sets of holes or locks can passed through the two sets.

The bar 12 has a returned U 32 at its outer end.

In use, the two bars I 1, 12 can either be in engagement or separate, the bar 11 can be located beneath the operating arm of the clutch or brake of the vehicle and the other bar 12 can be brought into engagement with the steering wheel rim, normally with the U-shaped component 32 being I I 1: Sear le/62/May88 i LIr-- I_1I-^_-4

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4.4: 4 044$ 44r .4 4 directed around the outside of the rim. The two components are then brought together until they are in a relatively close contact and with the holes of the second component in alignment with those of the first component, at which time the hasp 41 of a lock, or locks, can be passed therethrough.

It will be seen that, when so located, the lock operates in a manner similar to previously known locks, that is that there is a restriction on the downward movement of the clutch or brake and also a restriction on the movement of the steering wheel so that the vehicle can effectively not be driven.

The lock of the present invention differs from those previous locks in that the restraint against longitudinal movement of the two components is provided by the hardened steel hasp 36 of a padlock 35 and, as such, it is not possible to force the components to move. At the same time, because of the material of the components and the hardness of the hasp of the padlock, it is an extremely time consuming matter to attempt to either cut through the padlock or one of the bars 11, 12 of the lock to remove the lock. Time is, of course, of the essence in cases such as this, as no car thief can afford to spend substantial time whilst attempting to steal a car.

As can be seen, the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is, generally, very similar to the embodiment of Figs. I and 2 and the similar parts will not be further described.

Located about the receiver 17 there is a shroud 40 which may comprise a tube 41 which is complementary in shape to the receiver, so as to be locatable over the receiver and which has a pair of wings 42 which can -7- 88 Searlef62/Ma) extend outwardly from the tube in parallel transverse planes. It can be seen that these wings are effectively L-shaped.

Between the wings, the tube has a pair of corresponding apertures, not illustrated, in each opposite surface, or diametrically opposed should the 1 tube be circular, which are adapted to align with the apertures 20 in the S. receiver, there being only one pair of such apertures in this embodiment.

I $1 t tr The shape of the wings is such that, when the two components of the lock I t are in alignment and the shroud is located so that its apertures are in alignment with the apertures of the receiver and the components, the hasp S1*. 36 of a lock can pass through the apertures to lock the components in the conventional way but, when locked, the free arm of the hasp of the lock is received between the portions of the wing which extend outwardly from the face of the tube which is not apertured and the top, curved, portion of the hasp is received between the portion of the wings adjacent the aperture on one side. Thus, when the lock is in position, as can be seen from Fig. 4, no part of its hasp is exposed and, if the hasp is to be sawn, it is necessary, also, to saw through the wings 42. The wings could, if required extend downwardly to also cover the top of the lock body.

As the wings are preferably made of a hardened material, as described in relation to the other components, this would make cutting the hasp of the ^lock a very tedious and time consuming operation.

The shroud can be fixed on the receiver, if there is only one pair of apertures therein, or, as illustrated, it can be moveable along the receiver, I so as to overlie any apertures which are provided.

Also, it may be preferred to provide a stop member 45 on the receiver SSear le/62/May88 a

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t at ti *r a a, $1- 4 4 t #1 4 L I against which the shroud can abut when it is in alignment with one of the apertures.

The use of this embodiment is similar to that of the previous embodiment except, if the shroud is moveable, it must be aligned with the apertures as described above.

In a further embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, I provide a subsidiary lock member As can be seen from the Figures, this subsidiary lock member 50 can be effectively identical in operation to the lock member of the second embodiment.

It differs only in that the U-shaped member 51 is parallel to the U-shaped member 52, rather than at right angles thereto as shown in the second embodiment and the length of the lock member is such that it is adapted to extend effectively over the diameter of a steering wheel.

Mounted on the eh l -there is a plate 53 which is shown as two plate members, one extending from each side of the shroud.

This lock member operates in conjunction with a lock member of the type of one of the two previous embodiments, with the lock member differing from those illustrated in that it has a U-shaped member or the like extending upwardly therefrom.

I Reference to Fig. 6 shows the operation of this subsidiary lock member.

A The U-shaped end 51 engages with the extension 55 on the normal lock i member after the U-shaped member 52 has been located over the outer

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i I Searle/62/May88 L i 1 1 b i~ 1 i0;: L L. i. circumference of the steering wheel 56 of the vehicle.

The arrangement is such that the plate 53 overlies the hub of the steering wheel.

As with the previous embodiment, the lock 57 of the subsidiary lock 0*0 member is locked when the various apertures are in alignment and, when the main lock member is locked, the subsidiary lock member cannot be removed from the steering wheel as the movement of the U-shaped member 51 relative to the extension 55 is very restricted.

o At the same time, it will be seen that there can be no access to the hub nut "of the steering wheel.

This arrangement protects sports dars and the like which have a central steering wheel nut from theft by the removal of the steering wheel which permits release of the normal lock member so that, when the steering wheel is replaced, the vehicle can be driven.

Whilst, in the various embodiments, I have described the lock as being made of rectangular components, it will be appreciated that other shapes can readily be used, for example, half circular components could readily be used with their diametric faces in abutment when the lock is assembled or |any other shape which has complementary surfaces could be used, provided a receiver can be formed which will closely hold the two components in :abutment.

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Claims (6)

1. A car lock having two components, one of which is adapted to be located behind an operating control of the vehicle, and the other, over the steering wheel of the vehicle, the components having complementary faces whereby they can move longitudinally, one relative to the other, in close abutting relationship, a receiver over part of one of the components which receiver, in cross section is complementary to the other component, to restrain the transverse movement of the components and at least one aperture through the receiver and its associated aperture component and a corresponding aperture through the other component can be brought into alignment with that in the receiver and its associated component whereby a lock can be passed through the receiver, the other component and the component associated with the receiver and locked.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a shroud associated with the receiver having two wings extending outwardly about the aperture therethrough whereby, when a lock is located through the apertures of the shroud and the components, the hasp of the lock is located between wings of the shroud.

3. A lock as claimed in claim 2 wherein the shroud can move along the receiver to be located over any aperture which passes therethrough.

4. A lock as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the components 9r9 4 0 4099 9 9 91 S.cu tttt I C IttC IC'C C C V; C C f: 11 1 I", 6 s S' i't 1 S- 1 l f P u I i r -11- Sear le/62/May88 ,9. i~i i; are square or rectangular. r, t 44 r c e C CV 4 'c C 4 4 A lock as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein there is a secondary lock member having two components as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, one of the components being adapted to pass over the steering wheel of a car on the side away from the connection of the lock and the other component being adapted to be interconnected with the lock, before the fitting thereof, whereby the secondary lock cannot be removed until the lock is removed.

6. A lock as claimed in claim 5 wherein the secondary lock has a plate which extends over the hub of the steering wheel.

7. A lock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 27th day of April, 1990 Er4' 1o 4 444; 44;. 4 4 I II 4t 4 ANTHONY JOHN SEARLE By His Patent Attorneys A. TATLOCK ASSOCIATES SI' C jO 4 Sear 4 /May88 -12-. t i' ;t 1