AU768215B2

AU768215B2 - Vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: AU768215B2
Application number: AU72228/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Barrett John Loraine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-14
Filing date: 2000-12-13
Publication date: 2003-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-13
Also published as: AU7222800A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): BARRETT JOHN LORAINE Invention Title: VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE This invention relates to a device for reducing the likelihood of theft of a vehicle.

The theft of vehicles is a problem across the world. Vehicles are usually stolen by two categories of thief, namely, the professional thief that has sophisticated means of acquiring a specific vehicle for a specific purpose and the more casual thief or joy rider that simply steals a vehicle for fun. It is extremely difficult to deter or prevent theft of vehicles by the first category of thieves. There are however many products on the market that can be used to deter the second .*category. These devices range from sophisticated car alarms and electronic immobilisers to devices that are attached to the steering wheel, hand-brake or gearshift to prevent operation of those components. These devices tend to be conspicuous so that they can be spotted by a thief before breaking into the vehicle. These devices tend to be more successful as a deterrent than a truly effective device that prevents the theft.

S. Many of the devices described above are designed to be purchased as separate items for subsequent use on a vehicle. Vehicle manufacturers whilst cognisant of this problem have traditionally confined their activities to 30 alarms and electronic immobilisers. These devices tend to be inconspicuous and do not act as a deterrent to the more casual and less sophisticated thief.

It is considered that there is a need for vehicle manufacturers to provide, as original equipment, an antitheft device that makes the vehicle more difficult to steal, but also acts as a visual deterrent. It is this need that has brought about the present invention.

J:\MCooper\Keep\Speci\PQ4634 CAP.doc 8/12/00 3 According to the present invention, there is provided a steering lock for attachment between a steering wheel and steering column housing of a vehicle, the lock having: a lock casing adapted to be securely fixed to the steering column housing, the lock casing having a locking shaft, an apertured flange adapted to be securely fixed to the steering wheel such that the flange can rotate with the wheel past the lock casing, and a locking means, wherein the locking shaft can be extended from within the lock casing through the apertured flange such that the locking shaft can be engaged by the locking means, the locking shaft capable of preventing the steering wheel from rotating with respect to the steering column housing.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle showing the steering wheel assembly with a steering lock in an exploded unlocked configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembly with the steering lock in a locked configuration; Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating the side of the steering lock; Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the lock *..**viewed from above in a locked configuration; and Figure 5 is a similar sectional view with the lock open.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, and especially Figures 1 and 2, the steering lock is designed to fit between the steering wheel S and the steering column C of a vehicle, usually a motor car. The lock essentially comprises a lock housing 11 that is firmly secured to the steering column C and a locking member 12 \\melbfiles\homeS\tonis\keep\specifications\specifications P40379.doc 1/10/03 3a that can be lockably engaged with the lock housing 11 to extend through an aperture 15 in a locking ring 20 that is firmly secured to the steering wheel S so that rotation of the wheel S relative to the column C is prevented in the locked configuration as shown in Figure 2.

*o \\melb_files\homeS\tonis\keep\specifications\specifications P40379.doc 1/10/03 4 The steering lock described above is designed both as original equipment to a motor vehicle or as a equipment that can be retro-fitted. In a retro-fitted situation it is necessary to first of all secure an annular locking ring 20 co-axially to the steering wheel S so that it rotates adjacent the column C. There is also a necessity to firmly and positively secure the lock housing 11 to the column C.

The lock 10 as shown in figures 4 and 5 comprises a rectangular lock housing 11 that is firmly secured to the steering column C. The lock housing 11 has a pair of axially extending closed bores 21, 22 arranged, spaced apart in a parallel array to open to the front to define a pair of apertures 23, 24, at the front face of the housing 23, 24. A dividing wall 25 separates the two bores 21, 22 *and this wall has a circular cut-out 26 halfway along its length in which is supported a pinion 30 that can rotate about an axis that extends perpendicular to the bores 21, 20 22. As shown in Figure 5, the pinion 30 is arranged so i that its teeth 31 extend into the cavity of each bore 21, 22. The upper bore 21 is arranged to accommodate a drive member 33 in the form of a steel pin 33 with a tapered end 34, that has a toothed rack 35 on its underside. The pin 33 is in screw threaded engagement with the locking member 12 which is in the form of a rectangular block 40 having a oeooo stepped bore 41, one half of which locates a lock cylinder and the other half of which is designed to accommodate the projecting end 46 of a lock shaft 47, that as shown in 30 Figure 5, is in the form of a cylindrical member having a toothed rack 48 on one edge terminating in a shoulder 49 at the forward end which is slightly bevelled. The opposite or inner end 44 of the lock shaft 47 is also bevelled and has a small recess 50 adjacent the end 44 which can accommodate a spring loaded ball 57 that is mounted in a passageway 52 in the lock housing 11 to project outwardly against a coil spring 53. The lock shaft 47 is held inside the lock housing 11 by a combination of the pinion 30 and J:\MCooper\Keep\Speci\PQ4634 CAP.doc 8/12/00 5 the spring loaded ball 57 as shown in Figure When the locking member 12 is closed against the lock housing 11, the drive member 33 extends into the upper bore 21 and the rack 48 drives the pinion 30 to in turn drive the rack 35 of the lock shaft 47, causing the shaft 47 to move axially outwardly of the lock housing 11. When the lock member 12 is pushed firmly against the face of the lock housing 11 to assume the position shown in Figure 4, the lock shaft 47 has been driven outwardly so that a locking tongue 60 on the end of the lock cylinder 45 can engage behind the shoulder 49 at the forward end of the lock shaft 47 by a turn of a key in the lock cylinder In this way the locking member 12 is firmly secured to the lock housing 11 and can only be released by turning back the locking tongue 60 which enables the locking member 12 to be pulled clear of the lock shaft 47. In this situation the drive member 33 will cause rotation of the pinion 30 to pull back the lock shaft 47 to the position shown in Figure 20 In the locked position shown in Figure 4, the drive member 33 extends through the aperture 15 in the annular ring 20 that is firmly secured to the inner surface of the steering column C. The lock shaft 47 also extends into the locking member 12 and thus relative axial rotation •of the steering wheel S to the steering column C is prevented and the steering is thus locked.

S• 30 Thus, the lock is very simple to operate, but since it is mounted on the upper portion of the steering column against the steering wheel, it provides a visual indication of the steering lock to deter a potential thief.

It is understood that the lock housing 11 would be firmly attached to the steering column C to ensure against forced removal, as would the annular ring that sits between the adjacent surfaces of the steering wheel S or J:\MCooper\Keep\Speci\P4634 CAP.doc 8/12/00 -6 the central boss of the steering wheel S and the upper end of the steering column C.

J;\NCooper\Keep\Speci\PQ4634 CAP.doc 8/12/00

Claims

1. A steering lock for attachment between a steering wheel and steering column housing of a vehicle, the lock having: a lock casing adapted to be securely fixed to the steering column housing, the lock casing having a locking shaft, an apertured flange adapted to be securely fixed to the steering wheel such that the flange can rotate with the wheel past the lock casing, and a locking means, wherein the locking shaft can be extended from within the lock casing through the apertured flange such that the locking shaft can be engaged by the locking means, the locking shaft capable of preventing the steering wheel from rotating with respect to the steering column housing.

2. The steering lock according to claim 1, wherein the locking shaft is displaceable between a first position in which it is wholly contained within the lock casing and *e a second position where it extends partially out of the lock casing through the apertured flange and into the locking means.

3. The steering lock according to claim 2, wherein the locking means is located within the locking member and is adapted to engage the locking shaft in a locked configuration to hold the locking shaft in the second 30 position.

4. The steering lock according to claim 3 wherein the locking means has a key operated lock cylinder located in a bore in the locking member, the locking cylinder terminating in a locking flange that can be turned to engage a cut-out at the adjacent end of the locking shaft.

The steering lock according to claim 4 wherein \\melb_files\home$\tonis\keep\specifications\specifications P40379.doc 1/10/03 8 the locking member has a closed bore into which the locking shaft is axially displaceable.

6. The steering lock according to claim 5 wherein a drive member is secured to the locking member to project from the locking member into a first bore positioned within the lock casing into which the drive member may extend.

7. The steering lock according to claim 6 wherein the drive member is adapted to drive the locking shaft from the first to the second position so that as the drive member is inserted into the first bore of the lock casing the locking shaft is moved from the first to the second position.

8. The steering lock according to claim 7 wherein a pinion is positioned within the lock casing to act against opposed racks respectfully provided on the drive member and locking shaft, the racks and pinion causing axial movement of one member to reflect axial movement of the other.

9. The steering lock according to claim 8 wherein the first bore of the lock casing is positioned parallel to a second bore in which the locking shaft extends, the first and second bores being interconnected by a passage way that contains the pinion.

The steering lock according to claim 9 wherein a detent is provided within the second bore to hold the 30 locking shaft in the first position to prevent accidental displacement.

11. A steering lock substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. \\melb_files\home$\tonis\keep\specifications\specifications P40379.doc 1/10/03 9

12. A steering lock substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 1st day of October 2003 BARRETT JOHN LORAINE By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia *o *ooo *o* *o o \\melb_files\home$\tonis\keep\specifications\specifications P40379.doc 1/10/03