CA2463451A1 - Anti-theft nut protecting assembly - Google Patents

Anti-theft nut protecting assembly Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2463451A1
CA2463451A1 CA 2463451 CA2463451A CA2463451A1 CA 2463451 A1 CA2463451 A1 CA 2463451A1 CA 2463451 CA2463451 CA 2463451 CA 2463451 A CA2463451 A CA 2463451A CA 2463451 A1 CA2463451 A1 CA 2463451A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
nut
locking cap
locking
groove
protecting assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2463451
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Keith Carson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2463451 priority Critical patent/CA2463451A1/en
Publication of CA2463451A1 publication Critical patent/CA2463451A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16BDEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B41/00Measures against loss of bolts, nuts, or pins; Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins
    • F16B41/005Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16BDEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B37/00Nuts or like thread-engaging members
    • F16B37/14Cap nuts; Nut caps or bolt caps

Abstract

An anti-theft nut protecting assembly includes a nut having a plurality of external flat engagement faces disposed about a rotational axis. A groove extends across one or more of the flat engagement faces in an orientation transverse to the rotational axis.
A locking cap is provided which is adapted to overlie the nut. The locking cap has a threaded opening which, when overlying the nut, aligns with the groove in the nut. The locking cap has a smooth exterior surface, thereby making it difficult to engage the locking cap with a nut removal tool.
A locking key is provided which is adapted to engage the threaded opening in the locking cap and extend into the groove on the nut, thereby securing the locking cap to the nut.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Anti-theft nut protecting assembly FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a nut protecting assembly and, in particular, a nut protecting assembly suitable for use in preventing theft of vehicle wheels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
United States Patent 5,214,945 (Martin 1993) discloses an invention entitled "locking assembly for use on a nut or bolt head". Unfortunately, the locking assembly disclosed in the Martin reference in not suitable for use in confined spaces and, as such is not suitable for protecting nuts which hold on vehicle wheels. Wheel theft is becoming an increasing problem, and there is a need for some type of protective device to combat such theft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is an anti-theft nut protecting assembly suitable for use in confined spaces.
According to the present invention there is provided an anti-theft nut protecting 2 0 assembly which includes a polygonal shaped nut having a threaded internal aperture defining a rotational axis and a plurality of external flat engagement faces disposed about the rotational axis. A groove extends across at least one of the flat engagement faces of the nut in an orientation transverse to the rotational axis. The groove is adapted to receive a locking key.
A locking cap is provided which is adapted to overlie the nut. The locking cap has a threaded 2 5 opening which, when overlying the nut, aligns with the groove in the nut.
The locking cap has a smooth exterior surface, thereby making it difficult to engage the locking cap with a nut removal tool. A locking key is provided which is adapted to engage the threaded opening in the locking cap and extend into the groove on the nut, thereby securing the locking cap to the nut. The locking key has a remote end with a unique tool coupling.
With the nut protecting assembly, as described above, the locking cap makes removal of the nut difficult, if not impossible, using conventional nut removal tools.
The locking cap is, in turn, secured in position by the interaction of the locking key and the groove in the nut.
The locking key can only be removed with the assistance of a tool capable of engaging the unique tool coupling. The intent is that thieves will not have in their possession, such a tool.
This nut protecting assembly is intended for use in confined spaces where more elaborate locking mechanisms cannot be used. In such confined spaces, it will be difficult for a thief to inspect the unique tool coupling in order to consider removing the locking key to release the locking cap. Even if the thief has an opportunity to inspect the unique tool coupling, presumably, there will be little incentive for the thief to take the time and effort to fashion a removal tool when wheels on neighbouring vehicles do not have any protective devices on their securing nuts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a cut away perspective view of a nut protecting assembly constructed in 2 0 accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view, in section, of the nut protecting assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view, in section, of the nut protecting assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1.
2 5 FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the nut protecting assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1, in the process of being installed on a vehicle wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, an anti-theft nut protecting assembly generally identified by reference numeral 10, wild now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 4.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
Referring to FIGURE 1, nut protecting assembly 10 has as key components a polygonal shaped nut 12 having a groove 14, a locking cap 16 and a locking key 18.
Referring to FIGURE 3, nut 12 has a threaded internal aperture 20. Referring to FIGURE 2, aperture 20 is adapted to receive and engage a wheel stud 22. Aperture 20 also serves to define a rotational axis, generally identified by reference numeral 24, about which nut 12 rotates. Referring to FIGURE 3, nut 12 has a plurality of external flat engagement faces 26, which are disposed about the rotational axis. In the illustrated embodiment, nut 12 is a hexagonal nut with six engagement faces 26. Referring to FIGURE 1, groove 14 extends across at least one of flat engagement faces 26 of nut 12 in an orientation which is transverse to rotational axis 24. In order to facilitate positioning of locking cap 16 in various orientations, it is preferred that groove 14 extend across more than one of flat engagement surfaces 26. In the illustrated embodiment, groove 14 extends across each of flat engagement surfaces 26. Groove 14 is adapted to receive locking key 18. Refernng to FIGURES 2 and 3, locking cap 16 is adapted to overlie nut 12. Locking cap 16 has a threaded opening 28 which, 2 0 when overlying nut 12, aligns with groove 14. Referring to FIGURE 2, in the illustrated embodiment, locking cap is shown as having a substantially cylindrical body 17 with a blind bore 19. Referring to FIGURE 4, locking cap 16 has a smooth exterior surface 30, which makes it difficult to engage locking cap 16 with a nut removalL tool (not shown). Referring to FIGURE l, locking key 18 is adapted to extend into groove 14 on nut 12.
Referring to 2 5 FIGURES 2 and 3, locking key 18 has engagement threads 32 which are adapted to engage threaded opening 28 in locking cap 16, thereby securing the locking cap to the nut. Locking key 18 has a remote end 34 with a unique tool coupling 36.
. ~. _,_ a _v._ .. . ... . os~ ~ ,~ M.~. ~~ ~~.k~ ~d~._.~~.~~;~ ~ ~:~~:.~.,~..-~-~.~~~~..<~~~,~ ~.~~~.: ~~~~~~~~w...~ _~~~_~_..

Operation:
Referring to FIGURE 4; there is illustrated a vehicle wheel 38. Nut 12 is positioned on some or all of wheel studs 22 of wheel 38. Referring to FIGURES 1 through 3, locking cap 16 is then placed onto nut 12 and locking key 18 is inserted through threaded opening 28 in locking cap 16 into groove 14 along one of flat engagement faces 26 of nut 12. The engagement of locking key 18 with groove 14 prevents locking cap 16 from being removed from nut 12. Locking key 18 is secured in position by engaging engagement threads 32 of locking key 18 with threaded opening 28. Remote end 34 of locking key l8 has unique tool coupling 36, which enables a tool (not shown) to be used to tightly secure locking key in position. If a thief attempts to use any conventional nut removal tool to remove nut 12, his attempts are frustrated by the presence of locking cap 16. Locking cap 16 has a smooth surface which is difficult, if not impossible, to engage with a conventional tool. It is theoretically possible to use a pipe wrench with locking jaws to remove locking cap 16 and nut 12 as a unit. However, nuts on truck wheels are usually secured according to the manufacturers rating of foot pounds of torque. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to apply the necessary amount of torque to remove locking cap 16 and nut 12 together.
The thief will then be faced with the task of attempting to remove locking cap 16, so he can apply a nut removal tool to nut 12. However, locking key 18 has a unique tool coupling 36, which requires a unique removal tool. In confined spaces provided by the positioning of wheels 2 0 studs 22 on vehicle wheel 38, it will be difficult for the thief to inspect unique tool coupling 36. It is believed that there will be little incentive for the thief to take the time and effort to fashion a removal tool, when wheels on neighbouring vehicles do not have any protective devices on their securing nuts.
In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that 3 0 there be one and only one of the elements.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinaifer defined in the Claims.

Claims (4)

1. An anti-theft nut protecting assembly, comprising:
a polygonal shaped nut having a threaded internal aperture defining a rotational axis and a plurality of external flat engagement faces disposed about the rotational axis;
a groove extending across at least one of the flat engagement faces of the nut in an orientation transverse to the rotational axis, the groove being adapted to receive a locking key;
a locking cap adapted to overlie the nut, the locking cap having a threaded opening which, when overlying the nut, aligns with the groove in the nut, the locking cap having a smooth exterior surface, thereby making it difficult to engage the locking cap with a nut removal tool; and a locking key adapted to engage the threaded opening in the locking cap and extend into the groove on the nut, thereby securing the locking cap to the nut, the locking key having a remote end with a unique tool coupling.
2. The anti-theft nut protecting assembly as defined in Claim 1, wherein the locking cap is substantially cylindrical with a blind bore.
3. The anti-theft nut protecting assembly as defined in Claim 1, wherein the groove extends across more than one of the flat engagement faces of the nut, thereby providing more than one position to orient the locking cap.
4. The anti-theft nut protecting assembly as defined in Claim 3, wherein the groove extends across all of the flat engagement faces of the nut.
CA 2463451 2004-04-13 2004-04-13 Anti-theft nut protecting assembly Abandoned CA2463451A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2463451 CA2463451A1 (en) 2004-04-13 2004-04-13 Anti-theft nut protecting assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2463451 CA2463451A1 (en) 2004-04-13 2004-04-13 Anti-theft nut protecting assembly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2463451A1 true CA2463451A1 (en) 2005-10-13

Family

ID=35253719

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2463451 Abandoned CA2463451A1 (en) 2004-04-13 2004-04-13 Anti-theft nut protecting assembly

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2463451A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102410296A (en) * 2011-10-26 2012-04-11 郑柏林 Anti-loosening and anti-disassembling nut
CN108150515A (en) * 2018-02-05 2018-06-12 郑鹏 A kind of anti-demounting bolt structure
CN108708901A (en) * 2018-06-21 2018-10-26 青岛新鲁同钢构有限公司 A kind of steel tower antitheft foundation bolt and its application method
CN112709746A (en) * 2019-10-24 2021-04-27 何天麟 Taper needle type anti-theft nut sheath
CN114110001A (en) * 2021-11-30 2022-03-01 广东电网有限责任公司 Iron tower lower margin nut anti-theft device

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102410296A (en) * 2011-10-26 2012-04-11 郑柏林 Anti-loosening and anti-disassembling nut
CN108150515A (en) * 2018-02-05 2018-06-12 郑鹏 A kind of anti-demounting bolt structure
CN108708901A (en) * 2018-06-21 2018-10-26 青岛新鲁同钢构有限公司 A kind of steel tower antitheft foundation bolt and its application method
CN112709746A (en) * 2019-10-24 2021-04-27 何天麟 Taper needle type anti-theft nut sheath
CN114110001A (en) * 2021-11-30 2022-03-01 广东电网有限责任公司 Iron tower lower margin nut anti-theft device

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2384149C (en) Tamper resistant fastener
US4427326A (en) Tamper-resistant lug nut
US4302137A (en) Anti-tamper fastening means
US7927049B2 (en) Wheel lug nut management device
US7673482B2 (en) Wheel lock
US8061169B2 (en) Locking system with hidden keyed access
US7938610B2 (en) Lock nut
US20140169910A1 (en) Locking lug nut system
US4478458A (en) Locking and anti-loosening construction for vehicle rim
US20030159546A1 (en) Anti-tamper nut
WO2014116319A1 (en) Fastener
EP2698552B1 (en) Anti-theft fastener with locking feature
US7905697B2 (en) Wheel locks with rotatable sleeves and methods of manufacturing wheel locks
US5433094A (en) Locking device for outboard motors
US6609401B1 (en) Car wheel anti-theft device
CA2463451A1 (en) Anti-theft nut protecting assembly
US4754628A (en) Lug lock
KR20220130677A (en) wheel lock
CA2519843A1 (en) Locking system with hidden keyed access
US5704655A (en) Anti-theft hose lock
JPS5817210A (en) Burglarproof device
US20040007101A1 (en) Anti-theft device and wrench tool for detaching the same
US10344504B2 (en) Lug nut locking systems
US4237949A (en) Anti-theft fastener
US8162580B2 (en) Anti-theft fastener

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Dead