GB2047371A

GB2047371A - Anti-theft device for automobile wheels

Info

Publication number: GB2047371A
Application number: GB8001248A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Current assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
Priority date: 1979-01-20
Filing date: 1980-01-15
Publication date: 1980-11-26
Also published as: FR2446729B3; DE2902179A1; IT7928162A0; FR2446729A1; GB2047371B; IT1165440B

Abstract

An anti-theft arrangement for an automobile wheel of the type having a wheel body (6) provided with recesses (5) in which nuts or bolt heads (3) are respectively located to secure the wheel, comprises a cover (8) which denies access to the nut or bolt head (3) and comprises a lock (10) accommodated in the recess (5). The lock (10) comprises pins (11) which engage in annular grooves (12) formed either in the wall (18) of the recess (5), or in a blind hole (17) in the nut or bolt head (3), so that the cover (8) is rotatable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anti-theft device for automobile wheels The invention relates to an anti-theft arrangement for automobile wheels in which the wheel fastening means are respectively recessed in the wheel body.

An anti-theft arrangement for automobile wheels is known (German OS 2,301,920) in which the heads of the wheel fastening bolts are disposed so that they protrude beyond the wheel body. The protruding bolt heads are sheathed in such a way that any unauthorized loosening of the wheel fastenings is impossible. The sheath can be fixed for this purpose by turning a cylinder lock in the bolt head, in that a shoulder of the lock housing engages an internal shoulder of the sheath and presses the sheath against the bolt head. Such a bolt securing device is suitable only for wheel fastening means in which the heads protrude.

On the other hand, security against theft when the heads of the fastening means are recessed in the wheel body with an arrangement of this kind is possible only inadequately and in a cumbersome manner.

It is thus an object of the present invention to solve the problem of producing an arrangement of the type in question with which the heads of fastening means such as bolts or nuts located within recesses in the wheel body can be adequately secured against unauthorized loosening.

The present invention consists in an antitheft arrangement for automobile wheels of the type having a wheel body with recesses therein and fastening means respectively located in said recesses, wherein an opening of the recess of at least one fastening means is covered by a securing element which comprises a locking means accommodated in the recess on the wheel body.

The advantages deriving from the invention include that the bolt heads or nuts of the fastening means, in their recessed position, are simply secured against unauthorized manipulation from the outside by a closure of the openings of the recesses in the wheel body.

Forceful removal of the cover is made still more difficult because it is located so as to be freely rotatable in the wheel body or on the wheel nut, and thus the retaining pins cannot be damaged in the direction of rotation.

In the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an automobile wheel with recesses in the wheel body, all but one of which are shown closed by securing elements; Figure 2 is a sectional view showing one form of a securing element; and Figure 3 is a sectional view showing another form of a securing element.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the wheel fastening means 1 and 1 a comprise threaded studs 2 fixedly joined with a wheel plate and nuts 3, 4 on the studs 2 fixedly mounting the wheels on the wheel plate.

For fastening the wheels of an automobile, the use of threaded bolts is also a possibility, with the bolts screwed into the wheel plate.

The differences between the two types of fastening relate essentially to the head of the fastening means 1, 1 a which in the illustrated embodiments comprise nuts 3, 4, but according to other embodiments can comprise a bolt head.

The bolt heads or nuts of the fastening means 1, 1 a of the wheel are sunk in recesses 5 of the wheel body 6 and the openings 7 of these recesses 5 are respectively closed by a securing element 8, 9. For this, each securing element 8, 9 is provided with a lock arrangement 10 comprising a rotary cylinder lock. By means of retaining pins 11 of the lock, the respective securing element 8, 9 is held in a position closing the opening 7 of the recess 5.

The retaining pins 11 of the lock engage in annular grooves 1 2 in the wheel body 6, as shown in detail in Fig. 2 for example, whereby the free rotatability of the securing elements 8, 9 relative to the wheel body 6 is possible.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the securing elements 8 (Fig.

2) form plate-like covers that cover the respective openings 7 of the recesses 5 in the wheel body 6. Each cover 8 is held directly on the wheel body 6 by means of the locking arrangement 10. On the outer surface 1 3 of the cover 8 there is a slot for a key 16. This key slot can be protected against dirt, dust and the like by a packing.

The cover 8 is located inside the recess 5 in such a way that the outer surface 1 3 of the cover forms a continuous smooth surface with the outer surface 1 4 of the wheel body 6, the outer cylindrical surface 1 9 of the cover 8 bearing upon the wall 1 8 of the recess 5.

According to another embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the securing element 9 forms a cover with an internally disposed central projection 1 5. The projection 1 5 extends into a blind hole 1 7 formed in the bolt or nut head 4 and can be locked therein by a device such as the locking arrangement 10 so as to engage in the head of the respective fastening means 1 a via retainer pins 11. In this arrangement the outer surface 1 3 of the cover 9 also forms a continuous smooth surface with the outer surface 14 of the wheel body 6, but the pins 11 engage within annular grooves 1 2 of the blind hole 1 7 instead of the wall 18 of the recesses 5 as in Fig. 2.

With these securing elements 8, 9 it is thus possible to prevent unauthorized loosening of the fastening means 1, 1 a and hence unauthorized removal of the wheel. Either individ ual recesses of the wheel, or all of them collectively, can be closed with the securing elements 8 or 9.

To offset any imbalance from the securing elements 8, 9 particulary if they are irregularly distributed around the periphery of the wheel body, it is necessary to cover over the remaining unsecured recesses with plugs (not shown) that are of the same weight as the securing elements. These plugs are made in a configuration that corresponds to that of the recess 5 and are clampingly held therein and additional securing of the plugs in the recesses can be effected by an adhesive. Instead of plugs for balancing the weight, it is also possible to balance the wheel after the elements 8, 9 are in place, weights being attached to the wheel body in a conventional manner as required.

Claims

1. An anti-theft arrangement for automobile wheels of the type having a wheel body with recesses therein and fastening means respectively located in said recesses, wherein an opening of the recess of at least one fastening means is covered by a securing element which comprises a locking means accommodated in the recess on the wheel body.

2. An anti-theft arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means comprises a lock in the securing element, said lock having retaining pins which engage in annular grooves formed in the wheel body.

3. An anti-theft arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said grooves are formed in the wall defining said recess.

4. An anti-theft arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the securing element comprises a plate-like cover and bears on the wheel body with a peripheral surface that is turned toward a wall of the recess.

5. An anti-theft arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means comprises a lock in the securing element, said lock having retaining pins which engage in annular grooves formed in said fastening means.

6. An anti-theft arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the securing element comprises a cover having a central projection extending into a blind hole in a head of the fastening means and is lockable therein by the locking means.

7. An anti-theft arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein an outer surface of the securing element forms a substantially continuous surface with an outer surface of the wheel body.

8. An anti-theft arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of plugs for counterbalancing the weight of the securing element are held symmetrically in the recesses of the wheel body.

9. An anti-theft arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein each plug has an external configuration adapted to the shape of the recesses and is clamped therein.

10. An anti-theft arrangement substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs. 1 and 2, or Figs. 1 and 3, of the accompanying drawings.