GB2111448A

GB2111448A - Vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2111448A
Application number: GB08232541A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arthur James Seager
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-11-14
Filing date: 1982-11-15
Publication date: 1983-07-06

Abstract

A vehicle accessory comprises a hollow tube (11) which is open at one end so that it can be slid over and along the grip (15) of the vehicle's handbrake (14). The other end of the tube is wholly or partly closed off so as to blank off the grip's ratchet- releasing button (19) when the tube (11) is slid fully home. A key-operated locking mechanism (12) is either carried by the tube or is strapped (16) to the brake lever. When the tube is slid fully home, the mechanism (12) engages a detent (13) to hold the tube over the ratchet-releasing button (19) and thus prevent the brake from being released until the key-operated mechanism is subsequently unlocked. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle accessory The invention relates to vehicle accessories.

The invention is particularly concerned with an accessory which when used will act as a deterrent to would-be thieves attempting to drive off in someone else's motor vehicle. Theft of this kind is a widespread problem nowadays, and several attempts have been made to combat it. For example, virtually every motor vehicle made today incorporates an automatic steering lock into the key-operated ignition switch of the vehicle, so that when the ignition key is withdrawn the steering wheel cannot be turned. The wheel is released only when the key is re-inserted by (hopefully) the rightful owner of the vehicle. There are also commercially available switches which can be wired into the ignition circuit of the vehicle and, when operated, will break the ignition circuit and this immobilise the vehicle.

One accessory which is widely sold and used is known as the "Krook Lock". It consists basically of a telescopic steel bar curved at each of its opposite ends, like an umbrella handle, and with a key-operated locking mechanism which can be used to set the extension of the two telescopic halves of the bar. In use, one of the curved ends of the accessory is hooked round the rim of the steering wheel of the vehicle, whilst the other curved end is hooked around the shaft of the brake pedal. If the bar is locked at an extension such that it cannot be removed from that position without first being unlocked, the accessory serves as a deterrent, especially as it is clearly visible from outside the vehicle and this will hopefully deter a would-be thief from even attempting to break into the vehicle.

The accessory just described has been widely used, but it has drawbacks. The main drawback is that it is an ungainly device which, when not in use, can be awkward or inconvenient to stow inside the vehicle. Another drawback is that it is a relatively quick and easy job to saw through the telescopic bar with a hacksaw if the thief comes prepared to do so. There is also, at least in theory, the danger of the steering wheel being buckled as a result of repeated continued pressure at its rim from the accessory.

The invention seeks to provide an accessory which will act as a deterrent but which is without these drawbacks of the "Krook Lock" device. To that end the accessory is intended for fitment to the handbrake lever of a vehicle, rather than to the steering wheel, and specifically the kind of handbrake lever which is pulled up against a ratchet to apply the brake and is subsequently released by pressing a spring-loaded button protruding from the end of the handbrake lever in order to release the ratchet.

According to the invention the accessory comprises a hollow tube which is open at one end, so that it can be slid over and along the handgrip of the brake lever, and is wholly or partly closed off at its other end so as to blank off the ratchet-releasing button when the tube is slid fully home; and a key-operated locking mechanism which is either carried by the tube or strapped, in use, to the brake lever; the arrangement being such that when the tube is slid fully home on the handgrip the locking mechanism can engage a detent on the lever (if the locking mechanism is carried by the tube) or on the tube (if the locking mechanism is strapped to the lever) to hold the tube over the ratchet-releasing button and thus prevent the brake from being released once the handbrake lever has been applied against the ratchet mechanism.

The detent may comprise a slot cut into the handbrake lever. Such a slot is preferably cut into the lever behind the handgrip, rather than being cut into the handgrip itself. The slot may effectively be constituted by the gap defined along the underside of the lever if the lever is a generally U-shaped metal pressing with the ratchet-releasing rod travelling in the U from the button to the pawl of the ratchet mechanism.

Alternatively, if the key-operated locking mechanism is strapped to the brake lever then the detent slot may be cut into the tube or may effectively be defined by flangeing the open end region of the tube so that the flanged portions engage the lock as the tube is slid fully home along the handgrip.

To form the detent slot in the lever will necessitate cutting the lever. Many vehicle owners prefer not to have to do this, since it may detract from the re-sale appeal of the vehicle and may also even invalidate the maker's guarantee on a new vehicle. Preferably, therefore, the detent is either formed by flangeing or slotting the tube, as just outlined, in the case where the locking mechanism is carried on the lever; or where the locking mechanism is carried by the tube, the detent comprises or is cut into a block which, in use, is strapped to the lever so as to be engaged by the locking mechanism when the tube is slid fully home along the handgrip.

Such a detent block may be supplied with the tube and locking mechanism as a complete accessory kit. The block, and the strap. which secures it to the handbrake lever, are preferably protected in use by a shroud which is carried by or forms part of the tube and which, when the tube is slid fully home and the locking mechanism engages the detent, blanks off the strap of the detent block; or the screw or other means securing that strap to the handbrake lever; or blanks off both the strap and the strap-fastening means.

Preferably the locking mechanism is springloaded so as to snap automatically into locking engagement with the detent as the tube is slid fully home on the handgrip. Alternatively, where the locking mechanism does not automatically lock into engagement with the detent, the mechanism may at least be spring-loaded so that it can be snapped manually into automatic locking engagement with the detent, once the tube has been pushed fully into place, without the need to use the key.

The tube may incorporate or be supplied with one or more tubular liners which can be used selectively to vary the internal diameter of the tube and which thus enable the tube to be used with a variety of handbrake levers, since the grip diameter will inevitably vary between one make of vehicle and another.

The tube may be brightly coloured in order to contrast with the surrounding interior of the vehicle. For example, it may be striped in contrasting colours. It would then be readily visible from outside the vehicle when in use and would, hopefully, deter a would-be thief from breaking into the vehicle.

Two accessories each embodying the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. They will now be described with reference to those drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the first of the accessories in perspective; Figure 2 shows the same accessory in sectioned side view; Figure 3 shows the second accessory in perspective; and Figure 4 shows it in sectioned side view.

In Figure 1 and 3 the respective accessories are shown before the handbrake lever has been applied and the accessories used to lock it. In Figures 2 and 4 each accessory is shown in its lever-locking position.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, the first accessory consists of an elongate circularcylindrical tube which is given the reference number 11. The tube 11 is open at one of its ends. At its other end it is completely closed off.

The closed-off end is given the reference number 12 in the drawings. Instead of being completely closed off, it could be partially closed off by for example a strip of material extending across that end of the tube across a diameter and being broad enough to occupy all but a relatively small proportion of the tube-end area.

The tube 11 carries a key-operated locking mechanism which is fixed to the tube towards the open end of the tube. The mechanism in this particuiar case has a spring-loaded locking hasp which snaps automatically down (ie. towards the tube) into locking engagement without the need to operate the key and which, once locked, can only be opened by operating the key. When opened, the hasp is spring-biased away from the tube. The hasp is referenced 12 in the drawings.

The particular lock used to construct the illustrated device is marketed by the firm Copydex under the designation CS 1 61. It is sold 'primarily as a lock for metal windows in houses. It has been fixed to the tube in order to create the prototype illustrated.

The detent in the form of a metal block referenced 1 3 is fixed to the handbrake lever 14 behind the handgrip 15 of the lever. The means fixing the block 13 to the lever 14 comprise a metal strap 1 6 with a screw-threaded closure means 17 and is of the kind known generally as a "jubilee" clip.As illustrated, the block 1 3 is secured by the strap 1 6 and screw closure 1 7 firmly to the lever 14 so that it projects from the top of the lever and so that, when the tube 11 is pushed fully home over the handgrip 15, the hasp 1 2 of the locking mechanism can be pressed down into engagement with the block 14 to hook over the top of the block and effectively prevent the tube 11 being withdrawn again until the key 18 is inserted into the locking mechanism and operated to release the hasp 12 under its springloading.

With the tube 11 thus locked in place, the closed end of the tube prevents the ratchetreleasing button 1 9 of the brake lever from being operated. Thus if the brake is applied against the ratchet, and the tube then (or previously) locked into place, the brake cannot be released again until the tube is unlocked.

When the tube 11 is in its fully-home locked position, opposite downwardly depending shrouds 21 effectively blank off the screw closure 17 and prevent it from being tampered with. The upward continuation of these shrouds into the body of the tube 11 also effectively blanks off strap 1 6 and thus foils any attempt at sawing the strap through to release the detent block 13.

The accessory shown in Figures 3 and 4 works in a similar way to that of Figures 1 and 2. Once again a locking mechanism is carried on an openended tube and the other end of the tube is closed off. This time however the detent 13 is carried on the hasp of the locking mechanism, and, when the hasp 12 is snapped into automatic locking engagement, the detent 13 brought up against the underside of the lever 14 to grip it firmly. In this particular case the increased diameter handgrip 1 5 then prevents the tube and its locking mechanism and detent block from being removed until the mechanism is unlocked.

With the Figure 3-4 accessory, there could be a danger of a thief forcing the locked accessory along the lever (i.e. to the left in Figure 4) since the strength of grip of the locked hasp 12, 13 will be less than that of the equivalent Figures 1-2 mechanism. The thief could effectively push in the button 19 by forcing the locked accessory of Figures 3-4 in this way, and release the brake.

To prevent this, a washer 22 illustrated in Figure 4 fits inside the closed end of tube 11 and over button 19 to hold the end of the tube away from the button and prevent the button from being pushed until the tube has been unlocked and removed.

Claims

1. A vehicle accessory comprising a hollow tube which is open at one end, so that it can be slid over and along the grip of the vehicle's handbrake lever, and is wholly or partly closed off at its other end so as to blank off the grip's ratchet-releasing button when the tube is slid fully home; and a key-operated locking mechanism which is either carried by the tube or strapped, in use, to the brake lever; the arrangement being such that when the tube is slid fully home on the handgrip the locking mechanism can engage a detent on the lever (if the locking mechanism is carried by the tube) or on the tube (if the locking mechanism is strapped to the lever) to hold the tube over the ratchet-releasing button and thus prevent the brake from being released once the handbrake lever has been applied against the ratchet mechanism.

2. An accessory according to Claim 1 and in which the detent comprises a slot in the handbrake lever.

3. An accessory according to Claim 2 and in which the slot is behind the handgrip.

4. An accessory according to Claim 3 and in which the lever is a generally U-shaped metal pressing and the slot is provided by the gap defined along the underside of the lever.

5. An accessory according to Claim 3 and in which the key-operated locking mechanism is strapped to the brake lever and the slot is formed in the tube.

6. An accessory according to Claim 3 and in which the slot is defined by flangeing the open end region of the tube so that the flanged portions engage the lock as the tube is slid fully home along the handgrip.

7. An accessory according to Claim 1 and in which the locking mechanism is carried by the tube and the detent comprises or is provided in a block which, in use, is strapped to the lever so as to be engaged by the locking mechanism when the tube is slid fully home along the handgrip.

8. An accessory according to Claim 7 and in which the block, and the strap which secures it to the hand-brake lever, are protected by a shroud which is carried by or forms part of the tube and which, when the tube is slid fully home and the locking mechansim engages the detent, blanks off the strap of the detent block and/or the screw or other means securing that strap to the handbrake lever.

9. An accessory according to any of the previous Claims and in which the locking mechanism is spring-loaded so that it can be snapped into automatic locking engagement with the detent, once the tube has been pushed fully into place, without the need to use the key.

10. An accessory according to Claim 9 and in which the locking mechanism snaps automatically into locking engagement with the detent as the tube is slid fully home on the handgrip.

11. An accessory according to any of the previous Claims and in which the tube incorporates or is supplied with one or more liners which can be used selectively to vary the effective internal diameter of the tube.

12. An accessory according to any of the previous Claims and in which the outside surface of the tube is striped or otherwise distinctively coloured to contrast, in use, with the surrounding interior of the vehicle.

1 3. A vehicle accessory substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A vehicle accessory substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.