GB2119333A - Improvements in or relating to vehicle protection devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle protection device comprises a plate 21 hinged to a support 20 fixed to the vehicle bulkhead and movable by a control arm 14a, 14b, 14c from an upright position in which it engages beneath and resists or prevents relative movement between the operating pedals to a lowered position in which the vehicle can be driven normally. A lock 16 is provided for holding the plate in the up or down position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to vehicle protection devices This invention relates to vehicle protection devices.

According to this invention, a vehicle protection device adapted to be fixed to a vehicle comprises means engageable beneath two operating pedals of the vehicle to restrict relative movement therebetween, means for moving said engageable means between an operative position and an inoperative position, and releasble means for holding the engageable means in the movement-restricting operative position.

Preferably the engageable means is adapted in the operative position for restricting relative movement between three operating pedals.

The device may be adapted in the operative position to prevent said relative movement.

The engageable means may comprise a plate pivoted to a support adapted to be fixed to the vehicle.

The releasable means may be adapted for releasably holding the engageable means also in the inoperative position.

The releasable means may comprise a keyoperated lock.

The lock may include a lock plate co-operable with one or more slots in a movable element of the operating means.

The invention includes a vehicle having a vehicle protection device as defined mounted for cooperation with operating pedals of the vehicle.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompany- ing diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one arrangement; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Figure 1 installed on a vehicle bulkhead, with part omitted; and Figure 3 shows part of a hinge Figure 1 shows a pedal lock or vehicle protection device to be fixed as a permanent fixture on a vehicle as an anti-theft device. The effect of the pedal lock is to make the foot pedals of the vehicle non operational when not in use.When the vehicle pedals are in the locked mode, a plate is located beneath the arms of the foot pedals and restricts the use of the foot pedals by preventing their downward movement, or limiting such movement to an amount insufficient to permit driving of the vehicle. When the vehicle is operational, the plate rests nearthe floor of the bulkhead allowing the required move ment of the pedals.

Figure 2 shows the approximate location of the pedal lock in relation to the vehicle foot pedals when fastened to the bulkhead. The pedal lock is shown with the vehicle foot pedals locked i.e. non operational.

The arrangement of Figures 1,2 is a fixed type of pedal lock which is fastened to the bulkhead 10 of the vehicle (for example a motor car) below the foot pedals (as shown in Figure 2) - clutch pedal 11, brake pedal 12, accelerator pedal 13. The floor of the driver's compartment is at 1 0a. The pedal lock is designed to have a low profile and is easy to manufacture. The low profile design of the pedal lock will effectively cause no hindrance to the user of the foot pedals when the vehicle is operational.

The mechanical methods to operate the pedal lock can be as shown in Figure 1 and 2 by a manually operable control arm 14 having a handle 14a in the passenger compartment and locked in either of two positions with a lock plate 15 of a key-operated lock 16 respectively in slots 17, 18 in a plate 19 to make the vehicle non-operational or operational respectively. The lock 16 is secured to the vehicle structure and the plate 19 is fixed to the rod 14.

A base plate 20 is suitably positioned and fastened, for example by bolts, to the bulkhead beneath the foot pedals of the vehicle as shown in Figure 2. A locking plate 21 which, when the vehicle is immobilized, will restrict or prevent any movement of the foot pedals relative to each other or the vehicle, will be in contact with the pedal arms, or the upper edge 21 a could be very close to the under-surface of the arms. The pedal arms could locate in slots in the plate 21. These slots could be designed to accommodate any difference in height of the pedal arms, for example the slot 22 for the accelerator arm. The locking plate 21 is fastened to a hinge 23 which, in turn, is fastened to the base plate 20. When the pedal lock is not in use, the locking plate 21 and the base plate 20 will be in contact with each other, the total height of the two plates being acceptably small.

Mounted on the base plate 20 is a guide block 24 which allows operational beam 25 to slide while in contact with the base plate 20. Pivoted to the operational beam 25 is a link arm 27 which is located in a slot 28 in the beam and linked to the beam by a pivot pin 26 which allows the link arm 27 to swing in the slot 28. The opposite end of the link arm 27 passes through a slot 29 in the plate 21 and is located in a slotted lug 30 which is fastened to the top of the plate 21 on the front/upper face of the plate 21. A pin 31 allows the link arm 27 to swing or pivot in the slotted lug 30. At the opposite end the operational beam 25 is fixed to upwardly extending control arm 14 which is given added support by an angle bracket 32.The lock 16 is mounted on a bracket (not shown) which in turn is fastened to the vehicle structure in a suitable position above the slotted plate 19 which is fastened to the control arm 14.

The lock 16 could be orientated so that the keyhole 15a faces the driver, particularly in the case in which the arm 14b is mounted below or extending through the vehicle instrument panel. In the case in which the arm 14b is cranked to locate against the side of the passenger compartment, the keyhole faces inwards.

The pedal lock or selected parts thereof can be case hardened.

Pins 26,31 can have a head at one end and be peened over at the other; or the apertures in items 30, 25 receiving the pins are shaped to hold them in place.

The elements 32, 14c, 40,41,39 could be made from sheet steel of suitable thickness to reduce cost.

The hinge 23, plate 19, block 24 and elements 32, 14c can be spot welded as shown to reduce cost.

The pitch of the two slots 17 and 18 is related to the amount of movement required to operate the locking plate 21.

There could be a slot such as 22 for each of the three pedal arms.

In one arrangement the height of lug 30 above hinge 23 in the operative position can be varied to vary the length of stroke of beam 25 and the overall length of the pedal lock.

Preferably, as shown, the upper part 14b of the rod 14 is parallel to the vehicle floor 10a. The effective length of the upright part 14c of the rod 14 must, therefore, shorten as the rod part 14b is pushed forwards. In the case shown the forward end of the rod part 14b slidably extends through two spaced guide blocks 33,34 on which are respectively mounted brackets 35, 36 secured to the vehicle in suitable positions beneath the usual instrument panel. In an alternative, the rod part 14b is cranked and the brackets 35, 36 are fastened to the side of the vehicle.

The forward end of the rod part 14b is shaped to provide two flat parallel side surfaces 37,38 which can slide in a slot 39 extending through a rectangular boss 40 in the same plane as the rod part 14b and integral with the rod part 14c. A slot 41 extends through the boss 40 at right angles to the slot 39. A link pin 42 extends through the slot 41 and the forward end of the rod part 14b so that when the control rod part 14b is pushed forwards or pulled rearwards to actuate the locking plate 21, the link pin 42 moves down or up in the slot 41 to vary the effective length of the rod part 14c as required. The pin 42 can be peened over at both ends or have a head at the end and be peened over at the other.

Swivel pins 26,31,42 and hinge pin 23a are assembled so as to resist their removal.

Pins 26,31, 23a can be made shorter than the item which receives them and, after insertion, the mouths of the holes in the item at the ends of the pin are reduced in size by a suitable tool.

Alternatively, the ends of the pins can be welded to the respective receiving item, or a retaining head welded on to the ends of the pins; or a welded head at one end and welded to the item at the other end.

In the case of pin 42, cover plates 43,44 (shown spaced from the boss 40) can be secured (e.g. by spot welding) to opposite sides of the boss 40 to cover slot 41, pin 42 being slightly less wide than the boss 40. Alternatively, the pin 42 could have at one end a head wider than slot 41, the pin adjacent the head having parallel sides received in slot 41 and longer than the width of the boss 40.

Figure 3 shows one possibility with the end of hinge barrel 23b counterbored either axially or, as shown, tapered, atthe ends. One end of the hinge pin 23a is shaped correspondingly to mate in the counterbore, the other end being peened into the counterbore.

The hinge barrel 23b is usually made in sections (see Figure 1); advantageously these sections are spot welded, as at 23c, to the hinge plates 23d which are themselves welded to plates 20, 21. The hinge 23 could be made by welding a tube to each of the plates 20, 21 and then removing spaced portions of the tubes so that the remaining portions can be interlocked to form the barrel 23b.

It will be understood that the device may be adapted for use with a vehicle having only two pedals.

It will be understood that the device is readily operable and being fixed is ready for use.

Claims (12)

1. A vehicle protection device adapted to be fixed to a vehicle comprising means engageable beneath two operating pedals of the vehicle to restrict relative movement therebetween, means for moving said engageable means between an operative position and an inoperative position, and releasable means for holding the engageable means in the movement-restricting operative position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the engageable means is adapted in the operative position for restricting relative movement between three operating pedals.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which is adapted in the operative position to prevent said relative movement.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the engageable means comprises a plate pivoted to a support adapted to be fixed to the vehicle.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the releasable means is adapted for releasably holding the engageable means also in the inoperative position.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the releasable means comprises a keyoperated lock.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which the lock includes a lock plate co-operable with one or more slots in a movable element of the operating means.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the moving means comprises a handle.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, in which the handle is connected to the engageable means by a link mechanism.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, in which the handle is movable forwards and rearwards.

11. A vehicle protection device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A vehicle having a vehicle protection device as claimed in any preceding claim mounted for co-operation with operating pedals of the vehicle.