GB2132955A

GB2132955A - A vehicle anti-theft means

Info

Publication number: GB2132955A
Application number: GB8226647A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Ivor Jordan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-09-18
Filing date: 1982-09-18
Publication date: 1984-07-18

Abstract

A car is provided with anti-theft means which rely on the seat back 10 of the driver's seat 6 being locked in a position in which the seat back 10 extends forwardly over the seat squab 8 so as to prevent a person sitting on the seat squab 8 and driving the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A vehicle anti-theft means and method Field of the invention This invention relates to a means for and method of preventing an unauthorised user from driving a vehicle. The invention is concerned with an anti-theft means which can be applied to any mobile vehicle having a drivers seat, including road vehicles, offroad vehicles, light aero-planes or motor-boats.

Background to the invention Most anti-theft devices operate by immobilising an essential part of the vehicle's ignition system, steering or vehicle controls. The present invention aims to provide a means for and method of immobilising a vehicle for anti-theft purposes without tampering with or altering any of the essential functions of the vehicle engine or its control systems. Instead, the invention relies on a completely different approach which is thought to be simple and effective as a means of deterring a thief from stealing a vehicle.

Summary ofthe invention According to one aspect of the invention a mobile vehicle has a driver's seat movable between a normal condition allowing a person to sit on the seat and drive the vehicle, and an immobilised condition in which the seat is oriented or arranged to prevent a person sitting on the seat and driving the vehicle.

Hence, when the seat is in the immobilised condition, it obstructs a person wishing to sit on the seat, therby preventing the person occupying a normal seated position at the controls of the vehicle. It will be appreciated that it is virtually impossible to control and drive a mobile vehicle if the normal position on the driver's seat cannot be assumed.

Preferably, the seat is capable of being retained in the immobilised condition by locking means, releasable by a key. The locking means may comprise a dead lock requiring the correct key both for locking and unlocking.

It is envisaged that any part of the seat, or attachment thereto, could be movable to enable the seat to assume the immobilised condition, providing that this results in a person being prevented from taking up a normal seated position for driving the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment to be described, the driver's seat has a seat back which, in the immobilised condition of the seat, occupies a position extending over the seat squab so as to prevent a person sitting on the latter. Conveniently, the seat back is pivotally mounted on the seat squab about a transverse axis which enables the seat back to be pivoted forwardly so that it overlies the seat squab in the immobilised condition of the seat.

Pivotal movement of this nature can be readily achieved if the vehicle seat is of the type in which the seat back is adjustable for rake or angle of inclination. Indeed, in the case of a two-door motor car having a driver's seat with a seat back which folds forwardly for access to the rear seats, the invention can be realised by the simple expedient of providing locking means for locking the seat back in its forwardmost position. For vehicles which already have adjustable seat backs without sufficient forward amplitude of pivotal movement of the seat backs, it is envisaged that a conversion kit could be made available. This kit would provide for additional forward pivotal movement of the seat back and provide the locking means for locking the set back in the fully forward position corresponding to the immobilised condition of the seat.

As previously indicated, the invention can be applied to mobile vehicles other than cars. It is expected that the invention will be usefully applied to other road vehicles such as lorries and buses, as well as off-road vehicles like contractors plant and to motor cycles.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of preventing a mobile vehicle being driven by an unauthorised user comprises moving part of the driver's seat so that the latter is placed in an immobilised condition in which the seat is oriented or arranged to prevent a person sitting on the seat and driving the vehicle.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a motor car seat adapted to operate according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, and Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear view of the seat in the immobilised condition.

Detailed description of the drawings Referring to Figure 1, the motor cr has the usual steering wheel 2 projecting from a dashboard 4.

Behind the steering wheel 2 is located the driver's seat 6 comprising a seat squab 8 and a seat back 10.

The seat back 10 is pivotally mounted with respect to the seat squab 8 about a horizontal transverse axis XX which allows the rake or angle of inclination of the seat back 10 to be adjusted in the usual manner.

The set 6 differs from known driver's seats in that the seat back 10 can be pivoted forwardly about the axis XX and retained in this forward position by locking means. The forward position corresponds to the immobilised condition of the seat and is shown in chain dot lines in Figure 1. In the immobilised condition of the seat 6, the forward edge of the seat back 10 lies close to the steering-wheel 2 so as to prevent a person sitting on the seat. This condition prevails even if the seat 6 is moved to its rearmost position and the steering-wheel is moved to its forwardmost position. Hence, the vehicle cannot be driven unless the seat back 10 is released and pivoted rearwardly away from the steering-wheel 2.

Figure 2 illustrates one way of locking the seat back 10 with respect to the seat squab 8. A metal shaft 12 extends through the seat squab 8 along the pivot axis XX. One end of the shaft 12 projects from the seat and is formed with a radial bore 14 into which a locking dead bolt can extend when the seat back 10 assumes its fully forward position shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 1. The bold is shown at 16 in Figure 2 and can be arranged to extend through a strong metal ring or cap 18 attached to the seat back 10. Thus, when the seat back 10 is pivoted forwardly to the appropriate angle, the bolt can be inserted through aligned holes in the ring or cap and the shaft in order to lock the seat in the immobilised condition.

On unlocking by use of the correct key, the bolt is with-drawn, allowing the seat back 10 to be pivoted to its normal position shown in full lines in Figure 1.

Preferably, the seat back 10 automaticaily reverts to its normal position at the desired angle of rake.

Instead of pivoting the seat back 10 about the transverse axis XX, the seat back 10 may be arranged to be moved in a different motion, providing that in the immobilised condition of the seat it is impossible for a person to sit on the seat squab 8 and drive the vehicle.

The deadlock may be linked to a buzzer or other alarm means which is sounded if the deadlock is tampered with in the locked condition. Afurther possibility is for the deadlock to be arranged such that the interior lights of the vehicle are illuminated if the deadlock is tampered with. A refinement of this idea would be to arrange for certain or all of the fuses to be blown if the deadlock is tampered with.

Claims

1. A mobile vehicle having a driver's seat movable between a normal condition allowing a person to sit on the seat and drive the vehicle, and an immobilised condition in which the seat is oriented or arranged to prevent a person sitting on the seat and driving the vehicle.

2. A mobile vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the seat is capable of being retained in the immobilised condition by locking means releasable bya key.

3. A mobile vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the locking means comprise a dead lock requiring the correct key both for locking and unlocking.

4. A mobile vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a part of the seat is movable with respect to the remainder to enable the seat to assume the immobilised condition.

5. A mobile vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the driver's seat has a seat back which, in the immobilised condition of the seat, occupies a position extending over the seat squab so as to prevent a person sitting on the latter.

6. A mobile vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the seat back is pivotally mounted on the seat squab about a transverse axis which enables the seat back to be pivoted forwardly so that it overlies the seat squab in the immobilised condition of the seat.

7. A mobile vehicle according to any of the preceding claims and being a land vehicle such as a car, lorry, bus or item of contractors plant, the vehicle having a steering-wheel in front of the driver's seat and the seat back extending forwardly towards the steering wheel in the immobilised condition of the seat.

8. A method of preventing a mobile vehicle being driven by an unauthorised user, comprising moving part of the driver's seat so that the latter is piaced in an immobilised condition in which the seat is oriented or arranged to prevent a person sitting on the set and driving the vehicle.

9. A mobile vehicle constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of preventing a mobile vehicle being driven by an unauthorised user, substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.