GB2134463A

GB2134463A - Security device

Info

Publication number: GB2134463A
Application number: GB8303515A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank W B Clark
Original assignee: QUINTON MAJOR PRECISION LIMITE
Current assignee: QUINTON MAJOR PRECISION LIMITE
Priority date: 1983-02-09
Filing date: 1983-02-09
Publication date: 1984-08-15
Also published as: GB2134463B; GB8303515D0

Abstract

An anti-theft device for a motor car comprises first (2) and second (3) hooks for engaging the steering wheel and gear lever respectively. The hooks (2, 3) are connected by telescopically arranged extensions (4, 6) and can be locked in position by means of a lock (7). A shield (13) is welded to the second hook (3) to prevent removal of the knob at the end of the gear lever, and to reinforce the hook. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security device This invention relates to a security device and more particularly to a security device for a motor vehicle.

It is known to deter the theft of a vehicle by use of a security device which includes a first hook-like member for engaging the steering wheel of the vehicle, a second hook-like member for engaging the clutch or brake pedal of the vehicle, means telescopically connecting the first and second members and means for locking the first and second members in a selected relative position. Such devices have a number of disadvantages. Firstly, because of the substantial distance between the steering wheel and pedals of a vehicle the device must have a considerable length. This renders the device difficult to manoeuvre within the confines of a car, and leads to storage difficulties.

The problem can be appreciated from the fact that a typical prior security device of this type may have a minimum length of 559 mm. The number of places within a car where such a device can be stored is very limited, and considerable inconvenience can be caused by storing a device of this size.

A further disadvantage of prior art devices arises from the fact that the hook-like members are spaced a substantial distance from each other when the device is in the use configuration, and as such ready access may be gained to the hook-like members for the purpose of forcing or cutting to enable the device to be removed. This problem is aggrevated by two factors, firstly the nature of the hook-like end which must engage a pedal is such as to preclude simple reinforcement of the end against forcing, and secondly the substantial overall size of the device has limited manufacture of the individual components to relatively small gauge materials in order to keep costs and weight to within reasonable limits.

Another disadvantage of prior art devices is that they can, in many cases, be optionally hooked around either the brake pedal or the clutch pedal of a car. If hooked around the brake pedal the car can still be driven although the steering and service brake will be inoperative. This is dangerous since an authorised driver may inadvertantly drive off with the device in place, and reduces the effectiveness of the device since the car can be driven off by a thief for a short distance on a straight road to a location where it is less likely for anyone to notice the device being forced.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a security device for a motor vehicle comprising: a first member for engaging the steering wheel of the vehicle; a second member for engaging the gear lever of the vehicle; means telescopically connecting the first and second members whereby the members may be telescopically moved towards each other into a use configuration in which they cannot be removed from the steering wheel and gear lever; and means for releasably locking the members in the use configuration.

Preferably the second member is provided with means inhibiting the removal of the knob at the end of the gear lever, and this means is preferably provided by a shield secured to the second member and positioned to prevent grasping of the knob. Although the knob may still be visible, and indeed it may still be possible to touch the knob, the difficulty of unscrewing the knob in the presence of the shield is effective to deter would be vehicle thieves. In a particularly preferred arrangement a second shield is located within the first shield to further inhibit access to the knob.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of deterring theft of a vehicle comprising securing the steering wheel of the vehicle to the gear lever thereof by means of a device comprising a first member for engaging the steering wheel, a second member for engaging the gear lever, and means for releasably locking the first member to the second member.

The term "gear lever" as used herein is intended to cover not only the conventional gear lever associated with a manual gear box, but also an appropriately shaped control lever of an automatic gear box.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has substantial advantages as compared with the prior art device described above. Firstly, the relatively short distance from the steering wheel to the gear lever of most vehicles means that the device can be relatively compact. Typically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention has an overall length when in its most compact configuration of only 262 mm. The device can thus readily be stored, e.g. in the glove compartment of a motor car. The relatively small size of the device makes access to the hook-like end thereof for the purposes of forcing relatively difficult. The shield which is preferably provided at the second member can conveniently be designed to reinforce the hook-like configuration of the second member of the preferred embodiment, and thereby assists in preventing and forcing of this member.The relatively compact size also enables sturdy and strong construction materials to be used without leading to prohibitive costs or a prohibitive weight.

The above and further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of security device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the embodiment of Fig. 1; and Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a plan and side elevational view of one component of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, and Figures 5 and 6 show modified embodiments.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 the security device 1 shown in the drawings comprises a first hook-like member 2 which, in use may be engaged with the rim of a steering wheel, and a second hook-like member 3 which, in use, is located about the shaft portion of the gear lever of a vehicle, i.e. below the terminal knob typically provided on gear levers.

The second member is formed of tubular steel stock and is provided with a straight extension 4 which telescopically receives a straight extension 5 of the-first member 2.

The first member 2, which is shown in greater detail in Figs. 3 and 4, is formed of solid steel bar and is preferably of D crosssection formed by drawing or any other suitable method.

The extension 5 of member 2 is telescopically received within the extension 4 of member 3, and the terminal portion 6 of the extension 4 is formed with a cross-section complementary to the cross-section of the extension 5 to prevent relative rotation of the member 2 and 3. A lock assembly 7 is secured to the terminal portion 6 and includes a ball 8 which can be locked in engagement with any selected one of a plurality of holes 9 formed in the extension 5.

Preferably a cut-out portion 10 is provided adjacent the end of the extension 5 for engagement by the ball 8 to prevent complete separation of the members 2 and 3 and a stop 11 is provided on the member 3 for engagement with the end surface 1 2 of the extension 5 to limit inward telescopic movement of the members.

In order to inhibit removal of the terminal knob of the gear lever in order to remove the security device a shield 1 3 is provided on the hook-like member 3. The shield 1 3 is formed of sheet steel and is welded along the lateral edges 14 and 1 5 thereof to the member 3.

Thus, when the security device is located in position the gear lever knob is received at least in part within the shield 13, and the shield 1 3 is effected to prevent grasping of the knob or ready access to the knob by a tool to facilitate removal thereof. The shield has the further advantage of reinforcing the second hook-like member, and in order to assist in this is preferably provided with a centrally disposed reinforcing rib 1 6.

In order to use the device the lock assembly 7 is released to permit telescopic movement of the members 2 and 3. The member 2 is located about the rim of the steering wheel and the member 3 is located about the shaft of the gear lever. The members 2 and 3 are then telescoped towards each other into a configuration which the security device cannot be removed from the steering wheel and gear lever, and the lock assembly 7 is operated to lock the ball 8 into the nearest hole 9 in order to prevent outward telescopic movement of the members 2, 3.

Preferably a plastics sleeve 1 7 is provided over the first member 2 in order to protect the rim of the steering wheel from damage.

It will be noted that the preferred embodiment of the invention is particularly compact in size. The first hook-like member 2 is formed of solid steel bar of substantial section, and is accordingly strong and relatively difficult to deform. The second hook-like member is formed of steel tube which is potentially less strong against deformation than the bar of which the first member is formed, but is reinforced by the steel shield 1 3 thereby rendering the second hook-like member highly resistent to forcing.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 a second shield in the form of a loose part-spherical cup 1 8 is located within the shield 1 3 to inhibit access to the gear knob 1 9. This arrangement is of particular value when the gear knob is relatively small so that, in the absence of the cup, the excess space within the shield 1 3 couid allow finger access in order to unscrew the knob 19. The cup 18 may be supplied with the device 1 for use if required.

In the modification of Fig. 6 a second shield 20 in the form of a cradle 21 is pivotally secured to and is located within the shield 1 3.

The cradle 21 is generally of box-shape with open upper and lower faces 22, 23 to enable the knob 1 9 to be received within the cradle 21 as the security device is fitted. Again, this arrangement will be of particular value in the case of a relatively small knob.

Claims

1. A security device for a motor vehicle comprising: a first member for engaging the steering wheel of the vehicle; a second member for engaging the gear lever of the vehicle; means telescopically connecting the first and second members whereby the members may be telescopically moved towards each other into a use configuration in which they cannot be removed from the steering wheel and gear lever; and means for releasably locking the members in the use configuration.

2. A security device according to claim 1 including means for inhibiting the removal of the knob at the end of the gear lever.

3. A security device according to claim 2 wherein the inhibiting means comprises a shield secured to the second member to inhibit access to the knob.

4. A security device according to claim 3 wherein the portion of the second member which engages the gear lever is hook-like and the shield is of metal and is rigidly fixed to both limbs of the hook-like portion of the second member to reinforce same.

5. A security device according to claim 1 wherein the second member includes a hooklike end region for engaging the gear lever and a reinforcing member is secured to both limbs of the hook-like end region to reinforce the hook-like end region against spread.

6. A security device according to claim 5 wherein the reinforcing member is of generally inverted U-shape, is formed from sheet steel, is welded along the lower edges thereof to the respective limbs of the hook-like end region, and includes a reinforcing rib.

7. A security device according to claim 3 wherein a second shield is located within the first shield further to inhibit access to the knob.

8. A security device according to claim 7 wherein the second shield is a cup loosely mounted within the first-mentioned shield.

9. A security device according to claim 7 wherein the second shield is a generally boxshaped cradle pivotally mounted within the first mentioned shield.

10. A security device according to any preceding claim wherein the first member is formed from solid steel bar and the second member is formed from circular section steel tube, and wherein the means telescopically connecting the first and second members comprises telescopically arranged integral extensions of the first and second members respectively.

11. A security device according to claim 10 wherein the first member is non-circular at least over the said extension thereof, and the said extension of the second member is complementary to the cross-section of the said extension of the first member to prevent relative rotation of the first and second members.

1 2. A security device according to any preceding claim wherein the first member is provided with a plastics sleeve to protect the rim of the steering wheel from damage.

1 3. A security device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

14. A method of deterring theft of a vehicle comprising securing the steering wheel of the vehicle to the gear lever thereof by means of a device comprising a first member for engaging the steering wheel, a second member for engaging the gear lever, and means for releasably locking the first member to the second member.

1 5. A method according to claim 14 wherein the device is a security device according to any of claims 1 to 13.