GB2142889A

GB2142889A - Anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2142889A
Application number: GB8420744A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Turner; Martyn Dane Turner; Michael Ewins
Original assignee: T Turner
Current assignee: T Turner
Priority date: 1983-10-06
Filing date: 1984-08-15
Publication date: 1985-01-30
Also published as: GB2142889B; GB8420744D0; GB8326796D0

Abstract

In order to lock together two control levers, such as a vehicle hand brake lever 40 and a gear lever 41, a first hollow limb 10 is fitted over one lever 40 and a second limb 20, which is pivoted thereto, is adjusted in length and fastened to the other lever 41. The second limb 20 preferably comprises two parts 21, 22 which are telescopically adjustable and a further pivotal member 30 which engages around the other control lever and has a locking element 32 to lock the two parts 21, 22 relative to each other and to the further member 30. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anti-theft device This invention relates to an anti-theft device, especially for a motor-vehicle.

In the past many such devices have been proposed whereby parts of a vehicle which must be moved manually to correctly operate the vehicle are locked together so that they either cannot be moved at all or cannot be moved sufficiently to permit correct operation of the vehicle. There have, for example, been devices for locking together vehicle foot pedals and devices for locking a steering wheel to a foot pedal or a gear lever.

The present invention specifically concerns a device for locking together a hand brake lever and a gear lever in a conventional motor vehicle such as a motor-car or small van. A device of this nature is already known and comprises a single rigid elongate member having at one end a tubular portion which is bent at an obtuse angle. This angled tubular portion is adapted to fit over the upper part of the vehicle hand brake lever. The other end of the elongate member incorporates means whereby it may be locked to the gear lever.

Such a device adequately fulfils its allotted function. However, it will be appreciated that the distance between the hand brake and the gear lever and the necessary angle at which the tubular portion must be bent so that the device cannot be removed from the brake lever merely by manipulation thereof varies widely from one make of car or van to another. This has the disadvantage that, if the device is to be made to suit a variety of different vehicles, there must be a large range of such devices of different sizes and having differing angles of tabular portion available to suit the differing vehicles.

In practice, of course, it is only economical to manufacture a relatively small range of devices of different dimensions. Accordingly, there is not a device on the market to fit every make and model of car or van, and there is a need for a more versatile device than hitherto proposed.

An object of the present invention, is the provision of an anti-theft device for locking together two adjacent controls of a vehicle and especially a hand brake lever and a gear lever, which device is capable of fitting a large number of different makes or models of vehicles.

Pursuant hereto the present invention provides an anti-theft device for locking together two control levers of a vehicle or other machine, said device comprising two limbs pivotally connected together, the first limb being of hollow form so that it can fit over the one control lever and the second limb being longitudinally extensible by having two parts which are adjustable relative to each other, said second limb also incorporating means whereby the device may be fastened to the other control lever.

Most conveniently, the first limb is made Fe that it fits over the hand brake lever of a vehicle, while the second limb is made so that it can be secured when required to the gear lever of a vehicle. The exact choice of the two control levers to which the device is fitted, however, will depend to some extent on the shape and position of the different control levers in any particular vehicle.

The first limb is conveniently tubular and may be of any cross-section which gives it satisfactory external and internal contours. For example, it may be a hollow cylinder, but it is not essential for it to have a circular exterior or bore, and other shapes may be used if desired.

That end of the hollow first limb which is pivotally connected to the second limb is preferably closed by an end wall. One or more angled guides are advantageously located inside said hollow limb adjacent to its closed end so as to define a recess, the sides of which are preferably smoothly angled towards the main bore sides. This recess accommodates the free extremity of the control lever to which the device is attached when in use.

This is particularly relevant when the control lever is a hand brake lever as any release button protruding from the free end of the hand brake can fit inside the recess without being depressed by downwards pressure of the first limb.

The second limb may be made adjustable by any means which allows its length to be adjusted and fixed securely as required. Most suitably, this can be done by making its two parts slide telescopically one within the other.

This limb (i.e. the two parts) may be of any convenient cross-section, for example, round square or polygonal.

In a preferred embodiment, the second limb is made adjustable by having a number of apertures in one of the two parts from which it is made and a locking element incorporating a protrudable bolt capable of engaging in one of said apertures and fixing the parts together at any chosen length. The locking element may be operated most conveniently by means of a key. The locking element can be constructed so as to secure the parts of the second limb together at the desired length at the same time as locking the second limb to the vehicle control.

For fastening the device to the other control there is preferably a further member which is pivotally attached to the second limb and carries the locking element engageable with said second limb. This member is conveniently in the form of a channel section swingable relative to the second limb in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the first and second limbs are capable of swinging relative to each other.

Preferably at least one of the second limb or the further pivotal fastening member includes a curved portion adapted to fit around the gear lever to secure it. In tests it has been found preferable to secure the two controls in positions in which they are set as far apart as possible. The proposed device thus prevents the controls being released or brought to gether sufficiently to allow operation of the vehicle. If desired, however, the device may be used in any way in which the movement of the controls is sufficiently restricted to prevent theft or unauthorised use.

Advantageously, a stop element is located on either the first limb or the second limb to limit the extent to which these limbs may swing relative to each other and/or to define a minimum angle between these two limbs.

This has the advantage of making disengage ment of the device from the vehicle controls more difficult when the device is secured in its "locked" position in use.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred practical embodiment of an antitheft device of the invention when in use locking a vehicle gear lever to a hand brake; Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in cross-section, of the device of Fig. 1 in the closed condition; Figure 3 is a fragmenary side elevation of the device of Fig. 1 also in the closed condition; Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the device of Fig. 1 in the open condition; Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse crosssection, to an enlarged scale, along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3; Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal crosssection illustrating the locking element of the device of Figs. 1 to 5 in the locked condition;; Figure 7 is a cross-section along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating the locking element in the unlocked condition.

As illustrated, a preferred embodiment of the anti-theft device of the invention consists of a first limb 10 and second limb 20 which are pivotally connected as at 28 at their respective ends so as to be swingable relative to each in one plane only, and fastening means in the form of a further channel section member 30 which is pivotally connected as at 38 to said second limb 20 so as to be swingable relative thereto in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the two limbs 10, 20 can swing relative to each other.

The first limb 10 is in the form of a hollow cylinder, about 5cm in internal diameter, which is closed by an end wall 11 at that end which is pivotally connected to the second limb. Inside the cylinder at the closed end thereof, are a pair of opposing angled guides 1 2 extending between the end wall and the main cylinder wall so as to form a recess 13, as shown in Fig. 2.

A stop element in the form of a cross-bar 14 extends between a pair of connection flanges 1 5 on the outside of the cylinder's end wall 11 and serves to limit the extent to which the first and second limbs 10, 20 may swing relative to each other, and, in effect, determines a minimum angle, for example 1 20", between those two limbs. This stop element thus impedes movement which could allow the cylinder 10 to be freed from a vehicle control within it, especially when the cylinder 10 has a relatively large bore compared with the diameter of the control.

The second limb 20 is formed in two parts the first of which consists of a rigid box section 21 of substantially square or rectangu lar cross-section one end 23 of which is pivotally connected at 28 to the connection flanges 1 5 of the first limb 10. The second part consists of a rod 22 of square or rectangular cross section which fits slideably into the box section 21. A row of equal sized apertures 24 is provided along the box section 21 and a single recess 25 is provided in the rod 22. In use the rod 22 and the box section 21 can be moved relative to each other until the second limb is the desired length and then secured in that position by a bolt protruding through the matched up recess and aperture in the two parts, as will be explained later.

The rod 22 is prevented from being completely removed from the box-section 21 by a stop arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5. A spring loaded dog 27 is provided in a slot 29 near that end of the rod 22 which extends into the box section 21. At a corresponding position near the free end of the box section 21 there is a gently sloping ramp 37 and abutment edge 39. When the rod 22 is pulled outwardly of the box section 21 the dog 27 slides down the ramp 37 and abuts the edge 39 of the section 21 so that complete withdrawal is prevented. When the rod 22 is pushed back into the box section 21 the dog simply slides up the ramp 37 again.

The dnd of the rod 22 remote from the first limb 10 (i.e. the end projecting from the box section 21) extends to provide an arcuate region 26, the far end of which is pivotally connected at 38 to the channel section member 30, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The end of the channel section member adjacent this pivotal connection 38 has a recess 31 opposite to the arcuate region 26 of the rod 22.

In known manner the channel section 30 consists of two substantially parallel side webs interconnected by a central web so as to form a channel. This section is orientated such that, when it is swung towards the second limb, the box section 21 into which the rod 22 extends) fits snugly into the channel, the box section 21 and the channel section 30 being of approximately equal lengths.

At the free end of the channel section 30 a locking element 32 is mounted outside the channel on one of the side webs. The locking element 32 comprises a housing 50 and a spring-loaded push-in locking mechanism 34 having a bolt 33 which is protrudable through an aperture in the relevant channel section side web and through aligned apertures 24, 25 in the box section 21 and rod 22 of the second limb.

A depressable button 51 of varying diameter projects from the mechanism 34 through an inverted key-hole shaped opening in the housing 50 which is covered by a coverplate 52 welded to the housing 50.

When the mechanism 34 is pushed down against the action of the spring 53, the bolt 33 projects through the aforesaid aperture 24, 25 and it is held in this locking position by the button 51 which has moved downwards and outwards and is helu in the expanded end of the inverted key-hole shaped opening in the housing 50. The bolt 33 can only be released by means of a key (not shown). When the key is turned in the mechanism 34, the button 51 is retracted and by the action of the spring 53 the mechanism is immediately lifted so that the bolt 33 comes out of the apertures 24, 25. The cover plate 52 prevents manual depression of or tampering with the button 51.

The limbs 10, 20, the channel section 30 and the locking element housing 50 are made of suitable robust materials to resist easy damage or cutting. A very suitable material would be carbon steel. Other material (e.g.

bronze) may be used for the locking bolt 33.

The manner in which the above described device is used in a motor vehicle will be readily understood. In general, in a stationary vehicle which the owner or driver lease unattended, the hand brake 40 will be applied and the gear lever 41 will be in a position projecting slightly away from the hand brake 40, as shown in Fig. 1. This is often a "Lock" or a forward or a reverse gear, according to the particular design of the vehicle concerned.

Firstly, with the locking element 32 in unlocked condition, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the channel section 30 is swung away from the second limb 20 of the device as shown in Fig.

4, and the cylindrical first limb 10 of the device is placed over the end of the hand brake 40. The angled guides 1 2 located inside this limb 10 form shoulders against which the extremity of the brake lever 40 abuts so that any release button 42 protruding from the end of the hand brake 40 cannot be released by pressure from the closed end 11 of the cylinder 10. The length of the second limb 20 of the device is adjusted by sliding of the rod 22 within the box section 22 until the arcuate end region 26 of this limb may be held against a lower part of the gear lever 41 and at the same time the recess 25 in the rod 22 and one of the apertures 24 in the box section 21 are aligned.The channel section 30 of the device is then swung towards the second limb 20 so that the recess 31 and the opposed arcuate region 26 of the channel section 30 and the rod 22 respectively completely encircle the gear lever 41 and the rod 22 and the box section 21 fit snugly into the channel of the section 30, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The device is locked in this position by pressing down the mechanism 34 of the locking element 32, as previously described, so that the bolt 33 projects through one of the apertures 24 in the box section 21 into the aligned recess 24 in the rod 22 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. A knob or similar fitment 43 normally present at the top of most gear levers will assist in preventing removal of the device by upward sliding.

However in the event that the knob 43 is removable, it should be removed, and a metal ring 54 should be bolted onto the lever 41 by means of a bolt 55, the end of which shears off when the bolt 55 is screwed sufficiently tightly. The knob 43 can then be replaced.

The ring 54 then prevents removal of the device from the lever 41. This ring 54 and shear bolt 55 are supplied with the device and are shown in position in Figs. 1 and 3.

In general, when in use and in the locked position, the second limb 20 interfitted with the channel section member 30 will be disposed substantially horizontally, or will slop at a small angle to the horizontal and the first limb 10 will extend downwardly from its pivotal connection 28 with the second limb 20 at an obtuse angle thereto which will vary from one make of vehicle to another. To remove the device the above series of operations are simply reversed, the channel section 30 swinging laterally away from the second limb 20 to release the gear lever 41.

It will be appreciated that the device of the invention, by virtue of a pivotal first limb and the extendable second limb is able to be fitted, as desired, to many different models of car or van. Moreover, with only a few modifications similar devices of different size and slightly different dimensions may be produced to fit larger vehicles and some unusual makes of car.

As previously mentioned the invention is not limited to the particular illustrated embodiment and many variations are possible. For example, the fixing means need not be in the form of a member pivotally connected to the second limb, nor need it be a channel section, although both of these features are preferred so that the device when not in use consists of a single assembly. In other words it is pos sible that the fixing means comprises a separate member, e.g. of "L" shaped cross section, or a component attached to the second limb but of different form to that described so long as it provides means of locking the second limb to the vehicle gear lever.

In this description, the invention is described as an anti-theft device for vehicles. It is to be understood that it is also applicable to any unauthorised use of any machinery in which two adjacent control levers can be secured by the device of the invention. This includes locking for the purpose of safety, and can be applied to a wide range of vehicles, including motor-driven boats, as well as road and other land vehicles. Also although especially useful for vehicles operated by petrol or diesel engines. The device may be applied to the controls of vehicles and machinery operated by other power sources.

Claims

1. An anti-theft device for locking together two control levers of a vehicle or other machine, said device comprising two limbs pivotally connected together, the first limb being of hollow form so that it can fit over the one control lever and the second limb being longitudinally extensible by having two parts which are adjustable relative to each other, said second limb also incorporating means whereby the device may be fastened to the other control lever.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first limb is a hollow cylinder.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein that end of the hollow first limb which is pivotally conncted to the second limb is closed by an end wall.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein one or more angled guides inside the hollow first limb adjacent said end wall provide a recess to accommodate the extremity of the one control lever.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the two parts of the second limb slide telescopically one within the other.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the inner part is prevented from being completely withdrawn from the outer part by provision of a spring located dog on one part engagable with an abutment edge of a corresponding sloping ramp on the other part.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one part of the second limb is provided with a number of apertures and a locking element incorporating a protrudable bolt is provided to engage into one of the apertures and fix the two parts of the second limb together at any chosen position.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 including a further member pivotally attached to the second limb and carrying a locking element engagable with said second limb so as to fasten said second limb to the other control lever.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 including a further member pivotally attached to the second limb and carrying the said locking element so as to fasten the two parts of the second limb together at the same time as fastening said second limb to the other control lever.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the further member is in the form of a channel section which is swingable relative to the second limb in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the first and second limbs are capable of swinging relative to each other.

11. A device as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein the second limb and/or the further pivotal member includes a curved portion to fit around the other control lever.

12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a stop element is provided on either the first limb or the second limb to limit the extent to which these limbs may swing relative to each other.

1 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 2 wherein the stop element is in the form of a cross bar extending between opposing connection flanges of the first limb.

14. An anti-theft device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.