GB2147556A - Vehicle wheel clamping device - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheel clamping device comprising a frame and three moving arms that meet substantially at a common centre; two of said arms being actuated by rack and pinion motion to move chocks chordwise of a wheel up-against or away from a wheel periphery and the third arm having a hook to place over the top of the wheel. Ideally the racks are moved from a single key. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wheel impounding apparatus This invention relates to wheel impounding apparatus in the form of a vehicle wheel locking apparatus.

A wheel chock originally known as a scotch (OED c1642) is well known and is described to lock or wedge a wheel in patent literature (see Johnson U.S. 340880 and Hajasok U.S.

1174410) from as early as 1886. But it was not thought important to impound automobiles for inter alia parking offences by this means until c. 1970 (see Jeppesen P.R. U.S.

3537548 and West J.R. U.S. 3695071). It has been pointed out by Jeppesen that "numerous circumstances exist in which it is desirable to prevent movement of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle such as an automobile.

An example is the lawful detention of an automobile by the police or a lien holder.

Another example, is where an automobile is on public display requiring measures to prevent accidental movements of the automobile that could cause injury to a spectator. In each instance, it is desired to immobilize the car independently from its normal locking and braking mechanism in a manner which is unlikely to damage the automobile and which is reasonably convenient".

The desire for convenience is difficult to achieve and is still very real especially in the case of parking offences in any centre of large population, since parking enforcement officers require large numbers of such pieces of apparatus and each needs to be fitted independent of difference in wheel diameter to the vehicle with a quick and simple action. No single wheel lock apparatus as far as I am aware wholly fulfils the above noted desideratum.

To that end I provide according to the present invention a wheel locking apparatus comprising in combination a support frame and a chock for abutting the periphery of a vehicle wheel to which the apparatus is to be affixed, said chock being movable to scotch said wheel by means that is able to be moved chordwise of said wheel from a position on a support frame that abuts the face of said wheel, said frame having an adjustable and lockable hook that holds the frame to the upper part of the wheel.

In one construction the apparatus has rack and pinion means that moves chordwise of the wheel and preferably two opposed wheel chocks that are positioned against the wheel periphery such that one leads and one trails the said wheel. In a preferred construction the racks and the adjustable hook are so arranged that the hook is movable substantially normal to the ground and with the chocks provide a three 'point' clamp on the wheel periphery.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of various embodiments of wheel locking apparatus described by way of example only with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic showing one form of wheel locking apparatus; Figures 2A and 2B are scrap views (much enlarged in relation to Fig. 1) in oblique perspective showing two separate forms of tyre hook to be used with the apparatus of Fig. 1; Figures 3, 3A are two schematic views in side elevation and plan respectively of another form of apparatus; Figure 4 is a schematic of yet another form of apparatus; Figure 5 is a schematic of an improved chock for use in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 with an inset perspective showing a tread engaging flange;; Figures 6 and 6A are schematics showing the geometry of chock abutment with two widely different diameters of wheel,; Figure 7 is a schematic showing the geometry of the apparatus of Fig. 4 to an increased scale and to greater detail, and Figure 8 is a view in oblique perspective of a wheel locking apparatus operable from a single key.

In Fig. 1 a wheel locking mechanism comprises two opposed chocks lOi, 102 each adjustably movable chordwise of wheel periphery 11 along chords c1c2c3c4 which chords contain racks R1, R2 that coact R, with gears G1, G2 and R2 with gears G1, G3, G4. It is clear that if the said gears and racks have the same DP then from their diameters said gears will move racks R1, R2 substantially identically in opposite directions at the same time. Rotation of gear G, will reciprocate racks R1, R2 and move chocks 10,, 102 up to or away from wheel periphery 11, hence said chocks can be used with different diameters of wheels. The locking of gear G, locks the racks R1, R2.A support frame 1 3 is indicated by dotted lines.

A vertically adjustable ratchet bar 1 4 is indicated by a double arrow. This bar may take the form of a tyre hook as shown in Fig. 2A.

Bar 1 4 has an integral extension arm 14, carrying paired links 1 43, 143 (one of each pair only is shown) that slide in slot 144 and carry an arm 1 45 from which depends a bar 146 forming with 145 14 and 14 a tyre hook.Arms 14" 145 carry on their facing surfaces strong teeth 1 47, 148 that engage by arm 145 abutting a tyre periphery and moving in the direction of arrow 149. The bar 1 4 is reciprocated by ratchet means and this is indicated by double arrow 14iso. A tyre hook that is rotatable may be employed to remove the difficulty of fixing it to the tyre under the mud guard and chassis arch. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that a three 'point' clamp is provided at C, C4 P,. The arm 145 may be fitted with tyre peripheral flanges (not shown).

In Fig. 2B another form of tyre hook comprises a bar 1 5 that has an integral extension arm 151 provided with a side channel 1 52 and a plurality of recesses 1 5R 1 5R 1 5R3 etc that each has a curved channel 15, 1 5C 15c etc linking with channel 1 52 A co-operating mating tube arm 1 53 accepts extension arm 1 51 and it has a single tooth 1 5T that co-operates with channel 152 and side channels 1 5C. 1 5C 15C3 to allow any one of recesses 1 5R, 1 5R., 1 5at etc to be held by said tooth 1 5T depending upon the extension (E1) required. Tube arm 1 53 has a depending bar 156 forming with the other parts a tyre hook that may be rotated into position. The tube arm 1 53 is shown with a pair of tyre peripheral flanges 155 (only one is visible).

In Figs. 3, 3A a pair of racks Rt, R2 parallel to the ground line are stepped (clearly they may also be straight racks shown dotted) and actuated by a single spur gear g, attached to a shaft s, that is rotatable via cooperating bevel gears B,, B2. A single chock 102 is shown and this is movable by rack R2. No face plate or frame is shown but a bar 14 with a tyre hook may conveniently follow Figs. 2A or 2B and this is shown schematically by double headed arrow 14.

In Fig. 4 two racks R1, R2 intersect at P at an acute angle and are driven outward and inward by a single spur gear 92, which may be rotated by a single shaft at s2 that projects from a face plate or frame denoted by dotted lines.

In Fig. 5 a chock 102 has a curved or sloped lower surface to allow for irregularities of surface and to assist in abutment with different diameters of wheels. The rack R2 may cooperate with noise generating means N, so that when the driver of the immobilised and impounded vehicle takes up the driving position, a noise warning is given. The arcuate wheel periphery engaging surface may have a tread flange T1 that engages with the tyre tread and prevents the chock being removed once it is fitted to the tyre. The arcuate surface may be provided with one or more fine spikes to penetrate the tyre surface.

In Figs. 6, 6A two widely different diameter wheels W1, W2 are drawn to a reduced size, for a Mini Minor and a Rolls Royce car for example. It is clearly seen that rack R2 enters chock 102 at different positions for the two wheels; positions X1 and X2. This difference is met by providing an arcuate slot M1 in the chock to take a pin arm M2 attached to rack R5t.

In rig. 7 there is shown the construction of Fig. 4 with the chock 102 against two widely different diamter of wheel W1, W2. In this construction the frame or plate is bodily lowered and raised and the rack R2 adjusted accordingly. The chock may not seat on the road surface but it is still able to immobilise the wheel. Simple locking mechanism on single gear 92 is shown at Z1 In Fig. 8 a wheel locking apparatus comprises a main frame 101 having an openable lockable cover plate (shown closed) that when open allows key 102 (which may be a key lever or a ratchet lever) to turn via gears G > , G2, G3, G4 racks R1, R2 inward or outward to carry chocks lOi, 102 into or out of engagement with the periphery of a wheel (not shown).Chock 10,, 102 have arcuate slots A1.

A2 or pins P, P2 that are attached to racks R,.

R2. A top bar 1 4 is operated by a ratchet and paul mechanism Q, and is pinned into position via holes H1, H2 etc (which clearly may be cooperating ratchet teeth). The bar carries a tyre hook as shown in either Fig. 2A or 2B.

In practice the whole apparatus is made of light materials and once the chock (10,) or chocks (10" 102) are set to the wheel periphery and the tyre hook (14) is in position the whole apparatus is locked. The chock or chocks having been moved from a single position outboard of the wheel to which the apparatus is fixed. Clearly removal of the apparatus by any means from the vehicle once it is affixed is a more serious offence against the law than for example the illegal parking of the vehicle that demanded the immobilisation by the wheel locking apparatus of the invention. Hence its light construction is no bar to it utility and effective action as a deterrent to illegal parking.

The chordwise movement referred to above may be actuated from a sissor means or by hydraulic or pneumatic rams.

Clearly the tyre clamp of Fig. 2B is very versatile in this field and may be employed with each tyre chock to hold it to the wheel.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. A wheel clamping apparatus as set forth in the statement of invention in the specification. 2. A wheel clamping apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings. CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1 ,2 above have been deleted New claims have been filed as follows:

1. A wheel locking apparatus comprising in combination a support frame and a chock for abutting the periphery of a vehicle wheel to which the apparatus is to be affixed, said chock being movable to scotch said wheel by means that is able to be moved chordwise of said wheel by actuation means at a single position on a support frame that abuts the face of said wheel, said frame having an adjustable and lockable hook that holds the frame to the upper part of the wheel.

2. The wheel locking apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the chordwise movement is achieved by rack and pinion mechanism.

3. The wheel clamp as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the hook is movable subatantially normal to the ground under the wheel.

4. The wheel clamp as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 wherein the chock contains an arcuate slot that has a pin arm attached to the rack so tha said chock may be used with wheels having widely disparate diameters.

5. The wheel clamp of any preceding claim wherein the chock has a curved lower surface that contacts the ground.

6. The wheel clamp of any preceding claim wherein the chock has a wheel tread engaging surface that interpenetrates the said tread.

7. The wheel clamp as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the interpenetration is effected with spikes on said chock.

8. The wheel clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lockable hook is a two part hook with engageable and disengageable threads.

9. The wheel clamp of any preceding claim operable from a single position on the frame by a single key.

10. A wheel clamp constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings.