GB2182618A

GB2182618A - Securing device for vehicle pedal

Info

Publication number: GB2182618A
Application number: GB8527542A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Abraham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-11-08
Filing date: 1985-11-08
Publication date: 1987-05-20
Also published as: GB8527542D0

Abstract

A device for securing a vehicle pedal in a depressed position, in order to render a vehicle inoperative, has a restraining arm (11) pivotally and releasably mounted on a base (27) attached to the floor (13) of a vehicle, on one side of a pedal (19). A receiving post (15) is mounted on the other side of the pedal, and has a receiving port (21) to receive the free end (31) of the restraining arm, and a bolt (23) positioned to align with a hole (17) in the free end of the restraining arm. In order to activate the device, the pedal (19) is depressed and the restraining arm (11) is pivoted to lie in the path of the pedal, and is positioned in the receiving port (21) in the receiving post. The bolt (23) is pushed through the hole (17) in the restraining arm where it is secured by means of a lock mechanism (25, 29). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Securing device The present invention reiates to a device for securing a lever in a given position, more particularly to a device for securing a vehicle pedal in a depressed position, to renderthe vehicle inoperative.

The immobilization of a vehicle while it is parked is becoming increasingly desirable. If a vehicle is immobilized it is considerably more difficultforwouldbe thieves to move away from the scene in the vehicle, and thus the immobilization of a vehicle discourages prospective thieves from choosing it as a possible target.

There are several known ways of immobilizing a vehicle which are either mechanical or electrical. Of the mechanical methods, probably the best-known is the connection of the steering wheel ofthevehicleto one of the foot-pedals. This device is supposed to simultaneously preventturning ofthe steeringwheel and the depression of the foot-pedal, but it has not proved to be entirely successful in preventing thieves from stealing vehicles.

It has now been realised that the main advantage possessed by vehicle thieves is that they can move the stolen vehicle away from the scene of the crime quickly and under its own power, so that the stolen property doubles as a means of leaving the scene of the crime.

It has now been realized that th is would be prevented if the vehicle were immobilized by preventing the transmission of engine power to the wheels. This can be done by disengaging the clutch plates, which, in turn, can be effected by securing the clutch pedal in the disengaged position. Furthermore, if the means for so securing the clutch pedal are positioned far en- ough along the pedal, ifthieves attemptto release the pedal by cutting it on the side ofthe securing means nearest the pedal pivot, the resulting trunca- ted attached pedal will be too short to use successfully as a clutch pedal.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for securing a vehicle pedal in a depressed position, the device comprising a restraining member movable into, and releasably securable in, the path of said pedal.

Preferably the device further comprises a receiving member to which the restraining member may be re leasably secured. Preferably,the restraining member is removabie when not secured.

Preferably the restraining member comprises a restraining arm. More preferably it is pivotably mounted on one side of said lever. Most preferably a receiving memberforsaid restraining arm is positioned on the side of said lever remote from said restraining arm.

Preferably the restraining member makes contact with the lever over a wide area, to prevent damage occuring due to excessive pressure upon a small area from the lever upon the member. This may be achieved by, for example, having a portion ofthe restraining member which is complementarily shaped with a portion ofthe lever.

Preferably the device comprises a base, mounted to one side of a vehicle pedal, upon which is releas ably and pivotably mounted a restraining arm, and a receiving post, mounted to the other side of the veh icle pedal, comprising a receiving port to receive the free end ofthe restraining arm; said postfurther comprising a bolt, positioned to align with a hole in the free end of the restraining arm when the free end ofthe restraining arm is positioned in the receiving port, which may be moved into the receiving port and there releasably secured by a lock.

Byway of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows, a device of the present invention, in the open position, mounted on thefioor of a car, with a clutch pedal in the resting position; and Figure 2 shows, the device of Figure 1 in the closed position, holding the clutch pedal in the depressed position.

In Figure 1 a device according to the present invention for securing a car clutch pedal in the disengaged position is displayed in an open position. The device comprises an L-shaped restraining arm 11, pivotably and releasably mounted (as will be explained) on base 27 which is secured through the floor 13 of the car. The arm 11 is of square cross-section. A hole 17 extends through the free end 31 of the restraining arm 11. A receiving post 15 for restraining arm 11 is also secured through the carfloor 13.The receiving post 15 contains a receiving port 21 for the restraining arm 17, through which is positioned a securing bolt 23 when the device is in the closed position as in Figure 2 (notvisible). The bolt 23 extends up thorough the receiving post 15 and is contiguous with end portion 29 of the post 15. This bolt 23 is withdrawn into the receiving post 15 bytheturning of a key in keyhole 25 when the device is in the closed position. This action causes end portion 29 to siide out of the receiving post 15 by means of a spring (not illustrated) within the receiving post, and thus the bolt 23, being contiguous with the end portion 29, is drawn up into the receiving post into the open position as in Figure 1.The bolt is pushed back into the closed position by pressure on the end portion 29 causing the end portion 29 to slide into the receiving post 15 up to a pivot where the bolt 23 is fully displaced and the end portion 29 locks into place. When the bolt 23 is with- drawn and the end 31 ofthe restraining arm 11 is positioned in the receiving port 21 the bolt 23 is aligned with the hole 17 on the restraining arm 11. When the device is not in use the restraining arm may be lifted off base 27 and stored elsewhere.

When the device is in use it is in the closed position, as shown in Figure 2. The restraining arm 11 has been pivoted aboutthe base27 that end 31 is positioned in receiving port 21. End portion 29 of receiving post 15 is depressed and locked in position, thus depressing and locking securing bolt 23 into the corresponding hole 17 in the end 31 ofthe restraining arm 11. In this way restraining arm 11 is prevented from swinging free of receiving post 15. When the device is in the closed position the restraining arm 11 cannot be iifted off the base 27. The arm 11 is restric ted,from moving perpendicularly to the floor 13 of the vehicle since it is secured by end 31 in the receiv ing port 21, and from moving laterally by its attachmentto base 27.

In Figure 1 the clutch pedal 19, which is movable towards the floor 13 about a pivot point (not shown), is shown in its usual resting position, as far from the floor 13, as it will move. When depressed, as in Figure 2,the arm ofthe clutch pedal is positioned between the receiving post 15 and the base 27.

To use the device, the clutch pedal 19 is depressed towards the floor 13, thus disengaging the clutch plates of the vehicle. The restraining arm 11 is pivoted on base 27, over clutch pedal 19, until end 31 is positioned in receiving port 21 in receiving post 15.

End portion 29 of receiving post 15 is pushed down until it locks in place, thereby pushing down and locking securing bolt 23 in hole 17 in the end 31 ofthe restraining arm 11. Thus the restraining arm 11 is secured across the clutch pedal 19, maintaining the clutch pedal 19 in the depressed position, as shown in Figure 2. To release the clutch pedal 19, a key is turned in keyhole 25, releasing end portion 29 and thus securing bolt 23 is withdrawn from hole 17. Restraining arm 11 is thus released from receiving port 21 and may be pivoted about base 27, away from the clutch pedal 19, thus allowing clutch pedal 19 to rise to its usual resting position. The restraining arm 11 maythen be removed from the base 27 to allowfree operation ofthe other pedals.

The device is positioned so that, when in use, the restraining arm 11 extends across the pedal 19 sufficiently close to the pivot point so that, werethe clutch pedal 19 severed at a point between the device and the pivot point, the remaining lever 19 still attached to the pivot point would be too shortto use to engage and disengage the clutch plates.

The invention is not restricted to the details ofthe foregoing embodiment. Forexample,the portion of the arm 11 may be of square or rectangularcrosssection, where itcomes into contactwith the pedal, in orderto provide a larger contact area on the clutch pedal, and reduce or avoid damage to the pedal.

Claims

1. A device for securing a vehicle pedal in a depressed position, the device comprising a restraining member movable into, and rnleasflblysecurnble in, the path of said pedal.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 ,furthercompris- ing a receiving memberto which the restraining member is releasablysecurable.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 orclaim2, wherein the restraining member is removable when not secured in the path of said pedal.

4. Adevice as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the restraining member comprises a restraining arm.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the restraining arm is pivotally mounted.

6. Adevice as claimed in claimS, wherein the restraining arm is pivotally mounted to one side ofthe pedal.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6,further comprising a receiving memberforreceiving said restraining arm, positioned on the side of said lever remote from said restraining arm.

8. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, comprising a base, a restraining arm pivotallyand releasably mounted on said base to one side of a vehicle pedal, a receiving post mounted to the other side of the vehicle pedal, the receiving post comprising a receiving port to receive a free end of the restraining arm, and a bolt positioned to align with a hole in the free end of the restraining arm when the free end of the restraining arm is positioned in the receiving port, the bolt being movable into the receiving port and being releasably securable therein.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bolt is releasably securable in the receiving port by means of a lock.

10. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the restraining member makes contact with the lever over a relativelywidearea.

11. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 wherein a portion of the restraining member is complementarily shaped with a portion ofthe lever.

12. A device for securing a vehicle pedal in a depressed position, substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.