GB2193938A - Security device for theft prevention of a trailer - Google Patents
Security device for theft prevention of a trailer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2193938A GB2193938A GB08716655A GB8716655A GB2193938A GB 2193938 A GB2193938 A GB 2193938A GB 08716655 A GB08716655 A GB 08716655A GB 8716655 A GB8716655 A GB 8716655A GB 2193938 A GB2193938 A GB 2193938A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- pin
- coupling member
- slot
- release lever
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
- B60D1/60—Covers, caps or guards, e.g. comprising anti-theft devices
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
Abstract
The device comprises a housing (15) open at one end (17) to permit insertion therein of the trailer ball hitch coupling member (12), a metal pin (24) carried by the housing (15) and slidable relative thereto between a first position wherein the coupling member (12) can be inserted into the housing (15) and a second position in which the pin (24) lies substantially wholly within the housing (15) and passes behind the protruding release lever (14) of the coupling member (12) to prevent withdrawal of the member (12) from the housing (15), a slot (18) in one wall of the housing (15) through which said release lever (14) extends in use, the width of said slot (18) being such in relation to the release lever (14) that in use the lever (14) is a close fit in the slot (18) and, a locking mechanism (27, 28) which, when operative, effects cooperation between the pin (24) and the housing (15), within the confines of the housing, to prevent withdrawal of the pin (24) from its second position to its first position. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Security device
This invention relates to a security device for use with caravans and other towable trailers of the kind utilizing a ball hitch.
Towable trailers utilizing the ball hitch principle have a releasable coupling member for engagement with a towing ball secured to the rear of the towing vehicle. The coupling member incorporates a projecting manually operable release lever. The theft of such towable trailers, in particular caravans, is becoming much more prevalent, and it will be recognised that it is a relatively simple matter for an unauthorised person to hitch the trailer coupling member of a towable trailer to the towing ball of his vehicle and then tow the trailer away.
In an attempt to prevent such unauthorised towing there has been proposed a lockable metal strap which encircles the coupling member of the towable trailer to prevent engagement of a towing ball therein. Such straps have however proved to be relatively ineffective since they are readily removed by sawing through the strap. There has also been proposed a metal housing within which the coupling member is received, the housing having a transverse metal pin which passes behind the protruding release lever of the coupling member to prevent removal of the housing from the coupling. It is intended that a head at one end of the pin will engage the outer surface of the housing at one side, and that the pin will extend outwardly at the opposite side of the housing to receive, in a cross drilling thereof, the shackle of a padlock.This proposal has been found to afford little more security than the aforementioned strap since although it is difficult to remove the device by sawing through the.housing, the pin is accessible externally of the housing and so can be sawn through, the presence of the padlock affording a means of holding the pin against rotation during sawing. In a further prior proposal the pin is received substantially wholly within the housing but is accessible for sawing by way of a large aperture in the top wall of the housing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a security device affording greater security than the above mentioned proposals.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a security device for use in conjunction with a ball hitch coupling member of a trailer, comprising a housing open at one end to permit insertion therein of the trailer coupling member, a metal pin carried by the housing and slidable relative thereto between a first position wherein the coupling member can be inserted into the housing and a second position in which the pin lies substantially wholly within the housing and passes behind the protruding release lever of the coupling member to prevent withdrawal of the member from the housing, a slot in one wall of the housing through which said release lever extends in use, the width of said slot being such in relation to the release lever that in use the lever is a close fit in the slot and, a locking mechanism which, when operative, effects cooperation between the pin and the housing, within the confines of the housing, to prevent withdrawal of the pin from its second position to its first position.
Preferably said pin is freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis in said housing and said locking mechanism, when operative to prevent said withdrawal movement of the pin, permits such rotation.
Desirably said locking mechanism is a key operated mechanism.
Preferably said locking mechanism has a member which is depressed to render the mechanism operative and is restored to its inoperative state by use of a key.
Preferably said housing is shaped to receive the locking mechanism wholly therein while providing access thereto for an operating key.
Desirably the key operated mechanism has its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of said metal pin.
Preferably the housing has alignment means therein which, in use, coact with a coupling member inserted into the housing to align the housing on the coupling member.
The invention further resides in the combination of a security device as specified above and a ball hitch coupling member received in the housing of the device, the release lever of the member protruding from the housing by way of said slot in the housing wall and the lever being a close fit in said slot.
One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a security device in accordance with one example of the invention applied to the coupling member of a towable trailer,
Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrow
A in Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 in Figure 1, and
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3 respectivety of a modification.
Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the security device is identified by the reference numeral 11, and the coupling member of the towable trailer is indicated by the reference numeral 12. A wide variety of different coupling members are known, but all work on the same general principle in that they consist of a metal pressing or casting 13 which is bolted to the draw-bar of the towable trailer and which is shaped at its free end to receive the towing ball of the towing vehicle. Each coupling member will include a slidable or pivotable, manually operable release lever 14 which protrudes from the pressing or casting 13 and which is coupled to a catch mechanism within the pressing or casting 13, the catch mechanism being arranged to grip the towing ball in use.
The security device 11 includes a hollow, elongate, metal housing 15 of rectangular cross-section closed at one end 16, and open at its opposite end 17 to receive a coupling member 12. The wall of the housing 15 which is uppermost in use is formed with a slot 18 extending longitudinally from the open end 17 of the housing and shaped to accommodate the protruding lever 14 of the coupling member 12 as a close fit.
On one side wall the housing 15 includes a lateral extension defining a lock compartment 19. The lock compartment 19 is rectangular in transverse cross-section, and extends parallel to the length of the housing 15. The lock compartment 19 is closed at its end adjacent the end 17 of the housing 15 and open at its opposite end.
The opposite side walls of the housing 15 are formed with respective, aligned, circluar apertures 21, 22, the wall of the aperture Q 1 being extended to define a bush 23 and- the aperture 22 opening into the lock compartment 19. A hardened steel, cylindrical pin 24 having a circumferential groove 25 adjacent one end thereof is slidable transversly in the housing by way of the apertures 21, 22, the diameter of the pin 24 being slightly less than the diameter of the apertures 21, 22. A chain 26 or other restraining device, for example a metal cable; is secured at one end to the end of the pin 24 remote from the groove 25, and is secured et its other end to the wall of the housing 15.
A lock mechanism is secured within the compartment 19 and comprises a lock body 27 supporting a longitudinally movable lock barrel terminating at its inner end in a hardened steel peg 28. The barrel is spring urged in relation to the body 27 to a position wherein the peg 28 is withdrawn flush with the body 27 and depression of the barrel relative to the body 27 against the action of the spring causes the peg 28 to protrude from the body 27. The end of the barrel remote from the peg 28 is arranged to receive an operating key 29 and the mechanism is such that when the barrel has been depressed fully to cause the peg 28 to protrude from the opposite end of the body 27 then the appropriate key 29 must be turned in the barrel to release the barrel and peg for return movement under the action of the spring.The lock mechanism is secured in the compartment 19 such that the whole of the body 27 is within the compartment, and the barrel in its depressed (locking) position lies flush with the open end of the compartment 19. The peg 28 thus extends parallel to the length of the housing 15 towards the closed end of the compartment 19.
The positioning of the apertures 21, 22 and the lock body 27 is such that the centre line of the pin 24 intersects the centre line of the locking peg 28. The width of the groove 25 in the pin 24 is slightly less than the diameter of the peg 28, and thus the pin 24 can be positioned so that the groove 25 is aligned with the peg 28 whereby upon depression of the barrel of the lock mechanism the pin 28 will enter the groove 25 and will remain therein until the key 29 is operated to release the barrel. The overall length of the pin 24 is such that when the peg 28 is engaged in the groove 25 then the opposite end of the pin 24 is flush with, or slightly below the level of, the outer end of the bush 23.
The operation of the security device is as follows. The key 29 is operated to withdraw the peg 28 and the pin 24, which has been released by withdrawal of the peg 28, is withdrawn transversly of the housing to an extent such that the coupling member 12 can be inserted into the open end of the housing 15.
The coupling member 12 is inserted into the housing sufficiently deeply for the lever 14 to pass beyond the position of the pin 24 so that upon reinsertion of the pin 24 the pin 24 passes behind the lever 14 and so prevents withdrawal of the coupling member 12 from the housing. The pin 24 is pressed to its fully inserted position so that the groove 25 aligns with the peg 28 and the barrel of the lock mechanism is then depressed against the action of its spring to cause the peg 28 to enter the groove 25 and so lock the pin 24 in position. It will be understood that at this point the security device 11 and the coupling member can only be disengaged after release of the locking mechanism by means of the appropriate key 29. Moreover, it will also be recognised that the pin 24 is not readily accessible to be sawn through.No part of the pin 24 protrudes from the housing, and furthermore the pin 24 is freely rotatable even in its locked position. Thus should someone try to introduce a saw blade through the slot 18 in an attempt to saw through the pin 24 then such attempts will be frustrated by the close fit of the lever 14 in the slot 18. Should the saw blade be inserted then sawing will be almost impossible by virtue of the hardened nature of the pin, and by virtue of rotation of the pin within the housing. Moreover, the connection between the pin 24 and the chain 26 is such that the pin can rotate relative to the chain, and thus it will be virtually impossible to grip the pin 24 sufficiently tightly to prevent such rotation during sawing. The lock mechanism is protected by the wall of the compartment 19, and of course it would be extremely difficult to saw through the housing 15 to gain access to the coupling member 12.
Most coupling members are attached in use to their respective draw-bar by bolts. A known method of overcoming the known forms of coupling member security device is to unbolt the member 12 and replace it with a spare member to enable towing. This method is prevented by the device 11 described above since the housing is designed to be suffici-.
ently deep to enclose the region 20 of the coupling member 12 where the member is bolted to the draw-bar, thereby precluding access to the fixing bolts.
In one practical example the housing 15 is manufactured in two parts, a main housing part and a lock component part. The main housing part is formed from a length of rectangular steel tubing to which is welded or otherwise secured a closure plate defining the closed end 16. The housing part defining the compartment 19 is a steel pressing of rectangular form open at one end and along one side. The apertures 21 and 22 are formed in opposite walls of the main housing part and the slot 18 is also formed at this stage. The open side of the housing part defining the lock compartment 19 is then presented to the side wall of the main housing part, covering the aperture 22, and the pressing is welded around its periphery to the main housing part to define the completed housing.The bush 23 can be provided either by punching the aperture 21 in the housing side wall, or by welding a short length of appropriately sized steel tubing around the periphery of the aperture 21.
It will be recognised that locking mechanism can be secured within the compartment 19 in any convenient manner, and the actual means of securing will be determined by the nature of the lock mechanism. For example, it is possible that a widely available locking mechanism such as a CHUBB patio door lock could be utilised, in which case the outer wall of the main portion of the housing, within compartment 19, is provided with a protrusion 31 of
T-shaped cross-section which engages in a Tshaped slot formed in the wall of the lock body. Roll-pins are then inserted through appropriately positioned drillings in the lower wall of the compartment 19 and extend into corresponding aligned blind bores in the lock body and the T-shaped protrusion 31.Such roll-pins are virtually impossible to remove after insertion; they cannot be driven through since they are received in blind bores, and they are very difficult to drill out. However as a further security measure the drillings in the wail of the compartment 19 can be filled prior to providing the device with an exterior decorative and protective coating.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 it will be seen that the lock compartment 19 differs in that both ends of the lock compartment are closed by walls which are either integral with the remainder of the lock compartment, or alternatively walls which are welded thereto. By comparison with the con
struction described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 the lock mechanism of the present con
struction is arranged with the lock body 27
extending within the lock compartment 19
parallel to the length of the metal pin 24. The
wall of the housing 15 which is common to the lock compartment 19 is formed with a
pair of through bores through which extend
respective cap screws 31 for securing the
lock body 27 in position relative to the hous
ing 15.The heads of the cap screws engage
the inner face of the housing side wall, and the shanks of the cap screws extend through the common wall and into axially extending tapped bores in the inner end region of the
lock body 27. The wall of the lock compart
ment 19 remote from said common wall is formed with an aperture 27a the shape and
dimension of which matches the cross-sectional shape of the outer end region of the
body 27, and the body 27 protrudes through
the aperture 27a. The lock mechanism in
cludes a rotatable lock barrel accessible at the
outer end of the lock body 27 for insertion of an operating key 29. The lock mechanism further includes a cam member 28 which can be
caused to protrude laterally from the lock
body 27, intermediate the ends of the body
27 by appropriate rotation of the lock barrel.
When the pin 24 is fully inserted in the
housing 15, and its end protrudes into the
compartment 19, then the groove 25 of the
pin 24 aligns with the location of the cam
member 28, and appropriate rotation of the
lock barrel moves the cam member 28 into the groove 25. The cam member 28 is a
hardened steel member and its engagement in the groove 25 of the pin 24 prevents with
drawal of the pin 24 relative to the housing
15. Opposite rotation of the barrel of the lock
displaces the cam member 28 from the
groove 25 so releasing the pin 24 for with
drawal. Conveniently the cam member 28 is
carried by the barrel of the lock, and includes
a portion which extends radially with respect to the barrel. Thus rotation of the barrel in the
lock body 27 can move the radially projecting
portion of the cam member into and out of the groove 25.Naturally the barrel can only
be rotated by means of the appropriate key
29.
On the lower face of the housing 15, within
the housing, and adjacent the closed end of
the housing, are provided one or more ramp
members which engage the coupling member
12 when it is inserted into the housing. Furthermore, projecting downwardly from the in
ner surface of the housing is one or more
blocking members, the purpose of the block
ing members and the ramp members being to align the security device on the coupling mem
ber 12. Naturally the location and dimensions
of the members within the housing will be
chosen to suit the nature of the coupling
member 12 to ensure that the housing is sup
ported with its longitudinal axis generally par
allel to the longitudinal axis of the coupling
member 12 when the coupling member 12 is
fully intro-duced into the housing.Such
alignment members can of course be included
in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3.
The locking mechanism is so arranged that
the key 29 can only be withdrawn from the
lock barrel in the "locked" position of the
cam member 28.
It will be recognised that the shaping of the
slot 18 will be chosen to suit the lever 14 of
the particular form of coupling with which the
device is intended to operate. Furthermore al
ternative constructional methods could be
used and for example the whole housing could
be a single casting. Moreover, it will be recog
nised that although it is convenient to produce
the housing of rectangular form, other housing
shapes would be possible, as would other ar
rangements of the locking mechanism. For
example it is possible that the locking mecha
nism could be received within the main part of
the housing, so that the housing would not
need to have a protruding locking compart
ment 19. Such points are matters of design,
and do not effect the principle of operation.
Claims (10)
1. A security device for use in conjunction
with a ball hitch coupling member of a trailer,
comprising a housing open at one end to per
mit insertion therein of the trailer coupling
member, a metal pin carried by the housing
and slidable relative thereto between a first
position wherein the coupling member can be
inserted into the housing and a second posi
tion in which the pin lies substantially wholly
within the housing and passes behind the pro
truding release lever of the coupling member
to prevent withdrawal of the member from the
housing, a slot in one wall of the housing through which said release lever extends in
use, the width of said slot being such in rela
tion to the release lever that in use the lever
is a close fit in the slot and, a locking mecha
nism which, when operative, effects coopera
tion between the pin and the housing, within
the confines of the housing, to prevent with
drawai of the pin from its second position to
its first position.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said pin is freely rotatable about its longitudi
nal axis in said housing and said locking mechanism, when operative to prevent said withdrawal movement of the pin, permits such
rotation.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said locking mechanism is a key oper
ated mechanism.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein
said locking mechanism has a member which
is depressed to render the mechansim operative and is restored to its inoperative state by use of the key.
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said housing is shaped to receive the locking mechanism wholly therein while providing access thereto for the operating key.
6. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the key operated mechansim has its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of said metal pin.
7. A device as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 6 wherein the housing has alignment means therein which, in use, coact with a coupling member inserted into the housing to align the housing on the coupling member.
8. A security device substantially and hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.
9. A security device substantially and hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
10. The combination of a security device as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 9 and a ball hitch coupling member received in the housing of the device, the release lever of the member protruding from the housing by way of said slot in the housing wall and the lever being a close fit in said slot.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB868617306A GB8617306D0 (en) | 1986-07-16 | 1986-07-16 | Security device |
| GB868625178A GB8625178D0 (en) | 1986-10-21 | 1986-10-21 | Security device |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8716655D0 GB8716655D0 (en) | 1987-08-19 |
| GB2193938A true GB2193938A (en) | 1988-02-24 |
| GB2193938B GB2193938B (en) | 1990-06-27 |
Family
ID=26291041
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8716655A Expired - Lifetime GB2193938B (en) | 1986-07-16 | 1987-07-15 | Security device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2193938B (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2218391A (en) * | 1988-05-10 | 1989-11-15 | Alan Place | Security device for theft prevention of a caravan or towable trailer |
| GB2221881A (en) * | 1988-07-06 | 1990-02-21 | Graham Stokes | Security device |
| GB2238030A (en) * | 1989-10-10 | 1991-05-22 | Mcnicholas Construction Compan | Security device |
| GB2425291A (en) * | 2005-04-19 | 2006-10-25 | James George | Anti-theft security device for trailers |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2006143A (en) * | 1977-09-01 | 1979-05-02 | Carruthers J A | Trailer couplings |
| GB2055140A (en) * | 1979-06-29 | 1981-02-25 | Granberg O T | A lockable protective cap for the towing mechanisms on trailers |
| GB2120614A (en) * | 1982-05-21 | 1983-12-07 | Terence Thorpe | Vehicle anti-theft device |
| GB2132956A (en) * | 1982-12-31 | 1984-07-18 | Doxena Iona Carter | Locking device for a tow bar hitch |
| US4538827A (en) * | 1984-04-16 | 1985-09-03 | Plifka John W | Ball hitch trailer lock |
-
1987
- 1987-07-15 GB GB8716655A patent/GB2193938B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2006143A (en) * | 1977-09-01 | 1979-05-02 | Carruthers J A | Trailer couplings |
| GB2055140A (en) * | 1979-06-29 | 1981-02-25 | Granberg O T | A lockable protective cap for the towing mechanisms on trailers |
| GB2120614A (en) * | 1982-05-21 | 1983-12-07 | Terence Thorpe | Vehicle anti-theft device |
| GB2132956A (en) * | 1982-12-31 | 1984-07-18 | Doxena Iona Carter | Locking device for a tow bar hitch |
| US4538827A (en) * | 1984-04-16 | 1985-09-03 | Plifka John W | Ball hitch trailer lock |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2218391A (en) * | 1988-05-10 | 1989-11-15 | Alan Place | Security device for theft prevention of a caravan or towable trailer |
| GB2221881A (en) * | 1988-07-06 | 1990-02-21 | Graham Stokes | Security device |
| GB2238030A (en) * | 1989-10-10 | 1991-05-22 | Mcnicholas Construction Compan | Security device |
| GB2238030B (en) * | 1989-10-10 | 1993-08-25 | Mcnicholas Construction Compan | Security device |
| GB2425291A (en) * | 2005-04-19 | 2006-10-25 | James George | Anti-theft security device for trailers |
| GB2425291B (en) * | 2005-04-19 | 2007-08-01 | James George | Anti-theft security device for trailers |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2193938B (en) | 1990-06-27 |
| GB8716655D0 (en) | 1987-08-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19950715 |