GB2222563A

GB2222563A - Handbrake disabling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2222563A
Application number: GB8918179A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Rhodes
Original assignee: RHODES TERESA ANN
Current assignee: RHODES TERESA ANN
Priority date: 1988-08-11
Filing date: 1989-08-09
Publication date: 1990-03-14
Also published as: GB8819072D0; GB8918179D0

Abstract

Handbrake disabling apparatus 10 comprising a cylindrical body 12 with a central circular recess in one end to accept the button of a handbrake lever. Two arcuate section elongate members 16 extend from the body 12 mounted coaxially therewith diametrically opposite one another. A profiled length of sprung material 18, profiled to define when relaxed a circle of smaller diameter than the body 12, is mounted on one of the members 16 and engageable in slots 26 on the other member 16 to engage on the grip of the handbrake lever. <IMAGE>

Description

Control Disabling Apparatus This iriventi oIi relates to control disabling apparatus arid particularly but not exclusively to apparatus for disabling a vehicle handbrake lever.

A number of devices already exist for disabling motor vehicles to prevciit the vehicles being stolen.

These devices are getierally electrical, or mechanical devices which engage the steeririg wheel or gear lever.

Such devices tend to be relatively expetisi ve and do riot tiecessarily stop the vehicle being moved. A further problem is that young children when left ill a vehicle cati release the handbrake, often with tragic results.

According to the presetit invention there is provided control disablitig apparatus comprising means prevetiti tig access to a control of an article, and support means etigageable with the article to hold said meals iii a posit i oti to prevetit access.

The access preventing means is preferably shaped to substantially surround the control.

Preferably the support means is lockably engageable with the article.

The support means preferably comprises a first member engageable with a first side of the article, a second member engageable with a substantially opposite second side of the article, ad a clamping member re 1 easabl y joining the first arid second members to hold the apparatus on the article.

Preferably the clamping member is sprung and comprises a first part passing between the first arid second members around a third side of the article and a second part passing around a fourth side thereof.

The access preventing means is preferably adapted to prevent access to the button of a vehicle handbrake lever. The support is preferably engageable with the grip on a handbrake lever.

The access preventing means may comprise a solid body with a recess shaped to accept the haridbrake button. The first and second members preferably comprise elongate strips extending from the body to engage on the handbrake grip, with the clamping member mounted on the first member and shaped to engagingly pass around the handbrake grip to be releasably engageable with the second member. The clamping member may engage in slots in the second member.

Alternatively the access prevelltirlg means may comprise two hinged components coiitoured to coact whe hinged together to surround the handbrake button arid engage on the haridbrake grip. A high friction material may be provided ori the components to assist iri engaging the handbrake grip.

A plunger lock may be provided to loak the components together.

Ari embodiment of the present invention will riow be described by way of example orily with reference to the siiigle figure of the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view from above of a control disabling apparatus.

The control disabling apparatus 10 shown iri the drawings is suitable for fittiiig on the handbrake of a car. The apparatus 10 comprises a cylindrical body 12 with a central circular recess 14 provided in orie end thereof. The recess 14 is of a size to accept the button of a haridbrake lever (not shown).

Exteiidiiig from said one end of the body 12 are two substantially identical elongate members 16. The members 16 are of arcuate section of the same radius as the body 12 and are mounted coaxially therewith, diammetrically opposite oe another.

A profiled length of sprung material 18 is mounted substantially at its mid point on one of the members 16 adjacent the free erid thereof. The spring 18 is profiled to define, when relaxed, a circle of a smaller diameter than the body 12 with its free ends 20 iri contact with each other. A tab 22 is provided on each free end 20. The tabs 22 point away from said orie of the members 16 arid each comprise a through hole 24 permitting them to be locked together.

Three longitudinal slots 26 are provided adjacent the free end of the other member 16. The slots 26 are of a size to permit the tabs 22 to pass therethrough.

In use, the members 16 are flexed apart, the tabs 22 are pulled away from each other, and the apparatus 10 is then slid onto the end of the hadbrake lever until the button thereon engages in the recess 14. The tabs 22 are then released so that the spring 18 engages ori the grip of the handbrake lever, and the apparatus 10 is moved so that the spring engages on a narrower part of the grip. The members 16 are released, also onto the haridbrake grip, arid the other member 16 is arranged so that two of the slots 26 pass around the tabs 22. If required, a padlock or other means (not shown) cari be used to lock the tabs 22, by means of the holes 24, together arid i the slots 26.

The spring 18 may be made of sprung steel and the rest of the apparatus 10 may be made from steel or a resilient plastics material.

There is thus described above apparatus for disabling the haiidbrake of a vehicle arid thus prevetitirig movement thereof. The apparatus being used as a security device and/or a safety device to prevent children from rel casi rig the handbrake.

The apparatus is of relatively simple construction and cari thus be i inexpellsively manufactured. No parts of the apparatus exteiid far from the handbrake thus preventing the apparatus being levered from the haridbrake. The provision of more than one slot means that the apparatus can be used with handbrake grips of different sizes.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example a greater number of slots could be provided, and the spring could engage with the upper member by different means. A different of elongate members could be provided. The spring could be made from two pieces and could be lockable around the grip by different means.

Differeiit sizes of apparatus could be made for different cars. The apparatus could be made from different materials.

Iri a modified apparatus according to the invention the apparatus comprises a cylindrical member contoured to surround the handbrake button and engage at least a part of the grip. The member being divided longitudinally iii half with the two halves hinged together to permit positioning on a haiidbrake. Means are provided for locki:ig the two halves together on a handbrake lever, which may comprise a plunger lock.

Nori slip rubber may be provided inside the halves to assist in erigaging the haridbrake grip. Inserts, which may be of non slip rubber, cari be provided to permit the same apparatus to be used ori different sizes of handbrake levers.

Claims

1. Control disabling apparatus comprising means preveriti rig access to a control of ari article, and support means engageable with the article to hold said means in a position to prevent access.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, iii which the support means is lockably erigageable with the article.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the access preventing means is shaped to substantially surround the coiitrol.

4. Apparatus according to ariy of Claims 1 to 3, in which the access preventing means is adapted to prevent access to the button of a vehicle hadbrake lever.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, in which the support is engageable with the grip on a haiidbrake lever.

6. Apparatus according to ay of the preceding Claims, iri which the support means comprises a first member engageable with a first side of the article, a second member engageable with a substantially opposite second side of the article, arid a clamping member releasably joining the first and second members to hold the apparatus ori the article.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, i which the clamping member is sprung ad comprises a first part passing between the first and second members aground a third side of the article arid a second part passing around a fourth side thereof.

8. Apparatus according to either of Claim 6 or Claim 7 when dependant ori Claim 5, in which the access preventing means comprises a solid body with a recess shaped to accept the haridbrake button.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, in which the first and second members comprise elongate strips extending from the body to engage ori the handbrake grip, with the clamping member mounted ori the first member and shaped to erigagirigl y pass around the handbrake grip to be releasabl y erigageabl e with the scond member.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, i which the clamping member engages itl slots in the second member.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the access preventing means comprises two hinged components contoured to coact when hinged together to surround the haiidbrake button and engage on the handbrake grip.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, in which a high friction material is provided on the components to assist iii engaging the handbrake grip.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, iri which a pl uriger lock is provided to lock the components together.

14. Control Disabling Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

15. Aiiy novel subject matter or combiriatioti icludirig novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims arid/or shown iri the drawitigs, whether or riot within the scope of or relating to the same i riveritioti as any of the preceding claims.