GB2239849A

GB2239849A - Theft deterrent for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2239849A
Application number: GB9100062A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Hartley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-01-16
Filing date: 1991-01-03
Publication date: 1991-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-03
Also published as: GB9000924D0; GB2239849B; GB9100062D0

Abstract

A theft deterrent for a motor vehicle comprises a tubular shroud 10 adapted to be secured over at least that part of the housing for an ignition lock containing the lock barrel, said shroud having an inwardly directed rim 12 at its forward end sized to prevent withdrawal of the barrel from the housing whilst allowing normal operation of the lock, and an annular flange 14 extending outwardly from the shroud adjacent its forward end to hinder positioning of a tubular lever over the shroud. <IMAGE>

Description

THEFT DETERRENT FOR ROTOR VEHICLES This invention concerns a theft deterrent for a motor vehicle, and more particularly an accessory designed to prevent defeat of the ignition lock of the vehicle by a would-be thief.

Most car thieves have little difficulty in gaining access to the interior of the vehicle of their attentions even at the expense of smashing a side window to gain access to a door lock - which for obvious safety reasons can always be operated from inside the vehicle.

Once inside the car, the thief must turn his attention to the ignition lock. The barrel is usually located in a die-cast housing and the thief may either extract the barrel using a slide hammer or wrench the housing from its mount using a tubular lever - a length of standard scaffold tube is commonly used - forced over the housing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple accessory which can be provided as original equipment or retro-fitted either by a mechanic or the D.I.Y. enthusiast, which effectively prevents vandalising of an ignitition lock by either of the methods discussed.

According to the present invention there is provided a theft deterrent for a motor vehicle comprising a tubular shroud adapted to be secured over at least that part of the housing.for an ignition lock containing the lock barrel, said shroud having inwardly directed means at its forward end sized to prevent withdrawal of the barrel from the housing whilst allowing normal operation of the lock, and means extending outwardly from the shroud adjacent its forward end to hinder positioning of a tubular lever over the shroud.

Said first means may comprise an annular rim and said second means may comprise an annular flange.

The shroud may be secured to the housing by an adhesive such as an epoxy resin or tamper-proof screws or shear bolts.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing, which show, by way of example only, one form of theft deterrent accessory embodying same.

Of the drawing: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the accessory; and Figure 2 shows a view of the accessory in the direction of the arrow A on Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the accessory comprises an open ended tubular shroud 10 adapted to be secured over at least that part of the housing for a vehicle ignition lock containing the lock barrel. The shroud may contain one or more axial slots such as that indicated at 11 to enable it to be fitted over any protrusions present on the housing.

The forward part of the shroud 10 will however always comprise an uninterrupted cylindrical wall.

There is an annular inwardly directed rim 12 at forward end of the shroud 10 to define an aperture 13 whose diameter D is less that the diameter of the lock barrel to prevent withdrawal of the barrel from the housing but sufficiently large as to permit insertion and withdrawal of a key for normal operation of the lock.

The rim 12 may be formed by swaging.

There is an outwardly directed annular flange 14 surrounding the shroud 10 adjacent its forward end.

The flange 14 prevents a tubular lever - such as a length of scaffold pole - being fitted over the shroud 10. The diameter of the flange should be as large as possible and ideally such that its periphery is closely adjacent other parts preventing insinuation of a tubular lever having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the flange.

The shroud is secured to the housing by suitable vandal-proof means, such as an epoxy resin, tamper-proof screws or shear bolts 15 whose heads break from their threaded parts as they are tightened beyond a certain torque.

Generally, the accessory will be installed with the flange 14 behind trim surrounding the ignition lock.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A theft deterrent for a motor vehicle comprising a tubular shroud adapted to be secured over at least that part of the housing for an ignition lock containing the lock barrel, said shroud having inwardly directed means at its forward end sized to prevent withdrawal of the barrel from the housing whilst allowing normal operation of the lock, and means extending outwardly from the shroud adjacent its forward end to hinder positioning of a tubular lever over the shroud.

2. A theft deterrent for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first means comprises an annular rim and said second means may comprise an annular flange.

3. A theft deterrent for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shroud is secured to the housing by an adhesive.

4. A theft deterrent for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shroud is secured to the housing by tamper-proof screws.

5. A theft deterrent for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shroud is secured to the housing by shear bolts.