GB2243815A

GB2243815A - Vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2243815A
Application number: GB9009996A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Edward Pearson; Terrance Paul Highton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-05-03
Filing date: 1990-05-03
Publication date: 1991-11-13
Also published as: GB9009996D0

Abstract

A vehicle anti-theft device comprises a toothed shaft 4 which meshes with a toothed gear-wheel 36 of a motor 34 housed on the bulk-head kick panel. behind the underdash cover 12, to prevent access. When the motor is activated, the shaft 4 passes through holes 18, 20 in the pedal shafts 8, 10, locking into the tunnel of the car, preventing operation of the pedals. The motor is wired in a 3 way switching system. The vehicle anti-theft device can be adapted to lock three vehicle control pedals, or just one vehicle control pedal depending on the pedal layout of the vehicle. The device is not readily accessable, tamper-proof, effectively immobilises the vehicle, and is easy to operate. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE This invention relates to a vehicle anti-theft device.

Immobilisation of a vehicle discourages prospective thieves from choosing a particular vehicle as a possible target. Consequently there are many immobilisation type devices on the market which are designed to prevent the functioning of a particular component of the vehicle.

One of the best known anti-theft devices is a lock which is used to lock the hand brake, in an actuated state, to the gear lever, such that the hand brake cannot be released or a gear selected by the potential thief. However, this type of lock is readily accessible and can be cut through very easily.

Another known form of anti-theft device is a hidden ignition immobilizer. However, ignition immobilizers can be easily by-passed using a wire from the positive side of the battery to the live side of the coil.

Also there are steering wheel locks to the brake pedal, which comprise a lockable bar which hooks over the steering wheel and the brake pedal. Such locks can easily be released by pushing back the steering wheel. Furthermore, these locks are also easily accessible and can be cut-through by a potential thief.

Although the aforementioned devices may deter joy-riders, they have little deterent value to a more determined thief.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a vehicle anti-theft device which is easy to operate, and effectively immobilizies the vehicle, yet is virtually tamper proof.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a vehicle anti-theft device in which a rod is displaceable transversly through the shaft of at least one of the vehicle control pedals in order to prevent use of that pedal.

Preferably, the rod is displaceable from a first position, situated to one side of the pedals, in which position the rod does not extend through the pedal shaft, to a second position in which the rod extends through one or more of the pedal shafts.

Preferably, the rod and the portion of the pedal shaft through which it is extendable lie behind the underdash cover of the vehicle remote from the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Preferably, the rod is arranged to pass through a transverse bore formed in the shaft of the vehicle control pedal. Preferably, the axis of the bore lies substantially parallel to an axle about which the control pedal pivots.

Preferably, the rod can pass through at least the clutch and brake pedals and the bores formed through those pedals have a common longitudinal axis which is parallel to a common axle about which they pivot.

The rod can be supported by a coaxial outer tube which is secured to the pedal box, extends outwardly from the pedal box and is fixed by a bracket to the bulk-head kick panel. The rod can be in the form of a toothed bar which meshes with a toothed gear wheel of a motor which is adapted to drive the rod from the first to the second position and the second to the first position. The motor can be secured relative to the bulk-head kick panel, with the toothed gear wheel supporting the rod.

Preferably, the motor is wired in a three way switching system.

The invention will be described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig 1 is a highly schematic partial plan view of one embodiment of the present invention illustrating the brake and clutch pedals in the locked position; Fig 2 is a schematic elevational view along the line II-II of Fig 1; Fig 3 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of Fig.l, also illustrating the securing brackets, and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the switching system with (a) representing the neutral position, (b) representing the on position and (c) representing the off position..

The vehicle anti-theft device is secured on the side of a bulk-head kick panel remote from a passenger compartment of the vehicle such that it is inacessible to tampering. The vehicle anti-theft device operates by having an actuable rod 4 which can be moved, when the device is switched on, through the shaft of at least one of the vehicle control pedals, in order to prevent movement of that pedal.

Referring to Fig 1, vehicle control pedals 6, 8, 10 extend through the underdash cover 12 into the passenger compartment 14 of a vehicle in a known fashion. In this particular example the brake pedal 8 extends substantially parallel to the clutch pedal 10, whilst the accelerator pedal 6 is offset relative to the brake and clutch pedals 8, 10 (see Fig.3).

Each of the brake and clutch pedal 8, 10 is pivotable about a common axle 16 when pressure is applied to the pedals 8, 10 by the foot of a driver.

In order to prevent this movement and thereby prevent the vehicle from being driven away, the pedals are modified as follows in order to accomodate the vehicle anti-theft device.

A transverse bore 18 is formed through the shaft of the brake pedal 8 in a portion of that shaft which lies behind the underdash cover 12 so as to be remote from the passenger compartment 14 of the vechicle.

The bore 18 is formed between the axle 16 and the location where the shaft passes through the underdash cover 12, the longitudinal axis 24 of the bore 18 being parallel to the longitudinal axis 26 of the axle 16. Likewise a transverse bore 20 is formed through the shaft of the clutch pedal 10 between the axle 16 and the underdash cover 12, the longitudinal axis of the bore 20 being aligned with the longitudinal axis 24 of the bore 18. Each of the bores 18, 20 is of a gauge suitable to receive the rod 4 of the anti-theft device therethrough as follows.

The rod 4, which is aligned along the longitudinal axis 24 of the bores 18,20, is supported by a coaxial outer tubing 28 which is secured to one side of the pedal box and extends away from the pedal box. The tubing 28 is fixed by a bracket 42 to the bulk-head kick panel 30. The rod 4 is displaceable into and out of the outer tubing by means of a toothed gear 36 which engages a correspondingly toothed rack 40 formed on the rod 4, the gear 36 being selectively rotatable in either direction by an electric motor 34 which is also fixed rigidly relative to the bulkhead 44. Thus, in its one position, the rod 4 is retracted by the motor into the outer tubing 28. In this position, it lies clear of both bores 18,20 and therefore frees the clutch and brake pedals for normal use.Operation of the motor 34 in the opposite direction, however, displaces the rod 4 out of the outer tubing 28 so that it extends through the bores 18,20 and thereby effectively locks the clutch and brake pedals relative to the bulkhead 12. Thus, in this condition, the clutch and brake pedals are inoperable.

The movement of the rod 4 can be limited by a first stop plate 38a, provided beyond the bores 18, 20 remote from the fixed outer tubing 28, such that when the rod 4 contacts the stop plate 38a, a signal is provided to the electric motor 34 in order to switch it off and prevent the further movement of the rod 4 in the direction away from the outer tubing 28. A second stop plate 38b can be provided at the end of the outer tubing 28, remote from the bores 18,20, such that a signal is provided to the electric motor 34 in order to switch it off and prevent the further movement of the rod 32 into the outer tubing 28 when the rod 4 contacts the stop plate 38b, thereby defining the extent of the travel of the rod 4 between its first and second positions. Alternatively, motion of the rod 4 can be limited by a limit switch 50a, 50b.

The movement of the rod 4 can be initiated as follows. The electric motor 34 is wired through a three way switching system with an on-neutral-off position switch 46 mounted on the dashboard and coupled to the ignition switch. The on-neutral-off switch must first be switched to the off position.

The ignition 48 is then switched on whereby power flows from the ignition switch 48 through the three way switch 46 to the electric motor in order to withdraw the rod 32 from the pedals 8, 10, thereby releasing the pedals so that the vechicle can be driven. Conversely, in order to operate the anti-theft device so that the vechicle cannot be driven away, the three way switch is switched to the on position allowing the motor to drive the toothed bar 4 back through the pedals 8,10 to prevent their use. The ignition can then be switched off.

Since the vehicle anti-theft device is behind the underdash cover remote from the passenger compartment it is not possible to cut through the bar 4 from the passenger compartment.

The vehicle anti-theft device can be adapted to lock three vehicle control pedals, or just one vehicle control pedal depending on the pedal layout of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle anti-theft device in which a motor-driven shaft passes through holes in pedal shafts, behind underdash, completely immobilising vehicle.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1. where in its location prevents unauthorised access i.e.: theft of the vehicle.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1. which can be adapted to lock 3 vehicle control pedals, or just 1 pedal depending on the control pedal layout of the vehicle.