GB2248431A

GB2248431A - Trailer security device

Info

Publication number: GB2248431A
Application number: GB9121047A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Greenwood
Original assignee: Indespension Ltd
Current assignee: Indespension Ltd
Priority date: 1990-10-03
Filing date: 1991-10-03
Publication date: 1992-04-08
Also published as: GB9021499D0; GB9121047D0

Abstract

A security device for trailers consists of one or more legs 18 adjacent the rear of the trailer. Each leg can be extended so that towing hitch 14 on the front of the trailer cannot be raised to the height of the towing hitch on the towing vehicle. The leg 18 can be secured in its extended position by means of a plate 40 inserted through a slot 28 in a housing 20 around the leg and received in a slot 35 in the leg itself. The plate 40 can be locked to a fixed plate 24 by a padlock. <IMAGE>

Description

TRAILER SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to a security device for towed vehicles.

When a towed vehicle such as a trailer or caravan is parked it is easily stolen by anyone having a vehicle with a towing hitch. The present invention has been made with a view to providing a simple security device which will reduce the vulnerability to theft of parked trailers and caravans.

According to the invention there is provided a security device for towed vehicles comprising a leg adapted to be mounted on the vehiclelthe leg being movable between a first, retracted position so that the towing hitch of the trailer can be lifted at least to the height of a corresponding hitch on a towing vehicle, and a second, extended position so that the leg will engage the ground when the towing hitch is at a height less than the height of a corresponding hitch on a towing vehicle and thereby prevent said towing hitch being raised higher, and means for locking the leg in the second, extended position.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the locking means is concealed, for example by a part of the trailer such as a tool box or the like.

Preferably two or more legs are provided on the trailer located rearwardly of the trailer roadwheel axle or axles and conveniently adjacent the rear of the trailer. The or each leg is preferably provided with a foot which helps to prevent the leg from being driven into the ground in order to raise the towing hitch to a height at which it can be attached to a towing vehicle.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.l shows a trailer in side elevation with the legs in the retracted position; Fig.2 shows the trailer of Fig.l, but with the legs in the extended position; and Fig.3 is an exploded view of a leg assembly.

Referring to the drawings a light trailer of conventional construction comprises a body 10 mounted on a chassis 12 equipped with a towing hitch 14 and road wheels 16. Legs 18, one of which can be seen in Figs.l and 2, are mounted at the rear corners of the trailer body. In Fig.l the legs are retracted so that they do not prevent the front of the trailer being raised in order to attach the towing hitch to a towing vehicle. With the legs extended, as shown in Fig.2 the front of the trailer cannot be raised and hence in that condition the trailer cannot be attached to a towing vehicle and towed away.

Reference is now made to Fig.3 which shows a preferred form of leg assembly. The assembly comprises a tubular housing 20 of square cross-section which is fixed to the trailer body by the bracket 22 attached to one side of the housing. A locking plate 24 provided with aperture 26 is fixed to another side wall of the housing. A slot 28 extends across the same side wall of the housing from which the locking plate 24 projects. The slot 28 is located just above the level of the locking plate 24 and parallel to it.

Leg 30 comprises a U-shaped channel member and is slidably receivable in the housing 20. A foot 32 in the form of a flat plate is fixed to the bottom of the leg 30 and an upturned handle 34 is fixed to the foot.

A plurality of parallel slots 35 extend across the web of the leg 30 adjacent the top thereof.

In use the leg 30 is fitted into the housing 20 with the web adjacent the side of the housing from which plate 24 projects. In the retracted position the leg is pushed up into the housing, its travel in that direction being limited by engagement of the foot 32 on the bottom of the housing. The leg can be held in the retracted position by insertion of a stud 36 into an aperture 38 in the housing. The aperture 38 is positioned such that it is below the handle 34 when the leg is retracted so that the handle engages the stud and retains the leg in the housing.

To move the leg to the extended position the stud 36 is removed and the leg moved downwardly until one of the slots 35 in the leg is in register with slot 28 in the housing. Securing plate 40 is then placed on lock plate 24 and edge 42 thereof pushed into the slots 28 and 35. Plate 40 is provided with an aperture 44 which is positioned so that when the edge 42 of plate 40 is received in the slots 28 and 35, it is in register with aperture 26 in plate 24.

A padlock or the like can be engaged through apertures 44 and 26 to prevent unauthorised movement of the leg to the retracted position.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the invention provides for very simple and effective security for a trailer. Even without a padlock holding plates 44 and 24 together the leg 30 is locked in the extended position until plate 40 is removed from the slots 28 and 35. This is usually sufficient to deter a thief who would require time to locate the plates in order to free the leg, particularly if the plates are concealed by a part of the trailer such as a tool box.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment and many variations can be made.

Claims

1. A security device for towed vehicles comprising a leg adapted to be mounted on the vehicle, the leg being movable between a first, retracted position so that the towing hitch of the trailer can be lifted at least to the height of a corresponding hitch on a towing vehicle, and a second, extended position so that the leg will engage the ground when the towing hitch is at a height less than the height of a corresponding hitch on a towing vehicle and thereby preventing said towing hitch being raised higher, and means for locking the leg in the second, extended position.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the locking means is concealed by a part of the towed vehicle.

3. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second, extended position of the leg can be varied.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein two or more legs are provided on the towed vehicle.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the, or each, leg is provided on the towed vehicle rearwardly of the vehicle axle or axles.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each leg is provided on the towed vehicle adjacent the rear thereof.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each leg is provided with a foot.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each leg is slidably movable in a housing between the first and second positions, and a movable locking member is insertable through an aperture in the housing to engage the leg therein and limit or prevent movement of the leg relative to the housing.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 8, wherein a fixed member is provided to which the locking member can be secured to prevent disengagement of said locking member from the leg.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a second locking means is provided for holding the or each leg in the first position.