GB2258851A

GB2258851A - Anti-theft device for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2258851A
Application number: GB9118108A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Holden Douglas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-08-22
Filing date: 1991-08-22
Publication date: 1993-02-24
Also published as: GB9118108D0

Abstract

An anti-theft device for a motor vehicle comprises a steering wheel clamp having two spaced, parallel bars (2, 3) which, in use, lie on either side of the steering wheel. The ends of the bars are connected by end members (4, 5) which pass outside the wheel rim. A spigot (9) on one bar passes within the wheel rim and engages the keep of a lock (10) mounted on the other bar. Part of the clamp e.g. legs (6, 7) engages with a non-rotatable part of the vehicle and the spigot acts as a stop for the wheel spokes. <IMAGE>

Description

ANTI-THEFT DEVICES FOR VEHICLES This invention relates to anti-theft devices for motor vehicles, intended to prevent or inhibit stealing of such vehicles by unauthorised driving away.

There are known a number of different anti-theft devices, such as a member with a hook at each end, one for engaging a steering wheel, and the other for engaging a throttle pedal; the member is extensible so that the separation of the hooks can be varied, and can be locked into any of a series of extended positions to thereby clamp the steering wheel and throttle pedal, and prevent their operation.

Another well known form of anti-theft device comprises a gear lever clamp with a sleeve which encompasses the free end of a hand-brake lever, this again being lockable. This prevents operation of the gear lever and hand brake until the clamp and sleeve are removed.

Car thieves who operate systematically develop techniques for overcoming anti-theft devices, and the devices are mainly effective in deterring casual theft and 'joy riding', and deter due to the time taken to overcome the devices. Occasionally, two or more anti-theft devices may be used together to achieve a multiple deterrent effect.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple but effective anti-theft device which can prevent operation of the vehicle until the device is removed, and which can be used on its own, or in conjunction with one or more anti-theft devices, such as described above for example.

According to the invention an anti-theft device for a motor vehicle comprises a steering wheel clamp having members which pass respectively within and outside of the rim of a steering wheel, one of such members being alternatively releasable and lockable into position to allow the clamp to be located on the steering wheel or removed therefrom or locked into place, and means engageable with a non-rotatable part of the vehicle to prevent rotation of the clamp with the steering wheel; the member or members which pass respectively within the rim of the wheel acting as a stop to prevent rotation of the steering wheel beyond an arc defined by the spacing of spokes of the steering wheel between which the member is located.

Preferably, the clamp is in the form of a frame, of for example steel, aluminium alloy, or a robust plastics material, comprising a pair of parallel, spaced apart, bars having a spacing sufficient to enable them to be located to either side of the rim of a vehicle steering wheel. The ends of the bars may be connected by respective members which extend as legs beyond one of the bars to be capable of abutting with the underside of a fascia panel or dash-board. One of the bars may carry, freely rotatable on a sleeve, an open ended tubular spigot which provides a releasable member which may be engaged by a keep of a lock mounted on the other bar.

The bars and the ends of the legs may be covered with sleeves of resilient, e.g. expanded synthetic plastics material, to prevent abrasion to the steering wheel and fascia. The separation of the bars may be variable, e.g. by making the end members telescopically extensible, to grip the steering wheel rim between them, the locking of the spigot also serving to prevent extension of the end members.

A preferred embodiment of anti-theft device for a vehicle will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a frontal diagram showing the device in position on the steering wheel of a vehicle; and Fig. 3 is a side view diagram showing the device in position.

An anti-theft device for a motor vehicle, according to the invention, comprises a steering wheel clamp which takes the form of a frame 1, made up of a plurality of tubular steel members welded together.

These consist of a front bar 2, a rear bar 3, and end members 4, 5 which extend beyond the rear bar 3 to form legs 6, 7.

Rear bar 3 carries, mid-way along its length, a freely rotatable sleeve 8, to which is integrally welded an open ended tubular spigot 9. The spigot 9 is axially alignable with a barrel-lock 10 carried by the front bar 2, so that a keep of the lock 10 can be extended into the tubular spigot to thereby lock the spigot in place.

The bars 2, 3 are provided with sleeves 11 of expanded synthetic plastics material to either side of the sleeve 8 and lock 10 respectively, and the ends of the legs 6, 7 also are provided with such sleeves 11, to protect against abrasion.

As shown in Fig. 2, the clamp is fitted to a steering wheel by placing the bars 2, 3 to either side of the steering wheel rim 20, with the spigot 9 pivoted to a non-obstructive position, until the end members 4, 5 rest on the top of the rim. The spigot 9 is then aligned with lock 10, within the rim 20, and the lock operated so that its keep locks the spigot 9 into position, whereby the frame 1 cannot be removed from the steering wheel. Movement of the steering wheel relative to the frame 1 is restricted by the arc between adjacent spokes 21, between which the spigot 9 and lock 10 are engaged.

Movement is further restricted, as shown in Fig. 3, by the fact that the legs 6, 7 of the frame are lodged against the underside of a fascia panel or dash board 30, so that the clamp cannot simply be rotated with the steering wheel.

Clamping the steering wheel of a vehicle in this way, so that the steering wheel can only be turned through a restricted arc, means that the vehicle cannot be controlled, and thus cannot be driven away until the spigot 9 is released by disengaging the lock 10.

Variations to the design of a steering wheel clamp may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the ends of the legs may be specifically adapted to engage with different non-rotatable parts of the vehicle, such as the steering column housing.

Although shown as applied to the top arc of the steering wheel, in many models, in order to gain a seating for the legs 6, 7 under a fascia panel, dash board or ledge, it may be more appropriate to apply the device to the bottom arc of the steering wheel.

Claims

1. An anti-theft device for a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel clamp having members which pass respe-tively within and outside of the rim of a steering wheel, one of such members being alternatively releasable and lockable nto position to allow the clamp to be located on the steering wheel or removed therefrom or locked into place, and means engageable with a non-rotatable rart of the vehicle to prevent rotation of the cla:np with the steering wheel; the member or members which Pass respectively within the rim of the wheel acting as a stop to prevent rotation of the steering wheel beyond an arc defined by the spacing of spokes of the steering wheel between which the member is located.

2. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clamp is in the form of a frame comprising a pair of parallel, spaced apart, bars having a spacing sufficient to enable them to be located to either side of the rim of a vehicle steering wheel.

3. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ends of the bars are connectable by respect aye end members which extend as legs beyond one of the bars to be capable of engaging with a non-rotatable part of the vehicle such as the underside of a tascia panel or dash-board.

4. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein one of the bars carries, freely rotatable on a sleeve, an open-ended tubular spigot which provides a releasable member which is engageable by a kt'ep of R lc?ck mounted on the other bar.

5. An anti-theft device as claimed in any of claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the spacing between the bars is variable.

6. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim ', when dependent on claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the end members are telescopically extensible.

7. An anti-theft device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one or more parts of the clamp is made of steel, aluminium alloy or plastics material.

8. An anti-theft device as claimed ir any preceding claim wherein one or more parts of the clamp is covered with sleeves of resiliont material to prevent abrasion to the steering wheel and/or vehicle.

9. An anti-theft device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated. in the accompanying drawing.