GB2268717A - A security device for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The anti-theft security device is shaped and sized to prevent the operation of both of the clutch and the brake pedals of a lorry. The security device, which is made from mild steel, has two spaced enclosures (2) defined between a base wall (6) and a top wall (4). Each of the base and top walls (6, 4) has a substantially U-shaped cutout (8) defining, together with intermediate walls (10), a U-shaped channel (20). With a retaining bar (14) removed, the device is oriented with its base wall (6) on the floor of the lorry and is then moved such that the clutch and brake pedals are received within respective enclosures (2). In this position, the channel member (20) is around the steering column or around part of one of the pedals. The retaining bar (14) is then inserted through slots (12) in the walls (10) to close the channel member (20) and to retain said part of the lorry within the channel member (20). The bar (14) is then locked in position by a padlock provided in an aperture (18) therein. <IMAGE>

Description

A Security Device for a Vehicle The present invention relates to a security device for a vehicle.

As thefts of vehicles increase, more and more sophisticated security devices and alarms there for have been developed. However, the sophisticated devices are very expensive, and once the security of such a device has been breached, the vehicle can be stolen easily.

Lorries and other heavy goods vehicles are particularly attractive to professional thieves because of the contents in the vehicles. However, in such a case it is generally necessary for the vehicle to be removed. Of course, conventional alarm systems provide no firm security against removal.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a security device which is simple and easy to manufacture and install and which acts to prevent a vehicle, particularly a lorry, from being removed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a security device for a vehicle, said security device comprising means for retaining the security device in a predetermined position within the vehicle, and means arranged, when the security device is in its retained predetermined position, to prevent the operation of at least one pedal of the vehicle.

A security device of the invention prevents the operation of at least one pedal of the vehicle, for example, the clutch or the brake pedal. This makes it impossible to drive the vehicle away and is a very effective way of safeguarding not only the vehicle but also its contents.

Although it may be sufficient to prevent the operation of only one pedal, for example the brake pedal, unless the vehicle has an automatic transmission, it is generally preferred to prevent operation of both the brake and clutch pedals.

In an embodiment, the security device may comprise a bar, for example of mild steel, which in the retained the position thereof is arranged to extend beneath the or each pedal whose operation is to be prevented. Thus, when it is wished to operate the pedal by depressing it, the pedal and/or a support therefor contacts the bar and such that further depression is prevented.

In an alternative, presently preferred embodiment, operation of the pedal is prevented by preventing access thereto. In this respect, the security device may comprise an enclosure for the or each pedal having a peripheral wall to prevent access to the pedal, and thus depression of the pedal.

The retaining means may be any suitable means for retaining the security device in the predetermined position. The retaining means, for example, may comprise means to engage around one or more of the pedals or around the steering column of the vehicle, and means to lock the retaining means in position.

In an particularly preferred embodiment, the security device comprises a channel member having a closed end for receiving therein part of the vehicle, for example, part of the steering column or of a pedal. Towards the open end of the channel member opposed walls thereof are provided with aligned holes or slots through which a retaining member may extend to close the channel defined'by the channel member.

For example, the retaining member may be a retaining pin or bar. The retaining member may be locked in position to close the channel member, for example by a padlock or other locking means.

In a preferred embodiment, the channel member is provided intermediate two enclosures, each said enclosure being arranged, in the retained position of the security device, to house therein one of the pedals of the vehicle.

The present invention also extends to a security device for a vehicle comprising at least one channel member for receiving therein part of the vehicle, the channel member being closed at one end and having adjacent its other, open end, aligned slots or apertures, a retaining member arranged to extend through said aligned slots or apertures to close said channel member and thereby retain the security device on said vehicle part, and at least one member carried by said channel member for preventing the operation of a pedal of the vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment, two members are provided for preventing operation of pedals of said vehicle. In this respect, each said member is supported by said channel member. Preferably, the two members extend in opposite directions and from opposed sides of said channel member.

In one embodiment, each of said members is a bar arranged to extend beneath a pedal to prevent its depression.

In a further embodiment, each said member is an enclosure arranged to receive and surround one of said pedals.

In a preferred embodiment, the security device is made of a rigid metal, for example of mild steel.

An embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the single Figure which shows a perspective view of a security device of the invention.

The security device of the invention is shown in the single Figure in an upright position. It will be appreciated from the description set out below that the security device is not illustrated in the orientation it attains upon use.

The security device shown in the single Figure is made from mild steel, for example of the order of 5 mm thick, and is fabricated to have two spaced, substantially rectangular cross-section, enclosures 2. Each enclosure 2 is defined between a base wall 6 of the security device and a top wall 4 thereof. Each of the base and top walls 6 and 4 has a substantially "U" shaped cut out 8 provided therein and a respective intermediate wall 10 is welded to the edges of each cut out 8 to extend between the base and top walls 6 and 4. In this manner, the two intermediate walls 10 together with the base of the cut outs 8 define a substantially "U" shaped channel member, generally referenced 20, having a closed end. Each intermediate wall 10 also defines one end wall of the respective enclosure 2.

Towards the open end of the channel member 20 defined, each intermediate wall 10 is arranged to stand proud of the base and top walls 6 and 6 and is provided with a respective slot 12. The slots 12 in the walls 10 are aligned whereby a retaining bar 14 may be inserted through the two slots 12 to thereby close the channel defined within the channel member 20. At one end, the bar 14 is provided with a flange 16, and at its other end, the bar 14 is provided with an aperture 18. When the bar 14 is in position extending through the aligned slots 12, as indicated in dotted lines in the single Figure, the flange 16 abuts one of the walls 10. A padlock or other locking means (not shown) is then engaged with the aperture 18.It will be appreciated that the flange 16 and the locking means act to hold the retaining bar 14 in its position extending through the slots 12 in which the channel member 20 is closed.

The security device illustrated in the single Figure is shaped and sized to prevent the operation of both of the clutch and the brake pedals of a lorry. In this respect, with the retaining bar 14 removed, the device is oriented with its base wall 6 on the floor of the lorry and is then moved towards the pedals thereof such that the clutch pedal is received within one enclosure 2 and the brake pedal is received within the other enclosure 2. The channel member 20 defined by the cut outs 8 and the walls 10 is, in this position, either around the steering column or around part of one of the pedals. The retaining bar 14 is then inserted through the slots 12 in a manner not only to close the channel member 20 as described above, but also to retain said part of the lorry within the channel member 20.

When the channel member 20 has been closed with the lorry part therein, the bar 14 is locked in position as described above.

It will therefore be appreciated that with the security device locked in position by way of the retaining bar 14, the top wall 4 covers the brake and clutch pedals and therefore prevents access thereto or operation thereof.

This of course prevents the lorry which the security device is fitted from being driven away.

Because the security device has a box like structure it is not easy to destroy its integrity with tools to thereby release it. If it is wished to forcibly remove the security device, it would be attacked at its weakest parts, that is, by trying to sever or break the retaining bar 14, or the padlock securing the 14 in position. However, as the bar 14 is behind the pedal and/or the steering column, there is only a very confined space in which to work and most tools which would be strong enough to have any impression on the bar or padlock would generally need a much larger space.

In the embodiment particularly described and illustrated, operation of the pedals is prevented by denying access thereto. However, the invention can additionally and/or alternatively prevent operation of the pedals by preventing the depression of the pedals. In this respect, each enclosure 2 may be replaced by, or incorporate, a bar extending away from the channel member and arranged, in the retained position of the channel member and of the security device, to extend beneath the respective pedal.

In the description above of the particular embodiment, reference has been made to the use of the security device on a lorry. Whilst the invention is particularly useful for securing lorries and other heavy goods vehicles, it can, of course, be used to secure any vehicle which is operated by use of at least one pedal.

As illustrated, the retaining bar 14 is a flat bar arranged to extend through aligned slots 12.

Alternatively, a locking bar having a circular crosssection may be provided and arranged to extend through circular section bores provided in the intermediate walls 10.

It will be appreciated that other amendments and modifications may be made to the invention as described above with the scope of this application.

Claims (15)

1. A security device for a vehicle, said security device comprising means for retaining the security device in a predetermined position within the vehicle, and means arranged, when the security device is in its retained predetermined position, to prevent the operation of at least one pedal of the vehicle.

2. A security device as claimed in Claim 1, arranged to prevent operation of both brake and clutch pedals of the vehicle.

3. A security device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising a bar which in the retained position of the security device is arranged to extend beneath the or each pedal whose operation is to be prevented.

4. A security device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein operation of the pedal is prevented by preventing access thereto.

5. A security device as claimed in Claim 4, comprising an enclosure for the or each pedal, said enclosure having a K peripheral wall to prevent access to, and thus depression of, the pedal.

6. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said retaining means comprises means to engage around one or more of the pedals or around the steering column of the vehicle, and means to lock the retaining means in position.

7. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a channel member having a closed end for receiving therein part of the vehicle, and wherein, towards the open end of the channel member opposed walls thereof are provided with aligned holes or slots through which a retaining member is arranged to extend to close the channel defined by the channel member.

8. A security device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the retaining member is a retaining pin or bar, and further comprising locking means to lock said retaining member in position to close the channel member.

9. A security device as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein said channel member is provided intermediate two enclosures, each said enclosure being arranged, in the retained position of the security device, to house therein one of the pedals of the vehicle.

10. A security device for a vehicle comprising at least one channel member for receiving therein part of the vehicle, the channel member being closed at one end and having adjacent its other, open end, aligned slots or apertures, a retaining member arranged to extend through said aligned slots or apertures to close said channel member and thereby retain the security device on said vehicle part, and at least one member carried by said channel member for preventing the operation of a pedal of the vehicle.

11. A security device as claimed in Claim 10, wherein two members are provided for preventing operation of pedals of said vehicle, each said member being supported by said channel member.

12. A security device as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said two members extend in opposite directions and from opposed sides of said channel member.

13. A security device as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein each of said members is a bar arranged to extend beneath a pedal to prevent its depression.

14. A security device as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein each said member is an enclosure arranged to receive and surround one of said pedals.

15. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the security device is made of a rigid metal.

16, A security device for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.