GB2272192A

GB2272192A - Vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2272192A
Application number: GB9321475A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Graham Tuttle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-19
Filing date: 1993-10-18
Publication date: 1994-05-11
Also published as: GB9321475D0

Abstract

An anti-theft device which can have a protrusion which enters the slot of audio equipment in a vehicle. The protrusion is then held in position by the rest of the device. The device can link to the gear change column, and the vehicle is immobilised in addition to the audio equipment being protected.

Description

ANTI-THEFT DEVICE(S) AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WHICH CAN HAVE A PROTUSION WHICH ENTERS THE SLOT OF AUDIO EQUIPMENT IN A VEHICLE. THE PROTUSION IS THEN HELD IN POSITION BY THE REST OF THE DEVICE. THE DEVICE CAN LINK TO THE GEAR CHANGE COLUMN, AND THE VEHICLE IMMOBILISED IN ADDITION TO THE AUDIO EQUIPMENT BEING PROTECTED. ALTERNATIVELY OTHER DEVICES CAN HOLD THE GEAR CHANGE COLUMN IN THE REQUIRED POSITION SUCH THAT THE DEVICE TO THE AUDIO EQUIPMENT CANNOT BE REMOVED.

Claims

1). An anti-theft device which has a protruding part which can be inserted into a recess, such as a vehicle cassette player slot. The protrusion being held suitably in position by the device itself and/or another device and/or other means and/or linked to other part(s) of the vehicle.

The protrusion must be withdrawn from the recess before the item with the recess can be moved except if moved away from the protrusion such that the protrusion leaves the recess.

A locking item could be used to fix the device or devices in position once installed.

2) A device as claimed in 1 which links to the gear change column and uses this to stop the device being removed from the recess once any locking mechanisms on this or other devices are operated.

3) A device as claimed in 2) but which links to the hand brake lever instead of the gear change column..

4) A device whose length is comprised of one part or 2 or more parts which are permanently set to create one length. Such as by vehicle user.

Permanent setting being by adhesive, deformation or/and a lock.

This device being used with any one or more of the other claims. As claimed in 4 combined with claims 1 and/or 2 and/or 3.

5) A device as claimed in claim 4 which locks to another part after the protrusion is inserted such that the protrusion cannot be moved out of the slot. The other part stopping movement.

6) As claimed in 5 with the "another part" being the gear change column.

7) A device as claimed in 1 which uses 2 or more parts for its length.

These parts can move relative to each other such as to change the overall length such as by telescoping or/and extending. A lock being used to fix the overall length after movement such as to stop length being reduced.

8) A device as claimed in one or more of other claims which relates to the gear change column. or any other part or device by entrapping it in a fork.

9) A device as claimed in one or more of previous claims in which the protrusionenters a recess provided by an item attached to the gear change column. or the handbrake lever or other part of the vehicle.

10) A device as claimed in 8 and/or elsewhere where the fork is made by pressing a hollow section effectively flat before using existing metal working techniques to cut or form the fork (ie. fork slot).

11) A device as claimed elsewhere such as claim 1 which relates to the gear change column such that movement of the device is limited by the gear change column . So the device cannot be removed once the required items and/or other devices are locked in position.

12) A device as claimed elsewhere and/or which enters the recess and locks to the gear change column with some form of locking mechanism.

13) A device(s) which uses a combination of any one claim with any one or more of the other claims and/or any of the applications/designs called up in the application of 18/10/93 (by author) or given in that application of 18/10/93.

14) A device(s) which is/are depicted and/or described in the inventor's patent applications and/or by cross-linking of those applications.

15) A device which is attached and/or hinged and/or pivoted at the gearchange column, the audio equipment and/or the hand brake lever and/or any other position or part and/or incorporated as part of the device.

16) A device as claimed in 15 which has a part which is moved to attach to the gear change column or the handbrake lever or a recess or any other part such as to link the two or more parts together . A lock may be included such as to impede or stop the movement of one or more parts such as the gear change column and hence immobilise the vehicle or prevent theft of a part.

Keeping a device attached to a position such as in 15 and/or 16 makes it easier to access and use; generally.

17) A device which uses a split or solid collar or similar to be attached to the gear change column . Collar could be fixed such as by welding to a column sleeve and sleeve or collar is attached to the column such as by screw pressure, interference fit or adhesive.

18) A device which uses the other claims to provide an anti-theft device on the handbrake lever or gear change column or other part of the vehicle which acts to link the gear change column to the handbrake lever and/or other part; and/or a recess and/or any other part such as to restrict movement.

19) A device which uses an item which is bonded to the gear change column by adhesive and/or an interference fit such that the item, and possibly others, cannot be easily removed such as by a thief.

This could include the use of a hollow sleeve around the gear change column.

20) A device which has a part(s) which won't enter the recess due to the larger dimensions of the part. This larger part(s) being as a load path, rather than using the end of the protruding part if an attempt is made to force the device into the slot. Use; such as to prevent damage from the protrusion.

21) A device which immobilises the vehicle by using parts to increase overall length which are then locked with the aim of holding the gear change column in a fixed position relative to the other end of the device The gear change column could be held say in 2nd gear away from cassette player in the dashboard of a vehicle.

22) A device which is locked or fixed to the recess using an existing design. The recess could be that of a cassette player.

23) A device which is used in conjunction with another device(s) which acts to lock the gear change column or other part in one position. It being necessary to move the gear change column and/or remove the other device before this new device can be removed.

24) The device protrusion could be made of non-magnetic materials such as ceramics or non-magnetic stainless steel and/or also shaped to keep it a distance away from the sensor or magnetic head of the audio equipment to avoid degrading the head/sensor. This could be done by the shape of the protrusion and/or of the shoulder. A sleeve could be used on the protrusion, or coating, to avoid it scratching.

25) One end of the device could have a part which relates to the handbrake lever so that the handbrake lever restricts the movement of the device . The relation to the handbrake lever could be by various known means including a tubular member which encompasses part or all of the handbrake lever and the tubular member. The tubular member could have deformed or pressed in wall(s) such that the handbrake lever protrusion cannot pass through the reduced tube internal dimensions.

26) A device as claimed in one or more of the other claims which relates to another part of the vehicle such that the device can not move angularly.

This could stop a protrusion being removed from a recess where the angle of the recess to the main device where such that angular movement would allow protrusion removal. Angle such as 90 degrees. Principle could also be used to stop a device being removed from a handbrake lever.

27) A device(s) which stops or impedes the movement and/or removement of other parts by the device(s) obstructing the movement of the item from its position and the device being fixed and/or locked in that position.

This could be by a device which links the handbrake lever and gear change column of a vehicle and has a part which could go past the gear change column and obstructs removal (or theft) of an audio equipment.

The audio unit needing use of the volume occupied by the device in order to be removed.

28) As claimed in previous claim where that device is also linked and/or fixed to the gear change column and/or the handbrake lever and/or another part of the vehicle and/or another device.

29) A device as claimed in one or both of last 2 claims where the obstruction part is moved into position using an extending part or other part from the main device body; such that main device body size is reduced when not in use.

30) A device which holds the gear change column in a fixed position such that a device as claimed in the other claims can prevent removal of an item linked to another part such as a cassette player. The device could also fix the gear change column of a vehicle in one position such that the gearbox cannot be used, to impede vehicle theft.

31) A device B with a hollow member which encompasses part or all of the handbrake lever and which could be made from one piece of hollow member to travel to the gear change column with a locking mechanism to attach to the g.

32) As in claim 31 and/or 30 where the locking mechanism is a padlock to attach to the gear change column.

33) As in claims 31 and 32 where the padlock attaches to the main device via one or more holes in the device.

34) A device which has a hollow section which has been deformed in shape to assist in creating a suitable device.

35) A device as claimed in 34 where the deformed shape is a narrowed hollow section which acts as a stop to the handbrake lever.

36) A device which is hollow at each end and can be reversed with either end encompassing the handbrake lever.

37) A device as claimed in 35 where the deformation such as to provide a different distance and/or angle to the gear change column depending on which end is put over the handbrake lever.

38) A device where the deformation as claimed in one or more other claims is not equidistant from each end.

39) A device which begins construction as a hollow piece and this hollow piece ends up going past the end of the handbrake lever after production of the device is finished.

40) A device which begins construction as a hollow piece and travels the major part, if not all, of the distance to the gear change column after device production is complete.

41) A device as in 40 and other claims which uses the base of the handbrake lever as a stop.

42) A device which uses flattening and/or partial flattening or/and deforming of a hollow section for a purpose. Flattening could be used to provide a flat surface which can be worked with some machinery such as presses which cannot work on hollow sections.

43) A device of hollow section which has a padlock which uses a hole, or attachment to the device , to which to attach, also linking to the gear change column or other device.

44) A device of hollow section which has 2 or more holes through which a padlock shackle can pass through one hole and out of another in order to attach to the device.

45) As claim 44 but where the hollow section has been flattened.

46) A device in which a padlock has a coating applied to it and/or a jacket and/or a sleeve such as to make it nicer to handle and less damaging.

Shrinking or stretchable tubing cold be put over the padlock part(s). A jacket could be made to slide onto the body could have opening for shackle and at other end for key end. Or a coating which applied to the padlock in locked configuration and then cut open or removed where needed such as shackle to the body and/or at the key opening.

47) A device with padlock which is welded or fixed to the device and coated with the device.

48) The padlock could be coated by powder coating (electrostatic) with the padlock unlocked and open. The shackle open end being masked such as by a tube with one open end being put on it. The shackle part linked to the padlock body could be masked using tape. The keyhole could be masked using a suitably shaped piece of tape.

49) A padlock which is coated with the key in the device to stop the coating entering the key slot and could also be used to give a coating to the key grip.

50) A coating to padlock which is applied in an electrostatic process such as powder where the coating is attracted to the padlock. Coating will not enter well any joins such as padlock body to shackle gaps since these are at same voltage potential and the attraction to the coating is such that it won't penetrate like a non-electrostatic spraying would.

51) A coating which is applied with the padlock shackle being pushed into the shackle body locked and/or unlocked . After the coating process the shackle can lock before any coating tries to stop shackle entering the padlock fully or partly. Gravity acting with padlock weight may be used to generate a force.

52) A coated padlock could be used for other applications.

53) A padlock which has a raised part(s) on its main body with part(s) on the shackle which sheds condensation and/or liquids to a lower part away from the body entry holes for the shackle. The raised part(s) could be added parts and could be adhesively bonded. The part(s) on the shackle could be a skirt with hem outside raised part diameter.

54) The padlock could have items which act as a seal against liquids entering the shackle holes in body. These could be attached to the shackle and they seal to the body with the force of locking compressing the seal and holding. The seals could be attached to the padlock body and have holes for the shackle such that liquids cannot pass the grip or seal between the padlock shackle and the items. Similar to a circular windscreen wiper around the shackle but better seal.

55) A device which includes a change in angle along its length which allows it to be rotated in order to provide a link to gear change columns which are at an angle to the left or/and right of the line along the handbrake lever in plan view.

Could also use for access to top or bottom area of gear column line.

56) Claim 55 combined with other claim(s).

57) A device which uses overlapping parts. These parts may be able to move angurlarly and/or linearly with respect to each other and could be shaped like cones with the peaks removed. These parts could have a part within them which provides adjustment of the length of the device or links different parts together . The overlapping parts could be of hardened steel or similar tough material(s) and provide protection of the parts within against unwanted cutting.

58) As in claims 55 and/or 56 and/or 57 where overlapping parts may be added/removed as needed.

59) A device which uses a threaded member which could be used to provide adjustment for different distances and this threaded part 60) A device which uses overlapping parts where one part could be attached to the member which links to the handbrake lever or other and another part which could be attached to the member which links to the gear change column or other part. When the length of the device is adjusted the two overlapping parts move over or with respect to each other such that the adjustment part, such as a threaded rod, is protected or covered at all or most of the coverage range.

61) A device which has a length adjustment mechanism such as a threaded part which does not have its movement limited or stopped by the locking mechanism such as at the gear change column and can continue past the gear change column . This avoids cutting the adjustment mechanism if the gear change column , or the locking mechanism, is acting as a limit to adjustment range.

The adjustment mechanism such as a threaded rod could pass by the gear change column or the handbrake lever end so the gear change column or handbrake lever doesn't act as a stop.

62) A device which uses one or more hollow member(s) for length adjustment with a threaded female part at one or both ends. Rotation of this part could make no difference to the length, by thread rotation sense choice if it is rotated when the device is installed.

63) A device where the adjustment mechanism attaches to the outside of a hollow member which encompasses only part of the handbrake lever and not necessarily the tip of the handbrake lever.

64) A device which is permanently attached to the handbrake lever and moved into position for use. This could be an extending part or/and hinged and/or rotated part.

65) A hollow device with a separate item which is a hollow member with a wider part on it which can be used as an adjustment piece . This piece going into the hollow part of the for base of handbrake lever.

The wider part of the adjustment piece can't enter the hollow section of the main device due to its dimensions. If the wider part of the device is a different distance from each end then it provides 2 adjustment distances using 1 item, depending which way round it is inserted into main device.

The wider part could be created by applying weld to the outside of a hollow metal section of diameter just below that of the main hollow device end with same or similar shape.

66) A device with a separate item with a narrower part on it a distance from one end. When inserted inside main hollow body of device enclosing the handbrake lever the narrower part stops against the end of the handbrake lever and adds a distance into the length of the device away from handbrake lever . This part could have the narrow part off centre from each of its ends and provide 2 distances depending on which way round it is inserted into the main hollow body.

67) A device with a separate item or items at the handbrake lever are. The main device having hollow member which goes around the handbrake lever. A spacer(s) can be used which the main hollow part can't go past.

This spacer could be of the same diameter as the main hollow part . The spacer could be attached to the main device.

68) A device with a separate item or items at the handbrake lever area. A spacer or spacers can be used which goes inside the main hollow handbrake lever device. The spacer(s) can interface with another part such as in claim 66 such as to move the position of the narrow part of 66.

The spacer could be a hollow tube section or solid.

This would allow one main device to fit more vehicle geometries.

69) The combination of various claims for adjusters and spacers with collision at handbrake lever base or handbrake lever end in one overall design.

70) The use of deformed walls of a hollow section to stop against the handbrake lever end.

71) As in claim 70 where device is hollow at both ends and device can be reversed.

72) As in claim 70 where there is more than 1 deformation area and each is a different distance from its closest end.

73) As in claim 70 where deformation area is not equidistant from each end in order to provide adjustment.

74) The use of a hollow member at the handbrake lever end which is more oval rather than circular, such as to provide more vertical freedom of movement of the device. Or larger diameter hollow section in order to cope with different angles to the gear change column.

75) A device which uses a moving part(s) to provide distance adjustment with the inclusion of a locking mechanism to fix and lock the adjusted distance. The device having an end which forks the gear change column.

The rest of the device could have a part which is hollow and goes around the handbrake lever as given in various existing GB patent applications eg. 2142889.

76) [No claim lodged against this number] 77) As in 75 but the end of the device is instead a protrusion which enters a recess in a part which is attached or related to the gear change columnsuch as the protrusion cannot move angularly away from the gear change column.

78) As in 75 where the fork exists in a flat part.

79) As in 75 where the fork exists in a 3 dimensional part of hollow or solid section.

80) As in 79 where the fork section relates to a part fixed to the gear change columnsuch that part stops the movement of the device up or down the column.

81) As in 80 where the part on the column is as given in GB2142889 or similar and the fork fixing screw is directed into the fork section which encompasses it and prevents the screw being accessed when the device is in place.

82) A device as claimed in 75 or/and 77 where a moving part(s) is extended and locked to fix the distance.

83) wM A device where the extending part can pivot with respect to the part at the handbrake lever.

84) A device as in 83 where the locking device is in the area of the pivot.

85) As in previous claims and with lock similar to seat lock or handbrake lever lock on 29/9/92 ref 2.

86) A device similar to that of GB 2142889 where the attachment point to the part which goes to the gear change columnis positioned such that the extending part can come back behind the attachment point. This could be with an attachment point above, and/or to the side of, the - the handbrake lever and/or - the end of the hollow section around the handbrake lever The part linked to the hollow part at the handbrake lever could then be of one main part which extends such as to interface to the gear change columnand is then locked in position. This locking could be at the handbrake lever end.

The part of GB 2142889 attached to the hollow part at the handbrake lever is comprised of 2 parts one of which extends forwards. Two parts are needed, the hollow part and the handbrake lever would stop the use of just one piece from the attachment point to the tube.

87) A locking mechanism whereby a push button lock or other lock with a mounting plate is inserted up via a clearance into a hole which could be clear through. Adhesive could hold the lock in place. The part to be locked to is then moved into this clearance and the lock can be operated, such as a plunge bolt lock of the general type of GB 2142889. The locked part fits into the clearance reasonably tightly and cannot be removed. The lock cannot be removed since the locked part generally blocks the clearance hole. Various applications including locking the moving part of claim 85 relative to the part of the device at the hand brake lever.

88) A lock for claim 85.

89) Note 85 allows a much reduced overall length when not in use compared with GB 2142889. The device could also be permanently attached to the handbrake lever as shown above and use screw clamp or similar.

90) A device with an item whereby the access to part of it is blocked by another part which is put into it after assembly. This could be an access hole to a fixing such as a screw which is used to apply pressure such as in a clamp used to attach to a gearchange column such as a shaft collar clamp.

It could also be a part put into a part which is a fixing such as a part into a hexagonal socket in a fixing screw. The inserted part being shaped such that it can not be easily removed since it cannot be gripped to apply force or being held in by adhesive or similar.

91) As claimed in 90 where a hexagonal part could be inserted into a hexagonal socket. The exposed end of the inserted part could have a domed top or rounded edges or similar such that as to impede it being gripped in a removal attempt. The inserted part being of about same length as the socket.

92) As claimed in 90 and/or 91 where the inserted part is a sphere or a cylinder or rod. The sphere could be a ball bearing and could be made of metal or ceramic.

93) As claimed in previous claims where the inserted part or the recess is tapered in order to provide a tighter fit. The taper selection between the recess and the inserted part being such as to provide a tighter fit between the parts after installation.

94) A device as claimed in the other claims where the inserted part deforms itself or the other part such as to provide a pressure bond of some sorts between the two parts. This could be such as a sphere being forced into a hole with a thread.

95) A device as in the other claims which also or only or partly uses adhesive to hold the inserted part in the recess.

96) A device as in the other claims where the inserted part is threaded with the recess being threaded or unthreaded.

97) A device as in 96 where the inserted part is inserted with the tip end directed out of the recess so that it is difficult to grip to remove it.

98) As in one or more claims where the part is inserted linearly into the recess.

99) As in one or more other claims where part is inserted by rotation and this could use a tool.

100) As in one or more of other claims where the inserted part has a shaped part which is contacted with by a tool such as an Allen key into a socket such as hexagonal such as in a threaded screw in a shaft collar used with a gearchange column . And after insertion the shaped part is defaced such that the tool won't grip the part.

101) As in claim 100 where a socket such as hexagonal defaced by the use of a reaming tool or similar.

102) As in 101 where the socket is defaced by using a tool which is a poor fit such as undersize Allen key and using this with the socket.

Rotation in tightening direction would deface the socket. The tool material would normally be harder than the socket so socket deforms and not the tool. One or more size of defacing tool may be needed.

103) As in 102 where an Allen key has 2 or more ends with the ends being suitably sized to carry out the functions.

104) As in 103 where the smaller end is formed by compression of the material during manufacture.

105) A device which has a part(s) with flanges and could have a slot such that the handbrake lever at its area could enter the slot allowing the flanges to be moved such that they block access to the fixings for the handbrake lever to the vehicle.

106) A separate device which is shaped to prevent access to the handbrake lever to vehicle fixings. This could fix to the handbrake lever or its removal could be stopped by a device with a part which stops its removal. This other device could be such as item 10 of GB 2142889A.

107) A device as in 106 which is hollow and put on over the end of the handbrake lever.

108) A device where the lock uses the suitable part shape and/or holes of the device as suitable for the vehicle geometry being locked.

109) A device where the lock is separate from the main device and relates to the main large device in order to lock the items together.

110) A device as claimed in 6 where the lock is attached to a part of the vehicle such as a gearchange column and the other main device could link to the handbrake lever area.

111) A device where the lock has a widening or other change in dimensions see 9221920.3. This could be used to lock into a hole(s) in the main device or other part suited to receive it. This could be used to lock from the gearchange column to the suitable part such as hole in a device to another part of vehicle such as to handbrake lever area.

112) A device with the lock fitted to the gearchange column . The lock could be such as in GB 21 42889A or others or as in GB 9221920.3.

Non-locking devices similar to 9221920.3 are used on aircraft and/or wheelchairs but don't lock. One of these manufacturers could combine 9221920.3 with GB 21 42889A to produce it.

113) A device which has holes in main part and the linking mechanism makes use of these holes. This could be by a lock as claimed in 8.

114) A device with holes or similar fixings positions to accept studs or similar to which a lock can attach. The studs could be used in the positions to suit use in that vehicle.

115) A locking device which is installed in the suitable position such as by the user, and then could be held in that position. This could be by the use of clips, adhesive,; or a piece in a tube for a padlock to be pushed against.

116) A device where the lock is held in its position by foam which goes hard.

117) Anti-tamper protection of fittings such as screws. Adhesive with hard items added such as ballbearings to block access to parts such as fittings.