GB2279051A

GB2279051A - A security device for a wheeled vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2279051A
Application number: GB9312698A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Malcolm Boydell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-06-19
Filing date: 1993-06-19
Publication date: 1994-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-19
Also published as: GB9312698D0; GB2279051B

Abstract

An anti-theft security device comprises a bed plate (1) provided with a tyre receiving recess defined between chocks (4, 5), and a body (20) hingedly connected to the bed plate at the apex of each chock and carrying at least one hook or claw (24) adapted to co-operate with the tyre at a position spaced radially from the recess and angularly between the chocks (4, 5). <IMAGE>

Description

A SECURITY DEVICE FOR A WHEELED VEHICLE This invention relates to a security device for a wheeled vehicle.

Known security devices for wheeled vehicles normally depend upon preventing a vehicle from being driven away by immobilising or inhibiting use of certain controls. For example most vehicles now include means operable upon removal of the ignition key automatically to lock the steering wheel against rotary movement. Other known, additional, security devices are adapted to couple the clutch or brake pedal to the steering wheel, or are adapted to prevent operation of the gear lever. Such known security devices do not prevent a vehicle from being removed bodily from a parking site, for example by the use of a trailer and a jacking or other lifting mechanism, such as a recovery vehicle.

According to my invention a wheeled vehicle is anchored to the surface of the ground or floor on which it is parked by means of a security device adapted to co-operate with a wheel of the vehicle substantially to prevent or otherwise restrict movement of the wheel with respect to the surface.

Preferably the device co-operates with the tyre at at least three angularly spaced positions in order to restrain movement of the wheel generally in a longitudinal for-and-aft direction, and a generally vertical direction, and the device incorporates at least one hook or claw adapted to embrace a portion of the tyre to restrain movement of the wheel in a lateral direction.

When the device is in position, its co-operation with the wheel acts to prevent unauthorised bodily removal of the vehicle from its parking site or removal of the wheel from the vehicle.

The device may comprise a bedplate adapted to be cast into or otherwise embedded in or anchored into concrete or masonry forming the ground or floor, or lying on a surface being retained in position by the weight of the vehicle, with the bedplate provided with a tyre receiving recess, a body hingedly connected to the bedplate and movable into an operative position to enclose a portion of the outer face of the wheel and carrying the hook or claw, in which the hook or claw is movable with respect to the body between an inoperative extended position in which the hook or claw can overlie the peripheral edge of the tyre as the body is moved into the said operative position, and a restraint position in which the hook or claw embraces the tyre, and releasable locking means are provided for locking the hook or claw in the restraint position.

The recess may be defined in the bedplate between leading and trailing chock faces. In such a construction the body may be hingedly connected to the bedplate at the apex of each chock.

The body may be detachably connected to the bedplate through hinge connections comprising spigots carried by the body for co-operation in complementary openings in the chocks.

In one construction the body comprises a plate in which the hook or claw is slidably mounted for movement substantially in a radial direction between the inoperative position and the restraint position, and the plate carries a locking mechanism adapted automatically to lock the hook or claw in the restraint position, release of the locking mechanism by the use of a key permitting the hook or claw to be returned to the inoperative position either manually or by means of a spring-loading.

Conveniently the locking mechanism is adapted to lock the hook or claw in any one of a series of restraint positions to suit the diameter of a given wheel.

Any wheel of a vehicle may be secured in one of a series of security devices, and for example, by providing a plurality of spaced openings in the apices of the chocks of both devices, two spaced bodies can be attached to a common bedplate at convenient locations to suit the width of given vehicle. -Thus the vehicle may be anchored to the floor or ground through one or more wheels.

One embodiment of my invention and a modification are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a security device for wheeled vehicles; Figure 2 is an end view of the device illustrated in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified security device.

The security device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings comprises a pressed steel bedplate 1 which is fabricated to define longitudinally spaced front and rear ramps 2 and 3, each of inverted Vee outline. The inner faces of the ramps 2 and 3 define chock surfaces 4,5 which are interconnected at adjacent ends by a base portion 6. A wheel receiving recess 7 is defined between the chock surfaces 4 and 5, and the base portion 6. The bedplate 1 is adapted to be secured to the ground by means of a fixing plate 8 and depending anchors 9 adapted to be embedded in concrete or masonry 10. The ramps 2 and 3 are provided in their apices with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 11. In a modification the bedplate 1 is held in position on the ground by the weight of the vehicle.

A body 20 comprising a metal plate of generally triangular outline is adapted, by the removal of portions at its lower corners, to suit the outline of the tyre-receiving recess 7, and spigot portions 21 projecting from the lower ends of the edges of the plate 20 and lying normal to the plane of the plate are adapted to be received in corresponding pairs of openings 11 in the ramps 2 and 3 to define a hinge connection between the body 20 and bedplate 1. A locking member 22 is guided to slide in a complementary radially extending slot 23 in the body 20 with the slot 23 bi-secting the plate 20. The member 22 is provided at its upper end with a hook or claw 24. The member 22 is movable between an inoperative extended position, shown in chain dotted outline, and a restraint position in which the hook or claw 24 is closer to the bedplate 1. A locking mechanism, typically comprising a bullet lock 25 or other locking device or padlock, is mounted on the body 20 and co-operates with one of a plurality of spaced openings or recesses in the locking member 22 in order to lock the member 22 in its restraint position. Upon release of the locking mechanism 25 the member 22 is returned manually to its inoperative extended position. In a modification the member can be retained to its inoperative position by by means of a return spring.

In operation of the safety device the front wheel 30 of a vehicle provided with a tyre 31 is driven up the ramp 2 and into the recess 7. The body 20 is then connected to the bedplate 1 by inserting the spigot portions 21 into complementary openings 11 in the ramps 2 and 3 located close to the outer face of the wheel 30. The body 20 is then hinged into a generally vertical position in which it lie close the nave plate and encloses a substantial proportion of the wheel 30 and the tyre 31. In this position the hook or claw 24 overlies the peripheral edge of the tyre 31.

Thereafter the member 22 is moved inwardly against the spring-loading so that the hook or claw 24 embraces the tyre and is automatically locked in its restraint position by the automatic locking action of the bullet lock 25. The safety device therefore co-operates with the wheel at at least three angularly spaced positions, namely at the chock surfaces 4 and 5, and the hook or claw 24. The wheel is therefore restrained against movement in a longitudinal for-and-aft direction by its co-operation with the chock surfaces 4 and 5, and it is restrained against movement in a transverse direction by the action of the hook or claw 24 embracing the tyre.

To release the security device the bullet lock 25 is released and the member 22 returns automatically to its inoperative extended position due to the action of the spring-loading.

Normally two safety devices of the kind described above will be provided, one for each front wheel. The two devices may be separate from each other.

Alternatively the bedplate 1 may be of a length sufficient to accommodate both the front wheels of a vehicle with the bodies 20 located in appropriate positions by utilising the openings 11 closest to the outer faces of the two front wheels.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings two angularly spaced and symmetrically arranged claws 40 and 41, each carried by a radially movable member 42,43 adapted to co-operate with the bullet lock 25 replace the single claw 24. In such a construction the device co-operates with the tyre at at least four angularly spaced positions.

The construction and operation of the modified safety device illustrated in Figure 3 is otherwise the same as that of Figures 1 and 2 and corresponding references have been applied to corresponding parts.

Claims

1. A security device for anchoring a wheeled vehicle to the surface of the ground or floor on which it is parked, in which the security device is adapted to co-operate with a wheel of the vehicle substantially to prevent or otherwise restrict movement of the wheel with respect to the surface.

2. - A security device as claimed in claim 1, in which the device co-operates with the tyre at at least three angularly spaced positions in order to restrain movement of the wheel generally in a longitudinal for-and-aft direction, and a generally vertical direction, and the device incorporates at least one hook or claw adapted to embrace a portion of the tyre to restrain movement of the wheel in a lateral direction.

3. A security device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, comprises a bedplate provided with a tyre receiving recess, a body hingedly connected to the bedplate and movable into an operative position to enclose a portion of the outer face of the wheel and carrying the hook or claw, in which the hook or claw is movable with respect to the body between an inoperative extended position in which the hook or claw can overlie the peripheral edge of the tyre as the body is moved into the said operative position, and a restraint position in which the hook or claw embraces the tyre, and releasable locking means for locking the hook or claw in the restraint position.

4. A security device as claimed in claim 3, in which the recess is defined in the bedplate between leading and trailing chock faces.

5. A security device as claimed in claim 4, in which the body is hingedly connected to the bedplate at the apex of each chock.

6. A security device as claimed in any of claims 3-5, in which the body is detachably connected to the bedplate through hinge connections comprising spigots carried by the body for co-operation in complementary openings in the chocks.

7. A security device as claimed in any of claim 2-6, in which the body comprises a plate in which the hook or claw is slidably mounted for movement substantially in a radial direction between the inoperative position and the restraint position, and the plate carries a locking mechanism adapted automatically to lock the hook or claw in the restraint position, release of the locking mechanism by the use of a key permitting the hook or claw to be returned to the inoperative position either manually or by means of a spring-loading.

8. A security device as claimed in claim 7, in which the locking mechanism is adapted to lock the hook or claw in any one of a series of restraint positions to suit the diameter of a given wheel.