GB2283468A

GB2283468A - Vehicle corner steady security device

Info

Publication number: GB2283468A
Application number: GB9322607A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivor Allen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-11-02
Filing date: 1993-11-02
Publication date: 1995-05-10
Also published as: GB9322607D0

Abstract

The security device is for use with vehicles fitted with a corner steady. The security device comprises a first part 20 including a guard 22 which can be fitted over, or adjacent, to an operating end 17 of the operating spindle 14 of a corner steady to prevent unauthorised access thereto. The security device also comprises a second part 21 which can be fitted to a chassis member 24 of a vehicle equipped with a corner steady. Means (typically a nut and bolt and a cap which can be locked over the nut) 26 are also provided for locking the two parts together so that the second part cannot be removed from the chassis and the guard cannot be removed from its position over, or adjacent to, the operating end of the operating spindle. <IMAGE>

Description

Security Device This invention relates to a security device for use with vehicles, particularly caravans, fitted with a corner steady.

Corner steadies are fitted to each corner of a caravan, and also to some mobile homes, in order to support the caravan in a substantially horizontal position when parked and comprise a leg which is connected to the chassis of the caravan by a link and which is raised and lowered by a threaded operating spindle.

According to the present invention there is provided a security device for use with vehicles fitted with a corner steady, comprising a first part including a guard which can be fitted over or adjacent to an operating end of the operating spindle of a corner steady, to prevent unauthorised access thereto, a second part which can be fitted to a chassis member of a vehicle equipped with the corner steady, and means for locking the two parts together so that the second part cannot be removed from the chassis and the guard cannot be removed from its position over or adjacent to the operating end of the operating spindle.

Preferably, the locking means comprises a nut and bolt and a cap which can be locked over the nut.

Preferably, the guard is in the form of a sleeve portion which may be closed at one end to define a cap. In this case, the sleeve is preferably dimensioned to be a close fit over the operating end of the operating spindle to prevent the sleeve being prised away from the operating spindle.

Preferably, the second part has a portion of U-shaped cross-section for fitting over the chassis member.

Advantageously, the security device is arranged to clamp a flange on the operating spindle to the chassis member. This will prevent an unauthorised person from turning the threaded part of the operating spindle by hand with the weight of the vehicle taken off the corner steady.

The invention also resides in a corner steady equipped with a security device as hereinbefore defined and in a vehicle equipped with such a corner steady.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a security device according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, showing the security device of Figure 1 fitted to a corner steady of a caravan.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown therein a security device 10 for use with vehicles, particularly caravans, fitted with a corner steady 11.

The corner steady 11 is entirely conventional and comprises a leg 12, a link 13 and a threaded operating spindle 14. One end of the link 13 is pivotably connected to the vehicle chassis and the other end is pivotably connected to the leg 12 intermediate the ends thereof. The lower end of the leg 12 has a ground engageable foot 15 and the upper end of the leg 12 is provided with a threaded nut 16 which cooperates with the threaded spindle 14. The leg 12 is raised and lowered by a handle (not shown) which fits over a non-circular operating end portion 17 of the spindle 14. A flange 18 is provided on the spindle 14 between the threaded part of the spindle and the end portion 17.

The security device 10 comprises first and second plate-like parts 20 and 21, respectively. The first part 20 has a guard in the form of an integral cap 22 which can be fitted over the end portion 17 of the spindle 14, preferably as a close fit. The second part 21 has a U-shaped end portion 23 which can be fitted over a chassis member 24 of the caravan, the cap 22 and end portion 23 being fitted over the end portion 17 and chassis member 24, respectively, by movement of the parts 20 and 21 in opposite directions.

The second part 21 is provided with a threaded bolt 25, which is preferably secures?, such as by welding, to the part 21 and the first part 20 has an aperture through which the bolt 25 will pass as the parts 20 and 21 are fitted over the end portion 17 and chassis member 24, respectively.

The security device also comprises a locking device comprising a conventional wheel nut and wheel nut lock, shown generally at 26, for locking the parts 20 and 21 together.

In use, when the leg 12 of the corner steady 11 has been lowered, the end portion 17 of the part 21 is slid over the chassis member 24 from the rear thereof and the cap 22 of the part 20 is slid in an opposite direction over the operating end portion 17 of the spindle 14. The parts 20 and 21 are then secured together by the wheel nut, which is threaded onto the bolt 25, and locked by the wheel nut lock, which comprises a cap and a lock and which is fitted to the nut to prevent removal of the nut from the bolt 25.

When the parts 20 and 21 are locked together, the cap 22 prevents unauthorised access to the operating end portion 17 of the spindle 14. Also, the cap 22 engages the flange 18 on the spindle 14 and clamps the flange 18 against the outer face of the chassis member 24. This prevents an unauthorised person from turning the threaded part of the spindle 14 by hand after lifting the caravan to take the weight of the caravan off the corner steady.

The security device described above can be sold as an accessory for use with conventional corner steadies or can be supplied with corner steadies to caravan manufacturers.

The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the guard in the form of cap 22 could be an open ended sleeve of sufficient length to prevent unauthorised access to the operating end portion 17 of the spindle 14, or it could be of any other form which will prevent unauthorised access to the operating end portion 17 of the spindle 14.

Claims

1. A security device for use with vehicles fitted with a corner steady, comprising a first part including a guard which can be fitted over, or adjacent to, an operating end of the operating spindle of a corner steady to prevent unauthorised access thereto, a second part which can be fitted to a chassis member of a vehicle equipped with the corner steady, and means for locking the two parts together so that the second part cannot be removed from the chassis and the guard cannot be removed from its position over, or adjacent to, the operating end of the operating spindle.

2. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means comprises a nut and bolt and a cap which can be locked over the nut.

3. A security device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the guard comprises a sleeve portion which can be fitted over the operating end of the operating spindle of the corner steady.

4. A security device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sleeve portion is closed at one end so as to define a cap.

5. A security device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the sleeve portion is dimensioned to be a close fit over the operating end of the operating spindle to prevent the sleeve portion being prised away from the operating spindle.

6. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part has a portion of U-shaped cross-section for fitting over the chassis member.

7. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and arranged to clamp a flange on the operating spindle to the chassis member.

8. A security device for use with vehicles fitted with a corner steady, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A corner steady equipped with a security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

10. A vehicle equipped with a corner steady as claimed in claim 9.