GB2285783A

GB2285783A - Immobilising motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2285783A
Application number: GB9500927A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rohinton Sarosh
Original assignee: RONIMPORTS Ltd
Current assignee: RONIMPORTS Ltd
Priority date: 1994-01-18
Filing date: 1995-01-18
Publication date: 1995-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-18
Also published as: GB9500927D0; GB2285783B; GB9400848D0

Abstract

A vehicle immobilising device to prevent theft comprises a housing (1) adapted to be locked onto the steering wheel (2) of a motor vehicle and, when so locked, to extend over and enclose an arc of the wheel, a first member (5) extending from the housing and over the centre of the steering wheel and a second member (7) extending from the housing away from the steering wheel. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in and relating to devices for immobilisina motor vehicles The present invention relates to a device for locking onto the steering wheel of a motor vehicle for immobilising the vehicle.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the device comprises a housing adapted to be locked onto the steering wheel of a motor vehicle and, when so locked, to extend over and enclose an arc of the wheel, a first member extending from the housing and over the centre of the steering wheel and a second member extending from the housing away from the steering wheel.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises two housing portions pivotally joined to each other along one edge for fitting around the steering wheel rim, the housing being provided with means for locking the two housing portions together around the steering wheel rim.

Preferably, the housing is adapted to be locked around an upper portion of the steering wheel rim. When so locked, the housing is preferably adapted to extend around a substantial arc of the steering wheel rim, the arc subtending an angle of at least 45 degrees at the centre of the wheel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the first member and the second member are integral with each other and extend through the housing.

Preferably, the housing is generally in the shape of a segment of a circle.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the device additionally comprises at least one reflective portion positioned on the body to reflect light when the device is in the locked position in the vehicle.

The reflective portion increases the visibility of the device particularly at night by reflecting, for example, the light from the torch of a potential vehicle thief. It also acts as a reminder to the vehicle owner that the device is in position, reducing the risk that he/she may try to start the car when the vehicle is immobilised.

Reflective portions may, for example, be provided on the housing or at or near the distal end of the second member and/or the first member. A reflective portion may be provided on the front and the back of the second member at or near its distal end, the back reflective portion being positioned to reflect the headlamps of an oncoming vehicle.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a housing adapted to be locked on to the steering wheel of the vehicle, a first member extending from the housing and over the centre of the steering wheel and a second member extending from the housing away from the steering wheel, reflective portions being provided on the front and rear distal end of the first member and on the front and rear distal ends of the second member.

The reflective portions are preferably reflective patches affixed to the device with adhesive or any other suitable means, or reflective discs embedded in the device.

Further features and advantages of'the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a device according to the present invention, when not in use; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a front view of the device of Figure 1, when in use; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic section taken along lines V-V of the device shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a front view of a further embodiment of a device according to the invention; Figure 7 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a view of the interior of the front part of the housing of the device shown in Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 is a diagrammatic section taken along lines IX-IX of the device shown in Figure 6; and Figure 10 is a a view of the interior of the rear part of the housing of the device shown in Figures 6 and 7; and Figure 11 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

The device shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises a housing 1 which fits over a steering wheel 2 and is lockable by means of a lock 3 to secure the device onto the steering wheel. The lock may be operated with a key 4, as shown, or by any other suitable means.

An elongate member 5 extends from the housing 1 and over the centre of the hub 6 of the steering wheel. Another elongate member 7 extends from the housing 1 away from the steering wheel. The elongate member 5 has an angled section 8 and an end section 9, such that it is shaped to fit over the hub of the steering wheel. The elongate member 7 may be straight and extend upwardly as shown, or may be angled to rest on the fascia or dashboard of the vehicle.

The members 5 and 7 may, for example, each comprise a shaped steel bar, which may, for example, be 4 cm wide and 1 cm thick, and which is preferably coated with rubber or other plastics material to protect the bar and to protect the vehicle from damage by the bar.

In use, the elongate member 7 is intended to prevent the steering wheel from being rotated to any appreciable extent because, if it is of sufficient length, it will come into abutment with, for example, the windscreen, door or seat of the vehicle. Even if the elongate member 7 is not long enough to engage the windscreeen or door, it significantly increases the visibility of the device. The end section 9 of elongate member 5 obscures access to the centre of the steering wheel and its fixing to the steering column and therefore prevents removal of the steering wheel and the device. In addition, if the free end of elongate member 7 is pulled forwards in the direction of the driver of the vehicle, the end section 9 of elongate member 5 acts against the hub of the steering wheel, thus increasing the difficuIty of bending the device out of the way or of forcibly attempting to remove the device. Moreover, in some vehicles the horn is operated by a push button in the centre of the steering wheel. Accordingly, the horn would be activated by anyone trying to pull the free end of elongate member 7 forwards, thus alerting attention to the fact that the vehicle is being tampered with.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, if the elongate member is pushed backwards towards the windscreen, it will either contact the windscreen or the dashboard, thus preventing the steering wheel from being rotated to any appreciable extent such that it is still very difficult to drive the vehicle.

As can be most clearly seen in Figures 2 and 5, the housing 1 comprises a front housing portion 10 and a rear housing portion 11. The elongate members 5 and 7 are integral with each other and extend through and are joined to rear housing portion 11. Front housing portion 10 is pivotally connected to rear housing portion 11 at hinge 12. Each of the housing portions 10, 11 is substantially segment shaped and the housing is adapted to enclose a substantial arc of the rim of the steering wheel. Preferably, the arc enclosed by the housing subtends an angle of at least 45 degrees at the centre of the wheel and, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the arc subtends an angle of approximately 90 degrees at the centre of the wheel, such that the housing covers approximately 25 per cent of the circumference of the wheel rim.

The lock 3 extends from the front housing portion 10 to lockingly connect the rear housing portion 11 when the lock is closed. When the lock is opened the front housing portion 10 may be hinged away from the rear housing portion 11 to allow the housing to be fitted on to or removed from the steering wheel. The lock may be a standard cylindrical tumbler lock or any other appropriate lock.

A foam insert 13 (see Figure 5) is provided inside each of the front and rear housing portions to protect the steering wheel from any damage which might be caused by the housing. In addition, the front housing portion 10 is provided with an inwardly extending bracket 14 which prevents access to the lock mechanism on all sides of the lock not already protected by the housing.

In order to make the device more visible, reflectors or reflective patches 15 are provided. In the illustrated embodiment reflective patches are provided on the front and rear of the free end of elongate member 7, around the lock 3 and on the front of end section 9 of elongate member 5.

The reflective patches may be fixed to the device by adhesive or by screws or by any other appropriate means, or may take the form of reflective discs embedded in the device to lie level with the surface of the device. The reflective patches are preferably provided at or near the top and bottom of the device for maximum visibility, as well as optionally near the middle of the device. The aim is that the reflectors on the front of the device would reflect the light from the torch of a potential vehicle thief making it easier for a thief to see that a vehicle immobilising lock is in place. In addition, the reflective patch 15 on the rear of the free end of elongate member 7 is intended to reflect the headlights of an oncoming vehicle making it immediately apparent that such a lock is in place.

The second embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 10 is substantially similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 5 and like reference numerals are used for like parts.

The elongate member 7 has an angled section 20 and an end section 21. A reflector 15 is embedded into the surface of either side of the end sections 9 and 21 of the elongate members.

The front and rear housing portions 10, 11 of the second embodiment are substantially segment shaped but the corners 22, 23 of the segment are truncated.

Nevertheless, the housing 1 is adapted to enclose a substantial arc of the rim of the steering wheel, the arc subtending an angle of at least 45 degrees at the centre of the wheel. The front and rear housing portions may be formed from plastics or any other suitable material. However, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the rear housing portion 11 has an inner shell 24 for additional strength. The inner shell 24 may be fixed to the rear housing portion 11 in any suitable way and is preferably made of metal, although the metal may be coated to prevent damage to the steering wheel. The inner shell 24 is substantially L-shaped in crosssection, as can be seen in Figure 9, so that the shell substantially surrounds the front, rear and outer circumference of the enclosed arc of the steering wheel rim in use.

Inner shell 24 may comprise cut-away portions 25 of any appropriate shape to reduce the overall weight of the device.

The lock 3 comprises a locking pin 26 on the interior of the front housing portion 10. Locking pin 26 engages in a recess 27 in a raised strip or housing portion 28 on the inner shell 24, when the housing is locked in the closed position.

As can be seen in Figures 8 and 9, the locking pin 26 is surrounded on at least three, and preferably four, sides by metal flanges 29 which extend perpendicularly from a plate 33 fitted parallel to the interior of the front housing portion 10. The metal flanges 29 and plate 33 are intended to make access to and tampering with the locking pin very difficult.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 10, a resilient strip 30 extends from the plate 33 and provides a further means for preventing access to and tampering with the locking pin. The distal end 31 of the resilient strip passes through a slot 32 cut into of the inner shell 24 when the housing is closed. When the front portion 10 of the housing is pivoted open, the distal end 31 of the strip 30 lifts out of slot 32 and rests against the interior of the inner shell 24 to hold the front portion of the housing in the open position.

Application of a sufficient biassing force to the front portion of the housing will push the distal end of the strip 30 over the interior of the inner shell 24 to pass into the slot 32 and allow the device to close.

The embodiment shown in Figure 11 is substantially the same as that shown in Figures 6 to 10 and like numerals indicate like parts. The elongate member 5 extends over the hub of steering wheel 2 and the distal end portion 40 of elongate member 5 is angled at approximately 900 to the portion of elongate member 5 which is adapted to extend over the steering wheel hub.

Claims

1. A device comprising a housing adapted to be locked onto the steering wheel of a motor vehicle and, when so locked, to extend over and enclose an arc of the wheel, a first member extending from the housing and over the centre of the steering wheel and a second member extending from the housing away from the steering wheel.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the housing comprises two housing portions pivotally joined to each other along one edge for fitting around the steering wheel rim, the housing being provided with means for locking the two housing portions together around the steering wheel rim.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the housing is adapted to be locked around an upper portion of the steering wheel rim.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein, when locked on to the steering wheel, the housing is preferably adapted to extend around a substantial arc of the steering wheel rim, the arc subtending an angle of at least 45 degrees at the centre of the wheel.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first member and the second member are integral with each other and extend through the housing.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is generally in the shape of a segment of a circle.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device additionally comprises at least one reflective portion positioned on the body to reflect light when the device is in the locked position in the vehicle.

8. A device according to Claim 7, wherein reflective portions are provided on the front and rear distal ends of the first member and on the front and rear distal ends of the second member.

9. A device according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the reflective portion or portions are reflective patches affixed to the device with adhesive or any other suitable means, or are reflective discs embedded in the device.