GB2291021A

GB2291021A - Wheel clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2291021A
Application number: GB9513333A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tony William Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-05
Filing date: 1995-06-30
Publication date: 1996-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-30
Also published as: GB2291021B; GB9513333D0

Abstract

The wheel clamp comprising a foot (3) shaped to enable the wheel clamp to be free standing; an upstanding plate (1) mounted on the foot (3); the plate (1) having an opening (2) in its face and being reinforced around its periphery (5); and a clamping chain (7), the clamping chain (7) being secured to the plate (1) and being of sufficient length that a free end thereof can be wrapped around the wheel or suspension of a vehicle and then inserted through the said opening (2) whereupon it may be secured against removal by a padlock or other securing means. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WHEEL CLAMPS The invention relates to wheel clamps of the type used to immobilize vehicles.

Wheel clamps are currently in widespread use for immobilizing vehicles which have been illegally parked.

Such wheel clamps typically comprise a hardened steel plate which is held securely against a wheel by means of a chain or other securing means which may be wrapped around the wheel or around the suspension of the vehicle. The steel plate is so shaped as to prevent the wheel from being rotated, and thus effectively immobilizes the vehicle. The chain or other securing means and the steel plate are generally formed from a hardened steel which is resistant to damage by means of axles, bolt cutters or like tools.

One problem encountered with wheel clamps of conventional design has been that the clamp can often be removed simply by deflating the tyre. Removal of the clamp in this way can be prevented by wrapping a securing means such as a chain around the vehicle's suspension, and such an arrangement is illustrated in, for example, GB 2251416.

GB 2251416 discloses a wheel clamp which comprises a generally flat triangular plate to which are attached chains which wrap around the suspension or wheel of a vehicle and which pass through a hole or opening in one corner of the triangular plate and are secured in place by means of a padlock or like fastening means. However, the wheel clamp illustrated in GB 2251416 suffers from certain disadvantages. Firstly the flat triangular plate is not reinforced and could therefore be vulnerable to cutting with a tool such as a hacksaw. Secondly, the triangular shape could allow the vehicle wheel to roll, albeit jerkily, which could in turn loosen the clamp on the wheel.

Thirdly, the clamping plate is not free standing and this makes it considerably more difficult to put in place.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problems and to provide a plate which is free standing, and which has increased resistance to damage or removal.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a wheel clamp comprising a foot shaped to enable the wheel clamp to be free standing; an upstanding plate mounted on the foot; the plate having an opening in its face and being reinforced around its periphery; and a clamping chain, the clamping chain being secured to the plate and being of sufficient length that a free end thereof can be wrapped around the wheel or suspension of a vehicle and then inserted through the said opening whereupon it may be secured against removal by a padlock or other securing means.

It is preferred that the said opening is reinforced, e.g. by means of a length of steel tubing secured therein.

The plate is preferably formed from a hardened steel material. The plate may be of generally square shape but having chamfered edges at the upper end thereof.

It is preferred that at the point of mounting of the chain on the plate, a protective cover is provided which protects the chain, the protective cover being welded to the said plate.

The foot is so shaped as to allow the wheel clamp to be free standing when it is positioned alongside the wheel of a vehicle. The foot may comprise a central stand member arranged generally parallel to the plate and a pair of end members secured at either end of the central stand member at an angle thereto.

The location at which the chain is secured to the plate, and the location of the opening, are preferably at diagonally opposite corners of the plate.

The advantage of the wheel clamp of the present invention is that it has greatly increased resistance to removal and damage by cutting tools such as hacksaws and bolt cutters. However, it is easier to use on account of it being free standing when positioned alongside the vehicle wheel.

The invention will now be illustrated by reference to the specific embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 of which: Figure 1 is a view from one side of a wheel clamp according to one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a view from the other side of the wheel clamp shown in Figure 1.

As shown in the figures, the wheel clamp comprises a foot or stand 3 which comprises a central stand member 3a having a pair of end members 3b welded to central member 3a at an angle thereto. Welded to and upstanding from the central member 3a of the stand or foot 3 are three legs 4 to which are welded a steel plate 1. Steel plate 1 is of generally square or rectangular shape but has chamfered edges la at the upper edge thereof.

The periphery of the plate 1 is reinforced by means of a reinforcing bar 5 which extends around the entire periphery. The reinforcing bar 5 makes it more difficult to cut the wheel clamp away from the wheel by means of conventional cutting tools such as hacksaws, bolt cutters, etc.

In one corner of the steel plate 1, a hardened chain 7 is welded to the plate 1 and a protective steel cover 6 formed from angled steel section is welded to the plate 1 over the chain 7. The protective cover 6 serves to protect the steel chain against being removed from the plate.

At the diagonally opposite corner from the chain mounting 6/7 is an opening 2 which is reinforced by virtue of having secured therein a length of steel tube 2a.

In use, the wheel clamp is positioned alongside a wheel so that the steel plate covers the greater part of the outer surface of the wheel, and the chain 7 (only a short section of which is shown in Figure 2) is then wrapped around the vehicles' suspension or tyre, pulled tight and fed through the opening 2. It may then be secured in place by a padlock or similar securing means to hold the clamp tightly against the vehicle wheel.

When fixed in place, the wheel clamp immobilizes the vehicle by preventing the wheel from turning. The divergent limbs 3b of the foot or stand 3 enhance the ability of the wheel clamp to prevent rolling of the wheel.

Furthermore, the reinforcing elements 5 and 2a serve to prevent criminal damage to the wheel clamp and in particular serve to prevent the chain 7 from being cut free from the opening 2.

It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the wheel clamp specifically illustrated in the accompanying drawings without departing from the principles underlying the invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims

1. A wheel clamp comprising a foot shaped to enable the wheel clamp to be free standing; an upstanding plate mounted on the foot; the plate having an opening in its face and being reinforced around its periphery; and a clamping chain, the clamping chain being secured to the plate and being of sufficient length that a free end thereof can be wrapped around the wheel or suspension of a vehicle and then inserted through the said opening whereupon it may be secured against removal by a padlock or other securing means.

2. A wheel clamp according to Claim 1 wherein the said opening is reinforced.

3. A wheel clamp according to Claim 2 wherein the said opening is reinforced by means of a length of steel tubing secured therein.

4. A wheel clamp according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the plate is formed from a hardened steel material.

5. A wheel clamp according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the plate is of a generally square shape but has chamfered edges at the upper end thereof.

6. A wheel clamp according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein, at the point of mounting of the chain on the plate, a protective cover is provided which protects the chain, the protective cover being welded to the said plate.

7. A wheel clamp according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the foot comprises a central stand member arranged generally parallel to the plate and a pair of end members secured at either end of the central stand member at an angle thereto.

8. A wheel clamp according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the location at which the chain is secured to the plate, and the location of the opening, are at diagonally opposite corners of the plate.

9. A wheel clamp substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.