GB2304315A

GB2304315A - Hub cap security device

Info

Publication number: GB2304315A
Application number: GB9621062A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew John Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-04
Filing date: 1996-10-09
Publication date: 1997-03-19
Also published as: GB9621062D0

Abstract

A security or locking device for a vehicle hub cap 50 comprises a fixing nut 20 or stud (24, Fig.4) which replaces one of the usual wheel fixing nuts or studs 10, and has a threaded socket (21, Fig.3:25, Fig.4) in its outer end to receive a locking bolt 30 which is passed through a hole in the hub cap 50. The head of the locking bolt is designed such that it requires engagement by a special tool (40, Fig.6) to turn it. The bolt head may have a projection to mark the hub cap where a hole is to be made for the bolt to pass through.

Description

Hub Cap securitY Device The present invention relates to a security or locking device for a vehicle hub cap.

It is a common problem that vehicle hub caps are prone to falling off or being stolen from the vehicle wheels. Often hub caps are retained in place by means of plastics ties, but these can easily be cut and therefore do not protect the hub caps against theft.

I have now devised a device which secures the hub cap in position and protects the hub cap being stolen from the wheel.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a security or locking device for a vehicle hub cap, the device comprising a fixing nut or stud for replacing one of the normal fixing nuts or studs of the wheel, and a locking bolt, the replacement fixing nut or stud having a threaded socket at its outer end which is able, when fitted to the wheel, to receive said locking bolt once the latter has been inserted through a corresponding hole formed in the hub cap, the head of said locking bolt being shaped to require engagement by a special tool to turn it.

In use, one of the usual fixing nuts or studs of the vehicle wheel are removed and replaced by a fixing nut or stud of the security device. A hole is drilled through the hub cap at the appropriate position. Then the hub cap is fitted to the wheel in the normal manner, and the locking bolt is passed through the hole in the hub cap and screwed tight into the threaded socket in the end of the replacement nut or stud, using the special tool.

Once the hub cap is secured in place in this manner, it cannot be removed without unscrewing the locking bolt, and the special tool is required for this purpose.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section through a hub cap secured to a vehicle wheel using a device in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a view of a vehicle wheel with the hub cap removed; FIGURE 3 is a view of a fixing nut of one device in accordance with the invention, for replacing one of the usual wheel fixing nuts; FIGURE 4 is a view of a fixing stud of another device in accordance with the invention, for replacing a normal wheel fixing stud; FIGURE 5 is a locking bolt of a device in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 6 is a view of a special tool for engaging the locking bolt shown in Figure 5; and FIGURE 7 is a view of a wheel having a hub cap secured in position by a device in accordance with the invention.

Typically a vehicle wheel W, with tyre T, is secured in position by wheel nuts 10 tightened onto threaded studs 12 which project through appropriate holes in wheel, as shown in figures 1 and 2. In accordance with the present invention, one of these conventional wheel nuts 10 is removed and replaced by a nut 20 (Figure 3) which has an elongated, hexagonal-section body into which a threaded bore 21 extends from its outer end.

If the vehicle wheel is instead secured in position by a set of threaded studs which are passed through the holes in the wheel and into threaded sockets in the underlying wheel mount, then one of these threaded studs is removed and replaced by a stud 24 (Figure 4) which has an elongated, hexagonal-section head into which a threaded bore 25 extends from its outer end.

The security device further comprises a locking bolt 30 (Figure 5) arranged to screw into the threaded bore 21 of the nut 20 shown in Figure 3, or into the threaded bore 25 of the stud 24 shown in Figure 4. The head of the locking bolt 30 is flat and circular, but is formed with a series of sockets 32, to receive a complementary series of projections 42 on the end of a key 40 (Figure 6). In the example shown, the head of locking bolt 30 has four sockets 32, but there may be a different number of such sockets (the locking key 40 having a corresponding number of projections 42). The locking key 40 has, in the example shown, a cross-piece 44 at its outer end, for use in turning the bolt 30 with which it is engaged: the locking key 40 may instead be formed with a handle projecting radially outwards from one side only of the locking key.

As shown in Figure 7, the hub cap 50 must be drilled with a hole 52 at the correct position to align with the nut 20 or stud 24 which has been fitted in place of one of the conventional fixings of the wheel. For this purpose, the bolt 30 may be formed with a small projection on the centre of its head: then the bolt 30 may first be screwed deep into the nut 20 or stud 24, then the hub cap can be fitted to the wheel and pressed inwardly to contact the projection on the head of the bolt 30, in order to mark the hub cap at that position. Next the hub cap is removed and a hole drilled through it, centred that mark and of diameter slightly larger than the threaded shank of bolt 30. Finally, the bolt 30 is removed, the hub cap is refitted with its drilled hole aligned with the nut 20 or stud 24, and the bolt 30 is passed through the hole in the hub cap and screwed tightly into the threaded socket in the nut 20 or stud 24, using the locking key 40.

The nut 20, stud 24 and bolt 30 are preferably formed of a light-weight metal, or may instead be formed of a strong (e.g. reinforced) plastics material.

As shown in Figure 1, it is not necessary for the hub cap to seat on the end of the replacement nut 20 or stud 24: a variable gap may be left between the underside of the hub cap and the end of the nut 20 or stud 24, such that the security device of the invention may be used for different designs or shapes of hub caps and wheels.

Claims

1) A security or locking device for a vehicle hub cap, the device comprising a fixing nut or stud for replacing one of the normal fixing nuts or studs of the wheel, and a locking bolt, the replacement fixing nut or stud having a threaded socket at its outer end which is able, when fitted to the wheel, to receive said locking bolt once the latter has been inserted through a corresponding hole formed in the hub cap, the head of said locking bolt being shaped to require engagement by a special tool to turn it.

2) A security or locking device as claimed in claim 1, in which the head of said locking bolt is formed with a plurality of sockets to receive corresponding projections on said tool.

3) A security or locking device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the head of said locking bolt is formed with a projection for use in marking the position on the hub cap at which said hole is required to be formed.

4) A security or locking device for a vehicle hub cap, the device being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.