GB2312195A - Vehicle security device - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle security device comprises a shell member (12,14) which can be applied to a steering wheel of a vehicle. A locking bar (36) fast with the shell comprises a tubular housing (44) within which is a tubular member (46) linearly slidable with respect to the shell. In an unlocked condition the slidable tubular member (46) is substantially contained within the periphery of the shell member. In a locked condition, the slidable tubular member (46) projects beyond the periphery of the shell by a distance sufficient to inhibit rotation of the steering wheel by it movement becoming blocked by surrounding parts of the vehicle. A key-operated lock (52) is provided by means of which the slidable tubular member (46) can be secured in the locked condition.

Description

VEHICLE SECURITY DEVICE The present invention relates to vehicle security devices, and has particular, but not exclusive, application to motor land vehicles.

One known type of vehicle security device operates by clamping a component to a steering wheel of a vehicle, the component being such as to block rotation of the steering wheel by coming into contact with other parts of the vehicle structure. An example of such a device comprises a two-part toric body which is hinged about an axis close to its periphery. Diametrically opposite to the pivot, a locking bar projects from one part of the body. The locking bar can be pivoted between a radial unlocked position into a tangential locking position at which it can be secured by insertion of a locking pin into a hasp.

A disadvantage of this device is that the locking bar projects from it at all times, which can make it unwieldy and inconvenient to store.

It is an aim of the invention to provide a security device for a vehicle which combines the effectiveness of the above device with greater convenience.

According to the invention there is provided a security device for a vehicle comprising a shell member which can be applied to a steering wheel of a vehicle, and a blocking member which is linearly slidable with respect to the shell member, in an unlocked condition, is substantially contained within a periphery of the shell member, and which, in a locked condition, projects beyond the periphery of the shell by a distance sufficient to inhibit rotation of the steering wheel by interference with surrounding objects.

Thus, when unlocked, the device does not have parts which project beyond the periphery of the shell when unlocked. Since the size of the shell is determined by the size of a steering wheel, the size of the unlocked device is kept to a practical minimum.

Typically, the shell member will have a circular periphery to accord with the shape of a steering wheel.

Preferably, the blocking member is disposed in an axis radial of the shell member. In its unlocked condition, it may extend along a diameter of the shell member.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a security device embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1 in a locked condition; Figure 3 is an end view of a locking bar of the device of Figure 1 in an unlocked condition; Figure 4 shows a modification of a detail of the locking member of the device of Figure 1; Figures 5A and 5B are enlarged views, respectively, of an end surface of a sliding tube being a component of the embodiment, and a cross-section through the sliding tube in the region of a locking plate.

Figure 6 is an exploded view of a device showing the modifications of Figures 4 and 5, but which can also help understanding of the device of Figures 1 to 3.

With reference to the drawings, a security device comprises a shell member, shown generally at 10, comprises first and second components 12,14.

The first and second components 12,14 are each approximately semi-circular when viewed from the front.

Each comprises a peripheral U-shaped channel section 16,18, these together defining a circular, U-shaped channel. Each component 12,14 also comprises a perspective plate 18 extending radially inwardly from the respective channel 16, the two plates together forming a complete circular web.

The first and second components 12,14 are secured together to be pivotable about an axis close to the periphery of the shell member 10. In the region of the axis, the U-shaped channel section 18 of the second component 14 extends within the U-shaped channel section 16 of the first component 12. The components 12,14 can thus be pivoted apart, sufficiently far as to surround a steering wheel of a vehicle, whereupon they can be pivoted together to trap the rim of the steering wheel within the U-shaped channel. The plates 18,20 form a complete barrier such that access to the steering wheel cannot be gained from within the vehicle.

Within the shell member 10, in the region of the pivot axis, there is located a strengthening gusset 17 within the U-shaped channel 18 of the second component 14. Externally of the U-shaped channel 16 of the first component 12, there is secured a strengthening plate 19.

The pivot comprises a first pivot pin 22 which extends through the tubular housing 44 and through a first wall of the U-shaped channels 16, 18 to be secured in the strengthening gusset 17, and a second hinge pin 23 which extends through the strengthening plate 19 and through a second wall of the U-shaped channel to be secured in the strengthening gusset 17.

A locking mechanism is provided to retain the shell member 10 in its closed position about a steering wheel.

This will now be described.

The first component 12 of the toric member 10 carries a circumferential extension 30 remote from the pivot 22. The extension 30 comprises a plate having a projecting taper, shown at 32, and a plurality of inwardly opening transverse notches 34. This is engaged by a locking pin 38 to secure the toric member in a closed condition, as will be described.

The second component 14 carries a locking bar 36 which extends diametrically across the plate 20 of the toric member 10.

The locking bar 36 comprises a tubular housing 44 of rectangular cross-section, within which is located a sliding tube 46 (constituting a blocking member) of rectangular cross-section is located. The sliding tube is a close fit within the housing 44 in a direction normal to the plane of the plates 18,20 and is approximately half the size of the housing 44 in a direction parallel to the plates 18,20. At an end portion of the sliding tube 46, there is fixed a tubular extension 48 of L-shaped section, which has an end portion closest to the pivotal axis such that it, together with the sliding tube 46, is a close fit within the tubular housing 44 also in the plane of the plates 18,20.

Adjacent the extension 48, there is formed a slot 45 in the sliding tube 46 in which a metal locking plate 54 is located, the locking plate 54 projecting into the sliding tube 46 and extending transversely across it.

Within the housing 44, a carrier 39 is disposed remote from the pivotal axis. The carrier 39 can slide longitudinally within the housing 44, but is constrained from movement in other directions by is being trapped by the sliding tube 46. A block 41 is slidingly located on the carrier 39, a locking pin 38 being carried on the block 41. The locking pin 38 projects from the block 41 through a slot 80 in the tubular member and a further slot 82 in the second plate 20 to project into the Ushaped channel.

The pin 38 is urged radially outwardly by a spring 40. On closure of the toric member 10, the pin is guided along the taper 32 of the extension 30 to drop into one of the notches 34 of the extension 30 under the action of the spring 40. This resists subsequent removal of the extension 30, with the consequence that the toric member 10 is locked in its closed condition.

A key-operated lock 52 is disposed in an end portion of the tubular member 44 adjacent the pivotal axis. A locking shaft 50 is connected to the lock 52 such that operation of the lock 52 causes rotation of the shaft.

The shaft 50 is mounted such that axial movement of it towards the lock 52 is strongly resisted. The shaft 50 is of D-shaped cross-section, having one flat surface and a curved surface. At least a portion of the shaft 50 remote from the lock 52 is disposed within the sliding tube 46.

The sliding tube 46 may be disposed in a retracted condition, as shown in Figure 1, in which it is almost entirely contained within the housing 44. In the retracted condition, the curved surface of the D-shaped rod lies adjacent the locking plate 54, interference therebetween preventing rotation of the rod 50. It will be seen from Figure SB that the locking plate 54 has a curved surface corresponding to that of the rod 50. Once the toric member 10 is closed, the sliding tube 46 may be withdrawn from the housing 44 to an extended condition in which it projects radially outwardly from the toric member 10.

The locking rod 48 can be secured in the extended position. This prevents opening of the toric member 10, since opening cannot occur if displacement of the pin 38 is prevented by the presence of the extension 48 immediately adjacent to it. In the extended condition, the locking plate 54 is disposed radially outwardly of the end of the shaft 50, so allowing the shaft 50 to be rotatable under the action of the lock 52. Following such rotation of the shaft 50, any attempt to slide the sliding tube 46 towards its retracted position will be strongly resisted by the end of the shaft 50 coming into contact with the locking plate 54.

A pull rod 88 is connected at a first of its ends, to the pin 38. The pull rod 88 extends through the extension 48, to be terminated at a second its ends by a blocking member 49 which is dimensioned to be of a size greater than can pass through the extension 48. By this arrangement, when the sliding tube 46 is urged to its retracted position, close to the end of its travel, the blocking member 49 comes into contact with the end of the sliding tube 46, and is thus caused to move along with the sliding tube 46. The pin 38 is thereby pulled out of the notch 34 in the extension 30, so allowing the first and second components 12,14 to be pivotally separated.

With reference to Figure 4, a first modification of the above-described embodiment is shown.

In the modified embodiment, the key-operated lock 52 is located within a chamber 100 at an end portion of the tubular housing 44. The pivot 22 passes through the and chamber 100. The chamber is defined by spaced inner and outer plate members 102, 104 which extend transversely within the tubular housing 44.

The outer plate member 104 comprises a central rectangular region 106 from four edge portions of which flanges 108 project normally. The outer plate member 104 is dimensioned such that it can be inserted into the tubular housing with a close sliding fit. The outer plate member 104 is disposed such that its flanges 108 project outwardly, their outer extremities being substantially coplanar with an end face of the tubular member 44. The outer plate member 104 is secured in place by welding the flanges to the material of the tubular member. A hole 110 is formed through the outer plate member 104 to allow access by a key to the lock 52.

A shaft 112 extends from the lock 52 through a hole in the inner plate member 102 to connect with a supporting block 114 which is disposed to the opposite side of the inner plate member 102. The supporting block 114 is sufficiently large to be inhibited from passing through the hole in the inner plate member. The supporting block 114 is also connected to the shaft 50, so as to form a connection through which rotation of a key in the lock 52 causes rotation of the shaft 50.

The lock 52 is retained in place in the chamber 100 by being lodged between the hinge pin 22 and a wall of the chamber 100. The hinge pin 22 is disposed to engage a flat portion of the outer surface of the lock 52 to prevent rotation of the lock 52.

As will be seen from Figure 5B, an end porion of the sliding tube 46 is deflected inwardly at one of its corners. This serves to resist deflection of the rod under a compressive load as might be encountered during an attempt to defeat the device.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS.

1. A security device for a vehicle comprising a shell member which can be applied to a steering wheel of a vehicle, and a blocking member which is linearly slidable with respect to the shell member, in an unlocked condition, is substantially contained within a periphery of the shell member, and which, in a locked condition, projects beyond the periphery of the shell by a distance sufficient to inhibit rotation of the steering wheel by interference with surrounding objects.

2. A security device according to claim 1 in which the shell member has a circular periphery to accord with the shape of a steering wheel.

3. A security device according to claim 2 in which the blocking member is disposed in an axis radial of the shell member.

4. A security device according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which, in its unlocked condition, the blocking member extends along a diameter of the shell member.

5. A security device according to any preceding claim in which the blocking member is disposed to slide within a tubular member fast with the shell.

6. A security device according to claim 5 in which a key-operated lock is secured within the tubular member.

7. A security device according to claim 6 in which the key operated lock is operatively connected to a shaft which extends within the tubular member and the blocking member, such that movement of the locking bar from the locked to the unlocked position can be firmly resisted by rotation of the shaft into a locking orientation under the action of the key-operated lock.

8. A security device according to claim 7 in which the shaft has a generally D-shaped cross section.

9. A security device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4A, 4B, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A security device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, 4A & 4B of the accompanying drawings.