GB2328418A - Vehicle security device - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable seat for a vehicle is provided. The seat may be adjusted so as to prevent it being sat in by a user and/or so as to obscure the driving controls such as the steering wheel and pedals. The seat may be secured in this position (for example by a key operated lock) so that it cannot subsequently be moved by an unauthorised user, thereby increasing vehicle security.

Description

VEHICLE SECURITY DEVICE The present invention relates to a vehicle security device and more particularly to an apparatus and method for securing a vehicle such that it cannot easily be driven.

With the rise in car thefts, manufacturers and after-sales dealers have increasingly sought ways of improving the security of vehicles. One type of such increased security is provided by vehicle immobilisation devices. Two categories of such devices are conventionally used, namely engine immobilisers and mechanical immobilisers which either lock a part of the vehicle or obstruct its use. The present invention falls within the second category of immobilisers.

Vehicles with adjustable seats are now widely used.

Typically seats will have two forms of adjustment, the first allowing the back of the seat to pivot relative to the base of the seat (so that the seat may be reclined, for example) and the second where the base of the seat itself is provided on a sliding mechanism so that it can be slid to and away from the steering wheel and vehicle foot controls.

In the present invention means are provided for locking the seat into such a position that a potential thief cannot fit into it. This position may be achieved by tilting the seat forward to a significant extent, sliding the seat forward into the footwell or by a combination of the two. The locking mechanism of the present invention may be mechanically operated such as by a key or alternatively it could be an electronic lock controlled by some form of remote control. The locking mechanism, optionally, may be connected to other of the vehicle's security devices, for example, an alarm, immobiliser or central locking.

Yet further, in a preferred embodiment when the seat is in the secured forward position it will at least partially, preferably substantially, more preferably completely obstruct the steering wheel. As is known, vehicle thieves target components of cars and, in particular, steering wheels which are fitted with air bags. A preferred embodiment of the present invention attempts to prevent such theft by obscuring the steering wheel so that it cannot be removed.

The present invention provides a vehicle comprising a driver's seat, a steering wheel operable by a driver from said driver's seat, wherein said seat is movable between a driving position in which a driver can sit in the seat and a secured position in which a driver is substantially impeded from sitting in the seat; and means for security locking the seat in said secured position.

The present invention also provides a seat suitable for use in such a vehicle.

The present invention yet further provides a lock adapted for locking either the tilting mechanism, the sliding mechanism or both mechanisms of a conventional driving seat.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a vehicle driver's seat in a first position; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a vehicle driver's seat in a second position; Figure 3 illustrates the pivot mechanism between seat back and seat base according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show a typical reclinable driver's seat of a motor car. The seat can be adjusted between the position shown in the two figures by the operation of a release mechanism 18. In Figure 1 the seat is in the upright position allowing a driver (shown dotted in Figure 1) to fit comfortably into the seat and the vehicle to be driven. In Figure 2 the seat is in a tilted forward position so as to prevent a potential thief from being seated therein. The seat is locked into this position and requires unlocking by an authorised user before it can be moved back into the driving position shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the driver's seat 10 essentially consists of two parts, a seat back 12 and a seat base 14. The seat has an inner frame (not generally shown) surrounded by foam cushion and then covered by a fabric cover. The frame associated with the seat back 12 and that associated with the seat base 14 are adapted such as to allow rotational movement therebetween so that the seat can be tilted forwards and backwards according to driver choice. In order to tilt the back of the seat relative to the base, the tilting mechanism 18 must first be released by rotating handle 32, provided at one side of the seat.

The seat base 14 is secured to the car floor via support 16 and a slide assembly (not shown). Support 16 is an integral part of the frame of the seat base. The lower part of the support 16 is attached to the slide assembly which allows the seat 10 to be slid forwards and backwards towards and away from the steering wheel 20.

The slide assembly is bolted to the car floor 19.

Referring now to Figure 2, the pivot mechanism 18 has been released using handle 32 and the seat back 12 has been fully tilted forward so as to contact with steering wheel 20. The seat back has been locked in this position using the locking mechanism 30 which will be more fully described below. In such a secured position, as the seat is tilted fully forward it is such as to prevent a driver from being seated in the seat and also so as to substantially hamper access to steering wheel 20 and to the driving control pedals (not shown). As the seat 10 is locked in this position, without the necessary unlocking device, the seat cannot be moved and, therefore, the vehicle cannot be driven.

Figure 3 shows the pivot and locking mechanism of the embodiment. In the Figure, base-frame member 20 is an integral part of the frame of the base of the seat (the remainder of the frame of the base is not shown), although the member could be separately formed and thereafter attached to the base frame.

Back-frame member 40 is an integral part of the frame of the seat back (although it could be separately formed and thereafter attached to the back frame) and is an elongate member of approximate square cross-section which divides into two thinner elongate members (40a, 4Ob) at the end defining a cavity therebetween which straddle the ratchet portion 22 of the base frame 20.

The base-frame member and the back-frame member are coupled to each other by pivot 24, so as to allow relative rotational movement therebetween as shown by the double headed arrow in the Figure.

Provided on the base-frame member 20 is a ratcheted portion 22, radiused from the pivot 24. The ratcheted portion 22 comprises a plurality of teeth so as to engage with a pawl 36 provided on the back-frame member 40. The angular extent of the ratcheted portion 22 is so as to allow the seat back 12 to be tilted between a fully reclined position (backwards) and a fully tilted forwards position which will be the secured position. The plurality of teeth are arranged such that the seat back 12 may be retained in plural positions therebetween.

Provided on the back frame member 40 is a retractable pawl mechanism 30. In the Figure, the pawl mechanism 30 is shown slightly rotated for clarity. The pawl 36 may be retracted into and out of the barrel 38 of the mechanism 30 by the turning of handle 32.

Further, the pawl 36 can be locked in the outward position using key 42. The pawl 36 is constructed so as when extended it engages between adjoining teeth of the ratchet 22 so as to retain the seat back and base in a fixed rotational position and when retracted so as to allow the rotational movement between the seat back 12 and seat base 14.

Pawl mechanism 30 is contained within barrel 38 which is of generally cylindrical shape, the axis of which is parallel to the axis of rotation between the seat back 12 and seat base 14. Barrel 38 is secured between the two thinner elongate members (40a, 40b) of back-frame member 40. Pawl member 36 protrudes from the barrel 38 so as to engage between two teeth of the ratchet 22. Pawl 36 is spring loaded (not shown) internally in barrel 38 such that it is biased towards its extended position, that is to say in engagement with the ratchet 22. The pawl 36 may be retracted into cylinder 38 by a rotating handle 32. This is a conventional mechanism, internal to barrel 38 and need not be described in detail. When the handle 32 is rotated, the pawl 36 is retracted and the seat back 12 may be rotated relative to the seat base 14.

Also provided as part of the pawl mechanism 30 is key-operated locking mechanism 34. This allows the pawl 36 to be locked in its outward position when the locking mechanism 34 is rotated by key 42. Any conventional type of lock may be used. In this manner the seat can be locked in the forward position (that shown in Figure 2) so that a driver cannot sit on the seat and so that the steering wheel 20 and driving control pedals are obscured.

In the foregoing description a basic type of tilt adjustment mechanism has been described. However, any type of tilt adjustment mechanism could be used. One popular current alternative is an adjustment wheel which rotates meshing gears associated with the back-frame and base-frame. The invention is further not limited to the case where seat adjustment is manual but can be embodied in motor-driven seat adjustment.

Yet further the locking tilt mechanism could be completely separate to that used for seat reclining adjustment.

Furthermore, the locking mechanism need not require a key in order both to be locked and unlocked. The lock could be activated by another means, e.g. pushing a locking button, the key only being necessary for unlocking. Alternatively the lock could be automatically activated when the seat is in the tilted forward position or could only require unlocking when it is desired to tilt the seat backwards and not when the seat is to be tilted forwards.

Furthermore the lock need not be key operated but could be any mechanical lock such as a combination lock.

Yet further the lock may not even be mechanically lockable in nature but could be an electronic lock operated by a remote control such as an infra-red transmitter.

As a further alternative, the lock, whether electrical or mechanical, could be coupled to other security devices. For example, the lock could be activated by the act of locking the doors or by activating the vehicle's alarm or immobiliser system.

In the case of an electrically driven seat, the seat could also automatically tilt forward as part of the locking process thus obviating the need for this action to be performed by a driver. The lock could also be coupled to other of the vehicle's electrical systems.

As a further alternative, it need not be the angle between the seat base and back that is adjusted so as to prevent a person sitting in the seat. Alternatively, the seat may be slid forward towards the steering wheel so that the space between the seat back and steering wheel is too small to accommodate a person. In this event, it would be the seat sliding mechanism which would be locked, by any appropriate means, rather than the tilting mechanism.

Yet further, although the lock has been described as integral to the tilting or sliding mechanism, this need not be the case and the locking mechanism could be provided separately, for example by a lockable bolt separate from the mechanism.

The invention has been described in the above description with reference to a motor car. However, the invention is not so limited and could be embodied in any type of driven vehicle.

Further alternatives and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (16)

1. A vehicle comprising: a driver's seat; a steering wheel operable by a driver from said driver's seat, wherein said seat is movable between a driving position in which a driver may sit in the seat and a secured position in which a driver is impeded from sitting in the seat; and means for locking the seat in said secured position, said locking means being such that it cannot be unlocked by an unauthorised person.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the driver's seat has a back portion and a base portion, said portions being relatively pivotable between said driving and secured position.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said seat is slidable within said vehicle relative to the steering wheel of the vehicle between said driving and secured position.

4. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein said driver's seat impedes access to the steering wheel when in said secured position.

5. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein said driver's seat impedes access to the driving control pedals when in said secured position.

6. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein said means for locking the seat into the secured position is a key operated lock.

7. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein said means for locking the seat into the secured position is an electronically operated lock.

8. A vehicle seat having the vehicle seat features as set out in any preceding claim.

9. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat back and a seat base, said seat back and seat base being relatively pivotable so as to adjust the angle of the seat back with respect to the seat base; and means for locking the seat back relative to the seat base to prevent adjustment by an unauthorised user.

10. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat for receiving a driver; a slider assembly, a first portion of which is attached to the seat and a second portion of which is adapted for attachment to a vehicle, said first and second portions being relatively slidable; and means for locking said first and second portions of the slider assembly so as to prevent said relative movement being initiated by an unauthorised user.

11. A vehicle seat pivot comprising: a first portion for attachment to the car seat base and a second portion for attachment to the car seat back, said first and second portions being adapted so as to have a first state allowing free relative rotational movement therebetween and a second state in which they are retained in a fixed relative rotation position; release means for causing said portions to move from said retained rotational state to said freely rotational state; and locking means for locking the portions in a retained rotational state.

12. A vehicle security device for use with a vehicle having a driver's seat and driving controls and in which the driver's seat is movable relative to the driving controls, the security device cooperating with the seat to retain the seat in such a configuration as to prevent the vehicle from being driven.

13. A vehicle security device according to claim 12 wherein said seat configuration is achieved by tilting the back of the seat relative to the base of the seat.

14. A vehicle security device according to claim 12 wherein said seat configuration is achieved by sliding the seat towards the steering wheel of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle security device according to claim 12 wherein said seat configuration is achieved by rotating the seat to face towards the rear of the vehicle.

16. A vehicle seat substantially as set out herein with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.