GB2329882A

GB2329882A - Vehicle security device

Info

Publication number: GB2329882A
Application number: GB9709564A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip John Haigh; Anthony Michael Haigh; John-Paul Raymond Haigh
Original assignee: H L ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS LI
Current assignee: H L ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS LI
Priority date: 1997-05-13
Filing date: 1997-05-13
Publication date: 1999-04-07
Also published as: GB9709564D0

Abstract

A security device (A) for use in securing a wheeled vehicle comprises a U-shaped securing bolt (1), an anchoring plate (6) and a lock (14). The anchoring plate (6) has an upright portion (7) having receiving apertures (10A, 10B) for the U-shaped bolt (1) and a base plate (8) having apertures (11A, 11B) for receiving ground-engaging bolts (21). The lock (14) is concealed in the anchoring plate (6) but may be associated with the U-shaped bolt (1) which includes a receiving groove (4) or similar means operable to cooperate with the lock (14).

Description

SECURITY DEVICE The invention relates to a security device for use particularly, but not exclusively, in securing a wheel and/or part of a vehicle and/or bicycle and/or motorbike and/or caravan and/or trailer and/or garden equipment and/or wheelchair and/or trolley and/or any mobile item that it is desirable to prevent from being removed by an unauthorised individual, by means of a tamperproof lock system.

It is known to secure bicycles and motorbikes utilising a flexible chain/steel cable or the like by looping same through a wheel or about a frame, or about a brake assembly of said bicycle or motorbike, wherein ends of said chain/steel cable are padlocked theretogether so as to prevent wheel rotation or to engage the brake assembly. Furthermore, and where possible, it is known to attach the flexible chain/steel cable to an independent anchor means. Generally the anchor means is embedded in concrete, whereby securing the vehicle wheel, or part of the vehicle, to said anchor means, effectively secures the vehicle to an immoveable structure. Typically such anchor means comprise a metal hoop or pole. In the instance of the anchoring means comprising a pole, said pole is of sufficient height so as to make it difficult to raise the vehicle and chain/cable thereover. However, prior art devices as afore described make it a simple matter for a person wishing to steal the bicycle/motorbike to use appropriate chain cutting equipment/saws or the like to break a link of the chain and/or sever the steel cable and simply drive/ride the vehicle away. Alternatively, an individual wishing to steal the vehicle may simply pick the exposed padlock thereby releasing the chain/cable and remove the vehicle.

Furthermore, bicycles and/or motorbikes may be secured by placing a front/rear wheel directly and head-on into a receiving bay portion of a fixed anchor means. A vehicle wheel may then be secured by appropriate placement of a bolt and/or chain and/or cable, in a manner so as to prevent wheel rotation, and padlocked in place. This form of security device is regarded as possibly the form of prior art offering the greatest degree of security to date. However, such devices are neither versatile nor adaptable, in that they only offer a device for securing the bicycle or motorbike along a specific selected axes ie by placing a rear or front wheel head-on and into a receiving bay portion. Furthermore, use of bolts/chains/cables/padlocks are prone to tampering as afore described.

The outstanding problems associated with all the prior art devices are that in all instances the devices cannot be considered as tamper-proof because padlocks can easily be picked and chain/cables may be severed. This phenomenon is reflected in the high insurance premium costs for owners/keepers of such vehicles as a result of the high incidence of theft.

The device of the invention has elegantly overcome the problems associated with the prior art by providing a tamper-proof locking system whose mechanism is concealed and housed within an anchor means or within a housing associated with said anchoring means, wherein the anchor means is permanently provided at an area where it is desired to store the device, for example adjacent a place of dwelling, a place of work, at railway stations and the like. Furthermore, the device of the invention is operated by a single key so as to improve convenience for user. Additionally, the device offers the versatility of receiving a vehicle rear or front wheel from, without limitation, either a front or side ways on direction and the device maybe used to secure a tow-bar or any suitable part of a vehicle about which a securing means may be appropriately placed. Consequently the device of the invention offers a truly versatile security arrangement which is genuinely tamper-proof.

It is therefore a first object of the invention to provide a security device that is tamper-proof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a security device that is versatile and easy to operate.

It is a yet further object of the invention to provide a security device that provides improved reliability and improved securement of a vehicle.

Reference herein to a vehicle is intended to include car, bicycle, motorbike, caravan, trailer, hospital trolley, wheelchair, motorised units for the disabled, shopping trolley, mobile garden equipment, disposal means such as industrial refuse bins, mobile industrial equipment such as forklift trucks and the like, or any other wheeled vehicle which it is used desirable to secure in a manner so as to prevent unauthorised removal and/or theft thereof.

A security device for use in securing a vehicle comprising; at least one securing means sized and shaped so as to appropriately restrain a part of a vehicle; an anchoring means adapted to be associated with said securing means and further adapted so as to be securely attached to a solid surface, at least one lock means operationally associated with said securing means and housed within a housing wherein said housing is attached to or integral with either or both said anchoring means or said securing means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention said security device is suitably sized and shaped so as to appropriately restrain a vehicle wheel.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said securing means comprises a detachable "U" bolt, wherein said 'U'-bolt is suitably sized and shaped so as to be placed about a vehicle wheel ideally in the region between a wheel tyre and a wheel hub, more ideally said "U" bolt is provided with two arms of suitable and equal length and even more ideally at least one arm is provided with at least one groove wherein said groove is suitably sized and shaped so as to cooperate with said lock means, ideally said groove width is in the region of 10-20 mm and even more ideally is 14 mm wide and most ideally said groove is suitably positioned along a length of said arm so as to provide sufficient distance between said groove and an end of said arm so as to overlap a barrel of said lock means when in a secured position.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said "U" bolt is provided with at least one groove on each arm of said "U" bolt.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention one arm of said "U" bolt is permanently attached to or associated with said anchoring means in a manner so as to pivot about a selected fixed point within said anchoring means and ideally is connected thereto by means of a spring loaded connection means, so in the instance of placing said 'U'-bolt about a vehicle wheel said spring means is not in a state of tension and in the instance of securing a vehicle wheel a suitable amount of pressure is applied so as to depress said spring means and subsequently engage said "U" bolt, ideally the arm permanently attached to associated with said anchoring means is of a suitably greater length than the other arm of said "U" bolt.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said t' bolt is sized and shaped so as to be placed about more than one vehicle and/or vehicle part ideally a plurality of vehicles, such as a row of vehicles as in the instance of a display line-up or the like.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and wishing to provide such a security device that the lock means is housed within the anchoring means and/or a housing associated with the anchoring means and that the lock means is accordingly concealed the specifics of concealment is not intended to limit the scope of the application.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said securing means is constructed of a robust, rigid material such as steel or the like, and ideally said securing means is coated in a suitable material such as protective plastic sleeving or the like so as to be rust-proof and scratch resistant and even more ideally said securing means is provided as a steel rod of dimensions in the region 5-50 mm in diameter and most ideally is provided as a 20 mm diameter steel rod.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said anchoring means comprises an upright portion suitably sized and shaped and provided with apertures so as to receive the securing means, ideally said apertures are suitably positioned so as to be appropriately aligned with respect to a lock means and even more ideally said apertures are a selected distance thereapart and therealong a selected vertical or horizontal axis and even more ideally said upright portion of said anchoring means houses at least one lock means wherein said lock means is encapsulated therein.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said anchoring means is adapted to accommodate more than one securing means and/or more than one lock means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention said anchoring means is constructed of a suitable robust, rigid material such as steel or the like, and ideally said anchoring means is coated in a suitable material such as protective plastic sleeving or the like so as to be rust-proof and scratchresistant and more ideally said anchoring means is constructed of at least one plate wherein a first plate is folded along a selected axis so as to provide a base means and an upright portion, ideally the angle of said upright portion with respect to said base means, when folded, is in the region of 90 and most ideally a second plate is suitably positioned and welded to said first plate so as to provide rounded blanked-off edges wherein the lock means is housed in the space defined by the distance between said first and second plate of said anchoring means, ideally said upright portion is constructed of steel of thickness in the region of 1-10 mm and ideally 3 mm and more ideally said base means is constructed of steel of thickness in the region of 3-25 mm and most ideally 10 mm.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said anchoring means comprises at least one base means and ideally said base means is provided with at least one aperture and preferably a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture is suitably sized and shaped so as to accommodate a bolt means therethrough, whereby appropriate placement of said bolt means acts to secure said anchoring means to a selected solid surface, ideally said bolt means is fixedly secured to said selected solid surface by means of cement and/or resin or the like, the specifics of which is not intended to limit the scope of the invention but merely to exemplify means by which permanent securement of a bolt means may be provided in said surface.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said anchoring means comprises a pair of base means each suitably positioned on opposite sides of said upright portion of said anchoring means, ideally said anchoring means comprises three or four base means each suitably positioned with respect to a lowermost part said upright portion of said anchoring means.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said lock means comprises a multiple lever lock security system, ideally a 5 lever lock system wherein said lock system is provided with a plurality of dead lock pins and more ideally said lock means is provided with a keyhole so as to insert a key therein and even more ideally said keyhole is provided with a pivotal keyhole cover so as to prevent ingress of dirt and the like.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said security device is adapted so as to accommodate an alarm means, ideally said alarm means is in the form of emitted waming sound and/or light, so in the event that there is unauthorised disturbance/tampering of said security device said alarm means is initiated/triggered, ideally by breaking a contact switch and most ideally said alarm means is attached to or integral with said anchoring means.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention said alarm means is initiated following a contact time delay upon insertion of a key into the lock means.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a security device for use in securing a vehicle comprising; at least one securing means suitably sized and shaped so as to appropriately restrain a part of a vehicle; an anchoring means adapted so as to receive said securing means and further adapted so as to be securely attached to a solid surface; at least one lock means associated with said anchoring means and housed within said anchoring means wherein said lock means is suitably positioned so as to selectively control, by appropriate turning of a key, the securement and release of said securing means.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures, wherein; Figure 1 represents a plan view of a securing means.

Figure 2 represents a plan view of a first plate of an anchoring means.

Figure 3 represents a plan view of a second plate of an anchoring means.

Figure 4 represents a rear perspective view of the security device.

Figure 5 represents a front perspective view of the security device.

Figure 6 represents a side perspective view of the security device securing a wheel in a first position.

Figure 7 represents a front perspective view of the security device securing a wheel in a second position.

With reference now to Figure 1 there is shown a plan view of the securing means 1, wherein the securing means comprises a 'U' bolt with arms (2A, 2B) of equal length and curved at a region (3). Distance (x) is defined as the distance between the centre of arms (2A) and (2B). Distance Xl is defined as the distance between the inner surfaces of U' bolt arms (2A, 2B) and the degree of curvature of portion (3) is dependent on distance (X') and distance (X2). It will appreciated by those skilled in the art and wishing to provide such a security device that the distance (Xl) and (X2) are adaptable and dependent on the vehicle wheel/part which it is desired to restrain.

Accordingly in the instance of said securing means being employed to secure a bicycle wheel (X') and (X2) will be relatively small compared to the instance of the device being employed to restrain a motorbike wheel or larger vehicle part.

Groove (4) is provided in arm (2B) and is of a length (Y'), length (Yl) is dependent on the barrel width of the lock means with which securing means (1) engages. Overlap portion (5) of arm (2B) is provided between groove (4) and an end of arm (2B) and is of a length (y2), length (Y2) is of an appropriate distance so as to provide sufficient overlap to the rear of the barrel of the lock means. Length (Y) is defined as the length (Y1 + Y2) and is dependent on a width (Z) (see Figure 4) of anchoring means (2B) defined hereinafter. The function of groove (4) is to cooperate with the barrel of a lock means and the purpose of overlap portion (5) is to provide securement rearwards of groove (4) for securement of securing means (1) within the anchoring means.

Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a plan view of a first plate (6) of an anchoring means. The plate (6) is sectioned into two portions (7 and 8) whereby upon folding along line (9) portion (7) constitutes the upright portion and portion (8) constitutes a base means. It is desirable to fold along line (9) so that base means (8) is integral with the upright portion (7) thereby conferring additional strength to the anchoring means, however it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and wishing to provide such a security device that a base means may be welded to, or otherwise suitably attached to, the upright portion and that provision of an integral base means (8) is not intended to limit the scope of the application.

Provided in base means (8) are apertures (1 lA and 11B), said apertures provide means through which a bolt or the like is positioned so as to securely fix the anchoring means to a selected and suitable solid surface. Provided in portion (7) are apertures (10A and lOB), the distance therebetween being defined by length (X) which is commensurate with the length (X) between the centre of arms (2A and 2B) of securing means (1). Sides (12A, 12B and 12C) define edges of portion (7), so in the instance of positioning a second plate (13) of the anchoring means (please refer to Figure 3) edges (17A, 17B and 17C) are welded to the corresponding edges of the first plate following folding along lines (16A, 16B and 16C). Folding along lines (16A, 16B and 16C) thereby provides a suitable distance between plates (7) and (13) which is defined by a distance (Z). Distance (Z) is equal to the distance between the fold line (16A) and an edge (17A) of second plate (13) this distance is selected so as to provide sufficient housing space for a lock means to be suitably placed between plates (7) and (13) so that subsequent welding of the plates together results in the lock means being blanked-off and sealed therein.

It is of note that edges are rounded to provide safe smooth edges to prevent snagging/scratching to an individual or a part of a vehicle. Furthermore, provided on surface (15) is aperture (14) with which a lock means is eventually aligned so that, aperture (14) provides access to said lock, and furthermore is appropriately sized and shaped so as to permit insertion of a key that operates the lock which is ideally a five-lever lock system.

Therefore once assembled the anchor means is provided as a sealed rectangular unit housing a five-lever lock system therein, whereby the device is impregnable to thieves and may be fixedly attached to an appropriate surface at the area it is desired to secure the vehicle.

Referring now to Figure 4 there is shown a rear perspective view of a security device comprising a back surface (15) of security device (A) wherein surface (15) is folded along edge (17D) so as to provide integral base means (8). Apertures (11A and 11B) are provided in base means (8) so as to permit a throughbolt means or the like to be inserted thereinto and to fixedly attach device (A) to a suitable selected surface. Provided on surface (15) of upright portion second plate (13) there is shown lock means aperture (14) with a pivotal key hole cover (18). Distance (Z) is defined as shown in Figure 3 and is of a sufficient width to provide housing for a lock means in security device (A).

Referring now to Figure 5 there is shown a front perspective view of a security device (A) wherein the securing means (1) is placed in position in apertures (lOB and lOA) of the first plate section (7). It is of note that distance (X) which defines the placement of securing means (1) in apertures (1OA and lOB) is shown as commensurate with distance (X), the distance between the centre of 'U' bolt arms (2A) and (2B), so as to permit aligned insertion therein. Furthermore, fold line (9) provides a front edge of plate section (7) and a defining edge for base means (8). Base means (8) is at an angle of 90 with respect to plate section (7). The security device (A) in the embodiment deplicted in Figure 5 is provided with a single base means (8), but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and wishing to provide such a security device that it may be desirable to provide further base means with the device so as to secure the device at alternative and additional positions, the provision of supplementary base means is not intended to limit the scope of the application.

Furthermore, in all Figures, securing means (1) is shown provided parallel to the surface of the ground however it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and wishing to provide such a security device, securing means (1) may be provided perpendicular to the ground surface or at any other selected orientation, and the exact position of which is not intended to limit the scope of the application.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a side perspective view of the security device (A) securing a vehicle wheel in a first position, wherein said first position is in the instance of a wheel being placed directly towards ie head-on a first plate (7). In this embodiment of the invention, securing means (1) is appropriately inserted between wheel (B) tyre portion (19) and hub (20), so that lock means aperture (14) and cover (18) are directly opposite wheel (B). Base means (8) is provided with a throughbolt means (21) positioned in aperture (1 lA). Edge (17D) of surface (15) is welded to base means (8) and folding line (9) is folded so as to provide a lower contiguous surface (8A) of base means (8) which is in contact with solid surface (22).

Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a front perspective view of security device (A) securing a wheel in a second position, wherein said second position is in the instance of a wheel being placed sideways on with respect to the security device (A), so wheel (B) and device (A) are side by side.

Securing means (1) is inserted into anchor means front plate (7) via apertures (1OA and lOB), wherein said securing means (1) is positioned so as to trap wheel (B) tyre (19) and hub (20) between front plate (7) and securing means 'U' bolt arm (2A) and (2B). Additionally there is shown an alarm means (23) which may take the form of a light and/or sound emitter, the specifics and position of which on the security device (A) is not intended to limit the scope of the application.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and wishing to provide such a security device that a plurality of securing means (1) may be provide in anchoring means front plate (7), accordingly in this instance plate (7) may be appropriately adapted so as to provide more than one pair of apertures so as to receive said additional securing means. Furthermore, each additional securing means may be associated with a separate lock or indeed maybe provided with a lock that operates all securing means. Additionally the security device may be used to secure more than one vehicle simultaneously.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and wishing to provide a security device that these embodiments of the invention are not intended to limit the scope of the application but merely to exemplify a variety of ways by which appropriate securement of a vehicle part or wheel may be achieved.

Thus in operation the security device, as hereinbefore described, provides a tamper-proof lock system housed within a sealed housing and provides improved security for securing a vehicle part or wheel by provision of a five lever lock system which may not easily, if at all, be opened by unauthorised individuals and if attempted, may set off an alarm. The invention of the application therefore provides a security device which can be utilised with a variety of different mobile vehicles and the like and will be cost effective in reducing the amount of insurance premium for keeping and owning a vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A security device for use in securing a vehicle, the device comprising: a least one securing means so sized and shaped as to appropriately restrain a part of a vehicle, an anchoring means adapted to be associated with said securing means and further adapted so as to be securely attached to a solid surface, and at least one lock means operationally associated with said securing means and concealed within a housing wherein said housing is attached to or integral with either the anchoring means or both anchoring means and said securing means.
2. A security device according to claim 1 in which, the securing means is so sized and shaped as to appropriately restrain a vehicle wheel.
3. A security device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which, the securing means comprises a detachable U-shaped bolt which is so sized and shaped as to be placed about a vehicle wheel.
4. A security device according to claim 3 in which, the U-shaped bolt is provided with two arms of equal length, at least one of which in use is positioned in the region between a wheel tyre and a wheel hub, at least one arm being provided with at least one groove which is operable to cooperate with said lock means.
5. A security device according to claim 4 in which, the groove is suitably positioned a sufficient distance along one arm from an end of said arm so as to overlap a barrel of the lock means when in a secured position
6. A security device according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which, the U-shaped bolt is provided with at least one groove on each arm thereof
7. A security device according to any one of claims 3 to 5 in which, one arm of the U-shaped bolt is pivotally secured to the anchoring means and is operable to pivot about a selected fixed point within the anchoring means.
8. A security device according to claim 7 in which, the bolt is connected to the anchoring means via a spring-loaded connection means, whereby in the instance of placing said U-shaped bolt about a vehicle wheel, the spring means is not in a state of tension and, in the instance of securing a vehicle wheel a suitable amount of pressure is applied so as to depress said spring means and subsequently engage the bolt.
9. A security device according to claim 7 or claim 8 in which, the arm pivotally secured to the anchoring means is of a suitably greater length than the other arm of the bolt.
10. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims in which, the securing means is so sized and shaped as to be placed about a part of a plurality of vehicles, such as a row of vehicles, for example, in a displayed line-up or the like.
11. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims in which, the lock means is concealed within the anchoring means anchor a housing associated with the anchoring means.
12. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims in which, at least the securing means is constructed of a robust, rigid material, such as steel or the like, and is coated in a suitable protective material such as plastic sleeving or the like so as to be rust-proof and scratch-resistant.
13. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims in which, the anchoring means comprises an upright portion having apertures for receiving the securing means, the apertures being positioned in appropriate alignment with respect to a lock means.
14. A security device according to claim 13 in which, the upright portion of the anchoring means encapsulates at least one lock means therein.
15. A security device according to claim 13 or 14 in which, the apertures are disposed a predetermined distance apart and a predetermined distance along a selected vertical or horizontal axis.
16. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the anchoring means is adapted to accommodate more than one securing means and/or more than one lock means
17. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims in which, the anchoring means is constructed of a suitable robust, rigid material, such as steel or the like, and is coated in a suitable protective material such as plastic sleeving or the like so as to be rust-proof and scratch-resistant, the anchoring means being constructed of at least one plate, the first plate being folded along a selected axis so as to provide a base member and an upright portion, the angle of the upright portion with respect to said base member, when folded, being in the region of 90"
18. A security device according to claim 17 in which, a second plate is secured to the first plate, for example by welding, so as to provide rounded blanked-off edges wherein the lock means is housed in a space defined between the first and second plates of the anchoring means
19. A security device according to claim 17 or claim 18 in which,the base member is provided with at least one bolt aperture, whereby appropriate placement of a bolt therethrough is operable to secure said anchoring means to a selected solid surface
20. A security device according to claim 19 in which, the or each bolt means is fixedly secured to said selected solid surface, the fixing being augmented by the use cement and/or resin.
21. A security device according to any one of claims 17 to 20 in which, the anchoring means comprises at least two base members each suitably positioned on opposite sides of said upright portion of the anchoring means.
22. A security device according to claim 21 in which, the anchoring means comprises three or four base members each suitably positioned with respect to a lowermost part or the upright portion of the anchoring means.
23. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims in which, the locked means comprises a multiple lever lock security system, for example a lever or 7-lever lock system, said lock system being provided with a plurality of dead-lock pins and includes a keyhole having a pivotal keyhole cover to prevent ingress of dirt and water.
24. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims in which, the security device is adapted to accommodate an alarm means, operable to emit a warning signal, for example sound and/or light, whereby unauthorised tampering or disturbance of said security device initiates or triggers the alarm.
25. A security device according to claim 24 in which, the alarm is initiated or triggered by breaking a contact switch, the alarm means being attached to or integral with said anchoring means.
26. A security device according to claim 24 or 25 in which, the alarm means is armed following a contact time delay on insertion of a key into the lock means.
27. A security device for use in securing a vehicle, the device comprising at least one securing means so sized and shaped as to appropriately restrain a part of a vehicle; an anchoring means adapted to receive said securing means and further adapted so as to be securely attached to a solid surface; and at least one lock means operationally associated with said anchoring means and concealed therein, wherein said lock means is suitably positioned so as to selectively control, by appropriate turning of a key, the locking and release of said securing means.

28 A security device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompany drawings