GB2330564A

GB2330564A - An automobile anti-theft lock that shields the steering wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2330564A
Application number: GB9722220A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wen-Yin Wu
Original assignee: WU WEN YIN
Current assignee: WU WEN YIN
Priority date: 1997-10-21
Filing date: 1997-10-21
Publication date: 1999-04-28
Also published as: GB9722220D0; AU8307198A

Abstract

The anti-theft lock has a large semi-circular disc 1 and a small disc 2 that can come together to cover and lock a steering wheel. The small disc is pivotally rivetted to a plate 11 fixed to the large disc so that it may be swung to close with or open from the large disc. The outer circular edges of the discs are bent inwardly to form grooves 10, 20 that fit around the edge of a steering wheel (3, Figure 4). The large disc has a U shaped frame 13, with a push-in lock 14, for receiving a rod 21 that is attached to the small disc. When the rod is inserted into the frame a dead bolt of the push-in lock may be extended into one of a number of holes 22 provided in the rod to lock the discs together. As the anti-theft lock covers the steering wheel the wheel is prevented from being taken off its mounting and the safety air bag of the automobile is also protected.

Description

TITLE: AUTOMOBILE STEERING SHIELDING-STYLE ANTI-THEFT LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns an automobile steering shielding-style anti-theft lock, particularly completely covering on a steering wheel to prevent the whole steering wheel with the safety air bag from completely taken off.

A great number of different automobile steering locks have been and are used and on market, but they cannot prevent the whole steering wheel with the safety air bag from taken off by thieves.

Though a covering-style automobile anti-theft lock, as shown in Fig. 13, has appeared, having a large curved plate for reinforcing anti-theft effect instead of a U-shaped hook used in some anti-theft lock, it still lacks function of preventing theft, as the whole steering wheel together with the safety air bag can be taken off and another steering wheel may be placed for driving off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A purpose of the invention is to offer a kind of automobile steering wheel anti-theft lock shielding the whole body of a steering wheel to prevent it from taken off.

The features of the invention are as follows.

1. It completely hides the whole body of a steering wheel.

2. It prevents the steering wheel together with the safety air bag from taken off.

3. The steering wheel may be not rotated even if the lock is rotated, as the lock is locked, fitting around the steering wheel with some hollow space.

4. An out-stretching anti-moving rod can be stored inside the lock, convenient to be put away.

5. It can applied to different steering wheels of various sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a front view of an automobile steering shielding-style anti-theft lock in the present invention, showing it being unlocked; Fig. 2 is a front view of the automobile steering shielding-style anti-theft lock in the present invention, showing it being locked; Fig. 3 is an upper view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of line 4 - 4 in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a front view of a large semi-circular disc in the present invention; Fig. 6 is a left side view of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an upper view of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a front view of a small semi-circular disc in the present invention; Fig. 9 is a right side view of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is an upper view of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a front view of an operating rod received in the large and the small semi-circular disc in the present invention; Fig. 12 is a second preferred embodiment of an automobile steering shielding-style anti-theft lock in the present invention; and, Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a conventional automobile steering shielding-style anti-theft lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first preferred embodiment of an automobile steering anti-theft lock in the present invention, as shown in Fig. 1, includes two semi-circular discs 1 and 2, one of the two discs being larger than the other. A lower side wall of the large semi-circular disc 1 is fixed with two opposite combine plates 11, 11, and a lower side wall of the small semi-circular disc 2 is pivotally riveted with the combine plate 11, enabling the small semi-circular disc 2 may be swung to close with or to open from the large semi-circular disc 1 with the rivet as a pivot. The large and the small semi circular disc respectively have a front side formed with a plate without any holes, and an annular groove 10, 20 respectively formed with a bent inward outer spherical edge, fitting around an outer spherical edge of a steering wheel 3 in locking. The large semi-circular disc 1 further has a notch 12 in an upper end for an upper front edge of the small semi-circular disc 2 to fit in when the small semi-circular disc 2 is swung and closed with the large semi-circular disc 1. Thus the small semi-circular disc 2 can be adjusted in a distance fitting in the large semi-circular disc 1, enabling this lock applied to different steering wheels of various sizes.

The large semi-circular disc 1 further has a Ushaped frame 13 fixed on the notch 12, and a push-in lock 14 fixed on the frame 13. Then the push-in lock 14 may extend its dead-bolt in the frame 13 and in any one of locking holes 22 provided in the anti-move rod 21 protruding in the frame 13.

If a position block 131 is fixed at an inner end point of the anti-move rod 21 in the frame 13 in a locking position by means of a stick tape or the like, then the anti-move rod 21 is easily moved in to be placed in the locking position in the frame 13 after the second time.

The small semi-circular disc 2 has its lower end riveted pivotally with the combine plate 11 so that the large and the small semi-circular disc 1 and 2 are separably closed with each other for locking and unlocking.

The small semi-circular disc 2 further has a U-shaped combine base 23 fixed on an upper end for the anti-move rod 21 to be movably fitted therein, and the combine base 23 has a front notch 231 so that the anti-move rod 21 may be swung and stored in a space in a rear side of the large and the small semi-circular disc 1 and 2, when this lock is not used.

As shown in Fig. 1, the large and the small semicircular disc 1 and 2 can be opened from each other or closed with each other with the rivet of the combine plate 11 as a pivot.

In using this lock, the steering anti-theft lock is opened to a larger distance than the diameter of the steering wheel 3 by swinging the small semi-circular disc 2 farther from the the large semi-circular disc 1 and then is placed to cover on the steering wheel 3, with the small semi-circular disc 2 is again swung to move close to fit with the large semi-circular disc, with the anti-move rod 21 is pushed to insert in the frame 13. Then the push-in lock is pushed to let its deadbolt protrude in one of the locking holes 22, moving in the locked condition shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

However, the lock 14 may be set on a front side of the frame 13 as shown in Fig. 1 or on an upper side of the frame as shown in Fig. 12, with the locking holes 22 accordingly bored to suit to the lock 14 positioned in the two ways.

As can be understood from the above description, this invention has the following advantages.

1. A steering wheel 3 is all hidden by this lock, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, effectively protecting the steering wheel together wi th a safety air bag, preventing the whole steering wheel from taken off illegally.

2. The anti-move rod can be swung into the inner space in the large and the small semi-circular disc, convenient to be stored.

3. This shielding-style anti-theft lock and a steering wheel do not move together so that even if the lock might be rotated, the steering wheel still does not move.

4. It completely shields the whole body of a steering wheel, attaining absolute safety to prevent theft.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An automobile steering shielding-style antitheft lock comprising a large semi-circular disc, a small semi-circular disc, a lower end of said large and said small semi-circular disc riveted with each other, an upper end of said two semi-circular discs separably moving to close with each other, said large semicircular disc having a notch in said upper end, a hollow U-shaped frame fixed on said notch, a push-in lock fixed on a front side of said hollow frame, an anti-move rod having a plurality of locking holes near an inner end connected with a pivot pin with an upper end of said small semi-circular disc, said push-in lock having a dead-bolt to protrude in said frame and selectably in one of said locking holes of said anti-move rod in locking said large and said small semi-circular disc on a steering wheel of an automobile after said small semicircular disc is swung to close with said large semicircular disc, said small semi-circular disc having a combine base extending up, said combine base having a notch for said anti-move rod to fit therein when said anti-move rod is swung to move in the space in a rear side of said large and said small semi-circular disc for stored.

2. The automobile steering shielding-style antitheft lock as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said large and said small semi-circular disc have a front side formed with a plate, and its outer spherical edge formed with a bent inward edge to define an annular groove to fit around an outer spherical edge of the steering wheel of an automobile.

3. The automobile steering shielding-style anti-theft lock as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said lock is set on an upper side of said frame located on an upper end of said large semi-circular disc.

4. An anti-theft device lockable to a vehicle steering wheel, the device comprising two members fittable together in use about a steering wheel such that rearwardly facing portions of the steering wheel are covered by said members whereby access to the steering wheel for unauthorized removal of the steering wheel is prevented.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said members comprise respective substantially semicircular cover plates hingedly movable relative to each other.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, further comprising elongate means extending from one said member for limiting rotation of said device when locked to a steering wheel.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said elongate means is hingedly moveable relative to said member in the unlocked condition of the device into a retracted position for storage.

8. An anti-theft lock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 11 or 12 of the accompanying drawings.