GB2336821A

GB2336821A - Vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2336821A
Application number: GB9908543A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan David Somerfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-15
Filing date: 1999-04-14
Publication date: 1999-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-14
Also published as: GB9807872D0; GB2336821B; GB9908543D0

Abstract

A vehicle security device comprises an elongate member 1 adapted to be mounted on a steering wheel 13 so as to project beyond the rim of the steering wheel to provide an obstruction to the wheel being turned, the elongate member carrying at one end thereof a shackle 6 pivotable about the member so that when the device is mounted on a steering wheel the shackle can be locked over a spoke 12 of the steering wheel with the member extending substantially radially from the rim of the steering wheel.

Description

2336821 1 VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE There are many known devices which

utilise a protruding bar locked to the steering wheels of vehicles to prevent the rotation on the wheel and so the unauthorised driving of the vehicle. The proliferation of such devices has led to it being common knowledge amongst car thieves that it is often quickest to cut the rim of the steering wheel to remove the device and steal the vehicle. A number of devices are known which prevent removal of the device by cutting the rim in one place only (United States Patent Specification US-A-1,429,334, and International Patent Specification W097134788) by having attachments to the rim in two positions on either side of a spoke.

In US Patent Specification No. US-A-1,347,463 (Jameson) there is shown a device which fixes around one spoke with a bar protruding in line with the spoke from behind the rim. Such a device cannot be removed by cutting the rim of the wheel in one place only.

However Jameson relies on a tight fit between the device and the spoke to hold the protruding bar rigidly in place. The variation in design of modern steering wheels is such that it would be uneconomic to produce a device to fit equally tightly to all vehicles. The present invention provides a solution to this problem by providing a design which is less vulnerable to variations 2 in design of the wheel itself.

A concern of this invention is to produce a high level of security at the lowest possible cost. This is necessitated by the increasing ingenuity of car thieves which is driving up the cost of security products. The higher the cost, the fewer are purchased and used and therefore more vehicles are stolen.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a vehicle security device comprising an elongate member adapted to be mounted on a steering wheel so as to project beyond the rim of the steering wheel to provide an obstruction to the wheel being turned, the elongate member carrying at one end thereof a shackle pivotable about the member so that when the device is mounted on a steering wheel the shackle can be locked over a spoke of the steering wheel with the member extending substantially radially from the rim of the steering wheel.

In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment of a vehicle security device will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of the device in its locked position not fitted to a steering wheel; 25 Figure 2 is an axial cross-section through the lock mechanism; Figure 3a shows the device unlocked and open; 3 Figure 3b shows the device locked to a steering wheel; Figure 4 shows four views of the device f itted to a steering wheel; and Figure 5 shows a second embodiment.

Figure 1 shows an elongate member in the form of a rigid bar 1 with a return bend 2 at one end and adjacent to the return bend a generally obtuse bend 3. The return bend 2 thus forms a U-shaped head to the longer portion of bar 1. Preferably the bar 1 is manufactured from a single tube of metal, though of course other materials can be employed if sufficiently strong. The planes of bends 2 and 3 are perpendicular to one another. A key operated lock 4 is f ixed into the short end 5 of the return bend 2. The diameter of the return bend 2 is comparable to the widest spokes found on steering wheels.

A generally U-shaped shackle 6 is mounted on the longer portion of bar 1 by means of a collar 7 which pivots around the bar 1. The shackle is free to pivot around the bar 1 such that the free end 8 of the shackle 5 can be locked into an opening 9 in the short arm of the U-shaped head 1 by means of a notch 10 engaging a key operated bolt 11 as shown in Fig. 2. The position of the opening 9 is such that when the shackle is locked in position it is significantly offset from the extremity of the return bend 2. The height and width of shackle is such that it will accept relatively wide and thick z.

4 steering wheel spokes.

Figure 3a shows the device in its unlocked condition about to be fitted to a wheel 11 as shown in Fig. 3b. The shackle 6 is locked round a spoke 12 so that the long end of the bar 1 protrudes from behind the rim 13 of the wheel and the return bend is held against the rear face of the spoke.

Figures 4a-d show the device with a shackle large enough to accept the wider and fatter spokes fitted to a wheel with a thinner and slimmer spoke to demonstrate how the present invention overcomes the problems associated with slack fitting.

Figure 4a shows the device being pulled towards the driver. This is already compensated for by the angle of is bend 3 but resisted by the spoke and rim abutting the device at points 14 and 15 respectively. In practice this movement is most likely to be used by the thief in order to get the bar clear of the windscreen and the A pillar of the steering wheel. It can now be seen that angle of the obtuse bend 3 is such that when the device is fitted the bar is held generally inclined away from the driver towards the windscreen, the A pillar and dashboard so causing maximum obstruction.

It should be noted that devices of this type are more efficient at preventing full rotation of the wheel if the protruding bar is perpendicular to the windscreen when the device is uppermost on the steering wheel. This is because the windscreen and A pillar are immovable whereas the driver's legs can be moved and the driver's door can be opened to avoid obstruction of the bar.

When the device is pulled towards the driver as shown in Figure 4a the soft padding on the steering wheel as well as the slack will allow some movement. The angle of bend 3 is such that even when pulled forwards to take up the slack the bar is generally perpendicular to the windscreen when uppermost on the wheel.

Figure 4b shows the device being pushed away from the driver. This is prevented by the extremity of the return bend 2 abutting the wheel at 16 in combination with the shackle abutting the forward surface of the spoke at 17. In practice this movement is used by the thief to avoid obstruction by the thief's legs.

Figure 4c shows the device being slid along the spoke towards the centre of the wheel. This is resisted by the extremity of return bend 2 abutting the steering wheel column at 18.

Figure 4d shows the device being rotated relative to the wheel but in the same plane as the wheel. Whilst the movement allowed by the width of the shackle when fitted to a narrow spoke may be substantial the net effect of reducing the protrusion of the bar is insignificant as the device is rotating largely about the same axis as the wheel. However it is a feature of this invention that due to diameter of the return bend even 6 when the device is rotated as in Figure 4d the device will still resist the movement shown in Figures 4b and 4c because the extremity of the return bend is still behind the spoke and will still abut the spoke at point 16 in Figure 4b and 18 in Figure 4c.

In the foregoing description it will be seen that the device when mounted is fitted beneath a steering wheel. It is of course equally possible for the device to be f itted so that the long end of bar 1 lies above the rim of the steering wheel when the device is mounted.

In this case the direction of the obtuse bend 3 in the long arm is reversed. This can be seen in Figure 5 which discloses a second embodiment.

This second embodiment incorporates an additional shield 20 which when the device is mounted provides both additional protection f rom attack and also engages the steering wheel to prevent the device sliding down a spoke towards the hub of the steering wheel.

The embodiments described have a number of advantages over the prior art. The f act that the shackle fits over a spoke when mounted on a steering wheel makes it impossible to remove the device merely by cutting the steering wheel rim on either side of the device. Additionally, the fact that the main body of the device is manufactured from a single tube reduces manufacturing costs, and the cost of the device is still further reduced by the fact that the pivoted shackle arrangement 7 means that only one locking element is required.

8

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A vehicle security device comprising an elongate member adapted to be mounted on a steering wheel so as to project beyond the rim of the steering wheel to provide an obstruction to the wheel being turned, the elongate member carrying at one end thereof a shackle pivotable about the member so that when the device is mounted on a steering wheel the shackle can be locked over a spoke of the steering wheel with the member extending substantially radially from the rim of the steering wheel.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member has one arm thereof bent into a U, with the main length of the elongate member providing an arm of the U which is substantially longer than the other arm and wherein the shackle is pivotally mounted on one arm of the U and the free end of the shackle is adapted to engage with a lock on the other arm of the U.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the shackle is pivotally mounted on the longer arm.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the elongate member is a single tube.

9

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the keyhole for the lock is located in the end of the shorter arm of the U.

6. A device according to claim 2 and any one of claims 3 to 5 when dependent on claim 2, and including a protective plate extending between the arms of the U, with the shackle being located between the plate and the curve of the U.

7. A vehicle security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4 or Figure 5.