GB2344573A

GB2344573A - Wheel clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2344573A
Application number: GB9827235A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stewart N Jacobs
Original assignee: CROSSLINK INTERNATIONAL CONSUL
Current assignee: CROSSLINK INTERNATIONAL CONSUL
Priority date: 1998-12-10
Filing date: 1998-12-10
Publication date: 2000-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-10
Also published as: GB2344573B; GB2344573A8; GB9827235D0

Abstract

A wheel clamp comprises, as separately portable components, a wheel-facing plate 5, a pair of wheel-engaging claws 2, 3 and means 4 for releasably interlocking the plate and claws securely around the wheel of a vehicle in situ, in which each claw is generally U-shaped, to embrace a corresponding portion of the wheel's tyre, and comprises a cross member 28, 29 in Figure 7 joining two wheel-facing members, the cross member being of adjustable length so as to enable the claw to embrace tightly any of a range of tyres of different widths.

Description

2344573 Whgel Clamp This invention relates to a wheel clamp, that is to an

assembly which is releasably fixable around a vehicle wheel in situ to prevent movement of the vehicle. Wheel, clamps are used to enforce parking restrictions, and generally the user of the vehicle has to arrange for the enforcement agency to release the clamp upon payment of a fine.

Enforcement agencies need to carry substantial numbers of wheel clamps, for example in a patrolling vehicle, and there is a need for a wheel clamp which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reasonably light in weight, stackable and able to provide a secure, tight fit around the vehicle wheel. One particular problem is that vehicle wheels are of course of many different diameters and widths, and this has required enforcement agencies to carry wheel clamps of different sizes and shapes, or else to compromise and to use wheel clamps which fail to fit tightly and are therefore insufficiently secure.

Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a wheel clamp capable of adjustment to suit wheels of different widths, and preferably also to provide adjustment for wheels of different diameters, in each case with the wheel clamp being of simple construction and sufficiently portable for easy use and for transport in bulk.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a wheel clamp comprising, as separately portable components, a wheel-facing plate, a pair of wheelengaging claws and means for releasably interlocking the plate and claws securely around the wheel of a vehicle in situ, in which each claw is generally U-shaped, to embrace a corresponding portion of the wheel's tyre, and comprises a cross member joining two wheel-facing members, the cross member being of adjustable length so as to enable the claw to embrace tightly any of a range of tyres of different widths.

1 The interlocking means preferably comprises a link bar, which can provide the lengthwise adjustment of the wheel clamp to suit wheels of different diameters. The claws and the plate preferably then have formations for receiving and retaining the link bar in use.

In a preferred embodiment, the formations of the plate and claws define respective openings which together constrain the link bar to lengthwise sliding motion.

Conveniently, the link bar has an elongate channel shape. In order to provide the releasable interlock, the link bar may have end formations for locking it against lengthwise movement. For example, one end formation may be adapted to receive a padlock or other locking device. When the link bar is channel shaped, one end formation may be an end wall closing the channel, to prevent sliding motion lengthwise.

The cross member joining the two wheel facing members conveniently provides telescopic adjustment, for example using a screw threaded bolt whose head can be turned using a tool. The bolt head then preferably projects from one of the wheel facing members of the claw, for easy access. Preferably also the projecting bolt head co operates with the said formation on the claw to constrain the motion of the link bar.

Where the link bar has end formations for locking it against lengthwise movement, the bolt head is preferably positioned to abut against at least one of those end formations, to prevent lengthwise movement.

The arrangement is preferably such that in use the claws and wheel facing plate are floor standing.

A method according to the invention of affixing a wheel clamp according to any of the inventions defined above to a wheel in situ comprises fitting the claws to opposed portions of the tyre on the wheel and reducing the width of each claw so as to tighten over the tyre, and assembling the wheel-facing plate and interlocking means so as to lock the wheel clamp in place to prevent dis-assembly.

2 In order that the invention may be better understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel clamp embodying the invention and 5 assembled in situ around a vehicle wheel; Figures 2 and 3 are front and side elevations, drawn to third angle projection, of the wheel facing plate of the wheel clamp of Figure 1; Figures 4, 5 and 6 are a top plan, a rear elevation and an end elevation, drawn to third angle projection, of the link bar of the wheel clamp of Figure 1; and Figures 7 and 8 are top plan and side elevation views of one of the wheel engaging claws of the wheel clamp of Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, a wheel clamp 1 is locked around the tyre 6 of a vehicle wheel in situ on the ground. The wheel clamp 1 comprises, as separately portable components, for example of mild steel with a polyester coating, a wheel-facing plate 5, whose lower edge rests on the ground; a pair 2, 3 of wheel-engaging claws, whose wheel-facing members rest on the ground; and an elongate channel- shaped link bar 4 which locks the other components together, for example using a standard padlock 7.

The wheel-facing plate 5 is shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, and it has a lower edge 51, side edges 52 and 53, top edge 55 and 45' edges 54 connecting the top and side edges. U-shaped hoops 56 projecting from the sides of the plate serve to guide the link bar 4 slidingly in its lengthwise direction in use, and lock the plate to the claws and wheel in use. The function of the plate is to prevent access to the wheel nuts (not shown) as is well known, and to serve as an obvious sign to the vehicle owner that the wheel has been clamped; typically, written material is printed on the surface of the plate to indicate the clamping authority or to provide further information.

3 The channel-shaped link bar 4 is shown in greater detail in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

The channel is closed at one end by an end wall 41, whose locking function will be described below. At least one pair of holes 44 is provided in the side walls 42, 43 of the link bar, through which holes a padlock 7 or other locking means may be threaded. The padlock may be threaded through one or both holes.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, each of the two claws 2 consists of a pair of wheel facing members 21 - 24; 211 - 241. Each wheel-facing member has a square- section telescopic projection 28, 29, and the two projections fit together telescopically as shown in Figure 7 to provide the widthwise adjustability of the claw. A screw- threaded bolt 27 with a hexagonal head 26 projects from the face of one of the wheel- facing members 21 - 24. This provides easy access to a tool for turning the bolt and thereby adjusting telescopically the separation of the wheel-facing members 21 24, 211 - 241. The bolt head 26 also serves, as an abutment for locking the link bar 4 against lengthwise movement, as shown in Figure 1. In one direction, the end wall 41 would abut against the bolt head 26 of the left hand claw 3. In the opposite direction, the padlock 7 would abut against the bolt head 26 of the right hand claw 2. It will be appreciated that the lengthwise adjustment of the wheel clamp, to accommodate wheels of different diameters, is provided by the elongate configuration of the link bar, and by the provision of multiple long itud i nal ly-spaced locking points of which only one 44 is illustrated.

With further reference to Figures 7 and 8, a front wheel facing member 21 - 24 has a rectangular vertical portion 21 joined to an horizontal trapezium shaped portion 22 which is then joined to an inclined, trapezium shaped portion 23, one end portion 24 of which is bent through approximately 30" inwardly to provide a more secure grip around a tyre 6. Portions 21 and 23 are connected to a front-projecting U-shaped hoop 25 similar to the hoops 56 of the wheel-facing plate 5.

4 A rear wheel-facing member 211 - 241 matches the configuration of the front member 21 - 24, but has no hoop 25. Its portions 211, 221, 231 and 241 correspond respectively to portions 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the front member.

In use, the components of the wheel clamp may be stacked individually. A wheel clamp would then be assembled loosely by picking components from stock, and the claws 2, 3 would be adjusted, using bolts 26, 27, to suit the width of the tyre 6. The final adjustment of width is done with the claw in situ around the tyre, and resting on the floor as shown in Figure 1. The claws are clamped tightly around the tyre, such that they could not easily be removed without deflating the tyre. The claws 2, 3 face one another as shown in Figure 1, on opposite sides of the wheel. A wheelfacing plate 5 is placed against the centre of the wheel and on the ground as shown in Figure 1, and the link bar 4 is threaded through the two hoops 56 of the plate 5 and through the two hoops of the respective claws 2, 3. The assembly is then locked in position by threading a padlock 7 through one or both holes 44 at the right hand end of the link bar 4.

The wheel clamp is disassembled by reversing the assembly process. Whilst the wheel clamp is in place, access to the wheel bolts is obstructed by the plate 5, and access to the bolts 26 is obstructed by the link bar 4, so the wheel clamp is securely locked in place.

Claims

1. A wheel clamp comprising, as separately portable components, a wheelfacing plate, a pair of wheel-engaging claws and means for releasably interlocking the plate and claws securely around the wheel of a vehicle in situ, in which each claw is generally 5 U-shaped, to embrace a corresponding portion of the wheel's tyre, and comprises a cross member joining two wheel-facing members, the cross member being of adjustable length so as to enable the claw to embrace tightly any of a range of tyres of different widths.

2. A wheel clamp according to Claim 1, in which the interlocking means comprises 10 a link bar, which can provide the lengthwise adjustment of the wheel clamp to suit wheels of different diameters.

3. A wheel clamp according to Claim 2, in which the claws and the plate have formations for receiving and retaining the link bar in use.

4. A wheel clamp according to Claim 3, in which the formations of the plate and 15 claws define respective openings which together constrain the link bar to lengthwise sliding motion.

5. A wheel clamp according to Claim 2, in which the link bar has an elongate channelshape.

6. A wheel clamp according to Claim 2 or 5, in which the link bar has end formations for locking it against lengthwise movement.

7. A wheel clamp according to Claim 6, in which one end formation is adapted to receive a padlock or other locking device.

8. A wheel clamp according to Claim 5, in which one end formation is an end wall closing the channel, to prevent sliding motion lengthwise.

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9. A wheel clamp according to any preceding claim, in which the cross member joining the two wheel facing members provides telescopic adjustment, for example using a screw threaded bolt whose head can be turned using a tool.

10. A wheel clamp according to Claim 9, in which the bolt head projects from one of 5 the wheel facing members of the claw, for easy access.

11. A wheel clamp according to Claim 9 or 10, in which the projecting bolt head cooperates with the said formation on the claw to constrain the motion of the link bar.

12. A wheel clamp according to any preceding claim, in which in use the claws and wheel facing plate are floor standing.

13. A method of affixing a wheel clamp according to any preceding claim to a wheel in situ comprising fitting the claws to opposed portions of the tyre on the wheel and reducing the width of each claw so as to tighten over the tyre, and assembling the wheel-facing plate and interlocking means so as to lock the wheel clamp in place to prevent dis- assembly.

14. A wheel clamp substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A method of affixing a wheel clamp substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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