GB2347660A

GB2347660A - Vehicle security device

Info

Publication number: GB2347660A
Application number: GB0005713A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David George Lowe
Original assignee: KMD SECURITIES Ltd
Current assignee: KMD SECURITIES Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-09
Filing date: 2000-03-09
Publication date: 2000-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-09
Also published as: GB2347660B; GB0005713D0; GB9905239D0

Abstract

A vehicle security device 10 for preventing access to the accelerator and brake pedals 36, 34 of a motor vehicle comprises a base member 12 having a cover member 14 hinged thereto, the base and cover members 12, 14 being movable between an open position for receiving the distal portions of an accelerator pedal 36 and brake pedal 34 of a motor vehicle, and a closed position enclosing said distal portions, the device 10 having slots 22, 24 therein to permit the stems 30, 28 of said pedals 36, 34 to project therethrough in the closed position and locking means 38 to lock the base and cover members 12,14 in the closed position, wherein the device 10, when in the closed position is adapted to transmit pressure applied thereto to the brake pedal 34 and hence activate the vehicle braking system. The device 10 may be adapted to receive the clutch pedal 32 of a vehicle having manual transmission. In such an embodiment the device 10 may be adapted to transmit pressure applied thereto to the clutch pedal 32 and hence disengage the clutch of the vehicle. The device may include a handle 18 that bears against the floor of the vehicle.

Description

Vehicle Security Device The present invention relates to a vehicle security device and in particular to a device for immobilising control pedals of a vehicle.

There exist many types of aftermarket anti-theft devices which a motorist can use to secure a vehicle against theft. Typically these devices area arranged to isolate control elements of the vehicle such as, for example, the steering wheel, pedals and/or gear selection mechanism. While these devices provided a visual deterrent to the casual thief, their design may unwittingly assist a more determined or experienced thief. For example, one device presently available takes the form of a rod or stay which a motorist attaches to the edge of the steering wheel. The aim of the stay is to restrict movement of the steering wheel by coming into contact with the vehicle interior. However, if the stay is not correctly positioned, it is possible that it could be used as a lever to break the steering column lock of the vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for preventing access to the accelerator and brake pedals of a motor vehicle, the device comprising a base member having a cover member pivotally connected thereto, for example by means of a hinge, the base and cover members being movable between an open position for receiving the distal portions of an accelerator pedal and brake pedal of a motor vehicle, and a closed position enclosing said distal portions, the device having slots therein to permit the stems of said pedals to project therethrough in the closed position and locking means to lock the base and cover members in the closed position, wherein the device, in the closed position, is adapted to transmit pressure applied thereto to the brake pedal and hence activate the vehicle braking system.

The present invention provides a protective shell which surrounds the accelerator and brake pedals of a motor vehicle, and which prevents access thereto. In use, the device is positioned deep in the drivers footwell and hence is awkwardly positioned for a potential thief to attempt to tamper with or remove without a key.

The slots are dimensioncd such that they are wider than the stems of the pedals, but narrowcr than the limds of the pedals, and thus the device cannot be removed from stem pcdals unless it is in the open position.

The slots may be provided in the base member, the cover member or both. The exact configuration of the slots will depend upon the size, spacing, and pedal configuration of the vehicle to which the device is to be applied. In one embodiment the slot for the brake pedal is provided in the cover and the slot for the accelerator pedal in the base member. In one embodiment an edge of the brake pedal slot is adapted to contact the brake pedal stem when pressure is applied to the device, for example by abc foot of a person attempting to steal the vehicle. Altcmatively, the device may be arranged such that the inside of the cover member bears against the brake pedal when pressure is applied.

In a preferred embodiment the device is provided with a carrying handle which is adapted to rest against the floor of the ; vehicle when the device is in the closed position around the pcdals. In use, the device pivots about the handle when pressure is applied to the device.

The device may be adapted to receive the clutch pedal of a vehicle where the vehicle has manual transmission. In such an embodiment the device is provided with a further slot adapted to receive the stem of the clutch pedal. Altcrnatively, the clutch pedal stem may be received in the same slot as the brake pedal stem. In such an embodiment the device may preferably bc adapted to transmit pressure applied thereto to the clutch pedal and hence disengage the clutch of the vehicle.

The locking means may comprise lock housing having a plunger of one of the base and cover members, and a locking plate having an aperture adapted to receive the plunger of the othxr of the base and cover members. Preferably the base and/or cover member are strengthened in the region of the lock housing so as to prcvenl the lock being tampered with, for example by drilling. The basc and or cover members may be strengthened by the provision of a toughened or hardened insert or plate in the region of the lock housing.

In a preferred embodiment the base and cover members are cut from sheet metal and then folded and welded into the required shapes. This enables the device to be manufactured for different vehicles having different pedal spacings and configurations relatively easily. Starting from a standard blank, only the slot sizes and positions need be varied. If CNC operated machinery is used to cut out the initial shapes of the base and cover members from sheet metal, then the different slot configurations for different vehicles can be stored in the memory of the machinery.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pedal clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention in an open position and positioned to receive the pedals of a vehicle ; Figure 2 shows the pedal clamp of figure 1 in a closed position and enclosing the vehicle pedals; and Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a pedal clamp of the present invention.

Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2 there is shown first embodiment of a pedal clamp generally designated 10. The clamp 10 comprises a base 12 and a cover 14 joined by a hinge 16, and a handle 18. The cover 14 is provided with spaced slots 20, 22,24 which are adapted to receive the stems 26,28,30 of the clutch 32, brake 34 and accelerator 36 pedals respectively of a vehicle. The base and cover 12,14 co-operate, in use, to enclose the heads 50,52,54 of the pedals 32,34,36.

A lock mechanism 38 is provided to, in use, lock the base and cover 12,14 in a closed position. The lock mechanism 38 comprises a lock barrel 40 housed in the base 12 and a locking plate 42 of the cover 14. The lock barrel 40 is provided with a plunger 44 which, in use, is received in an aperture 46 of the locking plate 42. To engage the lock mechanism 38, the lock barrel 40 is depressed and the plunger 44 moved into the aperture 46. A key (not shown) is used to unlock the lock mechanism. The cover 14 is further provided with an internal arrnoured plate 48 in the region of the lock barrel 40.

The plate 48 is manufactured from a hard material which is resistant to drilling.

The base and cover 12,14 are formed from sheet metal which is then folded and welded into the required shapes. The hinge 16 is connected to the base 12 and cover 14 via appropriate fixing means, for example by welding or the use of nuts and bolts. The handle 18 is manufactured from a length of tube which is bent to the required shape and then welded to the base 12. In the embodiment shown, the handle 18 includes an additional tubular strut 56 extending between the base 12 and the handle 18.

Operation of the clamp 10 will now be described. The embodiment shown is adapted for use with a vehicle having manual transmission and accordingly is provided with three pedals 32,34,36 adapted to operate the clutch, brake and accelerator respectively.

Once the vehicle has been parked, the clamp 10 is introduced into the drivers side footwell in the open position shown in figure 1. The clamp 10 is positioned such that the heads 50,52,54 of the pedals 32,34,36 are received inside the clamp 10. The cover 14 is then closed to the base 12 so that the pedal stems 26,28,30 are received in the slots 20,22,24. The lock mechanism 38 is then operated to lock the base 12 and cover 14 in the closed position. As the pedal heads 50,52,54 are wider than the slots 20,22,24, the clamp 10 can not be removed from the pedals without the lock mechanism 38 being unlocked and the base 12 and cover 14 moved to the open position. When the base and cover 12,14 are in the closed position, the handle 18 acts as rest against the vehicle floor 58.

The slots 20,22 are configured such that the stems 26,28 of the clutch and brake pedals 32,34 fit closely thereto. In particular, the transverse edges 60,62 of the slots 20,22 are arranged so as to be close to the stems 26,28 when the base 12 and cover 14 are in the closed position. In contrast, the slot 24 adapted to receive the stem 30 accelerator pedal 36 is arranged so as to be loose fit.

If pressure is applied to the cover 12, for example by a potential thief of the vehicle, the clamp 10 will tend to pivot about the handle 18 which is in contact with the vehicle floor 58. As the clamp 10 pivots, the transverse edges 60,62 of the brake and clutch pedal slots 20,22 come into contact with the stems 26,28 of the brake and clutch pedals 32, 34. This has the effect of operating the braking system of the vehicle and disengaging the clutch of the vehicle. Conversely, the loose fit between the accelerator pedal 36 and its respective slot 24, ensures that pressure applied to cover 12 does not depress the accelerator pedal 36. The combined effect is to allow activation of the pedals 32,34 which relate to vehicle operations which resist theft of the vehicle, i. e. engaging the brakes and disengaging the clutch, while preventing activation of the accelerator pedal which may assist a thief.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a clamp 10 according to the present invention. Features common to the previously described embodiment are identified with like numerals. In the alternative embodiment shown in figure 3, the slot 24 for the accelerator pedal 36 provided in the base 12 as opposed to the cover 14. The lock barrel 40 is carried by the cover 14 while the locking plate 42 is provided in the base 12. The locking plate 42 is defined by a recessed side wall 64 of the base 12.

The lock barrel 40 and locking plate 42 are provided on a side of the clamp 10. This configuration allows a user to conveniently operate the lock mechanism 38 with a palm of their hand as the clamp 10 is fitted to the pedals of a vehicle. The embodiment of figure 3 is also provided with a single piece handle 18.

The embodiments described above relate to a clamp 10 adapted to fit a vehicle having manual transmission. It will be readily understood that the present invention is equally suitable to vehicles having automatic transmission. In such an embodiment the clamp would be configures to receive two pedals, namely the clutch and accelerator pedals.

Claims

Claims 1. A device for preventing access to the accelerator and brake pedals of a motor vehicle, the device comprising a base member having a cover member pivotally connected thereto, the base and cover members being movable between an open position for receiving the distal portions of an accelerator pedal and brake pedal of a motor vehicle, and a closed position enclosing said distal portions, the device having slots therein to permit the stems of said pedals to project therethrough in the closed position and locking means to lock the base and cover members in the closed position, wherein the device, in the closed position, is adapted to transmit pressure applied thereto to the brake pedal and hence activate the vehicle braking system.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slots are provided in the base member.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slots are provided in the cover member.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slots are provided in the base member and the cover member.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the slot for the brake pedal is provided in the cover and the slot for the accelerator pedal in the base member.
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an edge of the brake pedal slot is adapted to contact the brake pedal stem when pressure is applied to the device.
7. A device as claimed any preceding claim wherein the device includes a carrying handle
8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the handle is adapted to rest against the floor of the vehicle when the device is in the closed position around the pedals.
9. A device as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the carrying handle extends from the base member.
10 A device as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the handle is tubular.
11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, the device being adapted to receive a distal portion of the clutch pedal of a vehicle having manual transmission and, when in the closed position, transmit pressure applied to the device to the clutch pedal and hence disengage the clutch of the vehicle.
12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the device has additional slot therein for receiving the stem of the clutch pedal.
13. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the stem of the clutch pedal is received in the same slot as the brake pedal
14. A device as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein an edge of the clutch pedal slot is adapted to contact the clutch pedal stem when pressure is applied to the device
15. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the locking means comprise lock housing having a plunger on one of the base and cover members, and a locking plate having an aperture adapted to receive the plunger on the other of the base and cover members.
16. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the device is strengthened in the region of the lock housing.
17. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the device is strengthened by the provision of a hardened plate in the region of the lock housing.
18. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in figures 1 and 2, or figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.