GB2358008A

GB2358008A - A vehicle security steering wheel device

Info

Publication number: GB2358008A
Application number: GB0007734A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley Hogarth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-07
Filing date: 2000-03-31
Publication date: 2001-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-31
Also published as: GB0007734D0; GB2358008B; GB0000264D0

Abstract

This device includes a spoke and rim assembly (2) connected by a locating plate (5) to a hub (3), the hub (3) being secured to the steering mechanism of the vehicle. The assembly (2) is attached to the hub (3) by a pivot (4). When the locating plate (5) is disengaged the assembly (2) is free to concentrically revolve around the hub (3) and so prohibits the revolving motion of the assembly (2) being transferred to the steering mechanism of the vehicle. The locating plate (5) is radially positioned to engage and disengage with an aperture (14) within the device. This radial movement is conveyed by a solenoid (8), return springs and a linkage. Included in the device is a locking pin (15) and locating stop (12) tp prevent unintentional movement of the locating plate (5), the releasing and locking movement of the locking pin (15) being conveyed by a further solenoid (6), return springs and linkage. The sequence of movements is controlled by an electronic control board.

Description

2358008 1 Title: Vehicle Security Steering Wheel 2 3 This invention

relates to an electro-mechamcal apparatus for dislocating the steering 4 wheel rim & spoke(s) from the steering wheel hub so as to render the steering system of 5 the vehicle inoperable. 6 7 Over recent years the incidence of vehicle theft has risen and is one of the major crimes 8 worldwide. It is clear that many of the devices in use which attempt to prevent the engine 9 from being started so as to frustrate vehicle theft often fail in their objective. It is also 10 clear that other mechanical devices such as steering wheel locks, gear stick locks and 11 steering columti locks are often easily overcome or broken by the determined thief using 12 brute force. 13 14 The object of the present invention is to prevent the parked or unattended vehicle being 15 driven away by a thief or an unauthorised person by disabling the steering system of the 16 vehicle so that the vehicle cannot be driven away even if the engine can be started. This 17 invention is so designed that it cannot be overcome by brute force and can be further 18 protected electronically by the use of a SIN4 card removal procedure. 19 20 According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle security 21 steering wheel [the device(l)] for use in a vehicle. The device is essentially similar to a 22 normal steering wheel. The device is attached by its hub to the steering column in the 23 normal way. Said device has a mechanical locating plate which connects the hub to the 24 spoke & rim assembly of the device so that the vehicle can be steered in the usual way. 25 Disengagement of the locating plate can be effected so that the spoke & rim assembly 26 revolves freely around the hub by way of a pivot spigot. Said pivot spigot fits into the 27 centre of the hub and is attached to the spoke & rim assembly. This disengagement 28 prevents the transfer of the revolving motion of the steering wheel to the hub and then 29 onto the steering column. so disabling the steeling system of the vehicle. 30 31 Said locating plate may be situated within the spoke & rim assembly of the device and can 32 engage and disengage with an aperture within the hub. Alternatively the said locating 33 plate may be situated within the hub of the device and can engage and disengage with an 34 aperture within the spoke & rim assembly. 35 36 Preferably the locating plate is adapted to fit in a housing within the device so that it can 37 freely slide out and in of the housing and can engage and disengage with the 38 aforementioned aperture. At all times part of the locating plate remains engaged within 39 the aforementioned housing. 40 41 Preferably said sliding movement means comprises an electrical motor means, such as a 42 solenoid, adapted to cause said locating plate to slide out and in of the housing so causing 43 the spoke & rim assembly and the hub to engage and disengage. Preferably said electrical 44 motor means is linked to the locating plate by a connecting member. 45 46 Preferably the pivot spigot which is attached to the spoke & rim assembly fits into a 47 central socket in the hub and is conveniently sized so that the spoke & rim assembly can revolve freely around the hub. The said pivot spigot may be of hollow construction to 2 allow access to a steering column securing bolt, nut or other securing means (9)figs 4 & 4A.

3 4 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking pin fitted within the device which prevents the locating plate from accidentally sliding out of 6 its engaged and disengaged position. The said locking pin engages with a stop part of the 7 locating plate to prevent movement of the locating plate and is retracted from the locking 8 position when the locating plate is required to engage or disengage with the 9 aforementioned aperture.

11 Preferably said movement of the locking pin means comprises an electrical motor means, 12 such as a solenoid, adapted to cause said locking pin to engage and disengage with a stop 13 part of the locating plate. Preferably said electrical motor means is connected to the 14 locking pin by a connecting member.

16 Preferably there includes a control apparatus to operate the said locating plate solenoid 17 and locking pin solenoid.

is 19 Preferably the solenoids are timed to operate sequentially as required. The timers may be electronically controlled- Springs(l 3) may be used in the operation (figures 3 & 3 A).

21 22 Preferably the dimensions and shapes of the said aperture and the locating plate in the 23 device are such that their engagement and disengagement is made easy and when engaged 24 the device operates like a normal steering wheel.

26 Preferably there is an air bag chamber(7) in the spoke & rim assembly to allow the normal 27 fitting of an air bag safety apparatus (not shown) to the device (figures 4 & 4A) 28 29 Preferably the electrical supply to the device will be isolated from the device when the ignition key of the vehicle is in place and switched to any position. This will ensure that 31 unintended disengagement cannot happen whilst the vehicle is in motion.

32 33 Preferably various types of hubs to suit various types of vehicles are interchangeable with 34 the rim & spoke assembly. The rim & spoke assembly and hub will be held laterally positioned to each other with a retaining ring(l 1) and retaining screws(l 7) (figs.4 & 4A) 36 37 Preferably the electrical power source will be provided to the device as is normally 38 achieved to a normal steering wheel.

39 An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only with 41 reference to the accompanying figures, where:

42 43 Figure 1 is a plan view of the device(l) showing the internal workings in the 44 engaged/steering condition when the steering system is enabled; 46 Figure 2 is a plan view of the device(l) showing the internal workings in the 47 disengaged/free condition when the steering system is disabled; 1 Figure 3 is a pictorial view of the mechanism(I0) showing the locating plate with its 2 operating solenoid and the locking pin with its operating solenoid in the disengaged/free 3 condition. 4 5 Figure 3A is a pictorial view of the mechanism(10) showing the locating plate with its 6 operating solenoid and the locking pin with its operating solenoid in the engaged/steering 7 condition. 8 9 Figure 4 is a side view of the device(l) showing how the profile of the spoke & rim 10 assembly fits around the hub in the disengaged/free condition. 11 12 Figure 4A is a side view of the device(l) showing how the profile of the spoke & rim 13 assembly fits around the hub in the engaged/steering condition. 14 15 Figure 5 is a pictorial view of the hub(3) of the device(l); 16 17 Referring to Figures 1 to 5 the spoke & rim assembly (2) are of integral construction and 18 are fitted to a separate hub (3) construction by means of a pivot spigot (4) so that the 19 outer circumference of the spoke & rim assembly (2) and the outer circumf&ence of the 20 hub (3) are concentric. Contained within the spoke & rim assembly (2) is the 21 mechanism(l 0) with the locating plate(5) and the locking pin (15) and the solenoids (6) 22 and (8) 23 24 With the locating plate (5) of the device (1) engaged with the aperture(14) in the hub (3), 25 the steering system can be used to steer the vehicle in the normal manner. Ihe device(l) is 26 in the engaged/steering condition ( Figures 1, 3A & 4A) 27 28 When the device(l) is required to disable the steering system of the vehicle it is activated 29 by the use of an infrared remote control appliance to activate the mechanism(l 0) so that it 30 will first cause the solenoid (6) to withdraw the locking pin(l 5) from the locating plate 31 stop(12) and secondly and momentarily later cause the solenoid (8) to slide the locating 32 plate(5) from the aperture(14) and so disengage the hub(3) from the spoke & rim 33 assembly(2). Momentarily after the disengagement of the locating plate(5) from the 34 aperture (14) in the hub(3) the solenoid (6) allows the locking pin(I5) to return to its 35 locking position at the locating plate stop(12). The device(l) is in the disengaged/free 36 condition (Figures 2, 3 & 4) 37 38 When the device(l) is required to enable the steering system of the vehicle it is activated 39 by the use of an infrared remote control appliance to activate the mechanism(l 0) so that it 40 will first cause the solenoid (6) to disengage the locking pin(l 5) from the locating plate 41 stop(12) and secondly and momentarily later cause the solenoid (8) to slide the locating 42 plate(5) into the aperture(14) of the hub(3) to engage the hub(3) with the spoke & rim 43 assembly(2). Momentarily after the engagement of the locating plate(5) into the 44 aperture(l 4) of the hub the solenoid (6) allows the locking pin(l 5) to return to its locking 45 position at the locating plate stop(12). The device(l) is in the engaged/steering condition 46 (Figures 1, 3A & 4A). 47 1 It will be obvious to the intelligent reader that when the device(l) is changing from the 2 disengaged condition (Figure 2) to the engaged condition (Figure 1) there is a chance that 3 the locating plate(5) and the aperture (14) could be misaligned. So the device(l) is 4 designed with a gap(l 6) so that when the solenoid(6) withdraws the locking pin(l 5) the 5 locating plate(5) will slide up to the edge of the hub(3) and the returning locking pin(l 5) 6 will make contact with the stop(12) and sit on the stop(12) held away from its locking 7 position. When the spoke & rim assembly(2) is revolved to the required position to align 9 the locating plate(5) with the aperture(14), the locating plate(5) will slide into the 9 aperture(14) whereupon the locking pin(15) will automatically move to its locking 10 position. 11 12 There may be a plurality of mechanisms(l 0) and a plurality of apertures(l 4) within the 13 device(l). 14 15 The device(l) will be made from materials usually used in the manufacture of normal 16 steering wheels. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

Claims

1. A vehicle security steering wheel device comprising: a spoke & rim assembly; a hub; at least one aperture; an electronic control board; a security mechanism; the hub is fifted to the steering system of the vehicle in the normal way; the spoke & rim assembly is attached to the hub by a pivot means; the hub and the spoke & rim assembly are connected by a disengageable locating plate which can move from an engaged or steering position for engaging the spoke & assembly with the hub, to a disengaged or free position for disengaging the spoke & rim assembly from the hub; the security mechanism consists of at least one locating plate; at least one locating plate stop; at least one locking pin; an electrical motor means connected by linkage to each locating plate; an electrical motor means connected by linkage to each locking pin return spings; a predetermined sequence of movements of the electric motors means controlled by the electronic control board causes the locating plate to engage or disengage with the aperture.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a housing to mount the locating plate, the electrical motors means, locking pin, locating plate stop, linkage and springs.

3 A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aperture is provided on a circumferential plane which is at substantially right angles to the radial plane and is of dimensions to allow said locating plate to slide neatly and engage within the shape of said aperture.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locating plate is mounted radially within said housing.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivot means is locatable in a central axis of said spoke & rim assembly.

6. A device as claimed in claims 1 & 5 wherein said spoke & rim assembly is attached concentrically to said hub by said pivot means.

7. A device as claimed in claims 1 & 2 wherein said electrical motor means comected to said locating plate comprises a solenoid adapted to convey radial movement to said locating plate so as to cause its engagement and disengagement with said aperture.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locating plate stop and said locking pin operate in co-ordination to prevent unintentional movement of said locating plate.

9. A device as claimed in chffim 1 & 8 wherein said electrical motor means connected to said locking pin comprises a solenoid adapted to convey movement to said locking pin which engages and disengages with said locating plate stop.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an electric circuit is made live to said security mechanism and said control board when either the ignition key of the vehicle is in the ignition lock and turned to the "off' position or the ignition key is removed from the ignition lock.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an electric circuit is broken to said security mechanism and said control board, isolating both from the electrical power source when the ignition key of the vehicle is in the ignition lock and switched to any "on" position.

12. A device as claimed in claims 1, 10 & 11 wherein said control board is provided with a user removable SIM card to govern and prevent unauthorised use of said device.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one return spring is fitted to said linkage of said locating plate.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one return spring is fitted to said linkage of said locking pin.

15. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said electronic control board controls the switching of electricity to the electric motors means so that they operate in sequences; changing from the engaged or steering condition to the disengaged or free condition: to firstly retract the locking pin from the locating plate stop; to secondly retract the locating plate from the aperture; to thirdly return the locking pin to the locating plate stop whereupon the spoke & rim assembly can revolve freely on said pivot means around said hub so as to prohibit transmission of said revolving movement of said spoke & rim assembly to the steering system of the vehicle; changing from the disengaged or free condition to the engaged or steering condition: to firstly retract the locking pin from the locating plate stop; to secondly return the locating plate to the aperture; to thirdly return the locking pin to the locating plate stop whereupon the spoke & rim assembly and the hub are connected so that rotational movement of the spoke & rim assembly is transmitted through said hub to the steering system of the vehicle.

16. A device as claimed in claims 1, 3 & 15 if said locating plate and said aperture are misaligned whilst in the disengaged or free condition wherein a radial gap is provided between said locating plate and said circumferential plane so as to ensure some radial movement of said locating plate when it tries to engage with said aperture; said locking pin is held away from its locking position and rests upon said locating plate stop; alignment of said locating plate and said aperture is arranged by rotationally moving said spoke & rim assembly whereupon said locating plate slides into said aperture and said locking pin engages with said locating plate stop.

17. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein if the aperture is sited within the spoke & rim assembly then the security mechanism is sited within the hub and conversely if the aperture is sited within the hub then the security mechanism is sited within the spoke & rim assembly.

18. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said device is operated by pressing a button on an infra-red remote control unit or by pressing a button on the dashboard of the vehicle, either of which will send a signal to the electronic control board to initiate the predetermined sequence of movements.

19. A vehicle security steering wheel device as desmW herein with reference to figures 1 - 5 of the accompanying drawings.