GB2412638A

GB2412638A - Steering wheel lock permanently mounted to vehicle body

Info

Publication number: GB2412638A
Application number: GB0407325A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Halliwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-31
Filing date: 2004-03-31
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2024-03-31
Also published as: GB2412638B; GB0407325D0

Abstract

A locking device which can be applied to a steering wheel rim to prevent rotation of the wheel, the device being mounted permanently above the steering wheel on the existing mounts provided for a vehicle sun visor. When not in use the device is stowed within a tube A attached to the sun visor mounts. The device is retained within the tube by means of a locking ring assembly (fig 5). When required for use the device can be extended telescopically and pivoted to a position in which it is in contact with the rim of the steering wheel. The end of the device can then be clamped to the steering wheel by means of a lockable claw assembly (fig 3) locked by a key-operated gear mechanism.

Description

24 1 2638

PATENT APPLICATION

TITLE UNIVERSAL: CAPTIVE STEERING WHEEL LOCK

FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

BACKGROUND

Existing Motor Vehicle, Steering Wheel, Locks, fall into two major types.

a) Those which 'sandwich', the steering wheel, between two plates, which are then locked together, and have an integral extension in the form of a rod, which impinges against the vehicle fascia, or some other part of the vehicle interior, to prevent the steering wheel from turning b) Those comprising an extendible rod, which is fixed at one end to the vehicle interior or gear change lever, and has a lockable claw at the other end, which engages onto the steering wheel rim., to prevent rotation.

Both types are vulnerable to determined thieves, equipped with small hacksaws, and battery driven tools, but more importantly, both types are bulky, and have to be carried separately and on display in the vehicle, as a reminder to the driver to use them. Their worst drawback however, is that they have to be assembled and fitted, before each journey, and then dissembled, and stored, afterwards, generally a time consuming, even complicated task, to the extent of being a deterrent to their use.

The Steering Wheel Lock proposed in this Patent Application, seeks to eliminate the above drawbacks of conventional Steering Wheel Locking Devices, as follows: 1) By arranging that the Lock is permanently attached to the vehicle, yet is accessible and easy to engage onto, and disengage from the steering wheel.

2) A Lock that can be stowed safely and unobtrusively, when not in use, and will not pose a hazard in an accident 3) That the means of permanently attaching the lock to the vehicle, and it's usage when fitted, is suitable for the majority of motor vehicles, without the need for modification, to the vehicle itself. The Lock, being simply 'bolted on', using special mounting brackets and fittings, which utilise the existing fixings, used for the Sunvisor Mounting Bracket, and the Sunvisor Clip., which are universally fitted to motor vehicles.

4) Robustly constructing the Lock in case-hardened or hardened and tempered steel, in order to resist attack from hacksaws and other tools.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

This Lock relies on the fact, that the distance between the top edge of the windscreen, to the nearest point on the steering wheel rim, is relatively constant for most vehicles of the same type. Additionally almost all vehicles have the Sunvisor mounting bracket, and Sunvisor Clip, attached by common fixings into the top of the Windscreen surround, or the most forward section of the vehicles roof interior panel. The dimensions of these fixings are surprisingly consistent, and it is the use of these two factors, which form the basis of this Lock.

Consequently it is possible to conceive of a hardened steel locking rod hinged at one end, and attached near to the top edge of the windscreen, (using the existing Sunvisor, and Sunvisor Clip Fittings), the other free end, which can then be swung down, near to the steering wheel, to allow the 'Lockable Claw' attached to it, to engage with the rim of the steering wheel, to prevent it from turning. Unfortunately such an arrangement would be extremely dangerous if it broke loose during a crash, and it is the safe securing of the device, when not in use, which is paramount in any such design.

Details of the layout, assembly and components, of this Application are indicated in the attached drawings, FIGURE 1 through to FIGURE 6 which are referred to below.

This Application solves the above difficulties, by attaching the Lockable Claw, assembly, (FIGURE 3,) to one end of a tube, called the Inner Sliding Tube, (B), which lies inside an outer tube, called the Retaining Tube.,(A). This Retaining Tube is fixed to the vehicle using two special Mounting Clips, (S), which clamp it with fixings which locate onto the mountings for the Sunvisor ad its Retaining Clip (V and T). A Short Rod, A, rests inside the Inner Sliding Tube. This Rod has a Ball, (E), on one end, which is of the same diameter as the bore of the Retaining Tube. The other end of the Short Rod, has a shoulder of the same diameter as the bore of the Inner Sliding Tube, which abuts onto an internal Stop Ring, (D),located in the other end of the Inner Sliding Tube. The Ball on the end of the Short Rod, abuts internally on the swayed end of the Retaining Tube. This end of the Retaining Tube has a Slot, (Y), cut into it, to allow the Short Rod, and with it the Inner Sliding Tube and Lockable Claw, to be swung downwards, when the Ball comes into contact with the swayed end of the Retaining Tube. When fully retracted, the telescopic components are held secure, inside the Retaining Tube, by a Locking Ring assembly, (FIGURE 5), which is connected to the Lockable Claw and Inner Sliding Tube, by Bolt, (N). The Collar (K),of which slips over the slotted end of the Retaining Tube, and is secured by means of the four Spring Catches, (H), which engage into the Groove, (Z), located on the outside surface of the Retaing Tube, beyond the end of its Slot. There is an End Cap (F), on the other end of the Retaining Tube.

To use the Lock; the Locking Ring assembly, is first released from the Retaining Tube, by pulling on the Ring,(G), against the Coil spring, (J), which then allows the Inner Sliding Tube to be drawn out until the shoulder of the Short Rod abuts internally onto the Stop Ring. As the Inner Sliding Tube is further drawn out, it now pulls the Short Rod and Ball along the bore of the Retaining Tube, until the Ball makes contact with the swayed end of the Retaining Tube. The Inner Sliding Tube, and Short Rod, together with the Locking Ring, and Lockable Claw assembly, is then swung down so as to engage onto the Steering Wheel Rim, by closing the two Claws (X and X), over it. The Cylinder Lock (L), is then turned so that its chisel, is driven into the gears A, to 'jam' them, and so that the two Claws become locked.

After use, the Lockable Claw is released from the steering wheel rim. The Inner Sliding Tube is then pushed upwards, over the Short Rod, and then swung upwards, through the Slot in the end of the Retaining Tube, when it is then slid back into the Retaining Tube, where it is securely held by the Sprig Catches of the Locking Ring assembly, engaging with the Groove, in the end of the Retaining Tube.

The Retaining Tube is attached adjacent to the top of the windscreen, by special Mounting Clips which use the existing fixing holes, (either tapped holes or captive nuts), for fixing the Sunvisor Mounting Bracket, and the Sunvisor Clip.

The Lock, is installed in the vehicle by first removing the sunvisor and it's fittings, and replacing them by the special Mounting Clips, for the Retaining Tube of the Lock.. The Sunvisor Mounting Bracket, and Sunvisor Clip are then secured back into position on top of these mountings, by special high tensile security screws, which cannot be undone after tightening.

The maximum length of this Retaining Tube, approximates to the distance between these two sets of fixing holes in the windscreen surround, which would limit the length of any single tube, retracting into it. Universality of fitting is therefore achieved by: a) Adopting a telescopic, arrangement, whereby, the Short Rod can slide, inside the Inner Sliding Tube, which itself can 'telescope' into the Retaining Tube, so increasing the reach of the Locking Claw.

b) By making the Mounting Clips of 'pinch', type, to allow adjustment in position of the Retaining Tube, before fixing, and to accommodate differences in the separation of the two sets of fixing holes in the top of the Windscreen surround.

Claims

1). Since the distance between the top edge of the windscreen, and the nearest point of the steering wheel rim, is relatively constant for vehicles of the same type; the use of this common dimension, in a Vehicle Steering Wheel Lock, gives the basis, of universality' since the relatively small differences in this dimension are accommodated, by the telescopic arrangement of the components.

The construction and components of the device, are described in the FIGURE1, through to FIGURE 6, included with his Application.

2). This Application utilises this fact, and concerns a Vehicle Steering Wheel Lock, in the form a hardened steel, inner Sliding Tube (B), with a Lockable Claw assembly, (FIGURE 3),on it's free end, which rests inside a steel Retaining Tube (A) ,, when not in useThe reach of the Lockable Claws (X X), is further extended, by a Short Rod A, which abuts internally inside the Inner Sliding Tube, and which has a Ball (E),on one end, so that when the Inner Sliding Tube is drawn out from the Retaining Tube, it pulls out the Short Rod until the Ball comes against the internally swayed end of the Retaining Tube, the end Slot (Y), which, allows the Inner Sliding Tube, Short Rod and Lockable Claw to swing down and engage onto the Steering Wheel.

The Lockable Claw, has a Locking Ring assembly (FIGURE 5), to hold it securely on the end of The Retaining Tube when The Lock is in the fully retracted position. The Retaining Tube is itself permanently attached to the vehicle, parallel with, and adjacent to the top of the windscreen; by means of utilising the existing fixings of the Sunvisor Mounting Bracket together with those of the Sunvisor Clip, which are situated in the top section of the windscreen surround. These fixings take the form of rolled or tapped threads, or captive nuts, in the windscreen surround or its vicinity and are again, almost universally interchangeable.

3). To install the device, the vehicle's Sunvisor Mounting Bracket, and Sunvisor Clip, are first removed, from their fixings in the windscreen surround. The Retaining Tube's Mounting Clips, which are pre-drilled, to coincide with these fixing holes, are then held up over them, and the correct position of the Retaining Tube obtained by sliding and twisting it through the Mounting Clips. The Sunvisor Mounting Bracket and the Sunvisor Clip, are returned to their original position, but this time on top of the Mounting Clips. The existing conventional fixing screws, are then replaced, by special security screws, so that they cannot be undone, once tightened. FIGURE I refers.

4).To use the Lock. The Locking Ring assembly (FIGURE 5), is released from the Groove in the end of the Retaining Tube. The Inner Sliding Tube with its Lockable Claw assembly, is withdrawn from the Retaining Tube until the Short Rod abuts internally against the Stop Ring the end of the Inner Sliding Tube., which is further withdrawn until the Ball (E), at the end of the Short Rod, abuts internally against the swayed end of the Retaining Tube. The Inner Sliding Tube and the Short Rod is then swung down' through the Slot in the end of the Retaining Tube so that the Lockable Claws can be attached to the steering wheel rim.

5). To stow away, the reverse of the above procedure is undertaken, it being necessary to ensure that the Locking Ring is properly engaged with its groove, which is positioned beyond the end of the Slot in the end of the Retaining Tube.