GB2436546A

GB2436546A - Vehicle secrity device

Info

Publication number: GB2436546A
Application number: GB0606498A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Jeffrey Taylor; David Martin Humphries
Original assignee: Lowe and Fletcher Ltd
Current assignee: Lowe and Fletcher Ltd
Priority date: 2006-03-31
Filing date: 2006-03-31
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Also published as: GB0606498D0

Abstract

A security device for a vehicle wheel 15 comprising an engagement member 19 connected or adapted for connection to a suspension component 11,13 which carried the wheel; and a blocking member 16 adapted to be engaged with the wheel and extend through an opening 25 therein to co-operate with the engagement member, where in the engagement member includes a formation or slot 22 extending in a circumferential direction relative to the wheel, with which formation the blocking member is engagable in a range of rotational positions of the wheel. The blocking member has locking means 32 by which it can be locked in engagement with the wheel.

Description

Title: Vehicle security device

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a vehicle security device. The invention has been devised for use in relation to trailer vehicles such as caravans, to prevent unauthorised movement thereof.

Theft of caravans and other types of trailer is a significant problem. Various forms of device have been used or proposed to provide increased security; such devices include wheel clamp devices, some of which are vulnerable to unauthorised removal by persons equipped with cutting tools, and most of which are bulky and thus difficult to store when not in use. Further devices have been proposed in US patent 6427498 and 4622833, including a member which extends through a wheel part and engages a chassis or suspension part of the trailer to prevent wheel rotation, but such devices are difficult to fit and require careful setting of Troiatio rposition of the wheel, relative to the chassis or suspension part to enable the device to be applied. EP 1544064 discloses an arrangement including a base securable to a suspension component a trailer chassis and a locking assembly releasably securable to the base, the locking assembly being positionable through an aperture of a wheel to prevent rotation of the wheel relative to the suspension component to which the base is secured, but this apparatus also requires setting of the wheel in a particular rotational position (or one of a number of rotational positions) in order to be used.

It is broadly the object of the present invention to provide a security device useable for a trailer vehicle, in which one or more of the above disadvantages associated with previously-known devices are overcome or reduced.

According to one aspect of the present invention, we provide a security device for a vehicle wheel, comprising a blocking member adapted to be engaged with the wheel and extend through an opening therein for co-operation with an engagement member for restraining the wheel, wherein the blocking member has locking means by which it can be locked in engagement with the wheel.

Whilst it would be within the broadest scope of the invention for the blocking member to be arranged to co-operate, e.g. make contact, with an existing chassis or suspension component of the vehicle thereby to restrain the wheel against rotation, preferably the engagement member is one which is adapted specifically for co-operation with the blocking member, and is connected or adapted for connection to a chassis or suspension component which carries, directly, or indirectly, the wheel.

The engagement member may have a formation or formations with which the blocking member is engagable at more than one rotational position of the wheel. Conveniently this is afforded by a formation which extends circumferentially relative to the wheel, so that it is engagable at a range of rotational positions of the wheel.

According to another aspect of the invention, we provide a security device for a vehicle wheel, comprising an engagement member connected or adapted for connection to a chassis or suspension component which carries, directly or indirectly, the wheel; and a blocking member adapted to be engaged with the wheel and extend through an opening therein to co-operate with the engagement member, wherein the engagement member includes a formation with which the blocking member is engagable in a number of rotational positions of the wheel.

The formation in the engagement member may extend in a circumferential direction relative to the wheel, so that the blocking member is engagable therewith in a range of rotational positions of the wheel.

Preferably the engagement member is connected or adapted for connection to a suspension component which moves with the wheel, so that the position of the formation of the engagement member does not change relative to the axis of rotation of the wheel as the wheel changes its position relative to the vehicle.

This aspect of the invention may be combined with the first aspect of the invention as above set forth, i.e. the blocking member may have locking means by which it can be locked into engagement with the wheel.

The blocking member preferably comprises a head portion adapted to engage with an opening in the wheel such as one of the openings provided for ventilation and aesthetic reasons in the nave portion of the vehicle wheel, between spoke portions thereof.

The locking means may comprise locking elements able to be extended from a part of the head portion to engage with the rear (unexposed) surface of the wheel adjacent the opening therein. The head portion of the blocking member preferably also at least partially covers one or more of the attachment devices such as bolts by which the wheel is held to a hub rotatable on an axle member carried by the suspension of the vehicle, so that when the security device is in position wheel removal is hindered.

The locking elements, such as locking rods or bars, may be operable by a key-operated mechanism disposed within or associated with the head portion of the blocking member. As an alternative to the use of a key-operated mechanism, an electrical or mechanical locking mechanism of some other sort could be utilised, e.g. a keypad-operated mechanism, a card reader mechanism, or any other type. As an alternative to the use of locking elements such as locking bars, which would be movable to extend laterally from the head portion so as to engage with the rear surface of the wheel, rotary cam formations or any other desired form of locking element could be utilised.

The blocking member may comprise an elongate element extending from the head portion thereof, which, in use, extends generally parallel to the rotational axis of the wheel to engage the engagement member.

The engagement member may include a portion which may be generally in the form of a plate, and the formation therein extending circumferentially relative to the rotational axis to the wheel may comprise an arcuate slot with which an end portion of the elongate element of the blocking member is adapted to co-operate.

The elongate element of the blocking member may, at its end remote from the head portion of the blocking member, simply extend into the formation of the engagement member; thereby rotation of the wheel beyond the extent of the formation in the engagement member, may be prevented. Alternatively, however, it may be releasably securable to the engagement member.

It may be releasably securable to the engagement member at one or more portions, e.g. end portions, only of the formation thereof, or throughout the length thereof.

In one possible manner of releasable securement of the elongate element of the blocking member to the engagement member, the elongate element may terminate in a portion which is able to pass through the circumferential slot in the engagement member in one orientation but be retained therein in another orientation. For example, the elongate element may have lugs or an enlarged end portion, shaped so as to be able to pass through the slot when aligned lengthwise of the slot, but after having passed through the slot, be retained therein when the elongate element is reoriented about its longitudinal axis. If, when the blocking member is held in engagement with the wheel, the elongate element thereof is held in the orientation in which the lugs cannot pass through the elongate slot in the engagement member, the wheel is, in effect, held captive to the engagement member as well as being prevented from rotating. Thereby security of the device is further enhanced.

A further alternative is that the end of the elongate element of the blocking member remote from the head portion thereof may be provided with a screw thread, engagable with a correspondingly screw-threaded member held captive in the slot in the engagement member but movable lengthwise thereof.

With this construction, the ability of the screw threaded member in the slot to move lengthwise of the slot means that it can be moved to align with the elongate element of the blocking member, rather than alignment having to be achieved by rotating the wheel until an opening therein is in alignment with a fixed screw threaded member.

In this case, the elongate element of the blocking member may be rotatable relative to the head portion thereof, and be able to be engaged with the screw threaded member by engaging the elongate member by a suitable key or tool to screw it into the screw threaded member.

Although it is preferred that the engagement member of a security device in accordance with the invention has the circumferentially-extending formation to enable engagement of the blocking member therewith over a range of rotational positions of the wheel, it is envisaged that a blocking member in accordance with the second aspect of the invention may be useable with advantage, to provide increased security, in a device wherein the engagement member does not have the circumferentially-extending formation, so that rotational positioning of the wheel is necessary for the blocking member can be used.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic horizontal section through part of a typical axle and wheel-carrying assembly of a trailer, with a security device in accordance with the invention in engagement therewith.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the axle assembly.

Figure 3 illustrates, in perspective view, engagement of a device in accordance with the invention with a wheel, in relation to an axle assembly.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a blocking member of the device according to the invention, from the opposite side from which it is seen in Figure 3.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate details of possible modifications of the invention.

Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, these show, diagrammatically, part of a typical wheel-carrying suspension assembly of a kind which is very commonly used on caravans and other trailer vehicles. It comprises a generally square-section hollow member 10 which is fixed in any suitable manner, by means not shown, to a chassis component of the vehicle.

Within the member 10 is supported, for angular movement about an axis 11, a further square-section tubular member 12, which is oriented so that its flat sides face the internal corners of the member 10. Cylindrical resilient elements, in the form of rubber rods, are interposed between the respective facing flat surfaces and corners, so that angular movement of the member 12 relative to the member 10 about the axis 11 is resisted by resilient deformation of such elements. A part of the member 12 extending outwardly beyond the end of the member 10 carries an arm 13, at whose end there is an axle with bearings carrying a hub and brake drum indicated generally at 14. The hub and brake drum assembly 14 provides for attachment a wheel part of whose nave or central part is indicated at 15b and part of whose tyre-carrying rim is indicated at 15a.

In accordance with the present invention, a security device comprises a blocking member, indicated generally at 16 in Figures 1, 3 and 4, and an engagement member indicated generally at 19 Figures 1 and 2. The blocking member comprises a head portion 17 and an elongate element 18, the former being engagable with the wheel in a manner to be described in greater detail hereafter and the latter being engagable with a formation of the engagement member 19.

The engagement member 19 comprises a portion 20 which extends into the outermost end portion of the member 12 so as to be movable angularly with the member 12 about the axis 11. From the portion 20 there extends a p late-like portion 21 which is provided with a slot 22 of arcuate form, centred on the axis about which the brake-drum/hub assembly 14, and the wheel 15 carried thereby, is rotatable.

Figure 3 illustrates that the wheel 15 is, in the present example, a cast-alloy component of a type commonly used on caravans for example. Its nave I 5b has a number of "spoke" elements 24, spaced from one another to provide ten openings therebtween, an alternate five of such openings being of relatively large dimensions as indicated at 25 and the other alternate five such openings being of much smaller dimensions as indicated at 26. Also visible on the wheel 15, in figure 3, are four openings 28 in the central part of the wheel's nave, for receiving bolts by which the wheel is secured to the brake-drum/hub assembly 14 (screw-threaded apertures for reception of such bolts are not shown in the present drawings of the brake-drum/hub assembly 14; their arrangement and disposition are well known).

The head portion 17 of the blocking member, seen in figures 3 and 4, has a part 30 shaped to fit closely within one of the larger openings 25 in the wheel 15. The part 30 houses locking elements in the form of locking rods or bars 32, which by operation of a key are able to be extended outwardly from the body part 30 on opposite sides thereof, to engage with the rear (non-visible) surface of the wheel to either side of the opening 25, thereby to secure the blocking member to the wheel. A key is entered through opening 38 in the head portion 17 of the blocking member, to co-operate with a lock/operating mechanism to effect such movement of the locking elements 32. When thus secured, a part 34 of the head portion 17 of the blocking member extends to cover the adjacent two apertures 28 which receive bolts by which the wheel is held to the brake-drum hub assembly, so that when the blocking member is thus engaged access to such bolts to enable the wheel to be removed is impeded.

When the blocking member is thus secured to a wheel, the elongate element 18 thereof extends generally parallel to the rotational axis of the wheel, so that its end portion 36 remote from the head portion 17 is able to extend into and through the slot 22 in the engagement member 19.

The end portion of the elongate element 18 of the blocking member may simply extend through the slot 22, thereby preventing rotation of the wheel by more than the extent of the slot 22. However, it may co-operate with the engagement member in such a way as to hold the blocking member thereto.

In Figures 3 and 4, the end portion, 36 of the elongate element 18 is indicated as having a laterally-extended protuberance or oppositely outwardly extending lugs, arranged so that when the larger dimension of the protuberance or the Jugs are in alignment with the length of the slot 22 they are able to pass through the latter but if the elongate element 18 is oriented at 900 to that position, about its longitudinal axis, they cannot pass through the slot. The elongate element 18 may then be angularly movable about its longitudinal axis relative to the head portion 17 of the blocking member, and be able to be thus moved by use of a key or the like. The blocking member may be applied to the wheel and the end 36 of its elongate element 18 passed through the slot 22 when the elongate element is appropriately oriented, after which the elongate element may be reoriented to hold it captive the engagement member 19. At the same time, the locking elements 32 may be deployed to engage them with the wheel and hold the blocking member securely to the wheel. Such operation of the locking elements 32 and angular movement of the elongate element 18 may be effected together, by use of a common key.

Figure 3 shows that the opening 38 in the head portion 17 of the blocking member 16, for receiving a key for operating the locking elements 32 (and possibly also effecting angular movement of the elongate element 18 as referred to above, lies within a generally U or V shaped recess 40 in the front end face of the head portion 17. A cover 42 may be fitted in the recess 40 to prevent access to the opening 38 and to keep out foreign matter; the cover 42 itself may be securable in relation to the recess 40 by a locking mechanism of known type.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, this shows a possible modification of the invention wherein one (or both) or the end regions of slot 22 in part 21 of the engagement member 19 is narrowed, as indicated at 44. The end portion of the elongate element 18 of the blocking member, remote from the head portion 17, is illustrated, and this comprises a reduced-diameter portion 46 followed by an end portion 48 of the same diameter as the remainder of the elongate element 18. The end portion 48 is able to pass through the slot 22, but not the end portion 44 thereof, while the reduced diameter portion 46 is able to enter the reduced diameter portion 44 of the slot by movement lengthwise of the slot.

When this modification is incorporated in the invention, the blocking member is able to be positioned in relation to the wheel and locked thereto as long as the opening 25 in the wheel is in alignment with part of the normal-width part of the slot 22. If the wheel is rotated from that position, the reduced diameter portion 46 enters the narrower end portion 44 of the slot in the engagement member 21, so the blocking member is held to the engagement member, thereby increasing the security of the device.

Referring finally now to Figure 6, this illustrates a further modification of the invention in which the slot 22 in part 21 of the engagement member receives an element 50 which is held captive in the slot but movable lengthwise thereof.

The element 50 has a screw-threaded aperture 52, with which is engagable a correspondingly screw-threaded end portion 54 of the elongate element 18 of the blocking member.

In this embodiment, the element 50 can be moved along the slot 22 to align with one of the openings 25 in the wheel. When thus aligned, the blocking member can be applied to the wheel and the elongate element 18 thereof engaged with the element 50, the elongate element 18 being rotated by use of a suitable tool or key to screw its threaded end portion 54 into the threaded aperture 52. Thus, with the blocking member secured to the engagement member, a high degree of security is achieved.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

Title: Vehicle security device Claims 1. A security device for a

vehicle wheel, comprising a blocking member adapted to be engaged with the wheel and extend through an opening therein for co-operation with an engagement member for restraining the wheel, wherein the blocking member has locking means by which it can be locked in engagement with the wheel.

2. A security device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is connected or adapted for connection to a chassis or suspension component which carries the wheel.

3. A security device according to claim 2 wherein the engagement member has a formation or formations with which the blocking member is engagable at more than one rotational position of the wheel.

4. A security device according to claim 3 wherein the formation extends circumferentially relative to the wheel.

5. A security device for a vehicle wheel, comprising an engagement member connected or adapted for connection to a chassis or suspension component which carries the wheel; and a blocking member adapted to be engaged with the wheel and extend through an opening therein to co-operate with the engagement member, wherein the engagement member includes a formation with which the blocking member is engagable in a number of rotational positions of the wheel.

6. A security device according to claim 5 wherein the formation extends in a circumferential direction relative to the wheel so that the blocking member is engagable therewith in a range of rotational positions of the wheel.

7. A security device according to claim5 or claim 6 wherein the blocking member has locking means by which it can be locked into engagement with the wheel.

8. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blocking member comprises a head portion adapted to engage with an opening in the wheel between spoke portions thereof.

9. A security device according to claim 8 wherein the blocking member comprises locking elements able to be extended from a part of the head portion to engage with the rear surface of the wheel adjacent the opening therein.

10. A security device according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the head portion of the blocking member at least partially covers one or more attachment devices by which the wheel is held to a hub member.

11. A security device according to claim 9 or claim 10 as appendent thereto wherein the locking elements are operable by a key-operated mechanism disposed within or associated with the head portion of the blocking member.

12. A security device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blocking member comprises an elongate element extending, in use, generally parallel to the rotational axis of the wheel to engage the engagement member.

13. A security device according to claim 6 or any claim appendent thereto wherein the engagement member includes a portion having an arcuate slot therein, with which the blocking member engages 14. A security device according to claim 12 and claim 13 wherein the elongate element of the blocking member, at its end remote from the head portion thereof, extends into the arcuate slot of the engagement member.

15. A security device according to claim 12 and claim 13 wherein the elongate element of the blocking member, at its end remote from the head portion thereof, is releasably securable to the engagement member.

16. A security device according to claim 15 wherein the elongate element of the blocking member is releasably securable to the engagement member at a portion or portions only of the arcuate slot thereof.

17. A security device according to claim 15 wherein the elongate element of the blocking member is releasably securable to the engagement member throughout the length of the arcuate slot therein.

18. A security device according to claim 17 wherein the elongate element of the blocking member has a portion which is able to pass through the slot in the engagement member in one orientation but be retained therein in another orientation, the elongate element being angularly movable about its longitudinal axis between said orientations, relative to the head portion of the blocking member.

19. A security device according to claim 17 wherein the end of the elongate element of the blocking member is screw-threadedly engagable with a correspondingly screw-threaded member held captive in the arcuate slot in the engagement member.

20. A security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

21. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.