GB2441126A

GB2441126A - Anti-theft device for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2441126A
Application number: GB0621359A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ulrich Winterhoff
Original assignee: Gebr Vitte GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Gebr Vitte GmbH and Co
Priority date: 2006-08-23
Filing date: 2006-10-26
Publication date: 2008-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-26
Also published as: GB2441126B; DE202006012939U1; GB0621359D0

Abstract

An anti-theft device for vehicles with knuckles fixed to an axle, wherein a wheel rim with holes or spokes is fixed to a wheel carrier on the knuckle, in which the device consists of a small number of individual parts, has a high level of security against attempted break-ins and allows secure connection to the vehicle. The anti-theft device consists of an adapter 13 which can be fixed to the axle or to the knuckle and a base plate 1 which partially covers a wheel rim, in that the base plate 1 has a rim insert 2 which engages in a hole or free space of the wheel rim in the desired installed position, and a tube 3 which passes through the rim insert 2 and has an inner locking bar 4 is fixed to the base plate 1, the end of said tube which forms a lock bolt 6 engaging in a lock bolt recess 12 of the adapter 13 in the desired installed position and being able to be locked thereto, wherein the locking and unlocking takes place by means of a key-operated lock 8 which is inserted in the end of the tube 3 which is fixed to the base plate 1 or to the rim insert (2), wherein the base plate (1) has an access opening for accessing the lock 8.

Description

Anti-theft device for vehicles The invention relates to an anti-theft

device for vehicles, in particular two-track motor vehicles or trailers, wherein the vehicle has at least one axle and knuckles fixed to the axle, and wherein a wheel rim with holes or spokes is fixed to a wheel carrier of the knuckle by means of screws.

The object of the invention is to provide an anti-theft device of the generic type, which consists of a small number of individual parts, has a high level of security against attempted break-ins or attempted destruction, in which as far as possible no functionally essential parts are accessible to breaking-in tools, for example a cutting disc, and which allows secure connection to parts of the vehicle that are fixed to the frame.

In order to achieve this object, it is proposed that the anti-theft device consists of an adapter which can be fixed to the axle or to the knuckle and of a base plate which partially covers a wheel rim, that the base plate has a rim insert which engages in a hole or free space of the wheel rim in the desired installed position, that a tube which passes through the rim insert and has an inner locking bar is fixed to the base plate, the end of said tube which forms a lock bolt engaging in a lock bolt recess of the adapter in the desired installed position and being able to be locked thereto, wherein the locking and unlocking takes place by means of a key-operated lock which is inserted in the end of the tube which is fixed to the base plate or to the rim insert, wherein the base plate has an access opening for accessing the lock.

Such an anti-theft device consists of a small number of parts, namely the adapter which can be fixed to the axle or knuckle and the base plate. In order to install the anti-theft device, firstly the adapter is fixed to the end of the axle of the vehicle or to the knuckle. The wheel rim can then be fixed to the wheel carrier mounted on the knuckle, usually by means of screws. The rim has free spaces formed by holes or by spokes. The installation of the device takes place in such a way that the base plate is placed onto the rim from outside, wherein the base plate is preferably so large that it covers two wheel studs of the rim. The base plate is placed onto the rim in such a way that the rim insert engages in a corresponding free space or hole in the wheel rim, wherein the rim insert is preferably of conical shape in order to facilitate insertion into the corresponding cutout in the rim.

Preferably, the rim insert has a shape which is adapted to the cutout of the hole in the rim, so that the rim insert can be seated without play in the corresponding free space of the rim. The base plate is mounted with the rim insert at a point opposite the adapter, so that the tube which is fixed to the base plate and which passes through the rim insert and has an inner locking bar is positioned relative to the adapter such that one end of the locking bar which forms the lock bolt engages in a lock bolt recess of the adapter. Locking of the lock bolt to the lock bolt recess of the adapter can take place by operating the key of the lock accessible from the front side of the base plate. In the locked state, the base plate is securely connected to the adapter via the tube and the lock bolt, so that a secure connection to parts of the vehicle frame is achieved. Preferably, all the components are made of steel, in particular hardened steel, so that it is extremely difficult and time-consuming to destroy the anti-theft device using conventional tools, if any destruction is possible at all. Penetration of the connection between base plate and tube or penetration of the lock bolt for example by means of a cutting disc is not possible, since engagement in the gap between the base plate and the wheel rim is practically impossible. Even if engagement were to be possible, the rim insert of the base plate engaging in the wheel rim forms a virtually indestructible barrier. The adapter is protected between the rim and the knuckle or axle, so that access for the purpose of destruction is also practically impossible there. Destruction of the lock using conventional tools is also not possible since the lock is arranged in a manner sunk into the base plate and there are no protruding parts which could be removed for example using a cutting disc or the like. Despite the excellent security function achieved by the anti-theft device, simple installation and removal is possible.

It is preferably provided that the adapter has a prismatic or cylindrical shape which is adapted to the shape of a hole in the axle end or the knuckle, wherein the adapter consists of two parts which bear against one another with a respective wedge-shaped inclined face, wherein the first part, which faces away from the base plate, has a threaded bore and the second part, which faces towards the base plate, has a hole with a diameter greater than that of the threaded bore, the two parts being joined to one another by a screw which is supported with its head in a depression at the mouth of the second part, said screw being screwed into the threaded bore and its shaft passing through the hole with play, so that, when the screw is tightened, a transverse displacement of the second part relative to the first part takes place.

Usually, the axle has a polygonal cross-sectional shape, for example the shape of a square tube. The knuckle, which also has a corresponding hole, for example a square hole, is accordingly mounted on the axle end. The adapter, which consists of two parts, is inserted with these parts into said hole, the shape of said parts corresponding to the opening of the axle end or of the hole. In this position, the two parts bear against one another with a wedge-shaped inclined face. The corresponding head screw is then introduced on the side facing away from the axle, and screwed into the threaded bore of the first part by means of its threaded shaft. The head of the screw is then located in a depression at the mouth of the second part.

When the screw is tightened, the two parts move transversely with respect to one another along the inclined face and are thus clamped and wedged into the corresponding tubular polygonal recess. Simple connection of the adapter to the axle or knuckle is thus achieved, wherein the adapter is largely inaccessible with regard to any attempted destruction.

In order to prevent access to the screw which serves to fix the adapter to the axle or to the knuckle, it is provided that a cover is or can be non-detachably inserted into the depression which receives the screw head, said cover completely closing the mouth of the depression.

After the corresponding screw has been tightened, the cover is pushed into the depression of the second part so that it is sunk in and is arranged non-detachably in the mouth of the second part. The fixing screw is thus no longer accessible, and removal of the adapter is no longer possible.

One preferred further development can be seen in the fact that the lock bolt recess is a sleeve which is fixed to the outside of the second part and has an axial bore or hole into which the end of the lock bolt can be inserted and which has a groove around its inner circumference, into which groove the latching elements of the lock bolt engage in the closed position of the lock.

All the parts of the adapter and also the sleeve are likewise made of steel, preferably hardened steel. The groove arranged around the inner circumference of the sleeve, into which latching elements of the lock bolt engage in the closed position of the lock, on the one hand forms a locking recess for the lock bolt of the lock and on the other hand means that rotation of the lock by means of a suitable break-in tool does not lead to destruction of the lock bolts since the latter, even in the case of a relative rotation of the lock about the longitudinal axis of the tube, do not find any resistance in the circumferential groove and therefore cannot be destroyed.

Moreover, it is preferably provided that a rotating bar is arranged in the lock bolt, which rotating bar, at its end facing towards the base plate, is in engagement with a rotating part of the lock and at its opposite end has a circular cross section with recesses shaped like part of a sphere, and that spheres are arranged in the region of the recesses as latching elements, which spheres can be moved with part of their circumference out of holes in the lock bolt or can be fully moved back into the lock bolt until they lie flush with the circumference of the latter.

By virtue of this design, a simple closing mechanism is provided, wherein in one position of the rotating bar the spheres are moved back behind the line of alignment with the outer circumference of the lock bolt, so that they are not in engagement with the corresponding groove in the sleeve. In the closed position, the spheres are moved radially outwards by the rotating bar to such an extent that they protrude beyond the line of alignment with the circumference of the lock bolt and engage in the groove.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the tube or the lock bolt, with the lock inserted, is covered by a securing cap made of hardened steel in the region of the access opening of the base plate, said securing cap leaving free only the insertion slot for a key.

Since the lock is usually made from a relatively soft metal, for example brass, the additional securing cap made of hardened steel is provided as protection against drilling of the lock, said securing cap being non-detachably inserted in the access opening of the base plate, wherein the securing cap leaves free only the insertion slot for a key.

In order to facilitate handling of the base plate, it is provided that the base plate has protruding holding pins on its side facing away from the adapter.

For installation or removal purposes, the user can take hold of the holding pins in order to move the base plate into its desired position or to remove it from the rim.

As a further securing element, it is provided that a transversely protruding securing plate is fixed to the adapter.

In the desired installed position, this securing plate protrudes transversely from the adapter, namely on the side facing away from the knuckle or the wheel carrier. As a result, a cutting disc or the like which is laterally introduced into this region cannot be inserted as far as the adapter or as far as the securing tube, since the size of the securing plate prevents such access.

In order to prevent any damage to the rim by the base plate during installation or during correct use of the anti-theft device, it is provided that the base plate, together with the rim insert, the tube and the holding pins, is provided with a flexible plastic covering.

During installation and in the desired installed position, the base plate and the components formed thereon therefore do not bear directly against the material of the wheel rim but rather there is a flexible plastic covering therebetween, so that damage to the rim is ruled out.

One example of embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows the base plate of the anti-theft device along with parts located thereon, in side view; Fig. 2 shows the same in front view; Fig. 3 shows an adapter according to the invention in side view; Fig. 4 shows a variant of the adapter in side view; Fig. 5 shows the same in front view; Figs. 6 and 7 show details concerning the adapter in side view as seen in central longitudinal section and in front view; Fig. S shows part of the base plate in side view as seen in central longitudinal section; Figs. 9 and 10 show a locking bar in side view in different positions; Fig. 11 shows the detail along section line XI-XI in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 shows a closure cap in side view as seen in central longitudinal section.

The anti-theft device for vehicles is shown in the drawing.

It consists essentially of an adapter 13 which can be fixed to the axle or knuckle of the corresponding vehicle and of a base plate 1 which partially covers a wheel rim in the desired installed position. The base plate 1 is dimensioned such that it covers at least two fixing screws of a rim in the desired installed position. The base plate 1 has a rim insert 2 which, in the desired installed position, engages in a hole or free space of the wheel rim. This rim insert 2 is designed in a slightly conical manner, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 1, so that it can be easily inserted in the corresponding free space of the rim. Its size is such that it preferably corresponds to the size of the hole or cutout in the rim, so that a largely play-free fit in the corresponding recess of the hole is ensured. The rim insert 2 is formed in one piece with the base plate 1 or is firmly welded to the latter. A tube 3 which passes through the rim insert 2 is fixed to the base plate 1 or to the rim insert 2, said tube having, on the inside, a rotatable lock bolt 6 and a rotatable locking bar 4. In the desired installed position, the free end of the lock bolt 6 is inserted in a lock bolt recess 12 of the adapter 13 and can be locked to the latter. Locking and unlocking takes place by means of a key-operated lock 8, which is inserted in the end of the tube 3 or lock bolt 6 and is non-detachably connected to the rim insert 2. The base plate 1 has a corresponding access opening 18 for accessing the lock 8, so that a key for the lock 8 can be inserted here.

As can be seen in particular from Figs. 6 and 7, the adapter 13 has a prismatic shape, in particular a square shape, wherein this shape is adapted to the shape of the opening in the axle or in the corresponding knuckle. In the example of embodiment, it is assumed that the axle is designed as a square tube and the corresponding knuckle which is connected to the axle has a passage hole which corresponds to this square shape. The adapter can be pushed into this hole or into the axle. In order to be able to firmly install the adapter 13 in this shape, the adapter 13 consists of two parts 19, 20 which bear against one another with a respective wedge-shaped inclined face 21. The first part 19, which in the desired installed position faces away from the base plate 1, has a threaded bore 22. The second part 20, which in the desired installed position faces towards the base plate 1, has a hole 23 with a diameter considerably greater than that of the threaded bore 22. The two parts are joined to one another by a screw 14 which is supported with its head in a depression 24 at the mouth of the second part 20, said screw being screwed by its threaded shaft into the threaded bore 22 and its shaft passing through the hole 23 with considerable play. As a result, it is possible for a transverse displacement of the second part 20 relative to the first part 19 to take place when the screw 14 is tightened. As a result, these parts are clamped against the walls in the corresponding axle or in the knuckle, and the adapter 13 is thus fixed in place.

In order to prevent removal after the adapter 13 has been installed, a cover 15 is inserted and pushed into the depression 24 so that the screw head located in the depression 24 is no longer accessible to a tool.

The lock bolt recess 12 is a sleeve which is fixed to the second part 20 and has an axial bore or hole into which the end of the lock bolt 6 engages in the desired installed position. This bore or hole has a groove 24 around its inner circumference, into which groove the latching elements 5 of the lock bolt 6 engage in the closed position of the lock 8.

Besides the lock bolt 6, a rotating bar is also arranged as a locking bar 4 in the spacer tube 3. This locking bar 4, at its end 25 facing towards the base plate 1, is in engagement with a corresponding rotating part of the lock 8 in the desired installed position. At its opposite end 26, the rotating bar 4 has a circular cross section with recesses 27 shaped like part of a sphere. Spheres 5 are arranged in the region of these recesses as latching elements, which spheres, by rotating the rotating bar 4, can be moved with part of their circumference out of corresponding holes 28 or can be fully moved back into the lock bolt 6 until they lie flush with the circumference of the latter. By rotating the locking bar 4, the spheres can be moved in the radial direction such that they protrude from the holes 28 in the lock bolt 6 and engage in the groove 24 in the desired position. In the released position, by rotating the locking bar 4, the spheres are arranged in the region of the locking bar which has the recesses 27 shaped like part of a sphere, so that the spheres are moved towards the interior of the lock bolt 6 and the lock bolt can be removed from the recess 12.

The lock bolt 6, or the spacer tube 3 which accommodates the latter, with the lock 8 inserted, is covered by a securing cap 7 made of hardened steel in the region of the access opening 18 of the base plate 1, said securing cap leaving free only the insertion slot 18 for a key. The lock 8 is pinned to the lock bolt 6 via a cylindrical pin 9. The securing cap 7 is also pinned to the lock bolt 6 via a cylindrical pin 16. The lock bolt 6 located in the rim insert 2 is fixed by means of a securing screw 10.

As can be seen in particular from Fig. 1, the base plate 1 has holding pins 11 which protrude at right angles on its side which in the desired installed position faces away from the adapter 13, which holding pins senie as handling aids during installation and removal.

In the variant of the adapter 13 which is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a transversely protruding securing plate 29 is fixed to the second part 20 of the adapter 13, which securing plate prevents an unauthorised individual from acting on the adapter 13 with a cutting disc or the like when the anti-theft device is installed.

Preferably, the base plate 1, together with the rim insert 2, the tube 3 and the holding pins 11, is surrounded by a flexible plastic covering, so as to prevent damage to the rim during installation or during placement of the anti-theft device.

The conical shape of the rim insert 2 tapering from the base plate 1 towards the adapter 13 in the desired installed position moreover has the function that, even if the base plate were to be removed by means of a cutting disc for example during an attempted theft and the wheel studs holding the rim were to be removed, the rim still could not be pulled over the rim insert 2 since the latter is wedged in a form-fitting manner in the corresponding recess or hole in the rim.

The invention is not restricted to the example of embodiment but rather can be widely varied within the scope

of the disclosure.

All the novel features disclosed individually and in combination in the description and/or in the drawing are regarded as essential to the invention.

Claims

Claims: 1. Anti-theft device for vehicles, in particular two-track

motor vehicles or trailers, wherein the vehicle has at least one axle and knuckles fixed to the axle, and wherein a wheel rim with holes or spokes is fixed to a wheel carrier of the knuckle by means of screws, characterised in that the anti-theft device consists of an adapter (13) which can be fixed to the axle or to the knuckle and of a base plate (1) which partially covers a wheel rim, in that the base plate (1) has a rim insert (2) which engages in a hole or free space of the wheel rim in the desired installed position, in that a tube (3) which passes through the rim insert (2) and has an inner locking bar (4) is fixed to the base plate (1), the end of said tube which forms a lock bolt (6) engaging in a lock bolt recess (12) of the adapter (13) in the desired installed position and being able to be locked thereto, wherein the locking and unlocking takes place by means of a key-operated lock (8) which is inserted in the end of the tube (3) which is fixed to the base plate (1) or to the rim insert (2), wherein the base plate (1) has an access opening (18) for accessing the lock (8).

2. Anti-theft device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the adapter (13) has a prismatic or cylindrical shape which is adapted to the shape of a hole in the axle end or the knuckle, wherein the adapter (13) consists of two parts (19, 20) which bear against one another with a respective wedge-shaped inclined face (21), wherein the first part (19), which faces away from the base plate (1), has a threaded bore (22) and the second part (20), which faces towards the base plate (1), has a hole (23) with a diameter greater than that of the threaded bore (22), the two parts (19, 20) being joined to one another by a screw (14) which is supported with its head in a depression (24) at the mouth of the second part (20), said screw being screwed into the threaded bore (22) and its shaft passing through the hole (23) with play, so that, when the screw (14) is tightened, a transverse displacement of the second part (20) relative to the first part (19) takes place.

3. Anti-theft device according to Claim 2, characterised in that a cover (15) is or can be non-detachably inserted into the depression (24) which receives the screw head, said cover completely closing the mouth of the depression (24) 4. Anti-theft device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the lock bolt recess (12) is a sleeve which is fixed to the outside of the second part (20) and has an axial bore or hole into which the end of the lock bolt (6) can be inserted and which has a groove (24) around its inner circumference, into which groove the latching elements (5) of the lock bolt (6) engage in the closed position of the lock (8).

5. Anti-theft device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a rotating bar (4) is arranged in the lock bolt (6), which rotating bar, at its end (25) facing towards the base plate (1), is in engagement with a rotating part of the lock (8) and at its opposite end (26) has a circular cross section with recesses (27) shaped like part of a sphere, and in that spheres are arranged in the region of the recesses (27) as latching elements (5), which spheres can be moved with part of their circumference out of holes (28) in the lock bolt (6) or can be fully moved back into the lock bolt (6) until they lie flush with the circumference of the latter.

6. Anti-theft device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the tube (3) or the lock bolt (6), with the lock (8) inserted, is covered by a securing cap (7) made of hardened steel in the region of the access opening (18) of the base plate (1), said securing cap leaving free only the insertion slot for a key.

7. Anti-theft device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the base plate (1) has protruding holding pins (11) on its side facing away from the adapter (13) 8. Anti-theft device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a transversely protruding securing plate (29) is fixed to the adapter (13) 9. Anti-theft device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the base plate (1), together with the rim insert (2), the tube (3) and the holding pins (11), is provided with a flexible plastic covering.