GB2441965A

GB2441965A - Anti theft vehicle seat lockable adjacent steering wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2441965A
Application number: GB0618352A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jatender Singh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-19
Filing date: 2006-09-19
Publication date: 2008-03-26
Also published as: GB0618352D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle seat (3) may slide on a pair of slide rails (4, 5) that may extend underneath a steering wheel (2). The seat may move from a first in use position, Fig 2A to a second position Fig 2B where the seat back may be inclined forward and may be adjacent to the steering wheel. In the second position the steering wheel prevents the vehicle from being driven. The seat may be locked in position via one or more bolts (6A, 7A) that may engage in recesses (4A, 5A) in the tracks (4, 5). The bolts may be electrically actuated via solenoids (6,7). The seat may be driven along the tracks via an actuator which may be an electric motor (9) through a worm and wheel gearbox (not shown). A control panel (10) may be fitted to the side of the seat backrest to operate the actuator. Seat movement and locking may be initiated via the control panel (10) or by a key switch, a card reader or a key pad code panel using a PIN number, see figures 5A-5C. It is preferred that at least two of these security means are used at the same time.

Description

Title: Vehicle with Car Seat with Lock The present invention relates to

a vehicle with car seat with lock.

Various mechanisms have been proposed to help prevent car theft. These include steering locks, car alarms, immobilisers and the like. Most of these allow the thief to enter the car and sit in the driving seat whilst it is attempted to overcome any anti-theft mechanism.

The invention seeks to provide a solution which prevents a thief from sitting in the driving seat.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle with car seat with Lock comprising: a) a vehicle with steering wheel, : * b)avehicleseat, S. c) a track for mounting in the vehicle on which the vehicle seat can slide, said track allowing the S..

vehicle seat to slide from a tirst driving position to a second position where the vehicle seat lies * adjacent the steering wheel, and *5**S* * S d) a lock to lock the vehicle seat in said second position. S...

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Preferably the lock is electrically operated. The lock may be operated by at least one control mechanism. The control mechanism may be a vehicle ignition, pin code, and/or electronic card.

The lock may be activated by two or more control mechanisms. The lock may include at least one solenoid, and the or each solenoid may insert a bolt into one or more recess. The or each recess may be in the track.

Preferably the vehicle seat moves from the first to the second position and vive versa by means of an actuator such as an electric motor. The electric motor may operate a worm gear to move the seat.

A control panel may be provided to control movement of the seat. The panel may be provided on the seat, preferably on the seat backrest.

The track may be in the form of a pair of rails. The track may extend forward of the steering wheel.

: The first driving position may include a range of sub first positions. S... * I S...

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying : drawings in which: * Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a vehicle seat and vehicle steering wheel, S...

Figures 2A and 2B show side views of the vehicle seat and vehicle steering wheel of Figure 1 in the first and second positions respectively, and Figure 3 shows a schematic circuit diagram.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a vehicle 1. Vehicle I has a steering wheel 2 and a vehicle seat 3. Vehicle I may be of a type well known in the art.

A track in the form of a pair of rails 4,5 is mounted adjacent the floor of vehicle I near the steering wheel 2. Seat 3 can slide on rails 4,5 allowing the seat 3 to slide from a first driving position (Figure 2A) to a second position (Figure 2B) where the vehicle seat backrest 3A lies adjacent the steering wheel. The rails extend forward of the steering wheel towards the pedals to facilitate this.

Each track 4,5 has a second position recess 4A,5A and a range of five sub first position recesses 4B,5B 4B (not visible). A pair of electrically operated solenoids 6,7 (or servo controlled actuators) are provided in the seat 3 each having a bolt 6A,7A to engage in recesses 4A,5A and 4B,5B respectively. The solenoids 6,7 with bolts 6A,7A combined with the recesses 4A,4B an 5A,5B provide a lock to lock the vehicle seat in the second position and in one of the five sub *S..

first positions. I. * * . . * S.

As shown in Figure 3, the solenoids 6,7 with bolts 6A,7A are operated by control mechanisms * adjacent the dashboard including the vehicle ignition 8A, pin code 8B, and/or electronic card and reader 8C. For added security, it is preferred that two or three of these control mechanism are operated at the same time in order to operate the solenoids 6,7 with bolts 6A,7A.

The seat 3 moves from one or the sub first positions to the second position and vice versa by means of an actuator such as an electric motor 9 operating a worm gear (not shown) to move the seat. A control panel 10 provided on the seat backrest may be provided to control movement of the seat by operation of the motor 9. The control panel 10 may be provided on the seat, preferably on the seat backrest.

In use the vehicle 1 can be driven with the seat 3 in one of the sub first positions as shown in Figure 2A. Two or more of the control mechanisms can be used to Jock the seat 3 in one of the sub first positions.

When the vehicle is left parked by a driver, the two or more of the control mechanisms can be used by the driver to unlock the seat 3 from one of the sub first positions. The control panel can then be used by the driver to move the seat forward to the second position so that the back rest is * adjacent the steering wheel, and two or more of the control mechanisms can be used to lock the seat 3 in the second position as shown in Figure 2B. In this second position it is impossible to sit * in the seat and attempt to drive the car away. This process can be reversed when the driver returns to the vehicle in order to move seat 3 back to one of the sub first positions.

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* The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example the S..... * S

seat 3 need not be locked in a first position by the solenoids and bolts. Only one solenoid and bolt lock could be provided instead of two shown.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. * SI . *

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Claims

I. A vehicle with car seat with lock comprising: a) a vehicle with steering wheel, b) a vehicle seat, c) a track for mounting in the vehicle on which the vehicle seat can slide, said track allowing the vehicle seat to slide from a first driving position to a second position where the vehicle seat lies adjacent the steering wheel, and d) a lock to lock the vehicle seat in said second position.
2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lock is electrically operated.
3. A vehicle according to claim I or 2, wherein the lock is operated by at least one control mechanism.

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4. A vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the control mechanism is a vehicle ignition, pin code, **.

and/or electronic card. *b * * ** * .*
5. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the lock is activated by two or more * control mechanisms.

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6. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the lock includes at least one solenoid, and the or each solenoid inserts a bolt into one or more recess.
7. A vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the or each recess is in the track.
8. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle seat moves from the first to the second position and vive versa by means of an actuator such as an electric motor.
9. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the electric motor operates a worm gear to move the seat.
10. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein a control panel is provided to control movement of the seat.

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Ii. A vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the control panel is provided on the seat. S... * . *5*S

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12. A vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the control panel is on the seat backrest.

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13. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the track is in the form of a pair of rails. S...

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14. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the track extends forward of the steering wheel.
15. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the first driving position includes a range of sub first positions.
16. A vehicle with car seat with lock:, substantially as heeinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. * S. * 0 Oê*0 0*0 * * 0*S* S. S * S * * .* * S S. I

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