GB2485771A - Apparatus for securing a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for securing a vehicle, in particular, a quad bike, comprises a support 50, 52 and a securing member 60. The securing member 60 being pivotally connected to the support 52 as to be moveable between an open (Fig 3) and a closed position. In the closed position, part 68 of the securing member 60 is positioned to obstruct movement of a component of a vehicle A that is to be secured. A lock is used to maintain the securing member in the closed position. Component A may be the handlebar of a quad bike.

Description

Apparatus for securing a vehicle This invention relates to apparatus for securing a vehicle. It has particular application to apparatus for securing a quad bike, but may find further application to securing other small vehicles.

Quad bikes present a significant target for thieves. They are often stored in remote, isolated locations where thieves can work unnoticed, they have a significant second-hand value, and they are sufficiently small and light that they can be lifted into a vehicle and removed.

Owners of quad bikes therefore take measures to avoid theft of their vehicles. This includes application of security devices including locks and chains to firmly secure the vehicle to a fixed object. This can be time-consuming, awkward and inconvenient.

Because of this, there is an ever-present risk that a user of a quad bike will occasionally not apply the security devices, so leaving it open to theft.

An aim of this invention is to provide security apparatus for securing a quad bike which is convenient and straightforward to use, so minimising the risk that an operator of the quad bike will not properly secure their vehicle.

Most generally, the invention provides apparatus for securing a quad bike that has a movable barrier that serves to capture the handlebars of a quad bike thereby preventing removal of the quad bike.

To this end, the present invention provides apparatus for securing a vehicle comprising a support and a securing member, the securing member being pivotally connected to the support as to be moveable between an open and a closed position, in which in the closed position, part of the securing member is positioned to obstruct movement of a component of a vehicle to be secured.

Preferably, the securing member is arranged to obstruct movement of a steering component of the vehicle. For example, it may be arranged to obstruct movement of handlebars.

In preferred embodiments, the securing member is moveable by pivoting with respect to the support. For example, it may pivot about an axis that is approximately horizontal.

In such embodiments, the securing member is typically raised to the open position and lowered to the closed position.

In typical embodiments, the securing member may include two arms, in the closed position, each arm extending from above to below the handlebars of a quad bike. In such embodiments, the arms pass to opposite sides of a central pivot of the handlebars.

The support may be constructed to be suitable for attachment to a solid object, such as a wall, and to a floor. Most preferably, the support can be adjusted on installation to ensure that the securing member is correctly positioned with respect to a quad bike when the securing member is in the closed position. For security, once adjustment is completed, the support can preferably be configured such that further adjustment is not possible. For example, the adjustment may be achieved by fasteners that cannot readily be undone once they have been secured.

Advantageously, the apparatus may be configured to allow the securing member to be moved to a stowed position when not in use. For example, it may be able to pivot or otherwise move upwards from its normal position to a position above the support, for example, to be positioned adjacent to a wall. Securing means may be provided to retain the securing member in that position. A counterbalance may also be provided to assist in lifting the weight of the securing member.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, byway of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are side and front views of apparatus embodying the invention in a closed condition; Figures 3 and 4 are side and front views of apparatus embodying the invention in an open condition; and Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in a stowed condition.

With reference to the drawings, apparatus for securing a quad bike will now be described. The apparatus is illustrated in a position typical of that in which it will be installed -on a solid floor 10 and against a solid wall 12. In the following description, it will be assumed that the apparatus is an installed configuration, as illustrated.

The apparatus is generally constructed from steel sections interconnected by welding, except where otherwise described.

The apparatus comprises a stand assembly. The stand assembly includes a base 20. The base comprises two spaced, parallel, U-section, floor-engaging members 22. The ground-engaging members are interconnected by a transverse U-section base member 24 that also rests on the floor 10. A vertical rectangular lower upright member 26 extends upwards from the mid-point of the base member 24. Several holes 30 extend horizontally through the lower upright member 26 in a direction parallel to the base member 24.

The base further includes an upper upright member 32. The upper upright member 32 is of rectangular section that is shaped and dimensioned to be a close sliding fit over the lower upright member 24. A hole extends horizontally through the upper upright member 32 in a direction parallel to the base member 24. A bolt 34 extends through the hole in the upper upright and through one of the holes 30 in the lower upright member 26, where it is secured by a nut 36. The bolt 34 prevents vertical movement of the upper upright member 32 with respect to the lower upright member 24, the height of the upper upright member being determined by which of the holes in the lower upright member 26 is occupied by the bolt 34. The nut 36 is preferably a security nut that is designed so that its drive faces shear when it is fully tightened, thereby preventing its S subsequent removal other than by cutting.

A plate 40 is secured to the upper upright member 32 close to its lower end, extending across the face that is directed away from the floor engaging members 22. Two holes are formed through the plate 40. A respective bolt 42 passes through each of the holes to secure the flange against the wall 12. The base further includes a horizontal member 50 that projects horizontally away from the wall 12 and which is secured to the upper end of the upper upright member 32. A further plate 46 with a through hole is secured to the horizontal member 50 adjacent to the wall 12. This further plate is also secured to the wall 12 by a bolt. The bolts 42 are preferably of a type that expands when tightened so as to strongly resist removal once they have been installed.

The horizontal member 50 has a rectangular cross-section. A though hole extends horizontally through the horizontal member close to its end remote from the upright member 32. A rectangular-section horizontal beam 52 is received as a close sliding fit within the horizontal member 50. The beam 52 has a plurality of through holes 54 extending horizontally through it. A bolt 56 is inserted through the hole in the horizontal member 50 and one of the holes 54 in the beam 52 and is secured there by a nut that is preferably preferably a security nut that is designed so that its drive faces shear when it is fully tightened, thereby preventing its subsequent removal other than by cutting. The reach of the beam is determined by which one of the holes 54 in the beam 52 is occupied by the bolt 56.

A retaining bracket 60 is carried on the beam 52 and is generally symmetrical about a vertical plane that is parallel with the extent of the beam 52. The retaining bracket 60 comprises a central horizontal interconnecting bar 62. Two lugs 64 extend from the interconnecting bar 62 close to opposite side walls of the beam 52. A pivot pin 66 extends between the lugs 64 and passes through a horizontal hole in the beam 52, whereby the retaining bracket 60 can pivot about a horizontal axis.

The retaining bracket further comprises a pair of tubular arms 68 that extend from the interconnecting bar 62. Each arm 68 extends at an angle away from the plane of symmetry of the bracket 60, and is curved along its length.

The bracket 60 can be pivoted about the pivot pin 66 between an open position (shown in Figures 3 and 4) in which the arms 68 are above the beam 52 and a closed position (shown in Figures 1 and 2) in which the arms 68 are below the beam 52. In the closed position, the arms 68 extend downwards and curve towards the wall 12.

One of the lugs 64 has an extension that carries a projecting flange 70. A corresponding flange 72 is carried on the beam 52. When the bracket 60 is in the closed position, the flanges 70, 72 lie closely adjacent to one another. In that position, respective holes that extend through the flanges 70, 72 align with one another such that a padlock can be passed through them, to prevent the bracket 60 being moved from the closed position.

A shield 74 is carried on the beam to protect the padlock from attack.

To use the apparatus, the bracket 60 is moved to the open position. A quad bike to be secured is then driven up to the apparatus such that it closely approaches the wall 12.

The bracket 60 is then moved to the closed position, where it is secured by application of a padlock to the flanges 70, 72. During installation, the height and reach of the apparatus are adjusted to that the beam 52 passes closely above the handlebars of the quad bike and the arms 68 pass behind and below the handlebars of the quad bike, which will occupy approximately the region A in Figure 1. While in this state, the quad bike cannot be removed, and provided that the apparatus is strongly constructed and installed, its theft is effectively prevented. The arms 68 prevent the quad bike being reversed away from the wall, the beam 52 prevents it being lifted, and the presence of two arms 68 prevents the quad bike from being rotated about the uprights 26, 32.

In an alternative embodiment, the upright 32 is pivotally connected to the horizontal member 50 such that it can, when the apparatus is not in use, be pivoted from the position in which it is shown in the figures to a position in which the horizontal member extends almost vertically upwards from the upright 32, as shown in Figure 5. This allows the apparatus to be stored in a compact configuration when it is not in use. A retention mechanism (not shown) will be provided to retain the apparatus securely when in this position to ensure that it cannot fall onto a person, and optionally to counterbalance its weight.