IL81413A - Vehicle anti-theft mechanism - Google Patents

Description

VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT MECHANISM 81413/2 - 2 - BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to motor vehicle anti-theft mechanisms, and more particularly to systems which disable the transmission gearshifting apparatus of the vehicle.

The theft problem of motor vehicles has increased during the existence of the motor vehicle industry to the point where a number of systems are available which operate with diverse success on the ignition, steering mechanism, fuel system and the portions of motor vehicles that allow ingress and egress such as doors, windows, hood or bonnet and the trunk or boot lid. Some of the prior art systems relied upon audible alarms that utilized sound detectors, motion detectors, switches or locks, however, none are completely effective, some are subject to false alarms, and others may introduce an element of danger. For example, a fuel valve shut off, that allows a vehicle to be operated until the carburetor bowl is emptied, might strand the owner of the vehicle, who absent-mindedly has forgotten to disable the system prior to driving the vehicle, in a precarious, unsafe predicament.

One observation made by those in charge of investigating vehicle thefts is that obvious anti-theft systems are quite often a deterrent to the theft of a vehicle, since the potential thief would usually prefer to steal a vehicle that is without a protective device. Thus, the concealing or making of unobtrusive anti-theft devices might be deemed to be self defeating. Further, the high cost of many of the protective systems inhibits their utilization by a large segment of vehicle owners.

One class of locking system involves the disabling of the gearshift lever by having a means for preventing the movement of the lever to the various positions required for normal driving. Usually, these devices are not constructed to allow for the locking action to take place with the gearshift lever in diverse positions. This is a necessity in many mountainous or hilly areas where the laws require the vehicle to be in gear when parked on an incline. For example, the vehicle should be in reverse when inclined downhill and in first gear when in an uphill direction. Also, many of the devices have separate elements where part of the device may easily be misplaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This' invention comprises an anti-theft system that disables the functioning of the transmission gear, either manual or automatic transmission gear, of a motor vehicle. This is performed by immobilizing the gearshift lever of the transmission gear.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a motor vehicle transmission gear locking system for anti-theft protection where the gearshift lever of said motor vehicle is to be immobilized, said system being characterized by a rigid member adapted for mounting to said vehicle proximate to said gearshift lever; an elongated latch member . mounted on said rigid member for movement such that, when mounted to said vehicle proximate to said gearshift lever, movement thereof from a storage position having no effect on said gearshift lever to an active blocking position places said latch member in a position to oppose motion of said gearshift lever, and locking means for selective engagement with said latch member when said latch member is in its blocking position.

This invention further provides a transmission gearshift lever locking system comprising a rigid member adapted for mounting proximate to said gearshift lever, an elongated latch member mounted on said rigid member in proximity to said gearshift lever for movement from a storage position that does not interfere with movement of said gearshift lever to a position blocking said gearshift lever, and locking means for selective engagement with said latch member when said latch member is in its blocking position.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an anti-theft system that locks the gearshift lever system of a vehicle in order to prevent normal utilization of the transmission gear system.

It is another object of invention to provide a motor vehicle anti-theft apparatus which does not have seperabie items that are not fixed to the vehicle, thereby avoiding loss or misplacement of an unattached element. 81413/2 - 5 - It is still another object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle shift lock device that is visible to potential intruders, thereby providing a deterrent effect to the theft of the vehicle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a trans- gear mission /locking arrangement that is easily operated with one hand, and, when disengaged, enables normal manipulation of the transmission.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle transmission locking arrangement that is easy and economical to produce of standard, currently available materials that lend themselves to conventional mass production manufacturing techniques.

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.

With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. 81413/2 - 6 - BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along lines 11— 11 of Fig. 1 illustrating one form of a detent arrangement for the latching arm; Fig. 3 is an isometric view of an embodiment similar to Fig. 1, illustrating an alternative construction; Fig. 4 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention requiring ony one attachment point to a motor vehicle; Fig. 5 is an isometric view of still another embodiment of this invention; Fig. 6 is a front view of an additional, simplified embodiment of this invention; Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of the application of this invention to a conventional manual transmission; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views of a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 8, and Fig. 11 is an isometric view of another modification of the embodiment of Fig. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, although a number of embodiments are illustrated, like numerals denote like parts. In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a transmission locking system which operates to immobilize 81 13/2 - 7 - a conventional gearshift lever 10, which may be for either a manual or an automatic transmission, of a motor vehicle.

In order to prevent the theft of the vehicle a support bar of plate 12 is secured at one end (not shown) to the body or chassis frame or any other sturdy, not easily removable portion of the vehicle, including body portions encasing the vehicle's gearshift. The plate 12 is secured in any conventional manner, such as by means of welding, rivets or nuts and bolts. At the other, top end of the plate 12 a housing 14 is fixedly or otherwise permanently secured and houses a conventional lock mechanism 16. Of course, the housing 14 could be made integral with the plate 12. A passageway 18 for the entrance of the mating portion of the lock mechanism is provided in housing 14, and is arranged such that a. catch plate portion 19 remains.

The structure of the Fig. 1 embodiment provides for a mounting of one end of an additional bar or plate member 20 to the vehicle, as was previously described relative to plate 12. Made integral therewith or fixedly or permanently mounted to the opposite, free end of plate member 20 is a housing 22, the mounting arrangement of which is in accord with the previous description of the mounting of housing 14 to plate 12.

The housing 22 has a cutout at 24, which forms a U-shaped channel with two flanges extending from the bottom of the channel. A hole or a bore 26 is drilled through one of the two flanges and part way through the other of the two flanges for reception of a pin member 28. 81413/2 - 8 - All of the elements of the assemblies of this invention are subject, in accordance with the state of the art, to variations from that shown in order to inhibit a separation of the elements of the assemblies that would defeat the intended purpose of the structural arrangement.

An elongated latch member 30 having a mating portion 32 at one end for coaction with the housing 14 and lock mechanism 16 is provided with, for example, a groove 33 for reception of a bolt of the lock mechanism and an extension 34 for engagement with catch plate 19 of housing 14. Thus, when the latch member 30 and lock mechanism 16 are in their locked position, a separation of latch member 30 from housing 14 cannot be effected without operation of lock mechanism 16, for example, by means of a key.

Pivoting or rotation of latch member 30 is achieved by drilling a hole 26 at its end opposite to the mating latch portion 32 to act as a bearing for pivot pin 28. This arrangement would allow for rotation of latch member 30. to and from its latched position. In order to deter an unwanted swinging of latch member 30, when it is in its unlatched position, a detent 36, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is provided. A depression 38 is provided at the pivotal end of latch member 30 proximate to an opening 40 in alignment with the pivot pin 28 when said latch member 30 is in its unlatched position. A leaf spring 42 secured at one end to the housing bears against a detent element 44 at its other end. The detent element is shaped to provide a detent action with the depression 38 because of the biasing action of spring 42 toward the depression. 81413/2 - 9 - Fig. 3 is a representation of a transmission locking system that generally corresponds to that of Fig. 1 except, that the constructional arrangement allows for low cost manufacture and assembly. By utilizing a conventional padlock, simplification of the structure is effected. The plate 12 in this embodiment has the housing 14 mounted thereto as in the previous arrangement, except that in this case the housing comprises the body of a padlock with a conventional combination locking mechanism 16 therein. The combination mechanism 16 illustrates the interchangeabi 1 ity of various lock arrangements in the practice of the various embodiments according to the present invention. As portrayed, the housing 14 is mounted horizontally, however, a vertical mounting would be equally effective and would permit the usage of a straight metal plate 12 instead of the illustrated inverted "L"-shaped plate.

A padlock yoke 48 is welded to the latch member 30 to mate with the padlock locking mechanism 16 and would be suitably configured and oriented for this purpose. The other end of latch member 30 is bent at a right angle at 50 and functions as a pivot for the latch member. The plate 20 with a simplified housing 22 having a bore 26 therein provides the support for the latch member 30. Of course, the bent portion 50 is secured against easy removal from the housing, when latched, by any conventional means, such as by threading it and bore 26.

A cantilever arrangement, providing for an elimination of one of the plates and housings, is achieved with the embodiment of Fig. 4. In this figure the elements are made stronger to make up for the lack of support at the distal end of the latch member. 81413/2 - 10 - When the embodiment of Fig. 4 is compared with Fig. 1, the differences become readily apparent. In Fig. 4 the latch member 30 moves pefcafees- in a different' plane', does not have any mating latch portion at its distal end, and the lock mechanism 16 and pivot 28 of the latch member 30 are in the same housing 22. Locking of the latch member 30 in this case could be achieved, for example, by a blind hold or slot in the latch member 30 opposite a bolt projected by the lock mechanism 16 (not shown).

Fig. 5 illustrates an alternative structure combining the pivoting plane of Fig. 4 with the dual support plates and housings of Fig. 1. The embodiment also illustrates the reversal 'possibility of the position from which the latch member pivots, the principle being applicable to all embodiments.

Plate 12 with housing 14 and plate 20 with housing 22 are positioned opposite to that of Fig. 1 and the configuration of the housing 14 is arranged for a generally vertical entry of the mating latch portion 32. Housing 14 is provided with a cutout portion at 52 to allow latch member 30 to become flush with the housing, however, since the important feature is to have a locking engagement of the mating latch portion 32 with the lock mechanism 16, this feature is optional. Since the esthetics will be diminished without this option and the vulnerability of the assembly to vandalism increases, the option is deemed desirable.

Another cantilever type transmission lock mechanism is shown in Fig. 6. In this embodiment the plate 12 has a housing 14 fixed 81413/2 - 11 - thereto with a lock mechanism 16 mounted therein. Also mounted to the plate 12, on the side opposite to said housing, is an angularly truncated circular cylinder, forming a sheath 54 encompassing a latch member 30, shown predominantly in solid lines in a horizonal, locked position. The sheath 54 is rotatable between a horizontal position and a vertical one by hinge means 56 connected to the plate 12 and sheath 54. Latch member 30 has at one end thereof, a mating latch portion 32 configured to be in locked engagement with the lock mechanism 16. A stop means 58 projects from the latch member 30, as shown, and rides in a slot 60 to maintain its orientation for locking engagement with the lock mechanism 16 and prevents its removal from the sheath.

The storage position of the latch member 30 is shown in dashed lines. From this position to the locking position, it is required to grasp the knob 62, pull upwardly until the stop reaches the end of the slot 60 and then rotate the latch member 30 with sheath 54 downwardly until the latch member 30 is in alignment with a hole through plate 12 (or alternatively through the lock housing itself) for access to the locking mechanism 16. Pressure on the knob 62 toward the locking mechanism 16 will then lock the mating latch portion 32 of latch member 30. The lock may be fitted with an internal spring for biasing the member 30 towards the unlocked position.

The schematic illustration of Fig. 7 shows a manual transmission layout with five forward speeds and one for reverse, the letter "R" and the numbers 1 through 5 designating the possible locations of the gear lever 10 for each gear position. In the example portrayed, the - 12 - 81413/2^ gearshift lever 10 is in second gear and the member 30 extends along the plane of the "Neutral" passageway.

The operation of the various embodiments are similar in that, after the gearshift lever is shifted in its parking position, the latch member 30 is rotated to a position adjacent the gearshift lever 10. In the embodiments of Figs. 1, 3 and 5, a free end of the latch member is captured by a locking mechanism 16 such that the assembly of plates 12 with housing 14 and assembly 20 with 22 are connected by latch member 30 to produce a locked assembly forming an inverted "U". For this type of operation the bars or plates 12 and 20 of these embodiments are mounted such that they bracket the gearshift lever. With an automatic transmission that has its gearshift lever mounted for fore and aft linear operation, the plates should be mounted generally parallel to the linear path or the Neutral path of the gearshift lever. This is generally considered desirable for all gearshift lever installations, whether on the steering column, floor or console mounted. For non-liner paths of the gearshift lever the installation arrangement of the assembly and locking mechanism should inhibit the movement of the gearshift lever in a direction that would normally enable movement of the transmission.

For manual transmissions, an example of which is illustrated schematically in Fig. 7, the gearshift lever can be left in different positions, depending on the grade or slope on which the vehicle is parked. As shown in the figure, the gearshift lever 10 is in fifth gear, although it could be in any selected gear, and the latch member 30 is arranged to lie in the plane. of the Neutral (N) position to lock the gearshift lever 10 in its "in gear" position.

The operation of the embodiments of Figs. 4 and 6 provide for simpler installation, since only one housing-plate assembly is required. The operation of the latch member 30 is brought to the same position as explained relative to the other figures, except that the locking takes effect at the pivoting end, as opposed to the free end of the latch member.

From the foregoing, other variations become apparent. For example, a pivotal universal joint could be substituted for the pivotal arrangement illustrated in the figures, thereby enabling each of the embodiments to be applicable to all situations. Further, the mechanisms described, could have a plunger mechanism cammed by the rotating end of latch member 30 or by the lock mechanism, whereby a plunger linkage (not shown) could be arranged to engage a suitable part of the transmission drive axel or enter the housing of the transmission gear itself to immobilize it within the housing. Also, when the gearshift lever 10 has a large knob or handle that interferes with the downward swinging of latch member 30 to a locked position against gearshift lever 10, the housing for the latch member could be tilted to avoid any interference during its rotation.

It should also be understood that while in the shown embodiments the locking mechanism constitutes a part of the stationary rigid fixedly mounted member, the key operated or combination lock mechanism could just as well be a part of the movable latch member.

In Fig. 8 there is illustrated a further embodiment of a gear shift lever locking mechanism in which there is mounted on a suitable support plate 12 a lock 64 having a throughgoing bore 66 in which there is slidingly affixed a latch 68 having two spaced-apart recesses 70 and 72 and a head 74,76 at each end thereof for preventing the sliding out of the latch 68 from the bore 66.

As can readily be understood, in its gear handle-locking position, the latch is pushed to assume a position in front of the handle 10 (as shown in the figure) and the locking mechanism engages the recess 72 of the latch. When the handle is to be operated, the latch 68 is slid away from the handle and optionally locked by engaging the recesses 70, thus preventing the latch from accidentally moving in front of the handle 10 during driving.

In Figs. 9 and 10 there is shown a locking arrangement similar to the arrangement .of Fig. 8, except for the latch.78. ..In this case, the latch 78 is in the form of a pin having a head 80 and a single locking recess 82. For preventing the manipulation of the handle 10, the latch is locked inside the lock 64 with the head of the latch adjacent the handle, as shown in Fig. 9, while during driving, the latch 78 is engaged inside the lock 64 from the opposite end of the bore 66.

A modification of the mechanism of Fig. 8 is illustrated in Fig. 11. The mounting plate 84 is wrapped around the major surfaces of the lock 64 and the latch 68 passes through apertures 86,88 made in the plate 84 on both sides of the lock 64. Further seen is one screw 90 of a multiplicity of screws not shown, securing the lock 64 to the plate 84. At this side of the lock, the latch is provided with an integral head 76 as opposed to the head 74, which for simplicity of assembly and disassembly for replacement of parts, is removably 15 - engageable with the latch 68, e.g., by means of a thread and screw-type joint 92. Hence, when the handle 10 is locked and the latch is in its shown position, the screws 90 are covered by the head 76 and are inaccessible. The removal of the head 74 has no effect on the mechanism except, as mentioned before, for the retrieval of the latch from the lock to allow replacement of parts.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than .by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (11)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A motor vehicle transmission gear locking system for anti-theft protection where the gearshift lever of said motor vehicle is to be immobilized, said system being characterized by: a rigid member adapted for mounting to said vehicle proximate to said gearshift lever; an elongated latch member mounted on said rigid member for movement such that, when mounted on said vehicle proximate to said gearshift lever, movement thereof, from a storage position having no effect on said gearshift lever to an active blocking position, places said latch member in a position to oppose motion of said gearshift lever, and locking means for selective engagement with said latch member when said latch member is in its blocking position.

2. A gearshift lever locking system comprising: a rigid member adapted for mounting adjacent to said gearshift-lever; an elongated latch member mounted on said rigid member in proximity to said gearshift lever for movement from a storage position that does not interfere with movement of said gearshift lever to a position blocking said gearshift lever, and locking means for selective engagement with said latch member when said latch member is in its blocking position.

3. A locking system as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said locking means is mounted on said rigid member, and said latch member is 81413/2 - 17 - provided with means to coact with said locking means to effect a locking thereof.

4. A locking system as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said elongated latch member has two ends, one end of which is mounted for rotation about said rigid member, and said locking system including a second rigid member having said locking means mounted thereon to receive the other end of said latch member for selective locking thereof.

5. A locking system as claimed in claims 1 or 2 including means for deterring said latch member from movement when it is in its storage position.

6. A locking system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for deterring comprises a detent means mounted to said rigid member and coacting with said latch member.

7. A locking system as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said latch member is slidably mounted in a sheath, said sheath being rotationally affixed to said rigid member to effect rotation of said latch member from its storage position to its blocking position.

8. A locking system as claimed in claims 1 or 2 including locking means mounted on said rigid member in alignment with said latch member such that said latch member can be slidably engaged therewith. 81413/2

9. A locking system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said locking means is provided with a throughgoing bore and said latch member, having at least one recess, is slidingly affixed in said bore.

10. A motor vehicle locking system for immobilizing the transmission gear of said vehicle inhibiting its movement, comprising: a support member capable of being affixed to a vehicle; an elongated latch member mounted to said support member for movement from a stored position to a position in or adjacent the gearshift lever neutral path, and locking means operatively related to said members for selectively maintaining said latch member in said path for immobilizing said transmission.

11. A gearshift lever locking system, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. FOR THE APPLICANT WOLFF, BREGMAN AND GOLLER