WO1989000231A1

WO1989000231A1 - Anti-theft assembly for automobile door handle

Info

Publication number: WO1989000231A1
Application number: PCT/US1987/001970
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Langdon Hill
Original assignee: Mark Langdon Hill
Priority date: 1987-06-30
Filing date: 1987-08-11
Publication date: 1989-01-12
Also published as: AU7801787A

Abstract

A stainless steel guard plate (8) and a U-shaped shield (35) cooperate to prevent entry into certain automobiles by forcing a screwdriver between the door handle mechanism (1) and the outer door. The guard plate (8) includes a stainless steel plate having an aperture (10) through which an operative portion of the handle mechanism extends, with upper (12) and lower (11) flanges of the guard plate (8) extending inwardly. Upper (35b) and lower (35c) flanges of the U-shaped shield (35) are displaced sideways from the upper (12), and lower (11) flanges of the guard plate (8) and are pressed between the inner surface of the guard plate (8) and the outer surface of the door panel (2). A U-shaped loop (35A) of the shield (35) extends into the interior of the door through the opening (18) of the door panel, preventing a screwdriver or like implement wielded by a would-be thief from reaching and lifting a lever of a door lock mechanism, thereby preventing opening of the door.

Description

ANTI-THEFT ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR HANDLE

Background of the Invention

The invention relates to devices for preventing forced entry into an automobile, and more particularly to an assembly including a guard plate and a U-shaped clip-in shield which can be retrofitted to an automobile between a handle mechanism and an outer surface of a door panel of certain automobiles that are easily broken into by forcing a screwdriver between the door panel and the handle to trip a locking mechanism, particularly in certain Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi automobiles.

The Volkswagen Rabbit and certain other automobiles are notoriously easy for thieves to break into. To thwart thieves from breaking into such automobiles, I have manufactured and marketed a stainless steel guard plate, described in detail in my U.S. Patent 4,619,123, issued October 28, 1986, entitled "GUARD PLATE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMOBILE DOOR HANDLE", incorporated herein by reference. The guard plate described in that patent has been quite effective and successful. The guard plate, shown in Fig. 2 herein, includes a lower flange 11 and an upper flange 12 extending inwardly from the upper and lower edges of an aperture 10. The reason that perpendicular flanges 11 and 12 do not extend sideways the entire length of the aperture 10 is that the handle mechanism openings 18 in certain models of the automobiles to be protected do not so permit. Some professional thieves have discovered that the absence of flanges 11 and 12 along the portions indicated by reference numerals 15 and 16 in Fig. 2 represent a path through which a thin, rigid implement can be forced, allowing the tip of the implement to reach into the interior of the door and raise a lever 37 (Fig. 1) extending from a lock box (not shown) , unlocking the door. The end of lever 37 is connected by means of a rod 39 (Fig. 1) extending through hole 38 connected to a lock release button or lever in the interior of the automobile.

The discovery of the above weakness of my guard plate mechanism lead to the need to develop a structure to prevent insertion of a screwdriver blade or other implement between the handle 1 and the edges 15 and 16. Due to the dimensions and structures of the openings in the door panels, sideways extension of flanges 11 and 12 entirely across portions 15 and 16, respectively, of the guard plate 8 is not a viable solution to the problem. Modifying the openings in the door panels is not a viable solution either, because purchasers must be able to install the entire guarding device easily without use of metal cutting tools.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an assembly for improving the protection afforded by the guard plates described in my U.S. Patent 4,619,123 without adding substantially to the cost, complexity, or difficulty of installation of the device. Summary of the Invention

Briefly described, and in accordance with one embodiment thereof, the invention provides an assembly for preventing unauthorized forcing of an automobile door lock by means of a screwdriver blade or the like, including a rigid guard plate having an aperture therein and integral first and second flanges extending inwardly from opposed upper and lower edges of the aperture into an opening in the door panel, a handle mechanism having an operative portion extending through the aperture of the guard plate and the opening in the outer door panel to actuate a latching mechanism, and a U-shaped shield having first and second integral legs and integral first and second flanges attached to and extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the ends of the first and second legs, respectively to block passage of the screwdriver or like implement forced between the handle mechanism and the edges of the aperture of the guard plate from reaching a locking lever of the latching mechanism within the door structure. In the described embodiment, the shield is formed of a thin strip of metal. The first and second integral flanges of the guard plate extend only part-way along the aperture of the guard plate, and the shield is positioned in the opening of the outer door panel to protect the portion thereof that is co-extensive with the first and second flanges of the guard plate. Brief Descripti on of the Drawings

Fig. 1 i s a perspective exploded view of the guard plate and U-shaped shield assembly of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the guard plate 8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an interior perspective view of the door panel shown in Fig. 2 wi th the U-shaped shield 35 and the guard plate 8 in place .

Description of the Invention

Referring now to the drawings, automobile door panel 2 has a opening 18 therein in which the operative portion of a door handle mechanism 1 extends , so that a lock cylinder and lever mechanism actuated when lever 4 is pulled by the f ingers of the user actuates the lock and latch mechanism, which is contained in a lock box (not shown) . Recess 30 in door panel 2 allows adequate room for the f ingers of the user as he grasps handle 1 . Opening 18 includes a slightly widened portion including an upper edge

18A and a lower edge 18B. An opening 6 in a member 5 interior to the door panel 2 receives a first screw (not shown ) by means of which the handle mechanism 1 can be securely attached when the first screw is properly posi ti oned through opening 18. Hole 20 in door panel 2 receives a second screw 26 , which pref erably is a one-way screw . Hole 20 A receives a hook (not shown) attached to the left end of handle mechanism 1. Dotted line 27 designates a gasket that can be positioned as indicated.

Reference numeral 37 designates a locking lever 37 having a hole 38 in its outer end through which the end of a rod 39 from the interior lock button or lever extends.

Dashed line 16 indicates the position of guard plate 8 against the outer surface of door 2 when guard plate 8 is properly installed.

In Fig. 2, tab 13 extends inwardly from the left edge of aperture 10. Hole 14 in tab 13 is aligned with hole 6 in member 5, so that the above- mentioned first screw passes through both hole 14 and hole 6, helping to secure guard plate 8 as well as the door handle mechanism, as described in further detail in my Patent 4,619,123.

In accordance with the present invention, shield 35 has a U-shaped section 35A, an integral flange 35B that is perpendicular to and extends upward from the upper leg of U-shaped section 35A, and a lower vertical flange 35C that is perpendicular to and extends downward from the lower leg of U- shaped section 35A. Dotted lines 43 and 44 indicate the proper locations of flange 35B and 35C, respectively, against the outer surface of door 2 when U-shaped shield 35 is properly installed. The present embodiment of U-shaped shield 35 was formed of beryllium copper material approximately 20 inches thick and about three-fourths of an inch wide. The installed shield 35 extends about one and three- fourths inches into the interior of the door 2 . This allows room f or part of the installed handle mechanism to be partially surrounded by the installed U-shaped shield 35 . The height of flanges 35B and

35C is about one-half inch. The height of opening 18 is approximately one inch.

Fig. 3 shows the properly installed assembly including guard plate 8 and U-shaped shield 35 f rom the interior side of door panel 2 . (Handle mechanism 1 is omitted f rom Fig. 3 f or clari ty. ) It can be seen that the flanges 35B and 35C provide some protection against insertion of a screwdriver blade along the unprotected edges 15 and 16 (Fig. 2 ) of guard plate 8 . More importantly, the U-shaped section 35A prevents the blade of a screwdriver or like implement f rom reaching the lock lever 37 in the event that a would-be thief succeeds in getting the screwdriver blade inserted along the edges 15 and 16 that are unprotected by flanges 11 and 12 of guard plate 8 , respectively.

Thus , the above-described assembly incl uding guard plate 8 and U-shaped shield 35 together will thwart even the most persistent and skillful thief who manages to discover the weakness in the or iginal guard plate 8. The above assembly is as easily installed as the original guard plate 8 , adds very little to the cost of production, and is essenti ally no more diff icult to install , as U-shaped spring cl ip 35 merely needs to be inserted through door panel opening 18 so that flanges 35B and 35C are in the positions indi cated bef ore then positi oning guard plate 8 in its proper location.

While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiment of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that all elements and steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same manner to achieve the same result are within the scope of the invention. For example, in some instances the flanges 11 and 12 might overlap part of the U-shaped shield 35.

Claims

I Claim

1. An assembly f or preventing unauthorized forcing of the lock of an automobile door by means of a screwdriver blade or the like, the assembly comprising in combinati on :

(a ) a rigid guard plate having an aperture therein and integral first and second flanges extending inwardly from opposed upper and lower edges of the aperture into an opening in an outer surface of the automobile door ;

(b ) a handle mechanism having a handle portion and an operative portion extending through the aperture in the guard plate through the opening f or actuating a latching mechanism ;

(c) a shield having a U-shaped section with f irst and second legs and integral f ir st and second flanges attached to and extending outwardly and perpendicularly from outer ends of the f irst and second legs , respectively,

whereby the U-shaped section forms a loop within the door to partially surround the opera tive porti on of the handle mechani sm and also bl ock passage of a screwdriver blade or the like f orced between the handle mechani sm and the aperture of the guard plate f rom reaching a lock lever of the latching mechanism.

2. The assembly of Claim 1 wherein the shield and flanges are formed of a single thin strip of metal.

3. The assembly of Claim 2 wherein the first and second flanges of the guard plate extend from one end of the aperture only part way along the upper and lower edges of the aperture-, and wherein the width of the shield is such that the legs and first and second flanges of the shield fit precisely within the portion of the aperture not subtended by the first and second flanges of the guard plate.

4. The assembly of Claim 3 wherein the guard plate is composed of a strip of stainless steel and the shield is composed of beryllium copper material.

5. The assembly of Claim 4 wherein the U-shaped portion of the loop extends approximately one and three-quarter inches into the interior of the automobile door.

6. A method of preventing forced entry of an elongated object such as a screwdriver blade or the like between a handle mechanism of an automobile door and an outer surface of a panel of the door and into an interior latching mechanism of the door, the door having an end panel that is exposed only when the door is opened, the method comprising the steps of: Claim 6 continued :

(a ) opening the door to expose a screw extending through a clearance hole in the end panel of a door and into a threaded hole in a rigid tongue member of the handle mechanism and removing the screw ;

(b) pull ing an operative porti on of the handle mechani sm out of an opening in the outer surf ace of the door ;

(c) inserting a shield having a U-shaped section with first and second legs and integral f irst and second flanges attached to and extending outwardly and perpendicularly f rom outer ends of the f irst and second legs , respectively, into the opening in the outer surface of the door so that the f i rst and second flanges of the shield press against the outer surface of the door and the U-shaped section extends through the opening into the interior of the door ;

(d ) inserting a guard plate having an aperture therein f or receiving an operative portion of the handle mechanism and having upper and lower integral flanges extending inwardly from upper and lower edges of the aperture, into the opening in the outer surface of the door ;

(e ) inserting the operative portion of the handle mechanism through the aperture in the guard plate and the opening in the outer surf ace of the door between the upper and l ower flanges, aligning the threaded hole of rigid tongue member with the Claim 6 continued: first clearance hole; and

(f) rethreading the screw through the clearance hole and into the threaded hole of the tongue member, and tightening the screw to thereby press the operative portion of the handle mechanism against the outer surface of the guard plate and thereby force the guard plate against the first and second flanges of the shield and against the outer surface of the door panel,

whereby the U-shaped section partially surrounds the operative portion of the handle mechanism and blocks passage of a screwdriver blade or the like forced between the handle mechanism and the aperture of the guard plate from reaching a lock lever of the latching mechanism.