WO1996002408A1

WO1996002408A1 - A vehicle security system

Info

Publication number: WO1996002408A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/001672
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sarel Gerhardus Yssel
Original assignee: Whalley, Kevin
Priority date: 1994-07-15
Filing date: 1995-07-17
Publication date: 1996-02-01
Also published as: ZA955762B; AU2933095A

Abstract

A vehicle security system (10) includes a housing (12) on which a steering wheel of a vehicle is mountable. A collar (14) is securable to a steering column (16) of the vehicle, the collar (14) being arranged within the housing (12) so as to permit relative rotation between the housing (12) and the collar (14). A locking pin (20) is provided for releasably locking the housing (12) and collar (14) against rotation relative to each other.

Description

A VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM

THIS INVENTION relates to a vehicle security system for inhibiting theft of a vehicle.

According to the invention, there is provided a vehicle security system which includes: a housing on which a steering wheel of a vehicle is mountable,* a collar securable to a steering column of the vehicle, the collar being arranged within the housing so as to permit relative rotation between the housing and collar,* and a locking pin for releasably locking the housing and collar against rotation relative to each other, the pin having a longitudinal axis which, in use, extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the steering column, a part of the circumference of the pin being removed to define a slot, the housing and the collar having complementary recessed regions defined therein which, when in alignment, define a cylindrical passage of a diameter sufficient to accommodate the pin therein, and the pin being rotatable between a first position to lock the housing and collar together so that rotation of the steering wheel is imparted via the housing to the collar and, hence, to the steering column to enable the vehicle to be steered, and a second position in which the housing is freely rotatable relative to the collar without imparting rotary motion to the collar.

The system may include a locking mechanism for controlling rotation of the pin and for locking the pin in at least one of its first and second positions. Preferably, the locking mechanism is operable to lock the pin in both its first position and its second position.

The housing may include a base member and a cover member between which the collar is held captive. The base member may define a countersunk region in which the collar is a snug fit to be rotatable therein.

The collar may be rotatably arranged relative to the housing via a bearing arrangement.

The recessed region of the housing may be defined in a wall of the countersunk region to open out into the countersunk region.

The collar may comprise a boss rotatably received :^'.n a passage defined in the base mem er, the passage opening into the countersunk region, and a flange portion extending outwardly from the boss, the recessed region of the collar being defined in a periphery of the flange portion.

The recessed region of the housing and the collar, when in alignment, may together define the passage which is of circular cross-section, one of the recessed regions circumscribing more than half of a circle with the other recessed region circumscribing the remainder of the circle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the recessed region circumscribing more than half of the circle may be that of the housing with the other recessed region then being the recessed region in the flange portion of the collar. It will be appreciated that the slot formed in the pin is dimensioned to facilitate the passage of the periphery of the flange portion of the collar therethrough. Then, when the pin is in its first position, the slot may face away from the collar and, when the pin is in the second position, the slot may face towards the collar.

In a preferred form of the invention, the cover member comprises a cover plate securable to the base member to hold the flange portion of the collar captive in the countersunk region of the base member. The locking mechanism and the pin may have complementary engaging formations so that operation of the locking mechanism causes rotation of the pin. The engaging formation of the locking mechanism may comprise a part which is configured to fail when undue force is imparted thereto. Said part may be a region of reduced thickness and may, in particular, be a tongue-like element which is received in a complementary groove in an operatively upper end of the pin. Also, if a chemical substance, such as an acid, is thrown into the locking mechanism the region of reduced thickness will be eaten away first thereby rendering the pin inoperative.

The locking mechanism may be arranged in a casing mounted on the cover plate. The casing may be received in a countersunk region on an outer surface of the cover plate and may be secured by a securing means extending inwardly from a periphery of the cover plate.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing may be substantially annular. Then, the countersunk region of the cover plate may be eccentrically arranged on the cover plate. The securing means may comprise a pair of spaced dowel pins, the dowel pins being inserted into aligned apertures in the cover plate and the casing of the locking mechanism such that the dowel pins are arranged along chords of the casing. The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure l shows a side view of a vehicle security system, in accordance with the invention,*

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the vehicle security system,*

Figure 3 shows a sectional side view of the security system taken along line III-III in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a sectional plan view of part of the system with a pin of the system in a first position; and

Figure 5 shows a sectional plan view of part of the system with the pin of the system in a second position.

Referring to the drawings, a vehicle security system, in accordance with the invention, is illustrated and is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The system 10 comprises a housing 12 on which a steering wheel (not shown) of a vehicle is mounted. A collar 14 is rotatably received in the housing 12. The collar 14 is mountable on a steering column 16 of the vehicle and is secured thereto by a locking bolt 18. A locking pin 20 is held captive in the housing 12 and is rotatable between a first position, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, where the collar 14 and the housing 12 are locked relative to each other and a second position, as shown in Figure 5, where the collar 14 is free to rotate relative to the housing 12, as shown by the arrows 22.

The housing 12 comprises a base member 24 having a passage 26 defined therethrough and a countersunk portion 28 into which the passage 26 opens out.

The collar 14 has a boss 30 which is a snug fit in the passage 26 of the base member 24 and a flange portion 32 extending radially outwardly from the boss 30 to be received snugly in the countersunk region 28 of the base member 24 of the housing 12. It is to be noted that the collar 14 is a very close fit in the base member 24 of the housing 12 to ensure reliable operation of the system 10.

The boss 30 of the collar 14 further has a bore 34 defined therein within which the steering column 16 of the vehicle is received.

The base member 24 of the housing 12 has an annu.ar portion 36 circumscribing the countersunk region 28. A recessed region 38 is defined in an inner wall 40 of the annular portion 36 to open out into the countersunk region 28. As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the recessed region 38 circumscribes an arc which is more than half of a circle. The recessed region may circumscribe an arc of between about 200°-220° and, optimally, about 210°. A recessed region 42 is defined in a peripheral wall 44 of the flange portion 32 of the collar 14 such that, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, when the recessed region 42 is aligned with the recessed region 38, a circular cylindrical passage 46 is defined.

The locking pin 20 is largely of circular cylindrical cross section.

The housing 12 includes a cover member or cover plate 48 secured to the annular portion 36 of the base member 24 to hold the collar 14 in position in the base member 24.

The base member 24, in its annular region and partially below the countersunk region 28, has a bore 50 defined therein which is of substantially the same diameter as the pin 20 to define a retaining seat for the pin 20. A central region of the pin 20 defines an engaging formation 54 about a part of the circumference of the pin 20 with the remainder of the circumference of the pin 20 at that region being removed to define a transverse slot 56 as shown more clearly in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Further, the engaging formation 54 circumscribes more than half of a circle and is dimensionally proportional to the recessed region 38 in the annular portion 36 of the base member 24. A height dimension H (Figure 3) of the slot 56 is such that the flange portion 32 of the collar 14 can pass therethrough.

The system 10 includes a locking mechanism 58 which locks the pin 20 both in its first position and in its second position. The locking mechanism 58 also controls manipulation of the pin 20 and holds the pin 20 captive in the base member 24.

The locking mechanism 58 comprises a barrel lock having a barrel 70 mounted in a casing 60 arranged eccentrically on the cover plate 48. It is to be noted that, in Figure 2 of the drawings, the barrel 70 of the locking mechanism 58 is omitted from the casing 60 to show the pin 20. The casing 60 is received in a countersunk region 62 in the cover plate 48. The casing 60 is secured to the cover plate 48 via a pair of spaced dowel pins 64 which extend through aligned openings in the cover plate 48 and the casing 60. The pin 20 has a diametric groove 66 defined in that end closest to the locking mechanism 58. The locking mechanism 58, in turn, has a region of reduced thickness in the form of a tongue 68 which is received in the groove 66 of the pin 20.

It will be appreciated that if the housing 12 is forced at an angle relative to the collar 14, even to a very limited extent, sufficient grip between the housing 12 and the collar 14 may be obtained to allow the vehicle to be steered even when the pin 20 is in its second position. To inhibit this and to ensure reliable operation of the system 10, the collar 14 is mounted rotatably in relation to the housing 12 via a plurality of bearings 72, 74 and 76..

The bearing 72 is formed by an annular groove 78 defined in an upper surface 80 of the flange portion 32 of the collar 14. A plurality of balls 82 is received in the groove 28.

Similarly, the bearing 74 is formed by an rnnular groove 84 formed in a floor of the countersunk - to - portion 28 of the base member 24. A plurality of balls 86 is received in the groove 84.

The bearing 76 is a needle bearing 88 arranged between the base 30 of the collar 14 and a wall of the passage 26 of the base member 24. Typically, a 35 (outer diameter in mm) x 30 (inner diameter in mm) x 17 (length of needle in mm) can be used.

In use, a steering wheel is secured to the housing 12. The housing 12 is so configured that ancillary equipment, such as hooter buttons, air bags, or the like, can still be carried on the steering wheel. To enable the vehicle to be steered, the lock mechanism 58 is manipulated such that the pin 20 is in the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. It will be noted that, in this position, the engaging formation 54 of the pin 20 lies in both recessed regions 38 and 42 of the housing 12 and the collar 14, respectively. In so doing, the housing 12 is effectively locked against rotation relative to the collar 14. Hence, rotation imparted to the housing 12 by the steering wheel is also imparted to collar 14. The collar 14, in turn, imparts rotation to the steering column 16 thereby enabling the vehicle to be steered.

When the vehicle is to be left unattended, the lock mechanism 58 is rotated so that zhe pin 20 adopts the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. In this position, the engaging formation 54 is contained only within the recessed region 38 of the housing 12 and the collar 14 can pass through the slot 56. In this configuration, the collar 14 is effectively disconnected from the housing 12 so that if the housing 12 is rotated relative to the collar 14, the collar 14 merely passes through the slot 56 in the pin 20 and the housing 12 rotates freely relative to the collar 14 in the direction of the arrows 22 without imparting any rotary motion to the collar 14.

Thus, it will be appreciated that, with a vehicle security system 10, in accordance with the invention, a simple but effective anti-theft arrangement is provided. Also, as the locking mechanism 58 is contained deep within padding of the steering wheel, it will be difficult to obtain access thereto. Further, the bolt 18 securing the system 10 to the steering column 16 is recessed below the cover plate 40 thereby inhibiting access being gained thereto.

Still further, as indicated more clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings, the tongue 68 of the locking mechanism 58 is of narrow cross-section. Should an attempt be made to force the locking mechanism 58 when the pin 20 is in its second position (as shown in Figure 5) , the tongue 68 will probably fail rendering the steering wheel useless. Also, if, while the pin 20 is in its second position, a chemical substance such as an acid is thrown into the locking mechanism 58, the acid will eat away the tongue 68 effectively disconnecting the locking mechanism 58 from the pin 20.

Claims

1. A vehicle security system which includes: a housing on which a steering wheel of a vehicle is mountable; a collar securable to a steering column of the vehicle, the collar being arranged within the housing so as to permit relative rotation between the housing and the collar,* and a locking pin for releasably locking the housing and collar against rotation relative to each other, the pin having a longitudinal axis which, in use, extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the steering column, a part of the circumference of the pin, being removed to define a slot, the housing and the collar having complementary recessed regions defined therein which, when in alignment, define a cylindrical passage of a diameter sufficient to accommodate the pin therein, and the pin being rotatable between a first position to lock the housing and collar together so that rotation of the steering wheel is imparted via the housing to the collar and, hence, to the steering column to enable the vehicle to be steered, and a second position in which the housing is freely rotatable relative to the collar without imparting rotary motion to the collar. - 1 H -

2. The system as claimed in Claim 1 which includes a locking mechanism for controlling rotation of the pin and for locking the pin in at least one of the its first and second positions.

3. The system as claimed in Claim 2 in which the housing includes a base member and a cover member between which the collar is held captive.

4. The system as claimed in Claim 3 in which the collar is rotatably arranged relative to the housing via a bearing arrangement.

5. The system as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 in which the base member defines a countersunk region in which the collar is a snug fit to be rotatable therein.

6. The system as claimed in Claim 5 in which the recessed region of the housing is defined in a wall of the countersunk region to open out into the countersunk region.

7. The system as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6 inclusive in which the collar comprises a boss rotatably received in a passage defined in the base member, the passage opening into the countersunk region, and a flange portion extending outwardly from the boss, the recessed region of the coll'tr being defined in a periphery of the flange portion.

8. The system as claimed in Claim 7 in which the recessed region of the housing and the collar, when in alignment, together define the passage which is of circular cross-section, one of the recessed regions circumscribing more than half of a circle with the other recessed region circumscribing the remainder of the circle.

9. The system as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 in which the cover member comprises a cover plate securable to the base member to hold the flange portion of the collar captive in the countersunk region of the base member.

10. The system as claimed in Claim 9 in which the locking mechanism and the pin have complementary engaging formations so that operation of the locking mechanism causes rotation of the pin between its first and second positions.

11. The system as claimed in Claim 10 in which the engaging formation of the locking mechanism comprises a part which is configured to fail when undue force is imparted thereto.

12. The system as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11 inclusive in which the locking mechanism is arranged in a casing mounted on the cover plate.

13. The system as claimed in Claim 12 in which the casing is received in a countersunk region of the cover plate and is secured by a securing means extending inwardly from a periphery of the cover plate

14. A new vehicle security system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.