WO1999038754A1

WO1999038754A1 - Threaded nut lock

Info

Publication number: WO1999038754A1
Application number: PCT/IL1999/000053
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dani Ferber
Original assignee: Mul-T-Lock Technologies Ltd.
Priority date: 1998-01-29
Filing date: 1999-01-28
Publication date: 1999-08-05
Also published as: ZA99611B; AU2296899A; IL123118A0

Abstract

A spare wheel lock (10) including a nut barrier mountable on a wheel-mounting stud (16) of a vehicle, the nut barrier substantially preventing access to a nut (20) securing a wheel (18) to the stud (16) so as to substantially prevent dismounting the wheel (18) from the vehicle.

Description

THREADED NUT LOCK FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a lock for preventing unauthorized access to any nut threadedly attached to a stud, particularly applicable for preventing theft of a spare wheel attached by threaded nuts to a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Spare wheels of many recreational vehicles, four-wheel drive vehicles, all- terrain vehicles, such as a JEEP^®, are mounted on a rear outer surface of the vehicle. Threaded nuts fasten the spare wheel to studs in basically the same manner as the regular wheels of the vehicle are mounted to studs protruding from the brake housings. Unfortunately, this simple and convenient mounting method makes the spare wheel rather simple to pilfer. Although many locks are known for securing a motor vehicle against theft, no lock is known for preventing theft of the spare wheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a lock for preventing theft of a spare wheel attached by threaded nuts to a motor vehicle. It is of course appreciated that the present invention is equally applicable for any wheel mounted by threaded nuts to studs, and the term "spare wheel" in the specification and claims is thus understood to encompass any such wheel. It is also appreciated that the present invention is equally applicable for preventing unauthorized access to any nut threadedly attached to a stud.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a spare wheel lock including a nut barrier mountable on a wheel-mounting stud of a vehicle, the nut barrier substantially preventing access to a nut securing a wheel to the stud so as to substantially prevent dismounting the wheel from the vehicle. There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a threaded nut lock including a nut barrier mountable on a stud which threadingly mates with a nut, the nut barrier substantially preventing access to the nut attached to the stud.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the nut barrier includes a stud housing with a bore formed therethrough for placing over the stud, the stud protruding into the bore, wherein a diameter of the bore is sufficiently large to provide access for tightening the nut to the stud and the stud housing is sufficiently long so that the nut is inside the bore when tightened to the stud, and wherein a lock element housing extends transversely from the stud housing and is formed with a bore therethrough, the lock element housing bore extending into the stud housing bore, and a lock element is arranged for sliding movement in the lock element housing bore, wherein the lock element is selectively lockable in a position protruding into the stud housing bore outwards of the nut when tightened to the stud, thereby substantially preventing access to the nut attached to the stud.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the stud housing includes an end face with an aperture formed therethrough with a diameter smaller than the stud housing bore, the stud protruding through the aperture, and wherein the end face is abuttable against a rear face of the nut when the nut is tightened to the stud. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the lock element housing is formed with a groove which receives therein a pin attached to a portion of the lock element, the pin cooperating with the groove to define limits of sliding travel of the lock element along a longitudinal axis of the lock element.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the lock element housing is sufficiently long such that upon rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis of the stud housing, the lock element housing abuts against a rim of the wheel of the vehicle, thereby preventing further rotation of the lock element housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are simplified pictorial illustrations of a threaded nut lock constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively before and after locking engagement with a stud of a vehicle wheel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which illustrates a threaded nut lock 10 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Lock 10 preferably includes a nut barrier that includes a stud housing 12 with a bore 14 formed therethrough for placing over a stud 16 of a vehicle wheel 18, stud 16 protruding into bore 14. A nut 20 may be threaded and tightened on to stud 16 after placement of stud housing 12 over stud 16. The diameter of bore 14 is sufficiently large to provide access for tightening nut 20 to stud 16 by means of any suitable wrench (not shown). In addition, stud housing 12 is sufficiently long so that nut 20 is inside bore 14 when tightened to stud 16. A lock element housing 22 extends transversely from stud housing 12 and is formed with a bore 24 therethrough. Lock element housing bore 24 extends into stud housing bore 14. A lock element 26 is arranged for sliding movement in bore 24, such as by means of a cylinder lock 28. Stud housing 12 preferably includes an end face 30 with an aperture 32 formed therethrough with a diameter smaller than bore 14. When lock 10 is assembled on stud 16, stud 16 protrudes through aperture 32, and end face 30 is abuttable against a rear face of nut 20 when nut 20 is tightened to stud 16. By abutting against nut 20, end face 30 prevents pulling lock 10 off stud 16. Lock element housing 22 is preferably formed with a groove 34 which receives therein a pin 36 attached to a portion of lock element 26. Pin 36 cooperates with groove 34 to define limits of sliding travel of lock element 26 along a longitudinal axis 38 of lock element 26.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2 which illustrates threaded nut lock 10 in locked engagement with stud 16. It is seen that lock element 26 is selectively lockable in a position protruding into stud housing bore 14 outwards of nut 20 when tightened to stud 16, thereby substantially preventing access to the nut attached to the stud. Lock element 26 is locked in this protruding position by means of an authorized key (not shown) rotating a tumbler (not shown) of lock 28 which causes some locking mechanism of lock 10 to maintain lock element 26 in the locked position, as is well known in the art. For example, rotation of the tumbler may cause a pin (not shown) to protrude into a hole (not shown) formed in the wall of lock element housing 22. It is appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the pin protruding into the hole is just one of many possibilities of locking mechanisms which may be used to accomplish locking of locking element 26, and the particular mechanism is not part of the present invention. For this reason, no detailed description or drawing is provided of the lock mechanism.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, lock element housing 22 is sufficiently long such that upon rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis 40 of stud housing 12, lock element housing 22 abuts against a rim 42 of wheel 18, thereby preventing further rotation of lock element housing 22 and tampering with lock 10.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

C L A I M S What is claimed is:

1. A spare wheel lock ( 10) comprising: a nut barrier mountable on a wheel-mounting stud (16) of a vehicle, said nut barrier substantially preventing access to a nut (20) securing a wheel (18) to said stud (16) so as to substantially prevent dismounting said wheel (18) from said vehicle.

2. A threaded nut lock (10) comprising: a nut barrier mountable on a stud (16) which threadingly mates with a nut (20), said nut barrier substantially preventing access to said nut (20) attached to said stud (16).

3. A lock (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2 further characterized in that said nut barrier comprises a stud housing (12) with a bore (14) formed therethrough for placing over said stud (16), said stud (16) protruding into said bore (14), wherein a diameter of said bore (14) is sufficiently large to provide access for tightening said nut (20) to said stud ( 16) and said stud housing (12) is sufficiently long so that said nut (20) is inside said bore (14) when tightened to said stud (16), and wherein a lock element housing (22) extends transversely from said stud housing (12) and is formed with a bore (24) therethrough, said lock element housing bore (24) extending into said stud housing bore (14), and a lock element (26) is arranged for sliding movement in said lock element housing bore (14), wherein said lock element (26) is selectively lockable in a position protruding into said stud housing bore (14) outwards of said nut (20) when tightened to said stud (16), thereby substantially preventing access to said nut (20) attached to said stud (16).

4. A lock (10) according to claim 3 further characterized in that said stud housing (12) comprises an end face (30) with an aperture (32) formed therethrough with a diameter smaller than said stud housing bore (14), said stud (16) protruding through said aperture (32), and wherein said end face (30) is abuttable against a rear face of said nut (20) when said nut (20) is tightened to said stud (16).

5. A lock (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4 further characterized in that said lock element housing (22) is formed with a groove (34) which receives therein a pin (36) attached to a portion of said lock element (26), said pin (36) cooperating with said groove (34) to define limits of sliding travel of said lock element (26) along a longitudinal axis (38) of said lock element (26).

6. A lock (10) according to claim 1 further characterized in that said lock element housing (22) is formed with a groove (34) which receives therein a pin (36) attached to a portion of a lock element (26), said pin (36) cooperating with said groove (34) to define limits of sliding travel of said lock element (26) along a longitudinal axis (38) of said lock element

(26).

7. A lock (10) according to claim 6 further characterized in that said lock element housing (22) is sufficiently long such that upon rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis (40) of said stud housing (12), said lock element housing (22) abuts against a rim (42) of said wheel

(18) of said vehicle, thereby preventing further rotation of said lock element housing (22).