WO2002102649A1

WO2002102649A1 - Anti-theft device in particular for a two-wheeled vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2002102649A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/002042
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gaston Huguenin
Original assignee: Gaston Huguenin
Priority date: 2001-06-14
Filing date: 2002-06-14
Publication date: 2002-12-27
Also published as: EP1399354A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti-theft device for a vehicle (113) with an internal combustion engine, on which the throttle (1) comprises a grip (2). Said device comprises at least one connector piece (8), fixed at the free end of the tube (3) or the grip (2) with at least one annular groove (9) on the external face thereof and a mainly cylindrical sleeve (10), characterised in comprising a chain (101) of links (102), one of the free ends of which comprises a section of tube (106) of internal diameter just larger than the diameter of the grip (2) on the vehicle (113), such as to permit the sliding thereof over said grip (2) and whereby the sleeve (10) comprises an opening (L) along the edge of the open end (10a) thereof, which permits the chain (101) to pass in such a manner that the sleeve may cover the grip (2) and the section of tube (106).

Description

ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR A TWO-WHEELED VEHICLE

The present invention relates to an anti-theft device for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, the gas control of which consists of a handle pivoting around a tube generally forming the steering means of the vehicle like what is known in a motorcycle for example.

In the field of anti-theft devices for motorcycles, chains with padlocks are well known making it possible to secure a wheel of the motorcycle with a stud or a hoop secured to a sidewalk or the like or devices made up of steel wire provided with a plastic sheath and, at its ends, lock clasps, or else systems for locking the fork of the motorcycle by means of a locking finger controlled by a cylinder lock. Anti-theft devices commonly known as U-shaped padlocks are also known which consist of a metal rod folded into a U-shape and means for key-locking of said U.

These types of device have the disadvantage of having insufficient security; indeed, a comparative study of such anti-theft devices, published in the journal No. 354 of "60 MILLION CONSUMERS" of October 2001 shows that the protection conferred by most of these devices does not exceed one minute, these last yielding under the action of a simple bolt cutter. In addition, all these devices are particularly bulky and heavy so that users are forced to store these devices, either in a backpack or in a storage box attached to the motorcycle, for example, which can hinder driving. of the vehicle. In order to limit the volume of anti-theft devices for two-wheeled vehicles, devices have already been devised capable of folding in accordion; this is the case, for example, of the German patent DE 4,341,622 describing a safety device for a two-wheeled vehicle. The safety device consists of a chain comprising several links hinged to each other. The links consist of flat steel elements hardened which are connected to each other by hinges. Each link includes an opening to allow the passage of a padlock such as a disc block for example. This safety device, although having a particularly reduced volume when the links are folded in accordion fashion, has the disadvantage of being particularly fragile, in particular at the level of the hinges, so that it does not have sufficient safety to prevent the theft of a vehicle.

Furthermore, all of these devices have the disadvantage, in addition to the risk of loss, of constituting anti-theft devices ill-suited to frequent or short-term stops. Indeed, the implementation time of these anti-theft devices is too long so that motorcyclists do not use them during short stops. Furthermore, the fork locking devices known under the name of NEMAN (registered trademark) are particularly ineffective since a simple rotation of the handlebar which constitutes a lever arm sufficient to allow the fork locking finger to be broken.

In order to overcome these drawbacks, anti-theft devices have already been devised constituted by blocking means making the gas control handle integral with the support tube to the handlebar by means of a barrel lock or by means of a padlock. This is the case, for example, of French patent FR 2,598,995 describing in a first embodiment an anti-theft device consisting of interposing, between the sheath of the handle and the rotating part controlling the movement of the cable which actuates the butterfly of the carburetor, a sleeve, fitted tightly, comprising internally and coaxially a cylinder fixed at its free end by which a barrel lock can be inserted, at will, being housed just in said cylinder on which extends a longitudinal window allowing passage of the bolt of said lock. In a second variant of the invention, the blocking of the throttle on its handlebar support tube is obtained by fixing at the end of the handlebars, by suitable means, a cylindrical part offering, in its projecting part, a transverse hole coming to receive the right branch of a hoop padlock. In a final variant, the anti-theft device consists of a lockable sleeve on the handlebar support tube which covers the control handle and thus prohibiting any manipulation of said handle and therefore the use of the heat engine that it controls. The first two solutions have the disadvantage of requiring a specific adaptation during the manufacture of the motorcycle thus encumbering the acquisition costs of the latter. In addition, the loss of the key of these anti-theft devices, due to their very design, is then irreparable. As for the anti-theft device consisting of a sleeve, the latter being secured to the fixing flange of the control members, that is to say the throttle, the brake, etc., it cannot be adapted to all motorcycles with very different handle lengths, depending on the type and brand of motorcycle.

One of the aims of the invention is therefore to remedy all these drawbacks by proposing an anti-theft device for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, the throttle of which consists of a handle pivoting around a tube which in principle forms the means for steering the vehicle, such as the handlebars of a motorcycle or the like, and cooperating with the end of the throttle cable which extends in an annular flange integral with the tube, the handle extending generally between the annular flange and the free end of the tube. In this regard and in accordance with the invention, this device comprising at least one generally cylindrical or frustoconical connecting piece secured to the free end of the tube or of the handle and having on its external face at least one annular groove, and on the other hand a generally cylindrical sleeve open at one of its ends and closed at the other, comprising a lock whose bolt extends radially inside of said sleeve, said sleeve being able to cover the handle and the connecting part so that the bolt of the lock in the closed position comes to engage in the annular groove of the connecting part when the open end of the sleeve comes substantially resting against the annular flange of the tube is remarkable in that it comprises a chain consisting of links and one of the free ends of which comprises a tube section of internal diameter just greater than the diameter of the gas control handle of the motorized two-wheeled vehicle in order to allow its fitting onto said handle and in that the sleeve comprises along the edge of its open end a lumen allowing the passage of the chain so that said sleeve is suitable for covering the control handle gas and tube section. According to an advantageous characteristic of the anti-theft device according to the invention, the connecting piece has on its outer wall several identical annular grooves and coaxial regularly spaced. It is understood that, along the length of the handle for controlling the gases of the motorcycle, the bolt of the sleeve lock can normally engage in the annular groove closest to the connecting piece when the open end of the sleeve comes resting on the annular flange fixed to the tube, thus making the throttle control handle inaccessible and therefore inactive with the consequence of making any attempted theft fail.

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting examples, of several alternative embodiments of the anti-theft device according to the invention with reference to the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first variant of the anti-theft device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the anti-theft device mounted on the gas control handle according to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a second alternative embodiment of the anti-theft device according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the anti-theft device along line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a link of the anti-theft device according to the invention,

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a link of the anti-theft device according to the invention,

- Figure 7 is an elevational view of a motorcycle secured to a post by the anti-theft device according to the invention

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the anti-theft device according to the invention secured on the brake disc of the front wheel of a motorcycle,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a padlock commonly known as a disc unit making it possible to secure the chain according to the invention on the disc of a motorcycle brake,

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the folding of the anti-theft device according to the invention,

- Figure 11 is an elevational view of the chain of the anti-theft device in the folded position. With reference to the figures, the anti-theft device which will be described by way of nonlimiting example is particularly intended for the throttle grip of a motorcycle.

In this regard, there is shown in Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the anti-theft device according to the invention adapted to be positioned on the gas control 1 of a motorcycle. The gas control 1 conventionally consists of a handle 2 pivoting around a tube 3 of the handlebars of the motorcycle, said handle 2 cooperating with the end of the cable of said gas control 1 which extends in an annular flange 4 commonly called "commodo" integral with the tube 3, and said handle 2 extending generally between the annular flange 4 and the free end of the tube 2. With reference to FIG. 2, the gas control cable 5 is actuated by means of a lug 6 integral with the handle of the gases 2 and extending through a helical window 7 of the annular flange 4. The handle 2 is advantageously obtained in a plastic material and can be covered by a foam sheath such as a grip for example.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the anti-theft device consists of a generally cylindrical connecting piece 8 secured to the free end of the tube 2 and having on its outer face annular grooves 9 concentric. The annular grooves 9 are advantageously regularly spaced along the connecting piece 8 as will be detailed below; however, it is obvious that said connecting piece 8 may comprise only a single annular groove 9 coaxial without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the edges of the annular grooves 9 advantageously include inclined chamfers to facilitate the introduction of the bolt of the lock which will be described a little later.

The anti-theft device furthermore consists of a generally cylindrical sleeve 10 open at one of its ends 10a and closed at the other 10b. The sleeve 10 comprises a lock 11, the bolt 12 of which extends radially inside said sleeve 10. The latter is preferably obtained from a metal alloy and has an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the handle 2 for controlling the gases. and of the connecting piece 8 so that it is suitable for styling them. In a particularly advantageous manner, the sleeve 10 has an ovoid section in order to cover not only the throttle grip 2 and the connecting piece 8 but also the brake control.

Thus, when the sleeve 10- is engaged around the handle 2 and the connecting piece 8 until the open end 10a of said sleeve 10 comes to bear substantially against the annular flange 4 of the tube 3, the bolt 12 of lock 11 is to the right of one of the annular grooves 9 so that by actuating the key C, the bolt 12 engages in the annular groove 9 of the connecting piece 8 preventing any withdrawal of the sleeve 10 thus making the handle 2 for controlling the gases inaccessible and therefore inactive.

According to a particularly advantageous arrangement of the anti-theft device according to the invention, the connecting piece 8 advantageously acts as a balancing weight for the handlebars, the handle opposite to the handle for controlling the throttle of the handlebars advantageously comprising at its free end a weight of the same weight. Note that for a motorcycle with a displacement of approximately 600 cm ³ , the flyweights weigh approximately 310 gr.

Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 1, the anti-theft device comprises a chain 101, each link 102 of which consists of a rod 103 respectively provided at its free ends with a ring 104 interlaced with a ring 104 with an adjacent link 102 of the chain 101. Each link 102 is obtained from a metal rod of circular, polygonal or similar section, the free ends of which are folded over to form the rings 104. Said rings 4 are preferably open in order to preserve the properties mechanics of the metal in which the link is obtained; however, it is obvious that the rings 104 can be closed by welding. It will be noted that a chain made up of such links obtained from a particularly robust metal rod provides great resistance in the event of aggression or in the event of an attempt to steal the motorcycle from the chain.

Furthermore, one of the free ends comprises a ring 105 of generally oblong, rectangular or similar shape, of section capable of allowing the passage of said chain 101 in said ring 105. Said ring 105 is interlaced in the ring 104 of the link 102 constituting the free end of the chain 101. In addition, the opposite free end of the chain 101 advantageously comprises a tube section 106 of just internal diameter greater than the diameter of the throttle grip 2 of a vehicle with two motorized wheels such as a motorcycle for example, in order to allow its fitting onto said grip 2. The tube section 106 is then advantageously secured to the throttle grip 2 by the sleeve 10 as described above which covers the section of tube 106 fitted on the handle 2, the sleeve 10 then being secured to the handle 2 by the bolt 12 of a key lock 11 cooperating with the connecting piece 8 provided with annular grooves 9 and positioned at the free end of the throttle grip 2. The sleeve 10 advantageously includes a lumen L allowing the passage of the rod 103 of the link 102 of the free end of the chain 101 to which is secured , for example by welding, the tube section 106.

According to a first alternative embodiment of the anti-theft device according to the invention, with reference to FIG. 2, the connecting piece 8 comprises means for securing to the tube 3 consisting of a threaded rod 13 extending coaxially from the one of the ends of said connecting piece 8, having a free conical or frustoconical end 14 and cooperating with a cylindrical tubular piece 15. Said cylindrical tubular piece has an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the tube 3 in order to allow its introduction into said tube 3. In addition, the tubular part 15 comprises an internal thread 16 cooperating with the threaded rod 13, an external flange 17 at one of its ends forming a support flange and at its opposite end a frustoconical internal shoulder 18. Thus, the tubular part 15 being previously introduced into the tube 3 until the flange 17 is supported on the edge of said t ube 3, the threaded rod 13 is screwed into the tubular part 15 until its free-conical or frustoconical end 14 comes into abutment on the frustoconical internal shoulder 18 of said part 15 to spread its walls which bear against the internal walls of the tube 3, providing the blocking of the tubular part 15 in said tube 3.

Incidentally, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the cylindrical tubular part 15 advantageously comprises at least two longitudinal slots 19 extending parallel to the axis of the tubular part 15 from its end comprising the frustoconical internal shoulder 18 towards its opposite end in order to facilitate the spacing of its walls during the joining of the connecting piece 8 to the tube 3. It is quite obvious that, depending on the type, brand, etc. of the motorcycle, the means for joining the piece of connection 8 may consist of a simple threaded rod 13 extending coaxially from one of the ends of the connection piece 8 and cooperating with an internal thread of the tube 3.

According to a second alternative embodiment of the anti-theft device according to the invention, with reference to FIG. 3, the connecting piece 8 comprises means for securing to the tube consisting of a cylindrical rod 20 extending coaxially from one of the ends of the connecting piece 8 and comprising at its free end a central recess 21 in the form of a polygonal base pyramid suitable for accommodating a nut 22 in the form of a polygonal base pyramid trunk preferably having a slope greater than the slope of the recess 21. The nut 22 cooperates with a screw 23 extending from the free end of the connecting piece 8 to the free end of the rod 20 in a coaxial hole 24 so that the rod 20 provided with its nut 22 engaged with the screw 23 being introduced into the tube 3, the rotation of the screw 23 drives the nut 22 against the wall of the central recess 21 of the rod 20 which moves up to to the wall external of said rod 20 bears against the internal wall of the tube 3, which provides the attachment of the connecting piece 8 to the end of said tube 3.

In the same way as previously, the cylindrical rod 20 advantageously comprises at least two longitudinal slots 25 extending parallel to the axis of the rod 20 from its free end to its opposite end and preferably to the internal end of the recess 21, in order to facilitate the spacing of the walls of the securing means. It goes without saying that the nut 22 may have the shape of a truncated cone of an ovoid generator, the central recess 21 having a corresponding shape, without going beyond the ambit of the invention.

In addition, the rod may advantageously comprise on its external face a thread 26 capable of cooperating with a thread of the internal face of the tube 3 of certain types, brands, models, etc. of vehicles.

It is obvious that the connecting piece 8 can be secured to the tube 3 or the handle 2 of the gas control by any other means of temporary or permanent attachment such as a weld or the like.

According to another alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention, with reference to FIG. 5, the centers f_ of the rings 104 are aligned with the longitudinal axis A of the rod 103 of said link 102 and the internal diameter d of the rings 104 is greater than or equal to twice the section e of said rings 104 in order to allow an accordion folding of the links 102 of the chain 101. According to a final variant of the anti-theft device according to the invention, with reference to the figure 6, the centers C_ of the rings 104 are eccentric with the longitudinal axis A of the rod 103, that is to say that the centers C_ are not aligned with the longitudinal axis A. In this nonlimiting example, the centers f_ of the two rings 104 of the link 102 are positioned in the same plane and on the same side as the longitudinal axis A, however, it is obvious that the centers C_ of the rings 104 can be positioned on either side of the longitudinal axis A of the rod 103 in the same plane or not, without departing from the scope of the invention. In order to allow accordion folding of the links 102 of the chain 101, the distance D and the internal diameter d of the eccentric ring 104 are at least equal to the section e of the rod 103 of the link 102.

In the nonlimiting examples described above, the rings 104 of a link 102 extend in the same plane; however, it is obvious that the rings 104 of a link 102 can extend respectively in two orthogonal planes. In addition, it goes without saying that a link 102 may consist of a rod 103, a first ring 104 whose center C_ is aligned with the longitudinal axis A of said rod 103 and a second ring 104 whose center C _ is located at a distance D from the longitudinal axis A of the rod 103.

The operation of the anti-theft device according to the invention will now be explained with reference to FIG. 1 and to FIGS. 7 to 11.

A two-wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle 113 (FIG. 7), being held in a stationary standing position by its stand near a shaft 114 or a pole, the user surrounds the shaft 114 with the chain 101, then it passes the free end provided with the tube section 106 of the chain 101 inside the oblong ring 105 to form a "noose", then it connects the tube section 106 to the gas handle 2, and finally it covers the gas handle 2 with the sleeve 10 which it then locks, thus securing the motorcycle 113 to the shaft 114.

Incidentally, with reference to Figures 8 and 9, the user can secure the chain 101 extending between the throttle grip 2 and the shaft 114 to the disc 115 of the front brake 116 of the motorcycle 113 by means of a disc unit 117. The disc block 117 is conventionally constituted by two hemispheres 118a, 118b, a first hemisphere 118a carrying a key lock 119 and a second hemisphere 118b comprising a radial rod 120 provided at its end with an annular groove 121 able to cooperate with the key lock 119, said rod 120 having a diameter less than the holes 122 made in the disc of the front brake of the motorcycle 113 and less than the internal diameter d of the rings 104 of links 102 of chain 101.

When the user wants to free his motorcycle 113 from the shaft 114, he operates the reverse steps, then, with reference to FIG. 10, he folds the links 102 of the chain 101 in accordion and finally, the volume of the chain 1 thus folded being particularly restricted, it stores the folded chain in a receptacle 123 such as a bag for example.

It is obvious that the anti-theft device according to the invention can only consist of a chain 101 of which each link 102 consists of a rod provided at its free ends respectively with a ring 104 interlaced with a ring 104 with a link 102 adjacent to chain 1, without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the chain 101 can conventionally consist of links 102 of oblong shapes without departing from the scope of the invention.

Finally, it goes without saying that the anti-theft device according to the invention can be adapted to all types of vehicles with an internal combustion engine or electric motor such as mopeds, "quads" or the like and that the examples which have just been given do not are only particular illustrations which in no way limit the fields of application of the invention.

Claims

1 - Anti-theft device for a vehicle (113) with an internal combustion engine whose gas control (1) consists of a handle (2) pivoting around a tube (3) in principle forming the steering means of the vehicle (113 ), such as the handlebars of a motorcycle or the like, and cooperating with the end of the cable (5) of said throttle control which extends in an annular flange (4) integral with the tube (3), the handle ( 2) extending generally between the annular flange (4) and the free end of the tube (3), said device comprising at least one connecting part (8) generally cylindrical or frustoconical secured to the free end of the tube (3 ) or the handle (2) and having on its external face at least one annular groove (9), and on the other hand a generally cylindrical sleeve (10) open at one of its ends (10a) and closed at the other (10b), comprising a lock (11) whose bolt (12) extends radially inside said sleeve (10), said jaw hon (10) being able to cover the handle (2) and the connecting piece (8) so that the bolt (12) of the lock (11) in the closed position comes to engage in the annular groove (9) of the connecting piece (8) when the open end (10a) of the sleeve (10) comes to bear substantially against the annular flange (4) of the tube (3) characterized in that it comprises a chain made up of a link and one of the free ends of which comprises a tube section (106) with an internal diameter just greater than the diameter of the handle (2) for controlling the vehicle's gases (113) so as to allow it to be fitted onto said handle (2) and in that the sleeve (10) comprises along the edge of its open end (10a) a lumen (L) allowing the passage of the chain (101) so that the sleeve (10) is capable of covering the handle ( 2) and the tube section (106). 2 - Anti-theft device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the connecting piece (8) has on its outer wall several grooves regularly spaced identical and coaxial annulars (9).

3 - Anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the connecting piece (8) takes the place of the balancing weight of the handlebar thus equipped.

4 - Anti-theft device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting piece (8) comprises means for securing to the tube (3) consisting of a threaded rod (13) extending coaxially from one ends of the connecting piece (8) and cooperating with an internal thread of the tube (3).

5 - Anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the connecting piece (8) comprises means for securing to the tube (3) consisting of a threaded rod (13) extending coxially from the 'one end of said connecting piece (8), having a conical or frustoconical free end (14) and cooperating with a cylindrical tubular piece (15) of external diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the tube (3) in order to allow its introduction into said tube (3), the tubular part (15) comprising an internal thread (16) cooperating with the threaded rod (13), an external flange (17) at one of its ends forming a support flange and at its opposite end a frustoconical internal shoulder (18) so that, the tubular part (15) being previously introduced into the tube (3) until the flange (17) is supported on the edge of said tube (3 ), the threaded rod (13) is screwed into the tubular part (15) until its conical or frustoconical free end (14) abuts the internal t-frustoconical shoulder (18) of said part (15); separate its walls which provides the blocking of the tubular part (15) in the tube (3).

6 - Anti-theft device according to claim 5 characterized in that the cylindrical tubular part (15) comprises at least two longitudinal slots (19) extending parallel to the axis of the tubular part (15) from its end comprising the frustoconical internal shoulder (18) towards its opposite end. 7 - Anti-theft device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the connecting piece (18) comprises means for securing to the tube (3) consisting of a cylindrical rod (20) extending coaxially from the 'one end of the connecting piece (8) and comprising at its free end a central recess (21) in the form of a polygonal base pyramid capable of accommodating a nut (22) in the form of a polygonal base pyramid trunk having preferably a slope greater than the slope of the recess (21), said nut (22) cooperating with a screw (23) extending from the free end of the connecting piece (8) to the free end of the rod (20) in a coaxial hole (24) so that, the rod (20) provided with its nut (22) engaged with the screw (23) being introduced into the tube (3), the rotation of the screw (23) drives the nut (22) against the wall of the central recess (21) of the rod (20) which deviates e until the outer wall of the rod (20) bears against the inner wall of the tube (3) which provides the attachment of the connecting piece (8) to the end of the tube (3).

8 - Anti-theft device according to claim 7 characterized in that the cylindrical rod (20) comprises at least two longitudinal slots (25) extending parallel to the axis of the rod (20) from its free end to the internal end of the central recess (21).

9 - Anti-theft device according to any one of claims 7 or 8 characterized in that the rod (20) comprises on its outer face a thread (26) capable of cooperating with a thread of the inner face of the tube (3).

10 - Anti-theft device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each link (102) of the chain (101) consists of a rod (103) respectively provided at its free ends with a ring (104) interleaved with a ring (104) with a link (102) adjacent to the chain (101).

11 - Anti-theft device according to claim 10 characterized in that the centers C _ of the rings (104) are aligned with the longitudinal axis A of the rod (103) and in that the internal diameter d of the rings (104) is at less equal to twice the section e of the rods (103) in order to allow an accordion folding of the links (102) of the chain (101).

12 - Anti-theft device according to claim 10 characterized in that the center C_ of at least one ring

(104) of a link (102) is located at a distance D from the longitudinal axis A of the rod (103). 13 - Anti-theft device according to claims 10 and 12 characterized in that the distance D and the internal diameter d of the eccentric ring (104) is at least equal to the section e_ of the rod (103) of the link (102) .

14 - Anti-theft device according to any one of claims 10 to 13 characterized in that the rings (104) of a link (102) extend in the same plane.

15 - Anti-theft device according to any one of claims 10 to 13 characterized in that the rings (104) of a link (102) extend respectively in two orthogonal planes.

16 - Anti-theft device according to any one of claims 10 to 15 characterized in that one of the free ends of the chain (101) comprises a ring (105) of section capable of allowing the passage of said chain (101) in said ring (105), the latter preferably being interlaced in the ring (104) of the link (102) of the free end of the chain (101).

17 - Anti-theft device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a disc block (117) enabling the chain (101) to be secured to the vehicle brake disc (113).