GB2103164A

GB2103164A - Vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2103164A
Application number: GB8220459A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samuel Gibson; Kevin Dolan
Original assignee: LEVERWAY Ltd
Current assignee: LEVERWAY Ltd
Priority date: 1981-07-10
Filing date: 1982-07-14
Publication date: 1983-02-16
Also published as: GB2104019A; GB2104019B; BR8204019A; DE3127307A1; DE3127307C2; CA1206183A

Abstract

An anti-theft device 50 for obstructing rotation of a vehicle wheel comprises a frame having a first and second member 52 and 54, which cooperate by interfitment to at least partially circumscribe a tyred wheel rim and be retained thereon when locked together. The second member has one limb 86 of hollow box section which slidably engages one limb 76 of a tongue 72 of generally L-shape connected to but spaced from an extension 68 of the first member. The one limb 76 of the tongue and the extension 68 have a set of apertures in register with each other. The box section limb of the second member has a pair of registered apertures which, in use when the first and second members interfit, register with one aperture of the sets of apertures in the tongue and extension. A padlock, for example, can be passed through the registered apertures, and the first and second member can thus be locked together, thereby immobilizing the wheel. The position of the second member is adjustable relative to the first member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle anti-theft device DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a vehicle anti-theft device.

According to the present invention, there is provided an anti-theft device for obstructing rotation of a vehicle wheel which comprises a frame having first and second members cooperating by interfitmentto at least partially circumscribe a tyred wheel rim and be retained thereon when locked together, the first member having an extension to engage a road surface radially beyond tread of the tyre.

Preferably, the first member is generally C-shaped with an extended limb, the extended limb having means for receiving the second member at one end portion. The second member may then be generally L-shaped.

The extension of the first member is preferably adjacent to and connected to the extended limb of the first member. The extension may be spaced from the extended limb by the receiving means and one or more additional bridging portions. The extension is preferably of angle or channel section extending the whole length of the extended limb and beyond the receiving means.

The first and second cooperating members are preferably lockable with respect to each other through registering apertures by locking means, for example, a padlock or the like.

The second member has an aperture located in one end portion which engages the receiving means of the first member. The receiving means has a single aperture or a pair of aligned apertures which are adapted to register with the aperture in the one end portion of the second member when it is inserted in the receiving means. Thus locking means, for example a padlock, can pass through the registered apertures. The receiving means is preferably a box section having internal dimensions corresponding to the external dimensions of the L-shaped second member. The aperture in the one end portion of the second member is preferably located in the longer of the two limbs of the second member. When the first and second members are locked together, the other end portion of the second limb is spaced from and aligned with the non-extended limb of the C-shaped first member.

The first and second cooperating members may be coated with a synthetic polymeric material, for example PTFE, to prevent damage to the tyred wheel rim.

The first and second members may be made of mild steel and may be flat bars.

In a further preferred embodiment, the extension which is connected to the extended limb of the first member is a box section, which extends the whole length of the extended limb. The box section extension abuts the receiving means of the first member. The second member may be locked to the first member by a locking bar which passes through the aperture in the one end portion of the second member and through the box section extension connected to the first member.

The locking bar may be locked/unlocked in the conventional manner, for example, with a key. One wall of the box section extension has a key hole in order to accommodate such a key.

In a further preferred embodiment, the position of the second member is adjustable relative to the first member. The first member is preferably generally C-shaped with an extended limb, the extended limb having means for engaging the second member.

The engaging means may comprise a tongue of generally L-shape having a set of apertures arranged in and extending along one limb of the tongue, the one limb being dimensioned to engage receiving means on the second member.

The second member is preferably generally U-shaped, the receiving means may comprise one limb of hollow box section to receive slidably the one limb of the tongue, the box section having internal dimensions generally corresponding to the external dimensions of the one limb.

Preferably, the hollow box section has a pair of registered apertures which in use register with one aperture of the set of apertues arranged in and extending along the one limb of the tongue.

The extension may be of angle section and extends along the whole length of the extended limb and L-shape tongue, the extension having a set of apertures arranged in and extending along one limb of the extension, the set of apertures being in register with the set of apertures arranged in and extending along the one limb of the tongue.

The first and second members may be each provided with strengthening means, preferably a rib or flange.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of an anti-theft device according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of an anti-theft device according to the invention; and Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of an anti-theft device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows an anti-theft device 1 comprising a frame having a first and second member 2 and 3 which cooperate by interfitment.

The first member 2 is generally C-shaped having an extended limb 4. The limb 4 has means 5 for receiving the second member 3 at one end portion 6. The receiving means 5 is of box section, whose internal dimensions correspond to the external dimensions of the second member 3. The first member 2 has an extension 7 which is adjacent to the extended limb 4 of the first member. The extension 7 is connected to and spaced from the extended limb by the receiving means 5 and one or more additional bridging portions (not shown).

The extension 7 is of angle section, and extends the whole length of the extended limb and beyond the receiving means 5. The extension 7 is connected to the receiving means 5 and the one or more additional bridging portions by, for example, welding. It is to be appreciated that the extension can be of a channel section.

The second member 3 is generally L-shaped and has an aperture 8 located in one end portion 9, which engages the receiving means 5 of the first member 2.

The receiving means 5 has a single aperture or a pair of aligned apertures 1 0, which are adapted to register with the aperture 8 in the one end portion 9 of the second member when it is inserted in the receiving means 5. The aperture 8 is located in the longer limb 11 of the two limbs 11 and 12 of the second member 3.

The first and second members 2 and 3 are thus lockable with respect to each other, in that locking means, for example a padlock, can pass through the registered apertures 8 and 10 when the second member is inserted into the receiving means 5 of the first member 2.

Since the extension 7 extends beyond the receiving means 5, it is not possible to remove the padlock when inserted through the registered apertures by, for example, a hacksaw. The arrangement of the extension relative to the extended limb of the first member helps to shield the padlock.

The first and second members 2 and 3 are made of mild steel and are flat bars, which are coated with a synthetic polymeric material, for example PTFE, to prevent damage to the tyred wheel rim.

Initially, the first and second members are separate. In order to obstruct rotation of a vehicle wheel, the first member 2 is placed around a portion of the wheel, so that the tyre tread abuts the inner surface 1 3 of the extended limb 4. The other limb 14 of the first member 2 engages the rim on one side of the wheel in the vicinity of the wheel hub cap. The interbridging portion 15 of the first member 2 contacts or lies against one side wall of the tyre.

The second member 3 is inserted into the receiving means 5 of the first member 2 with its limb 12 engaging the rim on the other side of the wheel. The long limb 11 contacts or lies against the other side wall of the tyre.

A padlock is inserted into the registered apertures 8 and 10 and the frame is secured to and partially circumscribes the tyre rim. The frame is retained on the tyred wheel rim when the first and second members are locked together. The extension 7 engages the road surface radially beyond the tread of the tyre and obstructs rotation of the wheel.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment 1 6 of an anti-theft device, which has a first and second member 1 7 and 18 which cooperate by interfitment. For the sake of clarity, the second member 18 is the same as the second member 3 of the first embodiment and has therefore the same reference numerals.

In this second embodiment, the extension 1 8 which is connected, for example by welding, to the extended limb 1 9 of the first member 1 7 is of box section, which extends the whole length of the extended limb. The box section extension 1 8 abuts receiving means 20 at one end portion 21 of the generally L-shaped first member 1 7.

The second member 18 is secured to the first member by a locking bar (not shown) which passes through and is accommodated by the box section extension 1 8. The locking bar is operated i.e. locked/unlocked in the conventional manner by, for example, a key, which engages a key hole 22 in one wall 23 of the box section extension 1 8.

The embodiment shown in Figure 2 works in the same way as that shown in Figure 1, in that the extension 18 engages the road surface radially beyond the tread of the tyre, thus immobilizing the vehicle wheel to which the anti-theft device has been fitted. The first and second members are fitted to the vehicle wheel and retained in the same way as the members 2 and 3 shown in Figure 1. The first and second members 17 and 1 8 are likewise made of mild steel and are flat bars, which are coated with a synthetic polymeric material, for example PTFE, to prevent damage to the tyred wheel rim.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of an antitheft device 50 which comprises a frame having a first and second member 52 and 54. The first and second member cooperate by interfitment.

The first member 52 is generally C-shaped and has a series of limbs 56, 60 and 64. The first limb 56 has an inner surface 58, which, when the first member 52 is placed around a portion of a vehicle wheel, engages the rim on one side of the wheel in the vicinity of the wheel hub cap. The second limb 60 has an inner surface 62 which contacts or lies against one side wall of the tyre. The third limb 64 which is extended relative to the first limb 56 has an inner surface 66 against which the tyre tread abuts.

An extension 68 of angle section is connected to the first member 52 by a bridging portion 70, which can be either integral with the first member (as shown in Figure 3) or attached to the first member by, for example, welding. The extension 68 is connected to the first member by, for example, welding.

A generally L-shape tongue 72 has its shorter limb 74 connected by, for example, welding to the bridging portion 70. The extension 68 extends generally over the whole length of the L-shape tongue 72 and the first member 52. The longer limb 76 of the L-shaped tongue which is adapted to engage the second member is adjacent to and spaced from the extension 68, and has a set of apertures 78 arranged in and extending along the longer limb 76. The set of apertures 78 are arranged to register with a similar set of apertures 80 arranged and extending along one end portion of one of the limbs 82 of the extension 68.

Figure 3 also shows that the first member 52 has strengthening means 8 4, for example, a rib or flange, which is connected to the second limb 62 of the first member 52 and the extension 68 by, for example, welding.

The second member 54 is generally U-shaped.

One limb 86 of the second member is of hollow box section and serves to receive the longer limb 76 of the L-shape tongue when the first and second member are interfitted.

The limb 86 has a pair of registered apertures 88 (only one being shown in the drawing), which are adapted to register with the sets of apertures 78 and 80 arranged in the L-shape tongue 72 and extension 68 respectively.

The other limb 90 of the second member 54 has an inner surface 92, which, when in use, engages the rim on the other side of the wheel.

The second member 54 has an interbridging portion 94, the inner surface 96 of which contacts or lies against the other side wall of the tyre. The outer surface 98 of the interbridging portion 94 has strengthening means 100, for example, a rib or flange.

Upon insertion of the limb 76 of the L-shape tongue 72 into the limb 86 of hollow box section, the first and second member 52 and 54 can be secured with respect to each other by locking means, for example a padlock passing through the registered apertures 78, 80 and 88. The extension 68 which is of angle section serves to shield the padlock and thus prevents unauthorised removal of the padlock by, for example, a hacksaw. The frame at least partially circumscribes the tyred wheel rim and is retained on the tyred wheel rim when the first and second members are locked together. The extension 68 further serves to engage the road surface radially beyond the tread of the tyre and assists in obstructing rotation of the wheel, thus immobilizing the wheel.

All of the components, and in particular the first and second members 52 and 54, of the anti-theft device 50, are made of mild steel and are formed from flat bars, which are coated with a synthetic polymeric material, for example, PTFE, to prevent damage to the tyred wheel rim.

The third embodiment of the anti-theft device provides for adjustment of the second member 54 relative to the first member 52. Thus, it is possible for the anti-theft device 50 to be used on vehicle wheels having a wide range of widths. It is this feature of an adjustable width frame which makes the third embodiment of the anti-theft device particularly useful for law enforcement agencies, for example the police and/or traffic wardens, in immobilizing cars of parking offenders, until the offenders have paid on-the-spot parking fines. Of course, the anti-theft device can still be used in its primary function to prevent theft of a vehicle by immobilizing one of the vehicle wheels.

The present invention is advantageous in that the anti-theft device is relatively cheap to manufacture, portable and easy to fit to a vehicle wheel, and does not require extensive modification to the vehicle.

Claims

1. An anti-theft device for obstructing rotation of a vehicle wheel comprising a frame having first and second members cooperating by interfitment to at least partially circumscribe a tyred wheel rim and be retained thereon when locked together, the first member having an extension to engage a road surface radially beyond tread of the tyre.

2. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member is generally C-shaped with an extended limb, the extended limb having means for receiving the second member at one end portion.

3. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second member is generally L-shaped.

4. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the extension of the first member is adjacent to and connected to the extended limb of the first member.

5. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the extension is spaced from the extended limb by the receiving means and one or more additional bridging portions.

6. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1,2, 4 or 5, wherein the extension is of angle or channel section extending the whole length of the extended limb and beyond the receiving means.

7. An anti-theft device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second cooperating members are lockable with respect to each other by locking means passing through or engaging registered apertures in the first and second cooperating members.

8. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second member has an aperture located in one end portion which engages the receiving means of the first member.

9. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the receiving means has a single aperture or a pair of aligned apertures which are adapted to register with the aperture in the one end portion of the second member when it is inserted in the receiving means.

10. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the receiving means is a box section having internal dimensions generally corresponding to the external dimensions of the second member.

11. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the aperture in the one end portion of the second member is located in the longer of the two limbs of the second member.

12. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 11, wherein, when the first and second members are locked together, the other end portion of the shorter limb is spaced from and aligned with the non-extended limb of the C-shaped first member.

1 3. An anti-theft device as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein the extension is a box section which is connected to the extended limb of the first member and which extends the whole length of the extended limb.

14. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the box section extension abuts the receiving means of the first member.

1 5. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 13 or 14, wherein the second member is locked to the first member by a locking bar or the like which passes through an aperture located in the one end portion of the second member and through the box section extension connected to the first member.

16. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the locking bar is locked/unlocked by a key.

17. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1 5 or 16, wherein one wall of the box section extension has a key hole in order to accommodate a key.

18. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position of the second member is adjustable relative to the first member.

1 9. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1 or 18, wherein the first member is generally Cshaped with an extended limb, the extended limb having means for engaging the second member.

20. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the engaging means comprises a tongue of generally L-shape having a set of apertures arranged in and extending along one limb of the tongue, the one limb being dimensioned to engage receiving means on the second member.

21. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein the second member is generally U-shaped, the receiving means comprising one limb of hollow box section to receive slidably the one limb of the tongue, the box section having internal dimensions generally corresponding to the external dimensions of the one limb.

22. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the hollow box section limb has a pair of registered apertures, which in use register with one aperture of the set of apertures arranged in and extending along the one limb of the tongue.

23. An anti-theft device as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the first member has an extension which is of angle section and which extends the whole length of the extended limb and L-shape tongue, the L-shape tongue being spaced from the extension, the extension having a set of apertures arranged in and extending along one limb of the extension, the set of apertures being in register with the set of apertures arranged in and extending along the one limb of the tongue.

24. An anti-theft device as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the first and second cooperating members are lockable with respect to each other by locking means passing through or engaging registered apertures in the first and second cooperating members.

25. An anti-theft device as claimed in any one of claims 1 8 to 24, wherein the first and second members are each provided with strengthening means.

26. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the strengthening means is a rib or flange.

27. An anti-theft device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second members are each made of mild steel and formed from flat bars.

28. An anti-theft device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second members are each coated with a synthetic polymeric material to prevent damage to a tyred wheel rim.

29. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the synthetic polymeric material is PTFE.

30. An anti-theft device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.