GB2273688A

GB2273688A - A vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2273688A
Application number: GB9325102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin James Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-12-07
Filing date: 1993-12-07
Publication date: 1994-06-29
Also published as: WO1994013513A1; GB9325102D0

Abstract

A vehicle anti-theft device comprises a tray 14 to centre a vehicle wheel and a retaining element 16 to retain the vehicle wheel. A downwardly extending anchoring member 18 depends from the tray 14 to be sunk into the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

A VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE The invention relates to a vehicle anti-theft device.

A known vehicle anti-theft device is the wheel clamp.

Wheel clamps have been used to deter parking in restricted zones but are also being increasingly used to prevent theft of vehicles. A known wheel clamp includes two chocks which are placed on either side of a vehicle wheel on the ground, and an arm which extends over the top of the wheel and hooks behind the wheel and is slid into a sleeve on a frame which mounts the two chocks, the arm being locked in the sleeve with a key operated lock. The vehicle driver may keep the known wheel clamp in his boot. It is relatively time consuming to fit the wheel clamp which must be removed from the boot and aligned with the wheel, the top arm fitted and then locked in position.

Also, the wheel clamp does not prevent the vehicle from being lifted onto a trailer and taken away.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle anti-theft device for attachment to part of a vehicle, the device including means for connection thereof to the ground or fixed structure.

As the device can be connected to the ground or to fixed structure, the vehicle to which the device is attached cannot be picked up and taken away.

The device may be arranged to be attached to a vehicle wheel.

Preferably, the device includes means for centring a vehicle wheel with respect to the device. In this way, time does not need to be spent aligning the device with the wheel as it is centred automatically.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle anti-theft device for attachment to a vehicle wheel, the device including means for centring with respect to the device a vehicle wheel which is rolled into the device.

Preferably the device includes means for connection thereof to the ground or fixed structure.

In either case the centring means may comprise a depression in the device to receive a vehicle wheel.

The depression is preferably defined by opposing ramps. Preferably, means is provided to retain the wheel in the depression. The retaining means may comprise an arm which is arranged to lie over a rim of a vehicle wheel. In this way, the vehicle wheel cannot be lifted out of the depression. The arm is preferably actuated by a wheel entering the depression. The arm may be connected to a member in the depression which is arranged to be moved down by a vehicle wheel. Preferably, the arm and the member are rigidly connected and are pivotally connected to the device such that movement down of the member pivots the arm to move to lie over a vehicle wheel rim, This arrangement is simple and effective.

In other embodiments the device may be arranged to be attached to a different part of a vehicle. In the case of a bicycle the device may be for attachment to the bicycle frame.

The device preferably includes a retaining element which includes a top member to lie over the top of the vehicle wheel. Alternatively, or in addition, the retaining element may include a side member to lie adjacent one side of a vehicle wheel and preferably includes a second side member to lie adjacent an opposite side of a vehicle wheel. The two side members may be connected by a tie member which may be arranged to pass through a wheel in use. This arrangement may be particularly suitable for vehicles with spoked wheels such as bicycles or motorbikes.

The retaining element may be shaped to receive part of the vehicle. The device may include a cover to be locked in front of the vehicle wheel nuts and the cover may be carried by the retaining element.

Preferably, the retaining element is movable, for example, between a storage position and a use position and most preferably the retaining element is pivotable. In this way, the retaining element can be simply pivoted into a suitable use position which may be done rapidly and easily. Suitably, the retaining element may be locked in the use position, preferably to a fixed part of the device.

The device preferably includes a lock which may be locked by a key operated lock which may be a deadlock.

In one embodiment, the lock includes a screw which is screwed into a fixed part of the device. Preferably, then, turning the key in the lock connects the lock to the fixed part of the device.

The connection means may include a downwardly extending member to be put in the ground. The downwardly extending member may be downwardly elongate and preferably includes a plurality of lateral projections. Alternatively, the device may be arranged to be bolted to a surface which may be a horizontal or a vertical surface.

The device is preferably made from metal and preferably welded together.

The device may be provided as a kit.

Four embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1.is a front elevation of the device in the first embodiment fitted to a vehicle wheel; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1 fitted to a vehicle wheel; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device of Fig.

1 without the retaining element; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the retaining element of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tray of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the tray of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the lock of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the lock of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the device in a second embodiment; Fig, 10 is a side elevation of the device of Fig.

9; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the lock of the device of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the device in a third embodiment; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 12 with the lock removed; and Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the device in a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows the device 10 of the first embodiment on a vehicle wheel 12. The device 10 comprises a tray 14, a retaining element 16 and a downwardly extending anchoring member 18. The tray 14 is arranged to be half sunk into the ground as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and includes flaps 20 attached to the top of each short side which act as ramps for entry to and exit from the tray for a wheel. Inside the tray are two pivoting ramps 22. Each ramp 22 pivots about a horizontal axis parallel to a short side wail of the tray 14. Each pivoting ramp 22 is normally pivoted with its inner edge upwards by a counterweighted lever arm 24 as best shown in Fig. 6. The arm 24 pivots about a pivot axis 26 at the side of the tray such that an inner part 28 of the arm lies underneath the ramp 22.The outer part 30 of the arm 24 includes a thickened part 32 which provides weight to keep the outer part 30 of the arm 24 pivoted down and the inner part 28 pivoted up to lift the inner parts of the ramp 22. The outer part 30 is curved in a C-shape.

The anchoring member 18 is a downwardly extending tube which extends centrally from underneath the tray 14.

The tube includes pins 34 extending laterally outwards at intervals. It is intended that the anchoring member 18 should be sunk into the ground to securely anchor the device 10.

At the outer long side 9 of the tray 14, an arm 36 is secured to the inner side of the tray and extends upwardly parallel to the outer long side 9 of the tray at an angle of about 30 . Centrally of the side of the tray, the arm is curved to extend downwardly tc the upper corner of the tray. A plate 38 is secured to the apex of the arm 36 and includes a central threaded aperture 40.

The outer long side wall 9 of the tray 14 includes a horizontal slot 42. The slot 42 includes a slim part 44 centrally of the side wall and a wider part 46 to one side of the slim part 44. The slot receives an arm 47 of a retaining element 16. The retaining element 16 is cruciform having four arms 47, 48 extending outwardly from a central round cover plate 50. The downwardly extending arm 47 includes a thickened part 49 which is received within the tray 14 through the slot 42 to retain the retaining element 16 when the arm 47 passes through the slim part 44 of the slot 42. The upper arms 48 are bent around at their ends so that when a vehicle wheel 12 is in the device 10 they bend around the circumference of the wheel.

At the centre of the cover plate 50 is a rectangular lock box 52 which includes a yale deadlock 54. The yale deadlock 54 operates a screw-threaded worm 56 which is received in the screw-threaded aperture 40 of the plate 38.

In use then a driver drives his vehicle up to the device 10 and a wheel of the vehicle travels up the first ramp 20. Once the wheel enters the tray 14, it will move onto the first pivoting ramp 22. The weight of the vehicle will cause the inner edge of the ramp 22 to pivot downwardly to form a depression and this will pivot the lever arm 24 so that the end of the outer part 30 lies over the rim of the wheel. With the clutch of the vehicle in, the wheel will automatically centre in the depression caused by the pivoted ramp 22 in the tray 14. The driver can then turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and pick up the retaining element 16 which is simply swung upwards from the ground so that the ends of the arms 48 lie around the wheel 12. The key is inserted in the yale deadlock 54 and twisted to operate the lock and screw the worm 56 into the aperture 40 in the plate 38.This locks the retaining element 16 in the retaining position and the wheel cannot be removed from the device. The arm 24 prevents lifting of the wheel and the ends of the arms 48 prevent the wheel 12 from moving upwards or forwards or backwards. The clearances between the ends of the arms 48 and the wheel 12 are small so that even if the tyre on the wheel is let down it still cannot be removed from the device.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the device 60 comprises a frame 62 and lock 64. The frame 62 is made from metal plate and is in the form of a U-shape. The base of the U includes two apertures to receive bolts 65 to bolt the frame 62 to the ground. The upright arms of the Ushape frame 62 each include an upright row of apertures 66, 68 which are aligned. The apertures 66 in one arm are larger than the apertures 68 in the other arm. The smaller apertures 68 are screwthreaded while the longer apertures 66 are plain. The lock 64 comprises a cylinder 70 in which is provided a yale deadlock 72 at one end and, protruding from the other end, a screw 74. The cylinder 70 is slightly longer than the distance part of the arms of the Ushape frame 62.

In use, a motorcycle or other vehicle with apertured wheels is moved so that a wheel lies between the arms of the U-shaped frame 62 (which constitute the aforesaid "side members1, of the "retaining element").

The lock 64 is then inserted through one of the large holes 66 to pass through the wheel and the key is then used in the yale deadlock 72 to screw the screw 74 into the corresponding threaded aperture 68 in the opposite arm. The screw 74 is screwed in until the cylinder 70 abuts the arm of the frame 62. In this way, the vehicle is secure and cannot be removed.

Figs. 12 and 13 show the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the device 80 comprises a base plate 82, two side members 84,86 and a lock 88. The base plate is turned up at each end to form a U-shape and includes two spaced countersunk apertures 90 to receive screws to enable the base plate 82 to be secured to a surface. Between the ends 92 of the base plate 82 extends a round bar 94, which extends through an aperture in each end piece 92 and is welded to a side member 94,86 at each end. A sleeve 96 surrounds the round bar 94 between the ends 92 of the base plate82. The sleeve 96 is tapered at each end and is received in countersunk portions of the apertures in the ends of the base plate. The round bar 94 is freely mounted in the sleeve 96 and apertures in the ends 92 of the base plate 82 so that it can rotate to permit pivotting of the side members 84,86.The side members 84,86extend away from the base plate 82 perpendicularly thereto. The lock 88 extends between the ends of the side members 84,86. The lock 88 includes a deadlock 98 at one end, and a second round bar 100 which extends from the deadlock 98, through an aperture in one side member 84 and across to an aperture in the second side member 86. The end 102 of the second round bar 100 is screw-threaded to be received in a block 104 defining a blind screwthreaded bore and welded to the outside of the second side member 86. A sleeve 106 surrounds the second round bar 100. The sleeve 106 is tapered at one end to be received in a countersunk portion of the aperture in the end of the second side member 86 and the other end is not tapered but abuts the deadlock 98 and is received in the aperture in the end of the first side member 84.Thus the deadlock 98, sleeve 106 and round bar 100 are removable from the rest of the device.

In use, the device 80 is screwed to a waii by shear bolts for example through the apertures 90 in the main part of the base plate 82 with the base plate 82 arranged upright. The lock 88 is removed from the side members 84,86. A bicycle for example may be leant against the wall so that the crossbar lies within the U-shaped frame formed by the side members 84,86 and base plate 82. The side members 84,86 may be pivoted to a suitable position in relation to the bicycle permitted by rotation of the first round bar 94 in the sleeve 96. The second round bar 88 is then inserted through the aperture in the end of the first side member 84 and pushed towards the screw-threaded bore in the block 104. With the key in the deadlock 98, turning of the key will turn the second round bar 106 to screw it into the block 104 and lock the bicycle. Clearly, the lock 88 could be used to lock any frame part of a bicycle or any suitable part of any other vehicle which might be retained in the device 80.

Fig. 14 shows another embodiment which is very similar to the embodiment of Figs. 12 and 13. The device is shown attached to a wall 110 by shear bolts 112 through the apertures 90 in the base plate 82. The only difference is that the side member 86 which is lowermost in use is in a W-shape. In this way, the crossbar of a bicycle, for example, can be rested in one of the troughs 108 of the W-shaped side member 86 so that it will not easily move around.

For the avoidance of doubt, the term 1,vehicle" as used in this application is intended to include at least the following: cars, buses and other wheeled vehicles for carrying peopie, vans, trucks, lorries, transporters and other wheeled vehicles for carrying goods, milk-floats and other electric vehicles, tractors and other agricultural vehicles, wheeled compressors. and other vehicles for the construction and civil engineering industry, trailers, caravans and other wheeled vehicles to be towed, motorbikes and pedal cycles.

Claims

1. A vehicle anti-theft device for attachment to part of a vehicle, the device including means for connection thereof to the ground or fixed structure.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is arranged to be attached to a vehicle wheel.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the device includes means for centring a vehicle wheel with respect to the device.

4. A vehicle anti-theft device for attachment to a vehicle wheel, the device including means for centring with respect to the device a vehicle wheel which is rolled into the device.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the device includes means for connection thereof to the ground or fixed structure.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3,4 or 5, wherein the centring means comprises means defining a depression in the device to receive a vehicle wheel.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the depression is defined by opposing ramps.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein means is provided to retain the wheel in the depression.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the retaining means comprises an arm which is arranged to move to lie over a rim of a vehicle wheel.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the arm is actuated by a wheel entering the depression.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the arm is connected to a member in the depression which is arranged to be moved down by a vehicle wheel.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, the arm and the member are rigidly connected and are pivotally connected to the device such that movement down of the member pivots the arm to move to lie over a vehicle wheel rim.

13. A device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 12, wherein the device includes a retaining element which includes a top member to lie over the top of the vehicle wheel.

14. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, wherein a retaining element includes a side member to lie on one side of part of a vehicle.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the retaining element includes a second side member to lie on an opposite side of a part of a vehicle.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the two side members are connected by a tie member.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tie member is arranged to pass through a wheel in use.

18. A device as claimed in any of claims 13 to 17, wherein the retaining element is shaped to receive part of the vehicle.

19. A device as claimed in any of claims 13 to 18, wherein the device includes a cover to be locked in front of vehicle wheel nuts and the cover is carried by the retaining element.

20. A device as claimed in any of claims 13 to 19, wherein the retaining element is movable between a storage position and a use position.

21. A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the retaining element is pivotable.

22. A device as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the retaining element is lockable in the use position.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the device includes a deadlock.

24. A device as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein the lock includes a screw which is screwed into a fixed part of the device.

25. A device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the lock has a key and turning the key in the lock screws the screw to connect the lock to the fixed part of the device.

26. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, where the device includes means for connection thereof to the ground or fixed structure, wherein the connection means includes a downwardly extending member to be put in the ground.

27. A device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the downwardly extending member is downwardly elongate.

28. A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the downwardly extending member includes a plurality of lateral projections.

29. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is arranged to be bolted to a surface which may be a horizontal or a vertical surface.

30. A kit for assembly into a device according to any preceding claim.

30. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is made from metal with all joints being welded,

31. A device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 8, 9 to 11, 12 and 13 or 14.

32. A kit for assembly into a device according to any preceding claim.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A vehicle anti-theft device comprising connection means for the connection of the device to the ground or fixed structure, and a retaining element which is pivotable in relation to the connection means between a storage position and a use position in which, in use, it attaches the device to part of a vehicle.

13. A device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 12, wherein the device includes a top member to lie over the top of the vehicle wheel.

14. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the retaining element includes a side member to lie on one side of part of a vehicle.

20. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the retaining element is lockable in the use position.

21. A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the device includes a deadlock.

22. A device as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the lock includes a screw which is screwed into a fixed part of the device.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the lock has a key and turning the key in the lock screws the screw to connect the lock to the fixed part of the device.

24. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, where the device includes means for connection thereof to the ground or fixed structure, wherein the connection means includes a downwardly extending member to be put in the ground.

25. A device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the downwardly extending member is downwardly elongate.

26. A device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the downwardly extending member includes a plurality of lateral projections.

27. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is arranged to be bolted to a surface which may be a horizontal or a vertical surface.

28. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is made from metal with all joints being welded.

29. A device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 8, or 12 and 13 or 14.