GB2274091A - Automobile steering lock - Google Patents
Automobile steering lock Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2274091A GB2274091A GB9300165A GB9300165A GB2274091A GB 2274091 A GB2274091 A GB 2274091A GB 9300165 A GB9300165 A GB 9300165A GB 9300165 A GB9300165 A GB 9300165A GB 2274091 A GB2274091 A GB 2274091A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- housing means
- outer end
- passageway
- actuating
- hook
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
- B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
- B60R25/02—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism
- B60R25/022—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism operating on the steering wheel, e.g. bars locked to the steering wheel rim
- B60R25/0225—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism operating on the steering wheel, e.g. bars locked to the steering wheel rim using a rod locked on the steering wheel rim
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
Abstract
An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile comprising an elongated body member (7) having a passageway extending along an axis therein, first hook means (70) secured to the body member for engagement with a portion of the steering wheel wherein the first hook means engages the wheel from the inside thereof with the body member extending outward beyond the periphery of the steering wheel, an elongated rod member (8) adapted to move in telescopic fashion in the passageway of the body member (7) along the axis, second hook means (81) secured to the rod member for engaging the inside portion of the steering wheel diametrically opposed to the first hook means, and means (3, 4 and 6) associated with the body member engaging the rod within the passageway that allows the rod member to extend with respect to the body member to be locked at any of a plurality of positions. <IMAGE>
Description
Title: Automobile Steering Lock
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to an automobile antitheft device, and more particuiarly to a device for attachment to an automobile steering wheel to prevent complete rotation thereof for securing against unauthorised driving.
Antitheft devices which attach to an automobile steering wheel have been known heretofore, as shown lately in U.S. Patent No. 4,738,127 to Johnson. Such antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile includes an elongated body member having a passage extending along an axis therethrough, an elongated rod member adapted to move in telescopic fashion in the passageway of the body member along the axis, opposed hooks for engaging the inside portion of the steering wheel and lock means associated with the body member engaging the rod within the passage for locking the rod within the passage for locking the rod member stationary with respect of the body member at any of a plurality of positions. While the antitheft device described above is functional, it includes several defects.For example, both in and out of telescopic movements of the rod member need a key to unlock the lock means. Another problem with such device is that it presents pry points wherein a rigid pin or arcuate ruler-like thin objects can be inserted through a gap between the passage and periphery of the rod member to reach a spherical bearing of the lock means and further press it down by overcoming the bias force of a spring member thereon to release it from engaging the rod member in a groove thereof that renders unlock to the device.
It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide an automobile steering lock that overcomes the foregoing defects associated with prior art.
Another object of this invention is to provide an automobile steering lock that performs non-return, extension only, function as in locking condition.
A further object of this invention is to provide a locking device wherein the locking mechanism is totally enclosed therein and includes no area susceptible to prying by a crowbar, rigid pin or the like.
According to the invention there is provided an antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile comprising:
an elongated tubular member having an open inner end, a closed outer end and an elongated passageway extending along its axis from the open inner end, said tubular member having a first L-shaped member secured thereto to form a first hook with a closed end of the first hook spaced from the open inner end of said tubular member and an open end of said first hook facing said closed outer end of said tubular but substantially removed therefrom, said L-shaped member of said tubular member further having a bottom leg portion generally extending in the direction of said tubular members's axis and terminating at a distance substantially removed from said outer end of said tubular member, said first hook of said tubular member adapted to engage said wheel from the inside thereof with said closed outer end of said tubular member extending a substantial distance beyond the periphery of said wheel;
a housing means having an inner end, an outer end and a passageway extending from the inner end to the outer end therethrough, with the outer end of the housing means firmly connected to the open inner end of the tubular member and the elongated passageway of the tubular member communicating the passageway therein;
a lock having a locking member extending downwardly and having at least one side of longer dimension and one side shorter dimension;
an elongated compartment formed in the housing means and extending parallel to the longitudinal passageway of the housing means from the outer end of the housing means;;
an elongated actuating means slidably fitted in the compartment and formed with at least a notch consisting of a vertical side wall relatively close to the outer end of the housing means and a convex or slope side wall relatively far from the outer end of the housing means as fitted in the compartment and a recess having a stop side wall adapted to engage the locking member of the lock;
a first spring member disposed in the compartment and adapted to bias the actuating means towards the inner end of the housing;
a first retainer adapted to close entrance of the compartment for maintaining the actuating means and the first spring member in the compartment;;
means for securing the lock to the housing means, the lock being rotatable from an unlocking position where the side of longer dimension of the locking member engage the stop side wall of the recess of the actuating member to position the actuating member at its unlocking position relatively close to the outer end of the housing means to a locking position where the side of shorter dimension of the locking member engages the stop side wall of the recess of the actuating means to position the actuating member at its lock position relatively ~a:: rom the out end of the housing means;
a rod member having an elongated rod adapted to extend in a telescopic manner within said passageways of said housing means and tubular member and a second Lshaped member secured to one end of the rod to form a second hook having an opening facing opposite to the first hook and adapted to engage said wheel from the inside thereof;
transverse passageways transversely formed in the housing means across the compartment and intersecting the passageway in the housing means;;
locating means including locating member s.idably fitted in the transverse passageways and having respective openings dimensioned to permit extension of the actuating member and constructed to permit a movement of the locating member towards the longitudinal passageway of the housing means with a free end of the locating member protruding into the longitudinal passageway to engage a corresponding notch in the rod member by engaging the notch in the actuating member located at its locking position and withdrawn from the corresponding notch in the rod member by disengaging the notch in the actuating member located at its unlocking position, second spring members located in the transverse passageways and biased to move the actuating member towards the longitudinal passageway of the housing means and a second retainer adapted to close the transverse passageways for maintaining the actuating member and the second spring members in the transverse passageways, which features in an elongate rod member adapted to be a polygon rod member to be extended or contracted in a fixed direction within the passageway of housing.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of this invention wherein the housing is partially cut off;
Figure 4 is a transverse-sectional view of the housing of the steering lock;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the housing of the steering lock; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the steering lock locking on a steering wheel of a car.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an automobile steering lock according to the invention which comprises an elongated body member 7, an elongated rod member 8 which is dimensioned to move in telescopic fashion within body member 7, hooks 70, 81 for engaging opposed portions of a steering wheel from the inside thereof, being respectively provided on the body member 7 and rod member 8, a housing 2 and a locking mechanism including a locking means 3, an actuating means o and a locating means 4, being provided within the housing 2 to position and lock rod member 8 stationary with respect to the body member 7 at one of a plurality or positions.
Said body member 7 includes an elongated tube 7 of circular cross-section having an open end 71 and a closed end 72 and defining a central passage 73 running from the open end 71 and terminating at the closed end 72. The first generally L-shaPed member 70 is fixedly secured to the tube 7 by means of welding to form a hook 70 which opens rearwardly along the body member 7. Said rod member 8 includes an elongated rod 8 of hexagonal cross-section of which the outer diameter is dimensioned slightly less then the diameter of the central passage in the body member 7 to enable rod member 8 to telescope freely within the body member 7. The second generally
L-shaped member 81 is fixedly secured to the rod member 8 to form a hook 81 which opens opposite to the hook 70 for engagement with a diametrically opposed portion of a steering wheel.A plurality of notches 82 are axially aligned along a major portion of the rod member 8. Each of notches 82 consists of a vertical side wall 820 substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rod 8 and relatively close to the second hook 81, and a convex or slope side wall 821 relatively far from the second hook 81.
Said housing 2 is connected to the open end 71 of the body member 7 wherein a central passage 24 extends therethrough and communicates the central passage 73 of the body member 7 and contains the locking mechanism including the locking means 3, the actuating means 6 and the locating means 4.
The housing 2 includes a boss 20 integrally offset and slanted with respect to the axis of the body member 7 and having a bore 200 therethrough into the housing 2 for firmly receiving the locking means 3 which has a conventional key lock 32 and a locking member 31 cylindrical in shape. The locking member 31 introduces an arcuate outer surface 311 and a flat or recess portion 310.
To accommodate the actuating means 6, an elongated compartment 23 substantially parallel to the passage 24 is provided in the housing 2. Said bore 200 of the boss 20 intersects the compartment 23. The actuating means 6 includes a rod-like actuating member 60 having a projection 600 projecting rearwardly from a rear side wall of the actuating member 60 and a biasing spring 61 adapted to be disposed within the compartment 23 with front end thereof surrounding the projection 600 and abutting against the rear side wall of the actuating member 60 The actuating member 60 is formed with a recess 603 defined by a flat bottom and opposed stop side walls 604, 605 in its middle portion and two spaced notches 601, 602, each of which consists of a vertical side wall 6011 or 6021 relatively close to the projection 600 and a convex or slope side wall 6010 or 6020 relatively far from the projection 600. A metal disc 62 is provided to be restored in open end of the compartment 23 by means of a press-fit after assembly for retaining the actuating member 60 and spring 61 in the compartment 23 To accommodate the locating means 4, a pair of transverse passages 21, 22 extending transversely across the compartment 23 and further intersect the passage 24 are provided in the housing 2.Said locating means 4 includes a pair of tenon-like identical locating member 40 41, each of which has a front end, as in a first position, protruding from the transverse passage 21 or 22 into the passage 24 to engage one of the notches 82 of the rod member 8, two projections 401, 402 or 411, 412 for retaining front ends of biasing springs 42, 43 or 44, 45 and an opening 40 or 41 forming a vertical rear side wall 403 or 413 and so dimensioned to allow extending through of the actuating member 60 and transversely locating the locating members 40, 41 between a first position, where the vertical rear side walls 403, 413 engage two corresponding notches 82 of the rod member 8 and the front ends of the locating members 40, 41 protrude from the transverse passages 21, 22 into the passage 24 in the housing 2, and a second position, where the vertical rear side walls 403, 413 disengage the notches 82 of the rod member 8 and the front ends of the locating members 40, 41 are withdrawn into the transverse passages 21, 22, and spring retainers 46, 47, 48 and 49 for retaining rear ends of the biasing springs 42, 43, 44 and 45. The locating members 40, 41, springs 42, 43, 44, 45 and spring retainers 46, 47, 48 and 49 are maintained in the transverse passages 21, 22 by a retainer 5. Spring members 42, 43, 44, 45 are confined within passages 21, 22 in compression such that the locating members 40, 41 are biased towards the passage 24.
Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, in assembly, the locating members 40, 41 are slidably fitted in the transverse passages 21, 22, then the actuating member 60, which extends through the openings 400, 410 of the locating members 40, 41, is slidably fitted in the compartment 23 wherein the recess 603 thereof faces the bore 200 of the boss 20.The key lock 32 of the locking means 3 is firmly received in the bore 200 of the boss 20 by means of a screw N1 tightly threaded into a screw hole 30, as best shown in Figure 2, with the locking member 31 thereof extending substantially downwardly into the recess 603
In operation, when the flat or recess portion 310 of the locking member 31 is oriented rearwardly, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, that allows the flat or recess portion 310 abutting on the stop side wall 605 close to the projection 600 of the locking member 60 and the spring 61 in compression biases frontwardly to push the locking member 60 to move frontwardly into its first position where the locating members 40, 41 are biased towards rod member 8 into the first position such that the vertical rear side walls 403, 413 abut against bottoms of the notches 601, 602 of the actuating member 60 and the front ends of the locating members 40, 41 protrude into corresponding notches 82 to lock the device.
Although in locking condition, the convex or slope side walls 821 of the notches 82 allow the rod member 8 of this antitheft device to extend with respect to the body member 7 by overcoming biasing force of the spring members 42, 43, 44, 45 to retract the locating members t0, 41 from the first position into the second position, yet the vertical side walls 820 engaged with the front ends of the locating members 40, 41 prohibit the rod member 8 from telescopic movement with respect to the body member 7. When the flat or recess portion 310 of the locking members 31 is turned away from the position towards and abutting the stop side wall 605, the arcuate outer surface 311 forces the actuating member 60 to slide rearwardly into a second position by overcoming biasing force of the spring 61.The locating members ao, 41 are retracted from the first position into the second position by overcoming biasing force of the spring members 42, 43, 44, 45 and thus releasing the vertical rear side walls 403, 413 from corresponding notches 601, 602 in the actuating member 60. By so doing, the rod member 8 can move in telescopic fashion within the body member 7 by withdrawing the front ends of the locating members 40, 41 from corresponding notches 82 of the rod member 8 into transverse passages 21, 22.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the L-shaped member 81 both of which are formed respectively with front end 810 extending frontwardly outwardly provides a divergent opening for facilitating entrance of the portion of the steering wheel. The hook defined by the rear end portion of the body member 7 and the L-shaped member 70 which has a bent end 700 extending rearwardly outwardly also provide a divergent opening for the same purpose as the former hook.
Claims (5)
1. An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile comprising:
an elongated tubular member having an open inner end, a closed outer end and an elongated passageway extending along its axis from the open inner end, said tubular member having a first L-shaped member secured thereto to form a first hook with a closed end of the first hook spaced from the open inner end of said tubular member and an open end of said first hook facing said closed outer end of said tubular but substantially removed therefrom, said L-shaped member of said tubular member further having a bottom leg portion generally extending in the direction of said tubular members's axis and terminating at a distance substantially removed from said outer end of said tubular member, said first hook of said tubular member adapted to engage said wheel from the inside thereof with said closed outer end of said tubular member extending a substantial distance beyond the periphery of said wheel;
a housing means having an inner end, an outer end and a passageway extending from the inner end to the outer end therethrough, with the outer end of the housing means firmly connected to the open inner end of the tubular member and the elongated passageway of the tubular member communicating the passageway therein;
a lock having a locking member extending downwardly and having at least one side of longer dimension and one side shorter dimension;
an elongated compartment formed in the housing means and extending parallel to the longitudinal passageway of the housing means from the outer end of the housing means;;
an elongated actuating means slidablv fitted in the compartment and formed with at least a notch consisting of a vertical side wall relatively close to the outer end of the housing means and a convex or slope side wall relatively far from the outer end of the housing means as fitted in the compartment and a recess having a stop side wall adapted to engage the locking member of the lock;
a first spring member disposed in the compartment and adapted to bias the actuating means towards the inner end of the housing;
a first retainer adapted to close entrance of the compartment for maintaining the actuating means and the first spring member in the compartment;;
means for securing the lock to the housing means, the lock being rotatable from an unlocking position where the side of longer dimension of the locking member engage the stop side wall of the recess of the actuating member to position the actuating member at its unlocking position relatively close to the outer end of the housing means to a locking position where the side of shorter dimension of the locking member engages the stop side wall of the recess of the- actuating means to position the actuating member at its lock position relatively far from the outer end of the housing means;;
a rod member having an elongated rod adapted to extend in a telescopic manner within said passageways of said housing means and tubular member and a second Lshaped member secured to one end of the rod to form a second hook having an opening facing opposite to the first hook and adapted to engage said wheel from the inside thereof;
transverse passageways transversely formed in the housing means across the compartment and intersecting the passageway in the housing means;;
locating means including locating member slidably fitted in the transverse passageways and having respective openings dimensioned to permit extension of the actuating member and constructed to permit a movement of the locating member towards the longitudinal passageway of the housing means with a free end of the locating member protruding into the longitudinal passageway to engage a corresponding notch in the rod member by engaging the notch in the actuating member located at its locking position and withdrawn from the corresponding notch in the rod member by disengaging the notch in the actuating member located at its unlocking position, second spring members located in the transverse passageways and biased to move the actuating member towards the longitudinal passageway of the housing means and a second retainer adapted to close the transverse passageways for maintaining the actuating member and the second spring members in the transverse passageways, which features in an elongate rod member adapted to be a polygon rod member to be extended or contracted in a fixed direction within the passageway of housing.
2. An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile as claimed in claim 1 wherein a free end of the bottom leg portion of the first L-shaped member secured to the tubular member is bent outwardly to form a divergent opening of the first hook.
3. An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile as claimed in claim 1 wherein both free ends of rod member and L-shaped member are bent outwardly to form a divergent opening of the second hook.
4 An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile as claimed in claim 1 wherein an elongate rod member is adapted to by a polygon rod member to be extended or contracted in a fixed direction within the passageway of housing.
5. An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9300165A GB2274091A (en) | 1993-01-06 | 1993-01-06 | Automobile steering lock |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9300165A GB2274091A (en) | 1993-01-06 | 1993-01-06 | Automobile steering lock |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9300165D0 GB9300165D0 (en) | 1993-03-03 |
| GB2274091A true GB2274091A (en) | 1994-07-13 |
Family
ID=10728366
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9300165A Withdrawn GB2274091A (en) | 1993-01-06 | 1993-01-06 | Automobile steering lock |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2274091A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU784448B2 (en) * | 2002-06-18 | 2006-04-06 | Wen-Yinn Wu | Burglarproof lock for car steering wheel |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5005388A (en) * | 1990-04-06 | 1991-04-09 | Lo Tsung I | Automobile steering lock |
| US5069048A (en) * | 1990-04-06 | 1991-12-03 | Tsung I Lo | Automobile steering lock |
-
1993
- 1993-01-06 GB GB9300165A patent/GB2274091A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5005388A (en) * | 1990-04-06 | 1991-04-09 | Lo Tsung I | Automobile steering lock |
| US5069048A (en) * | 1990-04-06 | 1991-12-03 | Tsung I Lo | Automobile steering lock |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU784448B2 (en) * | 2002-06-18 | 2006-04-06 | Wen-Yinn Wu | Burglarproof lock for car steering wheel |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9300165D0 (en) | 1993-03-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |