GB2278585A

GB2278585A - Vehicle immobilisation device

Info

Publication number: GB2278585A
Application number: GB9410241A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Pearce Wheeler; David Charles Bullas
Original assignee: RGD ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: RGD ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 1993-05-22
Filing date: 1994-05-23
Publication date: 1994-12-07
Also published as: GB9310590D0; GB9410241D0

Abstract

An anti-theft immobilisation device comprises a bar 10 which is attached to a wheel via at least two special grooved nuts, bolts or studs 14. The bar extends beyond the circumference of the wheel and prevents rotation of the wheel. Two tubular members 11 mounted towards the end of the bar each contain a shaped orifice 13 preferably keyholed. The orifices engage with the grooved nuts, bolts or studs. A locking device 17, 18, 19 prevents the disengagement of the shaped orifice from the grooved nuts, bolts or studs. Thus the bar is securely locked to a wheel of a vehicle immobilising such a vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

Vehicle Immobilisation Device Field of the Invention This invention relates to a device for locking a vehicle wheel in order to prevent the theft of that vehicle, for impounding it, or otherwise preventing the movement of that vehicle.

Background to the Invention Various devices have been used or proposed for preventing unauthorised movement of a vehicle. These include the well known "Denver Boot" of US patent No 2,960,857 and a variety of other devices which have means to prevent access to the wheel nuts of the vehicle wheel so that the device cannot be defeated by removal of the wheel. All of the prior devices, however, suffer from one or more ofthe following disadvantages: they are very heavy, they are clumsy, they take several minutes to apply or remove by the authorised person, they do not fit a wide variety of tyre or wheel sizes, they are difficult to store, they are hard to transport, and/or they are difficult to manufacture.

Cases of theft have been on the increase for some time and show no sign of decreasing. The theft of vehicles is no exception and vehicles left unattended for long periods such as cars, caravans, trailers, boat trailers (with or without a boat attached), and motorcycles are particularly vulnerable.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle immobilisation device which is simple to manufacture, apply, and easy to cant transport and store.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, in its broadest sense, there is provided a vehicle immobilisation device comprising: a bar; and at least two wheel nut, bolt or stud, said bar and wheel nut, bolt or stud being adapted to co-operatively engage with each other when the wheel nut, bolt or stud are fitted spaced on a wheel, the length of the bar being such that in the engaged position one end of the bar extends beyond the circumference of said wheel and any tyre thereon.

Preferably there are two tubular members or bars mounted on one face of the said bar, perpendicular to and spaced along the longitudinal axis of the bar and positioned towards one end of the bar and wherein the end of each said tubular member or bar furthest from the bar is closed off by, or has incorporated a substantially flat plate having an orifice shaped and positioned such that the tubular members or bars are adapted to co-operatively engage with the said spaced wheel nut, bolt or stud, such that in the engaged position the device may be locked in place.

Preferably each of said wheel nut, bolt or stud comprises a mid-section along its length of reduced diameter adapted to co-operatively engage with the orifice in the end of a respective tubular member or bar.

Preferably the orifice in the end of each tubular member or bar is substantially keyhole-shaped.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the keyhole-shaped orifice in the end of one tubular member or bar is parallel with the longitudinal axis ofthe bar and the keyhole-shaped orifice in the end of the other tubular member or bar is nonparallel with respect to the same longitudinal axis, such that in use both orifices can still be co-operatively engaged with the spaced wheel nut, bolt or stud.

Preferably there is further provided a locking mechanism which in use prevents the unauthorised removal of the device from a wheel once it has been cooperatively engaged and the locking mechanism activated.

Suitably the said locking mechanism comprises a key operated lock which activates a bar or tongue in use to hold an engaged wheel nut, bolt or stud in a fixed position and prevent its disengagement.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows in diagrammatic section the end of the vehicle immobilising device having the tubular members or bars which are shown engaged with two wheel nuts; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic end view of the tubular members or bars showing two positions ofthe locking mechanism; Figure 3 shows a wheel nut with a mid-section of reduced diameter; Figure 4 shows a vehicle immobilising device embodying the invention attached to a wheel; Figure 5 shows a fUrther view of a vehicle immobilising device attached to a wheel by way of a section through the longitudinal axis of the device.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The embodiment shown in figure 1-6 represents currently the best method known to the applicant of putting the invention into practice. But it is not the only way in which this could be achieved. It is illustrated, and will now be described, by way of example only.

Referring to figure 1, it is seen that the preferred embodiment comprises a bar 10 which houses, towards one end, two tubular members 11 or bars (23) which are firmly attached to the bar by welding or the like, and which are spaced apart such that the centres of these tubular members or bars approximate to the distance apart of two spaced wheel nuts on a wheel of the vehicle to be immobilised.

The end of each tubular member 11 or bar (23) facing away from the bar 10 is blanked off by a blanking plate 12. Each blanking plate contains an orifice 13 made up of two non-concentric, overlapping, substantially circular holes which generally create the effect of a keyhole. This is more clearly illustrated in figure 2.

The keyhole orifice 13a in one tubular member or bar is parallel with the longitudinal axis ofthe bar 10 whereas the other keyhole orifice 13b is nonparallel with this axis. The distance apart of the centres of the larger portions of each keyhole 13 corresponds to the distance apart oftwo spaced wheel nuts on the wheel ofthe vehicle to be immobilised.

Figure 3 illustrates a special wheel nut 14 which incorporates a mid-section with a reduced diameter, effectively forming a slot 15, proportioned such that it can co-operatively engage with a keyhole shaped orifice 13. The portion ofthe wheel nut 16 adjacent to slot 15 but furthest from the wheel in use is also shown to be of reduced diameter and circular rather than hexagonal. This is for ease in use, but alternative arrangements are equally possible where, for example, the portions ofthe nut 14 either side ofthe slot 15 are hexagonal.

Thus in use, two conventional, spaced wheel nuts on a vehicle wheel are replaced by special wheel nuts 14 ofthe type specified by this invention. The device is then engaged with the wheel by placing the tubular members 11 or bars (23) over the two special wheel nuts 14 with the end of each nut protruding into the corresponding orifice 13. The bar is then moved in such a way that the slotted portions ofthe wheel nuts 15 engage with the narrow portion of the keyhole. The bar is then held in place by activating the locking mechanism 17.

The operation of one particular locking mechanism 17 is represented in figures 1 and 2. A key operated lock 18 is connected to a tongue 19, adapted to move between two positions 20 and 21 such that in the open position 20 a special wheel nut 14 may enter and leave the keyhole orifice 13. In the closed position closed position, 21, the special wheel nut 14 is unable to leave the keyhole orifice and is effectively trapped there until the lock is released.

It will be appreciated that this is just one type of locking mechanism that could be used to prevent unauthorised removal ofthe device and thus the vehicle to which it is attached. For example, a lock could activate a plunger which could protrude into or through the unoccupied portion of keyhole orifice 13.

In a preferred modification the blanking plate 12 is recessed inside the tubular member 11 or bar (23) so as to create a lip 22, which prevents the bar 10 from being removed by simply unscrewing the special wheel nuts 14.

It will be appreciated that the construction of the vehicle immobilising device must be strong enough to prevent the forcible removal of any vehicle to which it is attached simply by breaking, snapping or bending the bar or any other component.

The precise details needed to put the invention into practice will form an inevitable part of the common general knowledge of the intended skilled addressee of this specification.

While there has herein been disclosed and described presently preferred embodiments of the invention, it will nevertheless be understood that this specification is intended to be by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that the scope of the invention is to be measured only by the proper interpretation to be afforded the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle immobilisation device comprising: a bar; and at least two special wheel nut, bolt or stud, said bar and special wheel nut, bolt or stud being adapted to co-operatively engage with each other when the wheel nut, bolt or stud are fitted spaced on a wheel, the length of the bar being such that one end of the bar extends beyond the circumference of the said wheel and any tyre thereon.

2. A vehicle immobilisation device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein two tubular members or bars are mounted on one face of the bar, perpendicular to and spaced along the longitudinal axis of the bar, and positioned towards oneend of the bar and wherein the end of each said tubular member or bar (23) furthest from the bar is closed off by an end wall comprising a substantially flat plate having an orifice shaped and positioned such that the tubular members or bars (23) are adapted to co-operatively engage with the said spaced wheel nut, bolt or stud, such that in the engaged position the device may be locked into place.

3. A vehicle immobilisation device as claimed in Claims 1 or 2 in which each wheel nut comprises a mid-section along its length of reduced diameter adapted to co-operatively engage with the orifice in the end of a respective tubular member or bar.

4. A vehicle immobilisation device as claimed in any of Claims 1-3 wherein the orifice in the end of each tubular member or bar is substantially keyhole-shaped.

5. A vehicle immobilisation device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the keyholeshaped orifice in the end of one tubular member or bar is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bar and the keyhole-shapedorifice in the end of the other tubular member or bar is non-parallel with respect to the same longitudinal axis such that in use both orifices can still co-operatively engage with the said wheel nut, bolt or stud.

6. A vehicle immobilisation device as claimed in any of Claims 1-5 comprising a locking mechanism which in use prevents the unauthorised removal of the device from a wheel once it has been coperatively engaged and the lockingmechanism activated.

7. A vehicle immobilisation device as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the said locking mechanism comprises a key operated lock which activates a baror tongue adapted in use to hold an engaged wheel nut, bolt or stud in a fixed position and prevent its disengagement.

8. A vehicle immobilisation device as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.