GB2279924A - Vehicle anti-theft device - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle anti-theft device for preventing the operation of the gear shift lever S comprises a plate K which is installed into the aperture of the gear selector lever and locked in place. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention is the use of sliding items and a lock (3) to create a locked device of greater size than the original and deriving applications.

During installation the size is as per (A). The two, or more, parts are moved apart once installed. The lock (D) is then applied. This could be one of many types - a plunger lock (D) could be used to put a pin into an existing hole in the part (C).

This device (A) could be used for the immobilising of the gearchange lever on automatic vehicles. (Automatic Gearbox). The device would be put into the area where the lever (S) normally moves to select gears. Once parts (B) and (C) are moved apart into the gap(S) (F) and then locked in the larger size configuration the device (A) cannot be removed. The device (A) physically stops movement of (S) into different positions, gears.

The device could include slots, shapes in order to surround an item or have a slot for it.

The could be used to fix device (S) in a position.

The slot (V) in (C) has the column (S) in it and once locked stops (S) from moving; eg. to change gears.

A brace (S) could be used with (W) and/or (M)to increase its resistance to being bent or distorted by anyone trying to illegally removing it. A brace (S) could also be used to help locate the tongue of (M) and (W) into device (Z) and give (M) and (W) rigidity.

Fig 2 shows how device (W) is used to impede the movement of (Z) and (S) towards each other. (Z) could also take other forms from a cassette player such as CD player, steering wheel, foot pedals and levers, handbrake lever and non-vehicular uses.

Device (Q) is a derivative which connects to a steering wheel. (Q) could take various forms and could include a lock (S). It would be locked to the steering wheel (S.W.).

It could be made of a number of parts and include provisions for adjustment of dimensions. This could be similar to that described for (M).

Device Q could be used with a locking method, to lock to (S) and/or (S.W.) or a lock (S) which acts to stop it being adjusted such that it (Q) is ineffective. This could be a lock acting on a length adjustment principle such as (N) in Fig 2. (Q) could also be used with a locking device acting on (S) to fix the position of (S) as given in Fig 1.

This device so far described or a similar or different device which achieves the same aim ie. fixing the column (S) in 1 position can be used to attach to other item and/or impede their movements and/or theft.

Referring to Fig 2.

With (S) in position 2 the item (W) is slid into the cassette slot of a cassette tape player (Z). The column is moved from (S1) to (S2) into the slot of The lever (S) is then locked into that position. The device (W) can now not be removed since its movement is stopped by (S) and (Z). A piece could be added to (Z) so that any force on (W) pushing into (Z) is put onto the exterior of (Z) or other units/parts of the vehicle and not into the slot of (Z).

The device (W) could take various forms and have derivatives. These are also claimed under this application.

(W) could be as shown by (M) in Fig 2. This includes facilities for length adjustment.

(N) is a lock to lock part (M1) to (M2). This device (M) could be used without or with the device shown in Figures 1/3. A part (V) could be used.

The device shown in Fig 1 and (3) could take different forms.

In Fig 4 the device (D) is installed to go into the aperture (C) for the movement of lever (S), and a margin if needed. (D) can then be locked to (S). This could take various forms.

Device (D) cannot be lifted off and out because one end is stopped by the lock (N) onto (S), and gear knob (B) and/or movement stop (F). The other end cannot go upwards because of the structure (C) or towards (S) and then upwards, because (S) stops movement of (D) in that direction.

An other form for device (A) of Fig (1) and (3) is as shown in Fig (5).

Device (A) changes its dimensions and is then locked.

Fig (B) shows a device (K) which is fixed in place by a lock (N). The locking assembly has moving parts which once deployed change the shape of the device (K) and stop its removal. (1) or more lock(s) can be used. The item to be locked could be altered before manufacture or afterwards to allow the use of different locking arrangements or a lock on the fixed part of the vehicle rather than on the device (K).

Fig 5 The device (K) can be affixed in the direction (P) by the lock body (N) contacting with the structure (C) at one end and by the lever (S) at the other or the contact could be with the structure of the device (K) or at the lock arms (L).

The arms (L) could take a number of forms to achieve the same purpose ie. vertical or upwards movement.

Figi The device (A) in Figure 1 could take various forms to achieve the objective which is to stop upwards movement of (C) and/or (B). The device in Fig 1 shows the movement of parts to create a different shape. This shape impedes removal of it and lock(s) (N) stop the shape being changed.

The generalising words for derivatives and design options apply to one and all designs/inventions shown in this application. Although not repeated for each case.

The generalising words and covering of other applications from patent 2142889 B are also included in this patent application but patent 2142889 B has not been attached since the patent office already have a copy.

Another way to impede movement of column (S) is to insert a device down into the vertical slot through which the lever moves when moving from park to neutral to reverse and other gears. This slot is normally visibly obscured by brush strips to give a good appearance and keep small object. Alternatively a strip covering piece moves when the gear lever/column is moved.

The device in Fig 6 (K) would be inserted down into this slot and then locked into position. It could be locked in the same way as shown in Figure 5. Alteatively the change of shape could be provided by expansion from a line much as in done by an umbrella.

Different forms of (K) could be used to achieve same purpose. Impede movement of (S).

Claims (32)

1). An anti-theft device which has a protruding part which can be inserted into a recess, such as a vehicle cassette player slot. The protrusion being held suitably in position by the device itself and/or another device and/or other means and/or linked to other part(s) of the vehicle.

The protrusion must be withdrawn from the recess before the item with the recess can be moved except if moved away from the protrusion such that the protrusion leaves the recess.

A locking item could be used to fix the device or devices in position once installed.

2) A device as claimed in 1 which links to the gear change column and uses this to stop the device being removed from the recess once any locking mechanisms on this or other devices are operated.

3) A device as claimed in 2) but which links to the hand brake lever instead of the gear change column..

4) A device whose length is comprised of one part or 2 or more parts which are permanently set to create one length. Such as by vehicle user.

Permanent setting being by adhesive, deformation or/and a lock.

This device being used with any one or more of the other claims. As claimed in 4 combined with claims 1 and/or 2 and/or 3.

5) A device as claimed in claim 4 which locks to another part after the protrusion is inserted such that the protrusion cannot be moved out of the slot. The other part stopping movement.

6) As claimed in 5 with the "another part" being the gear change column.

7) A device as claimed in 1 which uses 2 or more parts for its length.

These parts can move relative to each other such as to change the overall length such as by telescoping or/and extending. A lock being used to fix the overall length after movement such as to stop length being reduced.

8) A device as claimed in one or more of other claims which relates to the gear change column. or any other part or device by entrapping it in a fork.

9) A device as claimed elsewhere such as claim 1 which relates to the gear change column such that movement of the device is limited by the gear change column . So the device cannot be removed once the required items and/or other devices are locked in position.

10) A device as claimed elsewhere and/or which enters the recess and locks to the gear change column with some form of locking mechanism.

11) A device(s) which uses a combination of any one claim with any one or more of the other claims and/or any of the applications/designs called up in the application of 18/10/93 (by author) or given in that application of 18/10/93.

12) A device(s) which is/are depicted and/or described in the inventor's patent applications and/or by cross-linking of those applications.

13) A device which uses a split or solid collar or similar to be attached to the gear change column . Collar could be fixed such as by welding to a column sleeve and sleeve or collar is attached to the column such as by screw pressure, interference fit or adhesive.

14) A device which uses the other claims to provide an anti-theft device on the handbrake lever or gear change column or other part of the vehicle which acts to link the gear change column to the handbrake lever and/or other part; and/or a recess and/or any other part such as to restrict movement.

15) A device which has a part(s) which won't enter the recess due to the larger dimensions of the part. This larger part(s) being as a load path, rather than using the end of the protruding part if an attempt is made to force the device into the slot. Use; such as to prevent damage from the protrusion.

16) A device which immobilises the vehicle by using parts to increase overall length which are then locked with the aim of holding the gear change column in a fixed position relative to the other end of the device The gear change column could be held say in 2nd gear away from cassette player in the dashboard of a vehicle.

17) A device which is locked or fixed to the recess using an existing design. The recess could be that of a cassette player.

18) A device which is used in conjunction with another device(s) which acts to lock the gear change column or other part in one position. It being necessary to move the gear change column and/or remove the other device before this new device can be removed.

19) The device protrusion could be made of non-magnetic materials such as ceramics or non-magnetic stainless steel and/or also shaped to keep it a distance away from the sensor or magnetic head of the audio equipment to avoid degrading the head/sensor. This could be done by the shape of the protrusion and/or of the shoulder. A sleeve could be used on the protrusion or coating, to avoid it scratching.

20) One end of the device could have a part which relates to the handbrake lever so that the handbrake lever restricts the movement of the device . The relation to the handbrake lever could be by various known means including a tubular member which encompasses part or all of the handbrake lever and the tubular member. The tubular member could have deformed or pressed in wall(s) such that the handbrake lever protrusion cannot pass through the reduced tube internal dimensions.

21) A device as claimed in one or more of the other claims which relates to another part of the vehicle such that the device can not move angularly.

This could stop a protrusion being removed from a recess where the angle of the recess to the main device where such that angular movement would allow protrusion removal. Angle such as 90 degrees. Principle could also be used to stop a device being removed from a handbrake lever.

22) A device which holds the gear change column in a fixed position such that a device as claimed in the other claims can prevent removal of an item linked to another part such as a cassette player. The device could also fix the gear change column of a vehicle in one position such that the gearbox cannot be used, to impede vehicle theft.

23) A device which uses a moving part(s) to provide distance adjustment with the inclusion of a locking mechanism to fix and lock the adjusted distance. The device having an end which forks the gear change column.

The rest of the device could have a part which is hollow and goes around the handbrake lever as given in various existing GB patent applications eg. 2142889.

24) As in 23 but the end of the device is instead a protrusion which enters a recess in a part which is attached or related to the gear change column such as the protrusion cannot move angularly away from the gear change column.

25) As in 23 where the fork exists in a flat part.

26) As in 23 where the fork exists in a 3 dimensional part of hollow or solid section.

27) As in 26 where the fork section relates to a part fixed to the gear change column such that part stops the movement of the device up or down the column.

28) As in 27 where the part on the column is as given in GB2142889 or similar and the fork fixing screw is directed into the fork section which encompasses it and prevents the screw being accessed when the device is in place.

29) A device as claimed in 23 or/and 24 where a moving part(s) is extended and locked to fix the distance.

30) As claimed in one or more of other claims where locking device to the gear change column is a padlock.

31) As in 30 where attaches to a hole in the device.

32) As described and/or depicted in application.