Locks – Special application – For control and machine elements
Patent
1995-09-28
1998-05-26
Boucher, Darnell M.
Locks
Special application
For control and machine elements
70237, 70226, B60R 2502
Patent
active
057551227
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a steering wheel disabling device, a disabling device mounted on the steering wheel and a method of mounting a disabling device on a steering wheel.
In a known device for attempting to prevent sufficient rotation of a steering wheel to enable a vehicle to be driven, a pair of telescopically slidable members are placed across a wheel. The members are slid away from each other to cause outwardly facing lugs on each member to engage with opposite sides of the wheel. The members are then locked to prevent further relative sliding movement. As a portion of the device projects a significant way beyond the diameter of the wheel, any undue rotational movement of the wheel and therefore the device causes the projection to hit another part of the car or the legs of the driver.
It has been found that such known devices are able to be removed by joyriders who saw through the steering wheel, bend apart the severed parts, and slide the lugs through the gap created to remove the device. Accordingly, no matter how strong the device is made, the ability of the device to prevent theft of the vehicle is only dependent upon the strength of the wheel.
It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least some of the previous disadvantages.
According to one aspect of the present invention a steering wheel disabling device is adapted to restrict rotation of a steering wheel, the device being movable from a first configuration in which, in use, the device extends over opposed outwardly facing surfaces of a steering wheel and is retained on the wheel with a projection of the device being arranged to restrict rotation of a steering wheel about the axis of rotation of a steering wheel, and a second configuration in which the device can be mounted on or removed from a steering wheel.
When such a device is mounted on a steering wheel the opposed outwardly facing surfaces of the steering wheel over which the device extends are concealed by the device and are not accessible by a saw and consequently the vulnerability of the steering wheel to sawing and bending of the wheel with subsequent removal of the device is reduced. In particular, any cut to be made through the steering wheel from the outer diameter where the device is located and where the saw traditionally enters the wheel first has to pass through the device. Consequently, the strength of the device can be increased to make the time taken to cut through the device unrealistic for anyone but the most determined thief.
The device may include portions arranged, in use, in the first configuration, to extend adjacent to either side of the outwardly facing surface of the steering wheel. Those portions may provide, together with the part of the device which extends over the outwardly facing surface of the steering wheel, a channel through which the steering wheel extends.
The device may be arranged to substantially surround a steering wheel, in the first configuration.
The device may comprise two parts which are pivotally connected to be movable from the second to the first configuration, and the two parts may be directly pivotally connected.
The device may include a cover arranged to extend over a steering wheel, when the device is in the first configuration and mounted on a steering wheel.
The device may include a locking portion movable from a first position in which the device is constrained to remain in the first configuration and a second position in which the device may be moved to the second configuration. The locking portion may be arranged to connect two parts of the device at different relative distances from each other. The locking portion may comprise the projection of the device. The locking portion may be pivotally mounted on another part of the device such that the locking portion can pivot from the first to the second position.
The device may be arranged to at least partly obscure a locking device arranged to cooperate with the disabling device to retain the locking portion in the first position.
The device may be ad
REFERENCES:
patent: 1154389 (1915-09-01), Fogalsang
patent: 1329913 (1920-02-01), McGuire
patent: 1368054 (1921-02-01), Recher
patent: 1448658 (1923-03-01), Furber
patent: 3982602 (1976-09-01), Gorman
patent: 4848110 (1989-07-01), Kuo
patent: 5129245 (1992-07-01), Chang
patent: 5267458 (1993-12-01), Heh
patent: 5297406 (1994-03-01), Lin
patent: 5353614 (1994-10-01), Anderson
patent: 5415018 (1995-05-01), Ferrante
patent: 5450736 (1995-09-01), Volkmar
patent: 5454240 (1995-10-01), Whitney
patent: 5537847 (1996-07-01), Dalton et al.
patent: 5540067 (1996-07-01), Kim
patent: 5548983 (1996-08-01), Hart
patent: 5613383 (1997-03-01), Banez
Boucher Darnell M.
Vigil Thomas R.
LandOfFree
Steering wheel lock does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Steering wheel lock, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Steering wheel lock will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1950769