Locks – Special application – For control and machine elements
Patent
1985-08-20
1987-03-17
Smith, Gary L.
Locks
Special application
For control and machine elements
188 32, 70225, 70237, 70259, B60R 2500, E05B 6512
Patent
active
046497242
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vehicle immobilisation devices of the type (hereinafter referred to as "of the type defined") comprising a pair of chocks for abutting a vehicle wheel on either side (in a direction of rotation) of its ground contact point, a top hook for hooking over the wheel at a point above the ground contact point, a stem for interconnecting the top hook and the chock arms and means for locking the chocks and the stem together in their respective positions, whereby to captivate the vehicle wheel.
BACKGROUND ART
Vehicle immobilisation devices of the type defined are disclosed in U.S. patent application No. 3,695,071 and GB-A-No.2,112,725. In U.S. patent application No. 3,695,071, the relatative positions of the chocks and top hook can be adjusted to suit the diameter of the particular vehicle wheel to which the device is to be applied. The arrangement involves three arms connected to the chocks and top hook, respectively. Two arms have sets of spaced slots, and the third arm has a tenon which is adjustably mounted thereon. To obtain the necessary spacing between the parts, all three arms and the chocks and top hook have to be placed in position and the tenon adjusted and passed through the correct slots in the other two arms, before locking can take place. Thus the device cannot readily be presented to a vehicle wheel of unknown size, adjusted quickly and locked thereto.
GB-A-No.2,112,725 describes an arrangement in which two chocks are joined together by telescopic members which can be locked together by aligning holes therein and inserting the straight portion of a stem or locking bar carrying the top hook through the aligned holes. The problem of aligning two holes in telescopic members sufficiently accurately to receive a well fitting bar is clear. The device actually manufactured by the applicants of the application GB-A-No.2,112,725 used a locking arrangement differing slightly from that described in the application. A pin on the locking bar still passed through a pair of alignable apertures (a plurality being provided) in the telescopically arranged chock arms, but a separate plate was provided depending from the outer of the telescopic arms. The shield extended down to the plate, an aperture in the shield aligned with one of a plurality of apertures in the plate and a padlock was passed through the aligned shield and plate apertures.
An alternative arrangement is described in application GB-A-No.2,112,725 whereby respective chock arms on each chock are connected in a telescopic manner by a separate tube. When the device is fitted the two arms lie side by side having entered the tube from opposite sides thereof, and are slidable in the tube to adjust the distance between the chocks. The top of the tube has a slot in it and the two arms are notched on their upper surfaces in at least one position each. When the device is correctly fitted, notches in the arms line up with the slot in the tube, and means is provided to engage the slot and notches to lock the arms against the separation.
Both these arrangements depend for their locking on the chock arms being in the correct position relative to the locking means for locking to be possible.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The invention seeks to provide a vehicle immobilisation device of the type defined in which the correct separation of the chocks ready for locking can be achieved in a simple and quick manner.
The present invention provides that the stem can only be offered up to the chock arms for locking, when the chocks are correctly spaced for locking of the immobilisation device.
To this end, there is provided, according to the invention, a vehicle immobilisation device of the type defined, including on each chock arm respective engagement members which are interengageable at one or more selected separations of the chocks to enable the stem to be subsequently fitted and locked onto the chock arms thereby securing the chocks at their selected separation.
Preferably, according to the invention, a vehicle immobil
REFERENCES:
patent: 2413744 (1947-01-01), Carter
patent: 3189127 (1965-06-01), Karnow et al.
patent: 3907072 (1975-09-01), Shafer
patent: 4031983 (1977-06-01), Lentini
Popular Science Magazine, Sep. 1984, p. 93.
Dino Suzanne L.
Smith Gary L.
LandOfFree
Vehicle immobilization device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle immobilization device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle immobilization device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1780381