Locks – Special application – For control and machine elements
Patent
1993-03-08
1994-10-11
Cuomo, Peter M.
Locks
Special application
For control and machine elements
70211, 70226, 70167, B60R 2502
Patent
active
053536142
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND ART
This invention relates to a security device to deter the theft of motor vehicles. The device is of the general type which is secured to the vehicle steering wheel by way of a long rigid arm.
There are many devices used in order to prevent, or at least deter, the theft of motor vehicles. It is probably fair to say that all such devices have some drawback or weakness, however, any device which makes the theft of the vehicle more difficult does service a useful purpose and provides vehicle owners with a choice as to theft deterrents.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention includes, as a basic feature, a steering wheel cover made of tough material to extend wholly over the wheel and being lockable to the wheel to prevent removal or cutting of the wheel and to prevent effective steering control of the vehicle. One particular embodiment of the invention can be described as
a steering wheel lock comprising:
a generally flat circular wheel cover means including a lip means about the perimeter extending out of the general plane of the cover means so that it fits over and about a conventional steering wheel,
a first securing means rigid of the lip and extending parallel to the general plane of the cover means from one portion of the lip means to another portion so that a corresponding section of the steering wheel fits between the securing means and the cover means, and
a second securing means fixed to the cover means approximately diametrically opposition entrapping a corresponding second section of the steering wheel and openable, when unlocked, into a second position to release the steering wheel,
So that the wheel cover is able to be locked to a vehicle steering wheel in a manner preventing effective steering control of the vehicle.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention the second securing means comprises a lockable reciprocating rigid arm forming a diametrically extending obstruction means, and an intermediate portion of the arm including a pin which extends radially inwardly of the lip means when in the locked position and is retractable to an unlocked position, the obstruction means extending sufficiently beyond the cover perimeter so as to collide with surrounding vehicle structure when the cover is turned.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The following example is a preferred embodiment of the invention explaining its construction and method of use and refers to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an underside perspective view of the device,
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the device,
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view demonstrating the construction of the device, and
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the device.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION
As seen in FIG. 1, the device includes a generally flat circular cover 1 with a lip 2 about its perimeter. A section of the generally open bottom side defined by the cover 1 and lip 2 is covered by a rigid plate 3. The cover 1, lip 2 and plate 3 are conveniently produced in a single integral component.
Opposite plate 3, in the side of lip 2, is an entrant hole 8 (FIG. 3) which is large enough to accept the passage of the locking pin 7. The pin 7 is rigid of the arm extension 4 which itself includes a knuckled section 6. The knuckled section 6 can travel telescopically through the lock body 5 while unlocked, and fixed in place when locked. The lock body 5 is rigidly attached across the top side of cover 1 in a generally diametric orientation.
When the lock 5 is unlocked, the arm extension 4, and thus the pin 7, can be freely reciprocated in the direction of arrows 11, FIG. 4, into the locking position to the left or the unlocked position to the right. A pair of shrouds 9 extend down either side of the entrant hole 8 so that when the pin 7 is in the locked position the connecting section 7a cannot be levered out from the adjacent portion of the lip 2.
In use the lock the arm extension 4 is withdrawn from the lock body 5 sufficiently to substantially fully retract pin 7 from the inside region defined within lip 2. The plate 3
REFERENCES:
patent: 1154389 (1915-09-01), Fogalsang
patent: 1329913 (1920-02-01), McGuire
patent: 1368054 (1921-02-01), Recher
patent: 1395532 (1921-11-01), Tilden
patent: 3982602 (1976-09-01), Gorman
patent: 5007259 (1991-04-01), Mellard
patent: 5031429 (1991-07-01), Wang
patent: 5199284 (1993-04-01), Lin
patent: 5275030 (1994-01-01), Cole
A.B.A. Marketing PTY Limited
Boucher Darnell M.
Cuomo Peter M.
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