Abstract:
A motor vehicle security device for protecting against the cutting and/or turning of an automobile steering wheel which includes a pair of clam shell halves made of cut-resistant material for covering the steering wheel rim and an anti-rotation arm. The clam shells radially and circumferentially overlies the steering wheel rim to limit access to the rim and protect against cutting of the rim. Second and third layer motion detector, siren and lights all having a battery and a backup power source are housed in the center of the clam shells.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to anti-rotation steering wheel covers which house a state-of-the-art battery operated motion detector having audio and visual alarms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Car theft is a thriving international business. Known in the art to deter theft are electronic motion detectors which trigger a 130 db siren inside the car engine compartment as well as flashes the car lights. Also known in the art are anti-rotation and steering wheel vandalism protection systems. The closest known prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,149 (1998) to Winner, Jr. Winner, Jr. teaches the use of two centrally connected pie-shaped plates to cover about ⅗&#39;s of the steering wheel. The plates are cut-resistant and further support an anti-rotation handle which is designed to abut the windshield or other car interior structures. The anti-rotation handle secures the two plates to the steering wheel, however, since the plates rotate around a rivet 80 (col. 8, line 26), only one size steering wheel can be accommodated by one pair of plates. Therefore, a costly line of various sized plates are needed to meet the markets&#39; demands. 
     Additionally, no layered security system is disclosed by Winner, Jr. He only teaches a single layer mechanical security system. Also known in the art is a “S.W.A.T.” motion detector device which offers a 130 db alarm siren, see U.S. Design Pat. No. D365774. The present invention offers substantial new, useful and non-obvious features over Winner, Jr. First the present invention offers a variable width steering wheel lock. Second the present invention offers two extra layers of built-in security, a 130 db siren, plus a flashing strobe light. All these electronics run on a disposable battery. This device automatically arms and rearms itself after a pre-set period of approximately four minutes. Below follows a summary of related art. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,681 (1998) to Gorokhovsky discloses an anti-theft locking device which has a steering wheel engaging member 30, an end wall 32 covering the steering wheel 12, a peripheral wall 33 extending over at least a part of the outer periphery of a rim 14 of the steering wheel. According to Gorokhovsky, any attempt made within a reasonably short time to make the vehicle driveable will fail because it is not possible to cut or break rim 14 and ribs 16, 18 that are covered by end wall 32 and peripheral wall 33 of the steering wheel engaging member 30 [column 5, lines 45+]. Further, the rim 14 cannot be turned relative to the steering wheel engaging member 30 because stops 34 would interfere with one of the ribs 16, 18. The entire device cannot be turned because of engagement between stop member 24 and dashboard 26. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,001 (1997) to Ho discloses an anti-theft device for a vehicle which includes a casing covering over 200° of the wheel engaged onto a steering wheel of a vehicle for preventing the steering wheel form being rotated and for protecting the air bag from being stolen. 
     U.S. Pat No. 5,666,832 (1997) to Cunningham discloses an anti-theft device for an automobile steering wheel. Specifically, Cunningham discloses the use of two sleeve halves forming a housing to prevent cutting of the wheel. A locking bar(s) is also provided. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,067 (1996) to Kim discloses an anti-theft device for automobiles and airbags. Kim discloses the use of hub to protect the wheel and airbag from theft. Kim discloses that the lip of the cover spans at least 120°, but preferably 180°, around the wheel [Column 2, lines 35+]. A clamshell embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3-6. An electronic alarm is taught as well. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary aspect of the present invention is to provide a multi-layer security system for a car&#39;s steering wheel including a first mechanical layer to prevent theft of the car and/or vandalism to the wheel, a second electronic motion detector siren level, a third motion detector strobe light level, a fourth power backup level, and a fifth level of lock activated L.E.D. warning lights. 
     Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
     The present invention provides: 
     Layered Protection 
     Mechanical Protection 
     Electronic Protection 
     Visual Protection 
     Audio Protection 
     Mechanical Protection 
     Adjustable width fits the steering wheel of Automobiles, light trucks, SUV&#39;s and boats. 
     Easily installed. 
     Easily removed. 
     Locks in place “without” use of key. 
     Cylinder deadbolt lock has millions of combinations. 
     Design wraps around “top-side-backside” of steering wheel. 
     Two clamshell sections cover 200 minimum degrees of steering wheel. 
     Carrying handle projects from the right clamshell main body. 
     Carrying handle prevents steering wheel rotation (coming in contact with windshield, “A” pillar, driver&#39;s door or driver&#39;s seat). 
     Design prevents air bag removal. 
     Constructed of space-age plastics and steel inserts which are cut-resistant and lightweight. 
     When in place of the steering wheel, product will not absorb heat from the sun, preventing heat damage to the steering wheel and air bag. 
     Electronic Protection 
     A single key activates L.E.D. visual warning system, a frequency siren, a strobe light, a motion detector, and locks the interlocking frame members together. 
     When the motion detector&#39;s tamper tolerance is exceeded, a strobe light flashes at pre-calculated intervals for a specified amount of time, and a second frequency siren sounds. 
     After reaching its specified amount of time, the strobe light and siren shut off and reset to an armed condition. 
     Continued tampering will repeat sequence. 
     Visual Protection 
     From three to seven key activated L.E.D. lights are user friendly for arming. 
     A down lighting strobe prevents easy covering up. 
     Audio Protection 
     Variable frequency siren is down firing to prevent vandalism, and increase amplification by reflex action of the sound waves. 
     Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment in the closed position on a steering wheel shown in dots. 
     FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a back plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5A is a blow up of member  52  taken along line  5 A— 5 A of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the handle. 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a typical steering wheel column having an airbag. 
     FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the steering wheel column of FIG  7  protected by the steering wheel lock of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment steering wheel lock. 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the steering wheel lock of embodiment of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the left cradle sub-assembly of the steering wheel lock embodiment of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the right cradle sub-assembly of the steering wheel lock embodiment of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of the motion detector circuit. 
     FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram of the siren and circuit. 
     FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram of the L.E.D. array and circuit. 
     FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram of the strobe and circuit. 
     FIG. 17 is a back perspective view of the receiver and locking cam assembly. 
     FIG. 18 is a back perspective view (reverse) of the right cradle assembly shown in FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 19 is a back plan view of the wheel lock and cam locking subassembly assembled. 
     FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view through the middle of the cam locking subassembly taken along line  20 — 20  of FIG.  19 . 
    
    
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring first to FIG. 1 a steering wheel blocking lock  1  has a left clamshell  4 , a right clamshell  2 , which together cover about 200° of the steering wheel  8 . The steering wheel  8  has an air bag compartment  9  which is covered by the central strut  10 A,  10 B. A cylinder lock  5  locks the clamshells  4 , 2  at a snug position around the steering wheel  8 . The handle  3  is preferably made in the same plastic mold as right clamshell  2 . The handle  3  prohibits turning of the steering wheel  8  by hitting the windshield or other car parts. 
     Referring next to FIG. 2 a frame  20  has tracks  6 ,  7  to enable the clamshells  4 ,  2  to have an adjustable width where nominal dimensions are d 1 =1″, d 2 =15″, and d 3 =17″, a maximum width in the preferred embodiment. No limitations are expressed showing these nominal widths as one skilled in the art could make any size changes to the preferred embodiment. 
     Referring next to FIG. 3 it can be seen that the arm  3  acts in a similar manner to “The Club”™ Made by Winner International to provide an anti-rotation function. 
     Referring next to FIG. 4 the siren/strobe sub-assembly  40  is seen screwed into the frame  20  as better seen in FIG.  5 . The motion detector/lights sub-assembly  41  is also shown. 
     Referring next to FIG. 5 the steering wheel blocking lock  1  is built around a horizontal frame  20  having structural plastic inner looking frame members  20 A,  20 B. Tracks  6 ,  7  are preferably anti-theft metal rods to prevent hacksawing through the frame  20 . Electronic sub-assemblies  40 ,  41  fit inside the frame  20 . Frame members  20 A,  20 B extend distally into steering wheel cuffs  54 ,  53  which have a special ribbed interior surface  52  to help prevent the steering wheel blocking lock  1  from being rotated around the steering wheel  8  anti-theft metal guards  56 ,  57  snap over the cuffs  53 ,  54  to prevent hacksawing through the clamshells  2 ,  4  which are preferably made of resin. Anti-theft rods  50 ,  51  as inserted into the handle  3  from the interior to prevent hacksawing of the handle  3 . 
     The L.E.D. sub-assembly  41  includes the clear red plastic cover  55  which fits into the frame  20 &#39;s recess  55 A. The L.E.D. array is visible from outside the locked car to show moving lights, thereby indicating an armed alarm system is on. The motion detector subassembly  40  has a separate battery  4003 . It turns on the downward facing siren  4002  and downward facing strobe light  4001  when the motion detector is fired. A bottom surface strobe lense plate  4005  covers the strobe. A burglar might think coving the L.E.D. lights and cover  55  with duct tape will defeat the alarm, but the hidden siren and strobe will light up the car and make a great deal of noise. 
     The operation of the steering wheel lock is described below. 
     Installation 
     Pick up the steering wheel lock with handle pointed to the right (pointing to the interior of vehicle). 
     Left hand holds the left cradle. 
     Right hand holds the handle. 
     With equal pulling pressure from both hands; pull apart the Steering Wheel Blockit &amp; Lockit until the opening between the two bottoms curved lips is wide enough to fit over the steering wheel. 
     Place Steering Wheel Blockit &amp; Lockit on your steering wheel pushing the two sides together until snug against steering wheel. 
     Put key in lock, turn key to the on (armed) position and remove the key from the lock thereby; engaging the lock, activating the LED multi light visual warning system, engaging the tamper tolerance motion sensor, strobe light and siren, 30 second countdown to the activation program. 
     Tampering 
     When unauthorized entry of vehicle occurs, and assailant struggles with Steering Wheel Blockit &amp; Lockit to initiate its removal from the steering wheel the following occur. 
     1) The motion sensor is set to an allowable tamper tolerance. 
     2) Once tamper tolerance is exceeded the steering wheel blocking lock activates its strobe light and variable frequency siren for 30 seconds. 
     3) The strobe light visual warning and alerting system flashes reflecting and refracting its light in a multitude of directions. 
     4) The frequency siren sounds and is refracted off the Steering Wheel, multiplying its reflected loudness. 
     5) After 30 seconds the alarm system shuts off and the tamper tolerance motion sensor resets itself to an armed condition. 
     6) Should assailant again struggle with steering wheel blocking lock to attempt its removal from the steering wheel the following reoccur. 
       7 ) Repeat steps 2,3,4,5. 
     Removal 
     Put key in lock, turn key to off position and remove the key thereby; unlocking the steering wheel blocking lock, deactivating the LED multi light warning system, the tamper tolerance sensor, the strobe light and the frequency siren. 
     Left hand holds the left cradle. 
     Right hand holds the handle extension. 
     With equal pulling pressure from both hands pull apart the steering wheel lock until the opening between the two bottom curved lips of the steering wheel lock is wide enough to allow removal of the steering wheel lock from the steering wheel. 
     Remove the steering wheel lock from the steering wheel. 
     Push the two sides together to close the steering wheel lock. 
     Place the steering wheel lock in its storage bag. 
     Referring to electrical drawing FIGS. 13-16, the electrical alarm logic and circuitry is described. 
     POWER UP 
     Closure of power switch SW 1  Ref. ( 5 .) applies power to K 1  NO relay contract and Field Effect Transistor (FET) Q 1 . Resistor R 1  and FET Q 1  form a 0.25-2 microamp current source that slowly charges capacitor C 1  to the threshold voltage (2-3VDC) of transistor Q 2 , a N Channel MOS enhancement type, over a 30 second period. Capacitor C 1  is a low leakage current type. Until transistor Q 2 &#39;s gate voltage exceeds the threshold of 2-3 volts, transistor Q 2  is held in a high impedance state disabling Tilt Switch SW 2  from conducting current through latching relay coil K 1  Set. This delays enabling the alarm giving the user time to exit the vehicle. N Channel MOS Transistor Q 5  across C 1  is in a high impedance state allowing the voltage across C 1  to linearly increase. 
     AUTO RESET 
     If latching relay K 1  was in a “SET” or “ON” state at the time key switch SW 1  is closed power will be applied to the Siren (FIG. 15) and LED&#39;s (FIG.  14 ). Closure of key switch SW 1  also (Ref.  5 ) quickly charges capacitor C 2  through resistor R 2 . Resistor R 2  and capacitor C 2  values are selected for a time constant of 8-15 milliseconds. As capacitor C 2  charges gate terminal of P Channel MOS Transistor Q 3  is held near ground potential placing Q 3  in a low impedance ‘ON’ state for a short time. Turning transistor Q 3  “ON” allows current to flow into relay reset coil K 1  reset switching the relay to the OFF state. Turning on Q 3  to reset relay K 1  also makes gate of N Channel MOS transistor Q 5  positive turning “ON” Q 5  and discharging capacitor C 1  resetting the 30 second delay timer. Energizing the reset coil forces the relay to the “OFF” state, contacts K 1  NO are open turning off the Siren (FIG. 15) and LED&#39;s (FIG.  14 ). Values of R 1  and C 1  are selected to give a 30 second delay for the user to exit the vehicle before C 1  is fully charged. 
     If the relay was in the “OFF” or reset state contacts K 1  NO 2  would be open and no current would flow to the Siren (FIG. 14,  700 ) and LED&#39;s (FIG. 15,  800 ) saving power. 
     ALARM READY OR ARMED 
     After transistor Q 3  has reset the relay K 1  and capacitor C 1  has charged above the gate threshold voltage of transistor Q 2 . The steering wheel lock electronic circuit is now ready for any would be intruder. 
     TAMPER 
     Closure of Tamper/Tilt switch SW 2  (the motion detector) is series with Transistor Q 2  allows current to flow through Relay Coil K 1  Set closing relay contacts K 1  No applying power to the siren, lights and strobe circuits FIGS. 14-16. With the closure of contacts K 1  NO voltage is applied to Resistor network R 4  and R 5  also charging capacitor C 3  through R 3 . Capacitor C 3  is a low leakage type R 3  is selected to charge C 3  over a 30 second period. Programmable unijunction transistor PUT  1  trigger when the anode voltage rises to equal the gate voltage set by R 4  and R 5 . Discharging capacitor C 3  into Q 4 &#39;s anode and into coil K 1  reset turning “OFF” or resetting the alarm. Application of power to the reset coil K 1  reset turns on transistor Q 5  discharging Capacitor C 1 . Placing the system in the power up state. If the Tilt switch is still closed the alarm will not trip until capacitor C 1  charges turning “ON” transistor Q 2 . This cycle will repeat until the intruder gives up or the internal power source battery  1  or C 4  is depleted. 
     POWER 
     The steering wheel blocking lock may be powered by a primary cell, rechargeable battery or multi-fared capacitor C 4 . Charging may be accomplished with a simple resistor R 6  or a more complex charger appropriate for the type of battery selected. 
     Referring next to FIG. 6 an alternate handle  60  is designed for boats, trucks, heavy equipment and the like. An extension rod  66  is housed in a sheath  65  in the lower arm  63  of the handle  60 . It could be located in the upper arm  62 , wherein upper and lower arms  62 , 63  form a hole  64 . By turning extension rod  66  as indicated by arrows left L and right R, the threads  67  turn in the treads (not shown) on the inside of the sheath  65  so that the handle extends nominally about seven inches as shown by dots  660 . Preferably the extension rod is made of hardened steel. A personalized logo are  61  is set into the handle  60 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 7 a steering wheel column  70  has an airbag compartment  71  with an airbag  72 . The airbag compartment  71  protrudes from the center  74  of steering wheel  73 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 8 a 15 inch steering wheel  73  is shown with the airbag compartment  71  protected by a steering wheel lock  90  and its central bar  91 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 9 the steering wheel lock  90  has a left cradle sub assembly  92 , a right cradle sub assembly  93 , a hub assembly  91  and a handle  94 . The two cradle sub assemblies cover about  200  degrees of the steering wheel and are preferably made of space age plastic. 
     Referring next to FIG. 10 a friction pad  97  and metal plate  98  combination is provided in each lip  95 , 96  of the respective cradle subassembly. Preferably the metal plates  98  are made of 16 gauge steel to prevent hack sawing therethrough. The left cradle subassembly  92  has a main beam receiver  99  also made preferably of plastic. The grooves  100 , 101  receive the plastic tongues  102 ,  103  of the right subassembly. Each tongue has an outlined facing set of locking ridges  104 , 105  which are seen in FIG. 17 to lock the two cradle subassemblies at a desired width. The inner walls  170 ,  171  of the receiver  99  also have locking ridge  172 ,  173  such that upon rotation of the cam  174  the tongues  102 , 103  are pressed against and lock with the inner walls  170 , 171  via the interlocking locking ridge  104 , 105  and  172 , 173 . 
     Referring next to FIG. 11 a metal (preferably 16 gauge steel) safety plate  1000  fits into the receivor  99  to prevent hack sawing therethrough. The cam  174  is turned by the lock  1001  whose inner cylinder is rotated by a key (not shown). A lock retainer nut  1002  secures the lock, and a can retainer nut  1003  secures the can  174  to the lock. The electronic subassembly  40  is the same as that shown in FIG.  5 . 
     A red lense  1004  covers the L.E.D. array  800  (shown in FIG.  15 ). A battery  1005  powers the motion detector circuit  1006  of FIG.  13 . 
     Referring next to FIG.  12 , 18  the front and rear portions of the right cradle subassembly  93  are shown. 
     A bar guide  1250  guides the right cradle subassembly  93  into the receivor  99  via receivor walls  175 , 176 , 177  shown in FIG.  17 . The bar guide is mounted into right cradle subassembly holes  181 , 182  with screws  1255  preferably self tapping. 
     The handle  94  has a rear cover  940  which secures a metal two prong plate  1256  (preferably made of 16 gauge steel) in the handle  94  to prevent hack sawing therethrough. Screws  1259  are preferably self tapping. 
     Referring next to FIGS.  18 , 19  receivor walls which receive the tongues  102 , 103  are numbered  9200 , 9201 . Wall  9200  has locking ridges  9202 , and wall  9201  has locking ridges  9203 . The tongues  102 , 103  have stops  1800 ,  1801  which come in contact with the cam  174  to prevent the cradles from falling apart from each other. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.