Security device for steering wheel

A security device for a steering wheel is disclosed. Such device comprises at least one elongated primary rod positioned in contact with the upper surface of a steering wheel adjacent to one side thereof at a first location. The device includes an L-shaped member extending radially inward with respect to the position of contact with respect to the steering wheel. The L-shaped member includes a downwardly extending portion and a radially outboardly extending portion, the rod having an enlarged handle at its radially outboard end. An intermediate support has a pair of support barrels with a first end attached to the inboard end of the primary rod and a cross piece coupling the support barrels. Each support barrel has a second end with a cylindrical bore. A pair of similarly shaped independent secondary rods is provided, each formed with a plurality of concentric circumferential recesses. Each secondary rod is positionable within an associated bore of the barrels, each rod having at its outboard end a fork-shaped member with upper and lower parallel fingers for spanning the upper and lower surfaces of the steering wheel at a second location diametrically opposed from the first location. A lock with an associated interference member to contact and secure an associated second rod in a locking orientation is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a security device for a steering wheel 
and, more particularly, pertains to precluding the theft of automobiles, 
trucks and like vehicles due to the inability for steering. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of security devices for cars of various designs and configurations 
is known in the prior art. More specifically, security devices for cars of 
various designs and configurations heretofore devised and utilized for the 
purpose of precluding the theft of automobiles, trucks and like vehicles 
through various methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of 
familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding 
the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been 
developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, the prior art in U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,753 to White 
discloses an anti-theft device for a plurality of vehicle steering wheel 
configurations. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,308 to Johnson discloses an automobile steering lock. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,674 to LiCausi discloses an anti-theft device adapted 
to be mounted to the steering wheel of a vehicle. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,259 to Mellard discloses an automobile anti-theft 
device. 
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 348,207 to Chen discloses an automobile steering wheel 
lock. 
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 317,707 to Nordberg et al. discloses an 
automobile lock for attachment to a steering wheel and a steering wheel 
column-mounted gearshift lever. 
In this respect, the security device for a steering wheel according to the 
present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and 
designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of precluding the theft of automobiles, trucks 
and like vehicles due to the inability for steering. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a 
new and improved security device for a steering wheel which can be used 
for precluding the theft of automobiles, trucks and like vehicles due to 
the inability for steering. In this regard, the present invention 
substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
security devices for cars of various designs and configurations now 
present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved 
security device for a steering wheel. As such, the general purpose of the 
present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, 
is to provide a new and improved security device for a steering wheel and 
method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the 
disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a new and 
improved security device to preclude the theft of automobiles, trucks and 
like vehicles due to the inability for steering comprising, in 
combination, a steering wheel; a pair of elongated primary rods parallel 
with each other and positioned in contact with the upper surface of the 
steering wheel for automobiles, trucks and like vehicles adjacent to one 
side thereof at a first location with a pair of L-shaped members extending 
radially inward with respect to the position of contact with respect to 
the steering wheel, each L-shaped member including a downwardly extending 
portion and a radially outboardly extending portion for positioning 
beneath the steering wheel, each rod having an enlarged handle at its 
radially outboard end; an H-shaped support having a pair of support 
barrels with first ends attached to the inboard ends of the primary rods 
and a cross piece coupling the support barrels, each support barrel having 
a second end with a cylindrical bore in each second end; a pair of 
similarly shaped independent secondary rods, each formed with a plurality 
of concentric circumferential recesses, each secondary rod positionable 
within an associated bore of the barrels at a predetermined distance as a 
function of the circumference of the steering wheel, each rod having at 
its outboard end a fork-shaped member with upper and lower parallel 
fingers for spanning the upper and lower surfaces of the steering wheel at 
a second location diametrically opposed from the first location; a lock 
formed in each barrel with an associated interference member to contact 
and secure an associated second rod in a locking orientation; and a pair 
of keys turnable within the locks to advance and retract the interference 
member individually to and from an associated recess for locking and 
unlocking the steering wheel. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved security device for a steering wheel which has all the advantages 
of the prior art security devices for cars of various designs and 
configurations and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
security device for a steering wheel which may be easily and efficiently 
manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved security device for a steering wheel which is of a durable and 
reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved security device for a steering wheel which is susceptible of a 
low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which 
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming 
public, thereby making such security devices for cars of various designs 
and configurations economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved security device for a steering wheel which provides in the 
apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, 
while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally 
associated therewith. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to preclude the theft 
of automobiles, trucks and like vehicles due to the inability for 
steering. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a security 
device for a steering wheel comprising at least one elongated primary rod 
positioned in contact with the upper surface of a steering wheel adjacent 
to one side thereof at a first location with an L-shaped member extending 
radially inward with respect to the position of contact with respect to 
the steering wheel, the L-shaped member including a downwardly extending 
portion and a radially outboardly extending portion, the rod having an 
enlarged handle at its radially outboard end; an intermediate support 
having a pair of support barrels with a first end attached to the inboard 
end of the primary rod and a cross piece coupling the support barrels, 
each support barrel having a second end with a cylindrical bore in each 
second end; a pair of similarly shaped independent secondary rods, each 
formed with a plurality of concentric circumferential recesses, each 
secondary rod positionable within an associated bore of the barrels, each 
rod having at its outboard end a fork-shaped member with upper and lower 
parallel fingers for spanning the upper and lower surfaces of the steering 
wheel at a second location diametrically opposed from the first location; 
and a lock with an associated interference member to contact and secure an 
associated second rod in a locking orientation.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various 
Figures. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, 
the preferred embodiment of the new and improved security device for a 
steering wheel embodying the principles and concepts of the present 
invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be 
described. 
The present invention, the new and improved security device for a steering 
wheel, is a system 10 comprised of a plurality of components. In their 
broadest context, the components include a steering wheel, elongated rods, 
an H-shaped support, secondary rods, a lock, and a pair of keys. Each of 
the individual components is specifically configured and correlated one 
with respect to the other so as to attain the desired objectives. 
The present invention is a system 10 which has as a primary component of 
the combination the steering wheel 12 of a car. Such steering wheel is of 
a conventional design which, if provided with an enlarged object thereon, 
can preclude the turning of the wheel and hence abate the possibility of 
theft. 
The intended objective is attained through the use of a pair elongated 
primary rods 16. Such rods are of a similar construction and are oriented 
parallel with respect to each other. Such rods are adapted to be 
positioned in contact with the upper surface of the steering wheel, the 
steering wheel being that of either an automobile, truck or like vehicle. 
The elongated rods are adapted to be located adjacent to one side of the 
steering wheel at a first location, the bottom thereof as shown in FIG. 1. 
The primary rods are formed with a pair of L-shaped members 20. Each 
L-shaped member extends and is positioned radially inboardly with respect 
to the position of contact with the steering wheel. More specifically, 
each L-shaped member includes a downwardly extending portion 22 and, 
formed integrally therewith, a radially outboardly extending portion 24. 
Such outboardly extending portion is for being positioned beneath the 
steering wheel. In addition, each rod has an enlarged handle 26 at its 
radially outboard end. 
Next provided is an H-shaped support 30. The H-shaped support has a pair of 
support barrels 32. The support barrels each have a first end 34 
permanently attached to the inboard ends 36 of the primary rods. In 
addition, a cross piece 38 couples the support barrels. Each support 
barrel also has a second end 40. A cylindrical bore 42 is formed in each 
such second end. 
Cooperable with the primary bars and H-shaped supports are a pair of 
similarly shaped independent second rods 46. Each such second rod is 
formed with a plurality of circumferential recesses 48. Each such 
secondary rod is thus positionable within an associated bore of the 
barrels. Such secondary rods will extend interior of the bores to a 
predetermined distance as a function of the circumference of the steering 
wheel to be secured. 
Each secondary rod has at its outboard end a fork-shaped member 52. Each 
fork-shaped member has an upper finger 54 and a lower finger 56. Such 
fingers are parallel with respect to each other. Such fingers are adapted 
for spanning the upper and lower surfaces of the steering wheel. Such 
spanning is done at a second location 58 which is diametrically opposed 
from the first location 60 by 180 degrees. 
A lock 64 is formed in each barrel. Each lock has an associated 
interference member 66. The interference member is adapted to contact and 
secure an associated second rod in a locking orientation by being 
positioned within a preselected recess of its associated rod. 
Associated with each lock is a key 70. There is thus provided a pair of 
keys. Such keys are turnable within the locks to advance and retract the 
interference member in the normal manner of a key and lock as is 
conventional in the art. The movement of the interference members of the 
locks are effected individually by the individual key. They are adapted 
for movement from an associated recess for locking and unlocking the 
steering wheel by retracting the secondary rods whereby the security 
device may be removed and by advancing the secondary rods whereby removal 
from the steering wheel cannot be effected without subsequent retraction. 
The first alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5. In such 
embodiment the device is essentially as that shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. 
The significant difference is that the key and associated lock is replaced 
by a pair of combination locks 74. One combination lock is provided for 
each barrel. Although the combination lock shown in FIG. 5 is illustrated 
as a four-digit member, it should be understood that a five, six or any 
other number of digits could readily be utilized. Although the locks could 
be correlated on with respect to the other so that the same combination 
may be used on either of the locks, separate combinations could readily be 
utilized for increased security. 
FIG. 6 is an illustration of another alternate embodiment of the invention. 
In such alternate embodiment, the pair of primary rods are replaced by a 
single primary rod for coupling to the steering wheel at the first 
location. Similarly, the two locks are replaced by a single lock for 
greater simplicity of utilization. 
The last alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 7. In such 
alternate embodiment, the single key lock of FIG. 6 is replaced by a 
single combination lock. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.