Vehicle anti-theft device making at least one wheel unserviceable, and a wheel comprising the device

An anti-theft device for a pneumatic-tired vehicle, of the kind comprising means (4) for automatically deflating a tire (5) of the vehicle and deflating the tire (5) when the device is actuated by control means (2) and the vehicle is in motion, the deflating means (4) being moved by the centrifugal force of inertia when the corresponding wheel (3) rotates whereas they are inoperative in other cases, characterized in that the deflating means (4) comprise movable means for closing at least one orifice (7) through which air under pressure can escape from the tire (3), the movable closing means normally sealing the orifice (7) when the device is inoperative and/or the wheel (3) is stationary, whereas they unclose the orifice (7) and allow air to escape when the device is actuated and as soon as the centrifugal force of inertia reaches a sufficient value to move them.

The invention relates to an anti-theft device for a vehicle and a wheel 
comprising the device. It applies more particularly to pneumatic-tired 
vehicles such as cars, lorries or motor-coaches. 
An aforementioned anti-theft device is for protecting a vehicle from theft. 
There are a wide range of known anti-theft devices. They are usually of 
three kinds--a first or deterrent type (e.g. alarms or marking) for 
deterring a potential thief from trying to steel the vehicle, a second or 
active type (reinforced locks, sterring-wheel locks, safety bars 
connecting a number of components together, etc) for preventing a 
potential thief from entering and using the vehicle, and a third and 
ultimate kind for making the vehicle unserviceable (by cutting off the 
ignition, the fuel supply or the battery, locking the brakes, etc). 
These known devices are usually satisfactory, but none of them really 
prevent a vehicle being stolen. Thieves are becoming progressively better 
equipped and have a thorough knowledge of anti-theft devices. They can 
therefore easily get through the various barriers preventing them from 
stealing the vehicle, and once they have reached the vehicle interior and 
put the deterrent devices out of action, they will be able to use the 
vehicle. 
More particularly, thieves easily detect the presence of anti-theft devices 
of the first or second kind, and often put them out of action. The third 
kind of devices are also very quickly detected by thieves after they have 
entered the vehicle, and can easily be handled by a good set of tools. 
The inventor has therefore decided that the disadvantages of the known 
anti-theft devices are due to the fact that they are never irreversible, 
i.e. they can be manipulated after their presence has been detected and 
they are actuated too early. 
Also, the known devices are relatively complex and bulky. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,539 also discloses an anti-theft device rigidly and 
immovably connected to the tire valve and comprising a deflating means 
movable under the action of a spring towards the valve closure means so as 
to open it, and a pivoting means comprising a weight and a lever normally 
inserted between the deflating means and the closure means but moved by 
centrifugal force when the wheel rotates and thus enabling the deflating 
means to co-operate with the closure means and therefore inflate the tire 
when the wheel rotates. The known device comprises lock means for 
actuating or inactivating it or for opening the device to check or adjust 
the air pressure in the tire. 
This known device is complicated and awkward to handle. It needs numerous 
operations for actuating or inactivating it or for checking the tire 
pressure. It also has a large number of components and is too expensive. 
Finally and above all, the device is a real danger to the user. This is 
because the tire may inadvertently be deflated by the device even when 
inactivated, if one component breaks (e.g. the control bar 50). This risk 
is all the more serious in that a component usually breaks at high speeds 
when the stresses and forces, inter alia the centrifugal acceleration, are 
at the maximum. 
The invention aims to obviate the aforementioned disadvantages of the known 
anti-theft devices and relates to an anti-theft device which makes the 
vehicle inserviceable after it has been stolen and started up, and does so 
in a manner which is temporarily irreversible by the thief without being 
irreversible by the owner. 
The invention also relates to an aforementioned device which can easily and 
quickly be adjusted to any wheel on a new or used car and is also 
extremely reliable and not a danger to the user, inter alia when the 
device is inoperative and at high speed. Another aim of the invention is 
to propose an aforementioned device which has a minimum number of 
components and a minimum cost. 
The invention proposes an anti-theft device for a pneumatic-tired vehicle, 
of the type comprising means for automatically deflating a tire of the 
vehicle and deflating the tire when the device is actuated by control 
means and the vehicle is in motion, the deflating means being moved by the 
centrifugal force of inertia when the corresponding wheel rotates whereas 
they are inoperative in other cases, characterised in that the deflating 
means comprise movable means for closing at least one orifice through 
which air under pressure can escape from the tire, the movable closing 
means normally sealing the orifice when the device is inoperative and/or 
the wheel is stationary, whereas they unclose the orifice and allow air to 
escape when the device is actuated and as soon as the centrifugal force of 
inertia reaches a sufficient value to move them. 
The movable means for automatically closing and for deflating the tire are 
movable in at least one radial or substantial radial direction of the 
wheel and towards the exterior of the wheel from their normal closing 
position; means for returning the inflating means to their normal 
inoperative position for sealing the orifice are provided and are 
operative at least when the device is inoperative and/or the wheel is 
stationary. 
Advantageously the device according to the invention comprises safety means 
which, when the vehicle has reached a preset speed, secure the deflating 
means in the inoperative position irrespective of the position of the 
control means, and thus prevent inadvertent or other deflation of the 
corresponding tire at high speed. 
In an advantageous variant of the invention, the device is connected by 
removable connecting means to at least one vehicle wheel, inter alia to 
the tire valve, so that it can be quickly and easily removed or installed. 
In one possible embodiment, the weight of the movable closing and deflating 
means can be varied with the state of the device. When the device is 
inoperative, the weight of the movable closing and deflating means is such 
that they are held motion-less in the orifice-closing position 
irrespective of the vehicle speed. On the other hand, at least when the 
device is operative, the weight of the movable automatic closing and 
deflating means is such that, as soon as the vehicle speed exceeds a given 
speed V, the rotation of the wheel moves them against the internal 
pressure of the tire and/or the return means. 
The invention also relates to a wheel comprising a device according to the 
invention. 
An anti-theft device according to the invention makes the stolen vehicle 
unserviceable, so that a potential thief will have to abandon it on the 
spot. In the worst case, where the thief immediately notices the 
anti-theft device according to the invention, so much time will be wasted 
that it will have at lest a deterrent effect on the thief. More 
particularly if there are four such devices, one on each wheel, the thief 
will certainly be discouraged. The time needed for inactivating an 
anti-theft device is very important in the campaign against car thefts, 
since thieves have only a short time for committing their villainy. 
The invention accordingly provides a simple, inexpensive anti-theft device 
guaranteeing perfect safety to the user when the device is inoperative.

An anti-theft device 1 according to the invention for a tired vehicle is of 
the kind comprising control means 2 for changing over the device 1 from 
the operative state where it is adapted to prevent the vehicle being 
stolen, to the inoperative state where it is inactive and enables the 
vehicle to function normally, and vice versa. The control means can be a 
lock and are mechanical, electric or electromagnetic. A mechanical lock 
has the advantage of high reliability, whereas an electric or 
electromagnetic lock has the advantage of being more tamper-proof. 
The device according to the invention is connected to a wheel 3 of the 
vehicle which is to be protected from theft. An aforementioned device can 
be provided on a number of wheels or on all four. 
A device according to the invention comprises means 4 for automatically 
deflating at least one vehicle tire 5 and making the corresponding wheel 3 
and consequently the vehicle unusable. The "corresponding wheel" means the 
wheel comprising the tire 5 and the anti-theft device 1. A wheel 3 
according to the invention thus comprises a rim 6, a tire 5 around the rim 
6 and an anti-theft device 1 according to the invention. 
The deflating means 4 are for deflating the tire 5 when device 1 is 
actuated by the control means and the vehicle is in motion, inter alia as 
soon as the wheel 3 connected to the device begins to rotate, whereas 
means 4 are inoperative in other cases, i.e. when device 1 is inactivated 
or the vehicle stops and wheel 3 is stationary. 
Accordingly, the vehicle owner inactivates device 1 when he uses the 
vehicle, in which case the deflating means 4 are inoperative. When the 
owner leaves the vehicle, he puts device 1 in the operative position. 
Since the vehicle is stationary, the deflating means 4 are inoperative, 
but if wheel 3 rotates as a result of an attempted theft of the vehicle, 
the deflating means 4 come into operation and deflate the tire 5, thus 
making wheel 3 and the vehicle unserviceable and frustrating the attempted 
theft. 
The invention thus relates to an anti-theft device for a pneumatic-tired 
vehicle, of the kind comprising means 4 for automatically deflating a tire 
5 of the vehicle and deflating the tire 5 when the device is actuated by 
control means 2 and the vehicle is in motion, the deflating means 4 being 
moved by the centrifugal force of inertia when the corresponding wheel 3 
rotates whereas they are inoperative in other cases, characterised in that 
the deflating means 4 comprise movable means for closing at least one 
orifice 7 through which air under pressure can escape from the tire 3, the 
movable closing means normally sealing the orifice 7 when the device is 
inoperative and/or the wheel 3 is stationary, whereas they unclose the 
orifice 7 and allow air to escape when the device is actuated and as soon 
as the centrifugal force of inertia reaches a sufficient value to move 
them. 
The movable means for automatically closing and for deflating the tire 5 
are movable in at least one radial or substantially radial direction of 
the wheel 3 and towards the exterior of the wheel 3 from their normal 
closing position. 
The device according to the invention comprises means for returning the 
deflating means 4 to their normal inoperative position for sealing the 
orifice 7, at least when the device is inoperative and/or the wheel 3 is 
stationary. 
In a first embodiment of the invention, the device 1 according to the 
invention is associated with wheel 3 not only when operative but also when 
inoperative, and it advantageously comprises safety means which operate 
when device 1 is inoperative and, when the vehicle has reached a preset 
speed, secure the deflating means 4 in the inoperative position 
irrespective of the position of the control means 2, so as to prevent 
inadvertent or other deflation of the corresponding tire 5. Consequently, 
there is no danger that means 4 will deflate tire 5 when the vehicle is 
travelling at high speed, above a set speed, and device 1 is inoperative, 
so that no accident can be caused by inadvertent deflation of tire 5. The 
safety means can be mechanical means triggered when the centrifugal force 
reaches a certain value, or can be electric or electromagnetic. They can 
operate in response to a signal from the vehicle speed-recorder, or in any 
other way. 
FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the invention in which 
device 1 is connected to the rim 6 of wheel 3, orifice 7 being formed 
through rim 6 and the tire 5 being of the kind without an air chamber. 
Device 1 comprises a casing 10 rigidly connected to rim 6, e.g. by screwing 
into aperture 7, in which case the casing 10 has an outer thread 11 
co-operating with a thread 12 on aperture 7. Casing 10 holds the entire 
device 1 and is for securing device 1 to rim 6. Casing 10 has a 
substantially cylindrical inner bore along an axis 9 and containing a 
piston 13 sliding along axis 9, in an at least substantially radial 
direction 9. Piston 13 comprises sealing means 14 at its free end 15 
facing the interior 16 of tire 5. The other end 17 of piston 13 cooperates 
with the control means 2. Threads 11 and 12 are removable means for 
rigidly and hermetically connecting the device 1 to the rim of wheel 3. 
Accordingly, the closure means 8 comprise piston 13 co-operating with 
casing 10 associated with rim 6. Sealing means 14 are inserted between 
piston 13 and casing 10 so as to close aperture 7. Preferably, piston 13 
has a central part 18 which is narrower (perpendicular to axis 9) than the 
ends 15, 17 of piston 13. Piston 13 thus has two shoulders 19, 20 near 
ends 15 and 17 respectively. Casing 10 also has a flange 21 projecting 
inside the bore. Flange 21 co-operates with the shoulder 19 of the sealing 
end 15 of tire 5 so as to form sealing means 14. 
A seal can be placed between the two contact surfaces of shoulder 19 and 
flange 21 so as to improve sealing-tightness. Flange 21 co-operates with 
the central part 18 of piston 13 and helps to guide it. Finally, return 
means 22, inter alia a compression spring, are advantageously disposed 
between flange 21 and shoulder 20 towards the piston end 17 remote from 
tire 5. The return means 22 return piston 13 to the position where it 
efficiently closes aperture 7 in sealing-tight manner when tire 5 is fully 
deflated or wheel 3 stops, so as to press shoulder 19 of piston 13 against 
flange 21 and ensure sealing-tightness, even if the pressure is zero in 
the interior 16 of the tire 5. Means 22 return the deflating means 4 to 
the inoperative position, i.e. return the closure means 8 to the position 
where they effectively close aperture 7. 
The piston end 17 remote from tire 5 co-operates with the control means 2. 
For this purpose, end 17 advantageously has a bore 23 substantially 
perpendicular to axis 9 and in which a fork 24 belonging to the control 
means 2 can slide and lock piston 13 in the position where the deflating 
means 4 are inoperative, i.e. in the position where it seals aperture 7. 
Advantageously the previously-mentioned safety means act on fork 24 and 
hold it in bore 23 when wheel 3 and/or the vehicle reach a certain speed. 
The safety means comprise e.g. a sleeve movable around a casing 10 by the 
centrifugal force as soon as the rotation speed of wheel 3 exceeds a given 
value. The sleeve then comes opposite the aperture in the casing through 
which fork 24 extends when it is moved normally, and prevents fork 24 from 
moving accidentally. 
The bore in casing 10 and piston 13 preferably has a circular 
cross-section, but this is not necessary provided that their respective 
shapes correspond so that piston 13 can slide in the bore in sealing-tight 
manner. 
The first embodiment of the invention operates as follows: 
When the vehicle owner is using the vehicle in normal manner, fork 24 is 
inside aperture 23, corresponding to the inoperative state of device 1. In 
that case, piston 13 cannot slide in the bore in casing 10, and sealing 
means 14 close aperture 7. The tire therefore remains completely inflated. 
When the owner leaves his vehicle, he actuates the control means 2 inter 
alia via a key, thus releasing fork 24 from aperture 23. Piston 13 can 
then move in the bore in the casing. However, owing to the return means 22 
and the pressure inside tire 5, the piston does not move and the closing 
means continue to close aperture 7 via sealing means 14 which continue to 
co-operate with flange 21. When the device 1 is thus in the operative 
state, if wheel 3 rotates the piston 13 is subjected to centrifugal force 
which moves it in the bore in casing 10 inside tire 5. Consequently, the 
sealing means 14 no longer co-operate with flange 21 and the air can 
escape. To facilitate deflation, one or more longitudinal grooves can be 
formed in the central part 18 and in the end 17 co-operating with the 
control means 2 or any other device. If not, air infiltrates between 
piston 13 and casing 10. When tire 5 has been completely deflated or the 
wheel stops again, piston 13 is returned to its initial position (as shown 
in FIG. 1) by the return means 22 and/or by the pressure in tire 5, and 
the deflation process is stopped. 
If the vehicle has been stolen and the thief has left it after the tire are 
flat, the owner will only have to use the actuating means 2 to inactivate 
the device or devices and re-inflate the tire or tires, e.g. using a known 
portable compressor. 
In a second preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a device 1 
according to the invention is connected by means 39 to a valve 30 used in 
normal operation for inflating and deflating a tire of a vehicle (not 
shown). The device 1 according to the invention thus takes the place of 
the normal safety plug for valve 30. Valve 30 is either on an air chamber 
in the wheel, or is formed on the wheel rim if the wheel is without an air 
chamber. 
According to the invention, the means 19 for connecting device 1 to the 
wheel 3 comprising tire 5 are movable, so that device 1 can be removed to 
avoid any risk of inadvertent deflation, but can be quickly and easily 
installed as soon as it has to be made operative to prevent theft of the 
vehicle. Device 1 can thus be disconnected from valve 30, which will then 
be covered by its normal plug, thus avoiding the risk of inadvertent 
deflation or damage or even loss of the device if the vehicle is 
frequently used by its owner. Device 1 can also be easily and quickly 
installed in place of the normal valve plug when the vehicle is stationary 
and device 1 has to be made operative to prevent theft of the vehicle. 
Valve 30 in known manner comprises a substantially cylindrical body 31 of 
revolution around an axis 30 and a closure means 33 co-operating with a 
seat 34 of body 31 to seal valve 30. Consequently the orifice 7 blocked by 
the movable closure means is the orifice of valve 30. Closure means 33 is 
permanently returned to the valve closure position by the air pressure at 
the inside 35 of the air-chamber pump. When means 33 is moved towards the 
interior 35 so as to release seat 34, air can escape through valve 30. At 
its free end, valve body 31 has an external thread 36 for securing the 
ordinary plug of valve 30. 
Device 1 has an external casing 37 forming an inner bore of revolution 38. 
The removable connecting means 39 comprise jaws 40 sliding inside bore 38 
of casing 37 to form a chuck. Casing 37 bears lock means 41 which can be 
constructed in various known manners (mechanical, electronic, etc). The 
lock means 41 co-operate with jaws 40 so as to actuate them and lock the 
jaws against valve body 31, and also co-operate with a push rod 42. 
Advantageously means 41 are also used for temporarily locking the device 
connected to the valve and preventing it from being disconnected from the 
valve when the device is operative. 
In a first variant, the removable connecting means or chuck 39 comprise an 
internal thread on bore 38 of casing 37 co-operating with external grooves 
on jaws 40. Jaws 40 are pivoted at their free end and co-operate with a 
frusto-conical surface of bore 38. Consequently the resulting chuck can be 
tightened or loosened simply by rotating jaws 40 relative to casing 37. In 
that case, the lock means 41 are used for securing jaws 40 with respect to 
casing 37, thus temporarily preventing the jaws from being loosened. 
In a second possible variant (not shown), the lock means 41 directly 
control the motion of jaws 40 and consequently the locking and unlocking 
thereof with respect to the valve body 31. 
The inner surface 43 of jaws 40 forming the chuck is shaped so that a 
monobloc plug 44 for closing the valve can slide axially. Plug 44 is the 
means for automatically deflating the wheel when the device is operative 
and the vehicle is moving. For this purpose, plug 44 is in the form of a 
cap and comprises a pin 45 extending from the end 46 of plug 44 
substantially along axis 31 of valve 30 and towards the interior 35 so as 
to co-operate with closure means 33 and open valve 30. Plug 44 also has a 
cylindrical skirt 47 of revolution around axis 37 and extending from the 
plug end 46 towards the interior. The dimensions of skirt 47 are such that 
it can be pressed against the free end of valve 30 via a joint 48 for 
sealing the connection between valve 40 and plug 44. 
The aforementioned push-rod 42 when actuated by the lock means 41 
co-operates with the end 46 of plug 44 so as to press plug 44 against 
valve 30. The end 46 of plug 44 has radial dimensions greater than those 
of skirt 47, thus forming a ring 49 co-operating with the inner surface 43 
of jaws 40. Consequently, skirt 47 of plug 44 is not in contact with the 
inner surface 43 of jaws 40. 
The monobloc closure plug 44 is thus used to close the valve and the means 
45 for moving closure means 33 to the position for opening valve 30. Plug 
44 is also used for automatically deflating the tire. To this end, skirt 
47 is formed with at least one orifice 50 through which air can escape to 
the exterior. Plug 44 also comprises movable means 51 for closing each 
orifice 50. The movable closing means are not shown in FIG. 2 but are 
shown in detail in FIG. 3. 
Plug 44 preferably has a number of orifices 50 disposed radially in various 
directions relative to the valve axis 32, and regularly distributed around 
axis 32. Preferably, plug 44 has three orifices disposed at 120.degree. 
intervals round the periphery of skirt 47. 
Movable means 51 for closing each orifice 50 preferably comprise a piston 
52 sliding in orifice 50 and having sealing means 54, inter alia a 
circular sealing joint, at its outer end 52. Piston 52 is free to move 
outwards but is returned to the interior to its closure position by return 
means 55, inter alia comprising a spiral spring wound around piston 52 
between an abutment 56 on the inner end 57 thereof and a construction 58 
of orifice 50 at its outer end. 
The outer end 53 of piston 52 is also shaped as a circular abutment so as 
to retain the sealing joint 54 and press it against the constriction 58 on 
orifice 50 under the action of the return spring 55. Piston 52 is made of 
very heavy material. 
The device according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention 
operates as follows: 
When the owner wants to protect his vehicle against theft, he unscrews the 
normal valve plug for inflating one of his wheels and, instead of the 
plug, rigidly connects a device 1 according to the invention to valve 30. 
To this end, he installs device 1 and tightens the jaws 40 of the chuck by 
rotating casing 37 or actuating the lock means 41, which likewise has the 
effect of pressing plug 44 against valve 30 and opening it. 
When the user takes his key out of the lock means 41, the device 1 is 
operative, rigidly connected to valve 30, and adapted to deflate the wheel 
as soon as the vehicle is in motion. The chuck jaws 40 bear on the valve 
body 31 outside the threading at the end of valve 30. It is thus 
impossible to disconnect device 1 from valve 30. 
Valve 30 extends from the wheel substantially horizontally or at a slight 
angle thereto. As soon as the wheel begins to rotate, therefore, a 
centrifugal force is exerted on the respective pistons 52 of at least two 
radial orifices 50 in plug 44. Above a certain speed, the piston is moved 
by the centrifugal force of inertia against the action of spring 55 and 
joint 34 is detached from orifice 50, so that air can travel from the 
valve interior outwards. Since the skirt 47 of plug 44 does not stick to 
the inner surface 43 of jaws 40, and since jaws 40 do not provide a 
hermetic connection to the valve, air can freely escape to the exterior 
through the free space 59 formed between skirt 47 and surface 43 and via 
jaws 40, and the wheel is very quickly deflated. 
In a variant, the control means, which can be independent of the temporary 
securing means, are used to actuate or inactivate the device 1. this 
requires two locking devices, one for securing the jaws 40 against valve 
body 31, and the other for moving the push rod 42 and thus opening valve 
30 and pressing plug 44 against it. 
In a third preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, 
the weight of the movable closing and deflating means varies depending on 
whether the device is operative or inoperative. 
At least when the device is operative, the weight of the movable closure 
means is such that as soon as the vehicle exceeds a given speed V, 
rotation of wheel 3 moves the movable means by centrifugal inertia, 
against the internal pressure of tire 5 and/or the return means. 
When the device is inoperative, the weight of the automatic movable closure 
and deflation means is made to depend on the pressure inside tire 5 and/or 
the power of the return means, so that the movable closure and deflating 
means are kept motionless in the position for closing orifice 7, 
irrespective of the speed of the vehicle. 
The control means 2 comprise means 70 is rigidly connecting an additional 
weight 71 to the movable automatic closing and deflating means 8, so as to 
secure weight 71 to means 8 when the device is actuated, so that means 8 
can be moved by the centrifugal force of inertia when the wheel rotates. 
FIG. 4 shows a first possible variant of the third embodiment of the 
invention. In this variant, the means 70 for connecting weight 79 to the 
movable closure means 72 comprise a lug 73 which can slide under the 
action of the control means 2 so as to penetrate into and through an 
orifice 74 in weight 71 and into an orifice 75 in the valve closing means 
76. 
The transverse dimensions of orifices 74, 75 and closure means 76 are near 
those of lug 73, so that lug 73 secures weight 71 to means 76 when they 
move in the radial direction. 
Device 1 is for installing in place of the original valve. It comprises a 
casing 77 having a part 78 dispose at the outside 79 of the wheel, whereas 
another part 80 forms a projection and extends to the exterior 81 from the 
wheel. Part 80 contains the control means 2 and the connecting means 70, 
inter alia lug 73, which is slidingly guided in part 80. Part 78 comprises 
a weight 71 movable in translation between two retaining springs 82, and 
closure means 76 which is slidingly guided in a blind bore 83 extending in 
the radial direction of the wheel and open towards the exterior. Closure 
means 76 opens into bore 83 on the external side of the wheel, and forms 
sealing means 84 which normally close the bore opening 85. A return spring 
86 urges means 76 into the closing position where it bears against casing 
77 and against a shoulder 87 of bore 83. 
When lug 73 has not engaged in orifices 74 and 75, the weight of the 
movable closure means 72 is small and insufficient, relative to the return 
force of spring 86, for the force of centrifugal inertia to move the 
closure means 76. The wheel therefore cannot deflate. On the other hand 
when weight 71 is connected to closure means 76, the total weight of the 
movable closing means is such that they are moved by the centrifugal force 
of inertia. Accordingly closure means 76 comes loose from closure 85 and 
air can escape through bore 83, which is not sealing-tight, and via the 
free end 88 of projection 80. Lug 73 can move radially in a 
larger-diameter bore in projection 80. It comprises a perpendicular end 
disc which guides it during radial motion. 
In a second variant of the third preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the 
additional weight 71 is connected so that it can move radially relative to 
a push-rod 89 forming part of the control means 2. Weight 71 is inserted 
between two shoulders 90, 91 respectively for engaging weight 71 in or 
releasing it from an orifice 92 in closure means 76. Between the two 
shoulders 90 and 91, the push-rod 89 defines a lug 95 having a smaller 
diameter than the bore 96 of weight 71. The difference in diameters is 
sufficient to enable weight 71 to move radially. In the engaged position 
as shown, weight 71 can move radially under the action of centrifugal 
force. If on the other hand weight 71 is disconnected by removing the 
push-rod assembly 89 from orifice 92, a component 93 secured to casing 77 
slides under the action of a spring 94 into orifice 92 so as to lock it 
and prevent any further motion of closure means 76. Consequently the wheel 
cannot continue to deflate. 
The invention also relates to a wheel 3 comprising an anti-theft device 
according to the invention and preferably of the kind without an air 
chamber. 
Preferably the wheel 3 according to the invention comprises means for 
immovably connecting wheel 3 to the vehicle, inter alia to the hub, and 
actuated by lock or other control means preventing wheel 3 from being 
removed by a person who cannot operate the control means, inter alia a 
person who does not have the key. 
The means for immovably connecting wheel 3 to the vehicle, which thus 
constitute and anti-theft means for wheel 3, are e.g. bars which secure 
wheel 3 to the hub when the lock is actuated. 
The invention can be varied in numerous ways which are clear to the skilled 
addressee.