A VEHICLE ROAD WHEEL LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract: A vehicle road wheel locking device comprising a cylindrical support (10) having a first jaw member (16) rigidly secured to one end. A second jaw member (22) is supported by the other end of the support (10) to be axially slidable and rotatable thereto. Each jaw member includes a jaw (24, 26) extending generally transversely of the support (10). One or both jaws (24, 26) terminates in a projection (28, 30). The clasp (44) of a padlock (46) can be located within holes (42) in the support and the second jaw member (22) to lock the second jaw member (22) relative to the support (10) with both jaws (24, 26) extending in the same plane thereby enabling the device to be secured axially across the periphery of a tyre and wheel assembly with each projection (28, 30) of the jaws engaging opposite sides of the wheel rim preventing withdrawal of the device.

Description: Λ VEHICLE ROAD WHEEL LOCKING DEVICE 5 The present invention relates to a vehicle road wheel locking device particularly, but not exclusively, for motor vehicles. There have been many proposals over the years for vehicle road wheel locking devices which are intended 10 to be fitted to a vehicle by the owner to prevent its theft or other unauthorised removal. Two such proposals in which a vehicle road wheel is prevented or restrained from rotation by a device which is clamped across the ■ * * diameter or some other chord of the wheel with a chock or other projection adapted to engage the ground, are in Australian Patent Applications 91036/82 and 14213/83. Both these devices are relatively complex assemblies which are believed to have been designed as such in order to put off professional car thieves. There have been fewer proposals for a vehicle road wheel locking device which is intended to be used by a council or other car parking controlling authority to prevent or dissuade unauthorised parking of vehicles. Thus, where a vehicle is parked by the owner without the correct authority, the controlling body may lock one of the vehicle wheels to prevent the owner driving the vehicle away without, for example, paying a suitable fine. Accordingly, in these circumstances the wheel locking device need not be of a complicated nature since the intention-of its use is primarily to cause annoyance and deterrence and most owners are unlikely to attempt to drive away with the device attached or to seriously attempt to remove the device without permission. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle road wheel locking device which may be simple in construction and use and yet effective in providing a deterrent factor. According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle road wheel locking device comprising an elongate cylindrical support member, a first jaw member extending generally transversely of the support member and rigidly secured to one end portion thereof, a second jaw member comprising a boss co-axially supported on the support member to be rotatable and axially slidable thereon, the boss having a jaw extending generally transversely therefrom, and securing means to lock the boss at a desired position along the support member with the jaw extending substantially in the same plane as the first jaw member, and wherein at least one -? 3 < 0 ) er rr φ TJ 0 ) z rr O 0> > to TJ TJ CT Hi cr 0> o. rr 0 ) H « 0 ) to oi to 3 * 3 rt h*- tr O rr rr to, 3 «-. Φ 0 o Φ rr h*- O Ω 3 rr tr Φ XX O rt to rr tr < XX φ rt to rt Hi rt <; Φ in¬ TI a fit L-I. to 0 ) to O 01 0 ) ■ < tn- 0 ) r-- Hi tr 0 Φ rt to * o 0i XX Φ Hi l-n 1— • n rt 3 iQ φ TJ Z rr Oi Φ Φ to to 3 H- tr* 01 o> X to Ω H ' I-* rr Φ 3 3 * ø 3 * LJ. 0 ) rt to rr i Φ tn rr H* rr O to. *< J 01 0> 3 rr Φ to Φ P tn to h* H* 1-* rr Φ 0 ) er H* z in¬ t Oi iQ Φ Φ rt to to rr ø O rt O Z in¬ Oi 1-' tr o «. to to O ι_ι. Φ 3 ex, *< h* 0> rr rt to tr 3 h*- tr to 1—' to 3 to h* LJ. 0 ) O rr rr 0 ) O TT to to to to Z o *< h*- to Φ Ω P Hi to Z er 3 X to tr to in¬ o rt O 0 er to Ω Φ to O π O 0 1-* tr* Φ tn- to, Hi fit 0» tr* O n¬ 3 h" Φ 3 *< to rr 3 tr* Hi o tn- to to to * P in rt er < 3 Ω z H* rr *< 3 rr fit * * » TJ rr 01 l- i TJ rr Φ 3 Φ L-I. 3 * 3 ct O **» rr 3 * to to rt tr 3 H cr 0 o rt 01 3 Φ tn P h*- Φ tr 3 tn- tr X 0 ) rr in o to Oi tr h* P H* rt en to to fit to ~- rr to to tn- rr rr LJ. o> to * X er en Φ rt tr 3 tn fit rr 3 * O ts Φ o rr tn- 0 ) tr er P 3 01 Q. tn rt cr to ex* 3 * rr Φ 3 to O Hi 3 * 0 ) fit 3 in¬ to rr H « φ O to φ P rt tr to ex. tr Φ to rr 01 3 to, in¬ to rt rt h* Oi Hi 3 0» O Ω cr Φ < rt to 0) m- rt rr Φ < to, tr fit *< Φ tn- Φ oi Hi φ 3 o tn- 0 ) TJ TJ O o rr 0 ) ot h*- er ø φ tn r— O Hi to -S o> J rt rt 3 fit h- Φ 3 tn- 3 O O to O 0 ) en rr rr to 01 rr J O O to, rr rt rr rr * 3 H x, Hi h" Φ rr * 0 LJ. < 0 ) oι O Φ CT z ex, in¬ 3 * Z tr* It Φ h" 3 X 3 O iQ tn- rt to, rr er rr tr to to Φ Φ tn- er to rr Ω Q, Oi tr 0 ) rt Φ to ex, P O tr *< tr to Hi 3 tr* *< 0 ) rr to to *< at rt rt to to 0 ) to H- O Oi l_J. h* in 3 in- to, rr to Ω rr Hi rt ftl cr • I-* 3 Hi 01 CT er Φ O 3" h* er tr 3 * H- er cr Z tr L . φ rr Z z er tr 3 3 rr Φ to o 0> rr rr tr* 0 tr to 01 er to Oi Φ tr to to O er 3" rt rr rr O to rr to X to o 3 in¬ 3 3 to rr Φ ω 01 ex. Φ tr to Z <: er to Φ 0* Z Φ rt O C ι-3 Oi H* Oi J fit r- tr 3 TJ Φ *< rr tr 3 Oi tr ex, TJ tr LJ. 0 rr • rt 3 0 • α> Φ rt rt 3" er Φ to TJ 0 ) o in¬ TJ to P Hi Φ o. Hi to 3 φ er Φ α> to XX to rt er < to O to 3 < I- 1 cr Hi H- tr X rt P tr* O P Φ rr H to, ct rr Φ > Φ 3 rr Φ φ 3 to TJ rr tn o> L-I. er rt 0i rr in¬ 01 3 * Φ 3 o 3 * rt rt rt rt Φ rr rt Φ in I-* 3 to σ * Φ 0. to rr 3 Φ I— to rt O Z 01 3 3 * Φ H « Ω in¬ Ω 3 rr tr* 01 1 3 Φ rt tr Ω Oi fit « 3 rr rr to Φ Φ 0> to X 3 rr Oi 0 ) ι_ι. z Oi ex, to rr to to ^ tn- 3 * 3 3 tr O in¬ 0* σ 0> 0> tr at to h*- to Φ cr in¬ er Ω rt to rr to 3 rt z 3 in¬ rr rt h* to rr fit rr 3 tr to to Φ O to Hi fit 0 ) < to O to O 3 * Z at rt * Φ fit XX to 3 tr rr rt Z J Φ in¬ 0 to cr 01 X to to H* Φ Oι tr O in- rt fit It to to x, P 3 Φ Ω fit rr rr < 3 i ¬ ct 0 ) 3 o rt o to tn- Hi φ rr Ω in Φ o rr φ er to 01 < h- to, L-I. h* to Hi φ O in 3 rt O to to 3 φ 3 01 0> ω φ to tn- Oi z tot 3 to to, *< 01 rt TJ 3 Ω to to g 3 rr P to o 1 t o< rr rr O in¬ 3 0 O σ 3 * to 3 o rr tr tn- Hi to o a tr* Φ tr a < o to to 3 rr rr 0 ) *< 0 ) ti rr 3" rr *< • φ Φ Φ The securing means may comprise an opening transversely through the support member with which a pin engagable by the slidable mounting of the second jaw member can be located and secured. In one embodiment, the slidable mounting of the second jaw member has a corresponding opening which can be aligned with the opening through the support member to receive the clasp of a padlock therethrough. Most advantageously, an array of such openings are provided along the length of the support member whereby the locking device can be correctly secured on vehicle road wheels of different width. The device may be formed of metal or any other rigid, stout material, including some plastics. The jaw members are inclined towards the other to ensure that there is sufficient space between the jaw members to accommodate a tyre on the wheel when the or each projection engages the wheel rim. A similar arrangement may be .provided by an enlarged recess in the surface of the or each jaw member facing the other jaw member. One embodiment of a vehicle road wheel locking device in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 a front perspective view of the device including a lock; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the device shown fitted to a vehicle road wheel but with the padlock removed; Figure 3 is an end view of the device; and Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view from the rear. The vehicle road wheel locking device illustrated in the drawings comprises an elongate support bar 10 of stout construction and formed of, for example, steel or other alloy. The support bar 10 is shown as of circular cross-section. Rigidly secured to one end 12 of the support bar is a sleeve member 14 from which a first jaw member 16 extends generally transversely of the support bar 10. The first jaw member 16 may be integrally formed with the sleeve member 14 or, for example, may be welded thereto. The sleeve member 14 may be rigidly secured to the one end of the support bar by welding or, for example, by a grub screw or other locking pin. However, it is important to ensure that such a grub screw or locking pin cannot be readily removed from the device to enable separation of the first sleeve member from the support bar by owners of vehicles to which the • device is fitted. Slidably mounted on the opposite end portion 18 of the support bar 10 for movement towards and away from the first sleeve member 14 is a boss 20 having a second jaw member 22 extending generally transversely of the support bar 10. The second jaw member 22 may be formed integrally with the boss 20 or, for example/ may be welded thereto. In the embodiment illustrated with the support bar 10 of circular cross-section, the boss 20 is rotatable about the support bar to assist location, but in use, the first and second jaw members 16 and 22 extend in substantially the same plane. At the ends 24 and 26 respectively, remote from the sleeve members, the first and second jaw members have respective lateral projections 28 and 30 which are directed generally towards each other and which define recessed portions 32 and 34 of the jaw members with the » C_ to to * H Ul o Ul o Ul O Ul rr to LJ. 01 o j- tr* er TJ 3 0 ) ex, in o to Ω fit 3 * TJ P 3 to Z rr rr cr O P « rt ^ - ^ to 3 * tr* 0> φ TJ 4- an to o P « rt m- to TJ zr 0 to 0 ) rt ø Φ to tr tr o tr Hi 01 o 01 p Φ to z Ω Φ It o. rt 01 H ' Φ o 3 to < Φ o. 3 < to to o> Q> zr TJ t to o 3 O 0 ) 0 ) rr o. 0> 3 Φ 3 Z < o P « < φ er to to 01 rr rr 0> Oi o TJ Φ < 3 3 P « Hi 3 Ω P « P» * φ Ω P « ts Φ 3 3 Φ rt to rt h* X P 3 * rt o rr to to O 3 Oi Ω o φ rr rr 3 3 3 iQ 3 3 It • tr er rr Φ H z 3 1 * 1 3 * 3 iQ 0 ) o 3 o rt Φ iQ P « P- o rr Φ tr to in 3 * 0 ) tr rr rt 3 ef LJ. to 3 o l-h in¬ Oi 3 Φ a 0i 01 I— 1 0 ) to rr Φ i-l. 3 to P- o to to 0> 0* TI to 3 tr* Hi to 3 0> rr rr σ. m hi P- 01 0 ) iQ to 3 cr P 3 rt X 3 0 ) o CO 0 ) 01 o O rr rr rr rr «: tr tr 3 Oi Z Φ P" 0 ) XX er Oi to, Oi rr TJ h* 3 h2 3 * * Φ *< i tn- tr Ct to rt rr Φ Oi ι-3 Ω rt tr to I- 1 3 h* to 0 ) rr * Φ Φ rr tr Φ *< Oi rt 3 to rr 0 ) tr P « P « < 3 3" rr 3 * rt en to 01 o rr tr Φ it 0 ) 3 * to Φ rr 3 * tn to L-I. 3 0 ) P* to rr Φ O 0 ) p i tn- . 3 Φ to to Φ to rr TJ O Φ Oi P « r o In- Φ 0» P 1 Ω 3 o P* o to to er h* 7? tr Oi rt 01 fa¬ φ Hi rt ox it 3 *< 0 rt tS rr in z (_ i Φ er i er 3 a* to o φ P rt it Φ to 0 ) Ω Hi ex, XX Z 3 * 3 3 ^< to er 0 ) to TJ > H to •f- z er o TJ φ rr 0 ) rr to Z i cr to tr Φ fit 3 ex, Ω rt to rr ex. h z*- it z rr σι 3 to Hi TJ tn P 3 3 * 0 tn- P* tr iQ It to to h* to rr 01 Φ in o rr O tr < to to cr o rt * t ø tS 3 at rt Hi to tr* 3 X O 3 CO l- it a> rr 3 * < in¬ 1 to to, 3 h i ¬ Z Z It tr * . Φ fit o x, XX Φ Φ rr h* o er r rr to o Oi ex rr P- tn- to to 0 ) ts to tr rr t 01 rt P to Oi ex, 0 ) o rr 3 TJ a> at 0 ) er « 3 P Φ 3 to* r tr 0 ) 0 ) •* to to «t iQ in • to rr 3 * rt iQ it π a> I- 1 to iQ rt Oi to fit rr TJ ~1 3 rt er Φ «- *_ 3 * H o < Φ Φ Φ P* Φ o 1— - Φ TJ Φ z to, n TJ Φ cr P « φ 01 X to * Φ P tn- It 3 3 rt LJ. t ^ P •-3 it rt Oi P- zr to Φ 01 π Φ iQ rr er rt er S3 Φ ct to 01 i Φ to Oi n 3 * O P- in¬ rr 3 Oi rr P 3 * *< to rr O 3" < Z to Z P Φ 0 ) TJ Ω P* Φ to Φ r * r l_l. er 3 to O 3 Oi P Φ rt Φ tr* 3 ø Hi P- Φ 0 ) «• in¬ It < 3 rt rr ø> 01 3 to, * φ *< Φ zr I P Ω Φ «t X Φ z O it Ω It to, Φ in¬ Oi o P « Oi Ω Ω 01 0 ) Ω 01 Φ ø P en Φ rt Hi tr 01 O l- i 3 * 3 Oi rr rr to LJ. O (_ P- X 3 * 3 rr cr oi σ. 3 in¬ rr P « to tr* P « to 01 P o Φ 3" 3" rr to 0 ) Φ 3 J o o tr o P- tr P- 01 to It 4- 3 rt to 3 Hi XX 3 Ω 3 *< Φ 3 * Oi Ω rr 3 01 to it rr O to 3 • s I P 0> 0 Φ O to, tn- 01 lr* ex, rt tr iQ 0i σ rr 0> o LJ. rr CO Φ φ it rr 3 * 3 zr rt rr P o. Φ tS rr in o P* 3 Φ rr LJ. 3 * rr Hi fit P* o 0- rr φ Φ Φ ex, r*Zl to Φ Φ rr 01 0. P « 3 rr rr rt O 0> 0 ) to o 3 * rr rt to a> P- to to cn 3 to, fit o 3 tr P er Z Z - 3 0 ) rr to 3 Z π * Φ 3 * 01 CO < iQ P 1 rr •t- TJ Oi rr fit 3 Hi fit to to, to to 0> tr 0 tr o Φ TJ 0 ) in¬ P 3" z 00 01 3 * to Oi rr TJ in- O ft 3 rr < to er to P* o rr o 3 * Φ 00 P> o P rt t z it to n rt 0> in- Ω 4- it tr Oi 3 * TJ in tS o> O to r O Φ Hi to Φ P « rr cr P* P- to to to 01 P* Φ 1 P 0» P- 3 * 01 3 ' Φ tr Z rr φ < er Φ to LJ. π 3 tr 3 3 P to* Φ Hi o TJ h* P- 0 ) cr in¬ tr 3 * Z Φ to Ω to Φ 01 rr (- t rr iQ rr XX Ω Hi O X TJ lr* iQ 01 φ Φ . Z to to Φ tr rr it rt Φ P 1 Ω tr rt •_ ^ CO tr cr rr o tr tr* o Φ J P- 0 *< 3 0 ) rt ■ tr * to in¬ 3 * P- 01 rr to . φ to tr 3" Hi in- 3 rt TJ 3 it Φ 0 ) Ω 01 to to * Z to Φ P- to 01 Ω P « TJ o to Φ rt 01 rt tS to. Φ o 0 ) rr to to, tr to • 0 tr φ in¬ o o rt LJ. 0 ) Hi 0J to O Φ tr to 3 to rr TJ to, * tr* it to O to, Oi < 3 o 0 ) Ω 3 1-* o 01 3 Ω to n t-j. rr P* Φ cr 0* Z P* o σι o to to rr rr to Φ Φ LJ. Z Ω 0 ) Oi 0 ) TJ Φ P «• 0 ) er tr* 0 ) Ω P « 01 rr H 0> h* X 3 * 3" Hi rt CO Φ O tn φ Ω rr rt 0 ) t Φ er 3 3 * 0i P* Oi rr Φ Φ o P* o Ω 3 3 < ΓT TJ 3 o ør Φ P- rr z z to *< I in¬ to, 3 * Φ Φ 3 3 to, Φ rt Hi 3 P « rr to 3 Φ > tn- 3 to P- 3 * 3 to, to CT H rr t Oi z in¬ 3 X Φ 01 φ P « 3 o * -t O 3 Oi rr iQ Φ to er 3 tr o 0 ) t *: tr to to, LJ. tr rr Oi 3 O er a P « Φ Hi XX Hi tr 3 3 tr Oi to • P- 0 ) to P « to to to 0 ) m 3 * P 01 3 to 01 ex P* to Φ Ω er in Ω 01 to l- i to Z to Φ cr to C rt rr I-* co rr » * *- rt 0- tr* to 0 ) h* P 1 rr i > to rt O Φ to CO tr O 01 fit It 3 ι-3 h* 01 O Qi Φ o P- Oi to rr to 01 0 ) tr rt er 01 cr> • TJ to Φ to padlock 46 can be properly received as shown in Figure 1, and may not be necessary. However the cut-out 48 may present access to the hasp 44 by bolt-cutters or similar devices and may also facilitate alignment 'of the apertures 40 and 42. A further aperture 40 and cut-out 48 may be provided in the second sleeve member 20 at a spacing from the first aperture 40 different to the spacing between apertures 42 to provide finer adjustment of the jaw members. Although not shown in the drawings the axis of the opening 40 may be off-set from perpendicular with the plane of the second jaw member 22 and, likewise, the axes of the apertures 42 through the support bar 10 may be off-set to the same extent from the plane of the first jaw member 16. This off-setting may facilitate engagement of the padlock 46 in use of the device-. Advantageously,, the jaw members are coated with a material such as a polyamide which will limit abrasion of the wheel by the device in use. The projections 28 and 30 are preferably of a relatively narrow profile so that they may be accommodated in the usual cut-outs in a modern alloy wheel disc (not shown). Various modifications may be made to the wheel locking device illustrated in the drawings within the scope of the present invention. For example, only one of the jaw members need be provided with a projection and this may have a different shape to that illustrated in the drawings. Furthermore, the securing means to lock the jaw members at a desired spacing from each other may be built into the support bar or second sleeve member to replace the padlock 46. Additionally it may be advantageous to have means of opening the device in the case where, for example, a key to the lock is not available, but which means is not readily available to the user of a vehicle on which the device is locked, and one manner of attending to this is to fasten the first sleeve member 14 to the support bar 10 by an adhesive such as epoxy resin which breaks down if heated sufficiently. Further modifications and variations will be envisaged by the skilled man in the art following a reading of this specification, and all such modifications should be considered as falling within the scope of the present invention.

Claims: THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:- 1. A vehicle road wheel locking device comprising an elongate cylindrical support member, a first jaw member extending generally transversely of, the support member and rigidly secured to one end portion thereof, a second jaw member comprising a boss co-axially supported on the support member to be rotatable and axially slidable thereon, the boss having a jaw extending generally transversely therefrom, and securing means to lock the boss at a desired position along the support member with the jaw extending substantially in the same plane as the first jaw member, and wherein at least one of the jaw members has a projection at or adjacent its remote end which extends towards the other jaw member whereby, when the device is locked onto a vehicle tyre and wheel assembly with the support member extending axially across the periphery of the assembly and the jaw members extending on opposite axial sides of the wheel assembly towards the axis of the wheel, said at least one projection restrains withdrawal of the device from the tyre and wheel assembly. 2. The device according to Claim 1 wherein each of the jaw members has a projection at or adjacent its remote end which extends towards the other projection. 3. The device according to Claim 2 wherein each jaw member is coated with a suitably durable, non-abrasive plastics or rubber. 4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the securing means comprises a pin locatable through a pair of co-axially spaced holes on the boss of the second jaw member and through one of an array of holes spaced axially along the support member. 5. The device according to Claim 4 wherein the pin is the clasp of a padlock. 6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support member is a solid rod with an array of axially spaced holes each extending diametrically through the rod. 7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the jaw members are inclined towards each other to ensure that there is sufficient space between the jaw members to accommodate a tyre on the wheel when the or each projection engages the rim of the wheel. 8. The device according to claim 6 wherein the support member comprises a length of metal rod and the first jaw member comprises a cylindrical boss welded co-axially onto one end of the support member with a jaw welded to the exterior of the boss to extend transversely of the support member. 9. A vehicle road wheel locking device substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: HOPPER WILLIAM ROBB, KELSO RICHARD MALCOLM, RUSSELL-HEAD DAVID STEPHEN, HOPPER, WILLIAM, ROBB, KELSO, RICHARD, MALCOLM, RUSSELL-HEAD, DAVID, STEPHEN
Applicants: PARKER DAVID HENRY, THORNTON COWAN JAMES, COWAN, JAMES, THORNTON, PARKER, DAVID, HENRY
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B60R25
IPC codes: B60R25