AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

Abstract: An anti-theft device for motor vehicles with automatic transmission, comprising a housing (10) with a door (12) and a lock (15, 16) to detachably retain the housing (10) around a knob (4) on a gear lever (3) so that a manually actuated locking device (5) on the knob (4) is protected by the housing (10).

Description: An anti-theft device for motor vehicles The invention relates to an anti-theft device for motor vehicles with automatic transmission , comprising a gear lever with a knob and manually actuated locking device arranged on the knob . One object of the invention is to provide an anti-theft device for motor vehicles, said device being substantially independent of the gearbox construction. Another object is to provide an anti-theft device which, without modi- fication or with only slight modification, can be used on vehicles of different makes and models. These objects are achieved with an anti-theft device of the type described in the introduction, the device comp- rising a housing arranged to surround the knob and pro¬ tect the locking device against tampering, the housing being provided with a lock to detachably retain the housing on the knob over the locking device. The housing may be provided with an insert to prevent actuation of the locking device via the housing if the locking device protrudes out of the knob. The housing is suitably provided with a pivotably mounted door, the lock being suitably arranged to lock the door to the main portion of the housing. The housing preferably follows the shape of the knob, its opening or neck being narrower than the main portion of the knob so that, when locked, the housing fits around the knob. Instead of having loose inserts, the housing may be pro¬ vided with permanent formations internally, forming the shoulders or defining corresponding recesses, to prevent actuation of the locking device by tampering with the housing itself. The cross-sectional dimensions of the neck of the housing suitably correspond to the dimensions of the gear lever, and the free edge of said drop-door suitably forms a part of the neck edge. The two main parts of the lock are then mounted on the fixed neck portion of the housing and on the edge of the door, respectively. In this case the main part of the lock (the locking chamber) is suitably mounted on the fixed neck portion of the housing. The actual locking arrangement may in principle consist of a lock such as a padlock, preferably with extra pro¬ tection in the form of a casing permanently attached to the housing. The shackles normally cooperating with the locking chamber are in this case mounted on the inside of the free end of the door and pass on either side of the gear lever when in locking position. The invention will be described by way of example in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows schematically and in perspective, a device according to the invention above a gear lever whose locking device is to be protected. The lower part of the drawing shows a gearbox 1 with a slot 2 along which a gear lever 3 is displaced to set the various operating positions for the gearbox. The upper part of the lever 3 is provided with a knob 4 with a locking device 5 at the top, in the form of a depressable actuating button. The locking device 5 normally prevents displacement of the lever 3 along the slot 2 in the gear¬ box 1, but permits movement when depressed. The device according to the invention comprises a housing 10 in the form of a box or container, open at the bottom, the neck portion of Which has smaller dimensions than the main part of the container 10. The container 10 has a door 12 which can be flapped out on a hinge 13 to the position indicated by 12'. The housing 10 is provided with a casing 14 on the out¬ side, which protects and retains a locking block, the key of which is shown schematically in the drawing. This locking block is normally arranged to cooperate with two shackles 16 mounted on the door 12 so that when the door is lowered the shackles will be inserted into the locking block and secured there. The distance between the shackles 16 is suitably fitted to the diameter of the lever 3 to pass on either side of this, thus making it more difficult to remove the housing 10 from the knob 4. As illustrated schematically in the drawing, the housing may be provided internally with a strip 20 to establish a gap between the locking device 5 and the neighbouring wall of the housing, in order to prevent actuation of the lock¬ ing device via the adjacent wall. The hinge 13 is suitably hidden to prevent accessibility from the outside. The housing 10 is suitably manufactured from sheet metal of expedient thickness and strength. The housing 10 may be provided externally with an esthetically attractive cover. The housing 10 may be shaped to take knobs 4 pertaining to various makes and models of vehicle and inserts can be inserted in a "basic" housing of this type, in order to offer a better fit to the shape of the relevant knob 4, and especially with the object of making any actuation of the locking device 5 via an adjacent wall of the housing more difficult when the housing is fitted on the knob 4. If so desired, the cross-sectional shape of the housing may be adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the knob 4 in order to prevent rotation of the housing about the knob 4, about the lever-shaft 3. A specific embodiment of the invention has been described above. However, it should be obvious that many modifica¬ tions are possible within the scope of the present inven¬ tion.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. An anti-theft device for motor vehicles with automatic transmission, comprising a gear lever (3) with a knob (4) and manually actuated locking device (5) to prevent lever movement, c o m p r i s i n g a housing (10) arranged to surround the knob (4) and protect the locking device (5) against tampering, the housing (10) being provided with a lock (15, 16) to detachably retain the housing (10) over the knob (4) and locking device (5) . 2. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1, w h e r e i n the housing (10) is provided with a pivot¬ ably mounted door (12) , the lock being arranged to lock the door to the main portion of the housing (10) . 3. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, w h e r e i n the housing (10) is provided internally with bosses or recesses to prevent tampering with the locking device (5) via adjacent walls of the housing. 4. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, w h e r e i n the door has a free edge opposite the hinge, said edge defining a part of the neck of the housing, the main parts (15, 16) of the lock being mounted on the fixed neck portion of the housing and on the edge of the door fitting thereto, respectively. 5. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 4, w h e r e i n the main part (15) of the lock is mounted on the fixed neck portion (11) of the housing (10) .

Inventors: CROSSDAL GERARD, NORDBERG AGNETA, CROSSDAL, GERARD, NORDBERG, AGNETA
Applicants: CROSSDAL GERARD, NORDBERG AGNETA, CROSSDAL, GERARD, NORDBERG, AGNETA
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B60R25
IPC codes: B60R25