Anti-theft device for vehicles or parts of vehicles

Abstract: The anti-theft device (1) according to the invention comprises housing portions (2, 3, 4) for a steering wheel of a vehicle and a lock (5) integral with one of said housing portions (2, 3, 4) to lock the portions (2, 3, 4) themselves in a closed position wherein they define a container (6) for protecting the steering wheel, said housing portions (2, 3, 4) being pivotingly engaged to a same first pivot (7) substantially coaxial with the steering wheel and free to rotate in fan-like manner around the pivot (7) itself between an open position for the insertion and extraction of the device (1) on and from the device and the closed position.

Description: The present invention relates to an anti-theft device for vehicles or parts of vehicles. In particular the subject invention relates to an anti-theft device to be applied to cover the steering wheel of a motor vehicle to prevent the theft thereof or just of its parts, such as the protective device called "air-bag", usually located within the central body of the steering wheel. Known anti-theft devices comprise two distinct half-shells which realise a circular container covering the steering wheel by means of the partial superposition of one in the other. The two half-shells are locked by means of a security lock or even simply by a pivot whereon a key lock is engaged. Application of the anti-theft device to the steering wheel is quite difficult as it requires to compose the container itself by joining the two distinct half-shells which must be manually brought perfectly to collimate before locking the security device. Since the materials involved are meant to prevent breaking and hence have high strength and high specific weight or in any case are constituted by a massive structure, upon mounting or demounting the device they require a considerable effort by the user and they also constitute an element of risk for the safety of the user him/herself in the case of accidental fall of one of the components of the container. Once stored, the device presents substantially identical size to that of the container in operative position with the additional disadvantage of presenting multiple, physically separate parts if it is stored disassembled, i.e. with the two semi-shells not assembled. US 5 782 116 discloses a "anti-theft device for vehicles comprising two housing shells for a steering wheel and a locking integral with one of said shells to lock at least housing shell in a closed position so as to define a protective container for the steering wheel, whereby said housing portions are hinged to a same first pivot substantially coaxial with the steering wheel and free to rotate in fan-like fashion around said pivot between an open position for the insertion and extraction of the device itself on and off the steering wheel and said closed position", which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1. US 5 555 754 discloses "A security device for a vehicle steering wheel, which includes a multi-section rim protection arrangement to shield the rim of the steering wheel. An elogated member is attached to one of the sections for placement across the steering wheel rim, with an extension out from the rim which is long enough to limit rotation of the steering wheel". WO 97/38877 discloses "a lockable steering wheel cover comprises two or more housing portions pivoted together for relative rotation between a first position in which the housing portions cover the steering wheel and a second position in which the housing portions are nested within one another sufficiently to permit mounting the cover on and removing the cover from the steering wheel. A lock allows the housing portions to be releasably locked in the first portion. The aim of the present invention is that of providing an improved anti-theft device, which has limited size once stored and which allows easy and quick mounting and demounting operations on and off the steering wheel. A further aim of the present invention is that of limiting the rotation of the device itself, thereby obtaining a more effective anti-theft device for vehicles. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an anti-theft device is presented as specified in the independent claim. The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention. Embodiments of the present invention, provided purely by way of non limiting example, are described below with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective top view of the device of the present invention illustrated in its entirety; Figure 2 shows a top view of the device of Figure 2; Figure 3 shows a detail of the device of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a side view of the device of Figure 2 according to section III-III; Figure 5 shows a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the device of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a particular embodiment of a detail shown in Figure 3; Figure 7 shows a particular embodiment of a detail shown in Figure 3; and Figure 8 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the device of Figure 2 according to section VIII-VIII. In accordance with the figures of the accompanying drawings, the anti-theft device indicated in its entirety with the reference number 1 in Figure 1, comprises a first portion 2, a second portion 3 and at least an intermediate portion 4 for housing a steering wheel (not shown in the figure) for which the housing portions 2, 3 and 4 define a protective container. The housing portions 2, 3, 4 are pivotingly engaged to the same first pivot 7 having an axis A substantially coinciding, when the device is mounted, with that (not shown in the Figure) of the steering wheel. The portions 2, 3, 4 are free to rotate in fan-like manner around the pivot 7 itself between an open position for the insertion and extraction of the device 1 on and off the steering wheel and a closed position. In the preferred embodiment shown, the intermediate portion 4 is interposed between the first outer portion 2 and the second inner portion 3. Locking means 5 are mounted integral to the first housing portion 2 to lock the portions 2, 3, 4 in a closed position for the device 1, preventing the mutual rotation of the portions 2, 3, 4 themselves. To facilitate the fan-like opening of the housing portions 2, 3, 4 a thruster 8 is provided, mounted between the first portion 2 and the second portion 3. Alternatively, the thruster 8 can comprise a pneumatic spring, or an electromagnet, or an electric motor (not shown). The latter can be supplied power by batteries housed in the same anti-theft device. The thruster 8 comprises an elastic element 9 constituted,according to what illustrated in Figures 2, 4, 5, by a flexing spring 10 having a first extremity 10a connected with the first portion 2 and a second extremity 10b connected with the second portion 3. When mounting the device 1 on the steering wheel, the housing portions 2 and 3 rotate with respect to each other and open in a fan-like manner until reaching the closed position of the steering wheel shown in Figures 1, 2, 5; during this rotation, the flexing spring 10 is loaded. When the device is open, the elastic reaction of the spring 10 favours the folding back in superposition of the housing portions 2, 3 and 4. An arm 11 projecting, in one of its operative positions, with respect to said container 6 is connected to the second housing portion 3 by means of a support element 12 provided with a hinge 13 with respect whereto the arm 11 is pivotingly engaged. With the device 1 mounted on the steering wheel, the arm 11, in its projecting operative position, is able to engage itself in contact with a fixed part of the vehicle, such as the upper part of the dashboard (not shown in the figure), to limit the rotation of the device 1 as a whole. The hinge 13 allows the arm 11 to be folded back partially inside the container 6 in a resting position when the device 1 itself is not mounted on the steering wheel; this advantageously reduces the overall size of the device 1. Two different preferred embodiments of the return means 14 for the arm in projecting position are shown in Figures 6 and 7; such return means 14 have also the task of holding the arm 11 stably within the aforesaid resting position. A second elastic element 15 (see Figure 6) presents a first extremity 15a connected with the arm and a second extremity 15b connected with the support element 12; this elastic element 15 is loaded when the arm 11 assumes the projecting position and consequently tends, by effect of its own elastic reaction, to make the arm 11 assume the folded resting position. In Figure 7, the return means 14 comprise a first magnetic element 16 integral with the support element 12 and consequently also to the second housing portion 3 and a second magnetic element 17 integral to the arm 11. The two magnetic elements 16 and 17 interact magnetically to maintain the arm 11 itself stably in the resting position. To store the device 1 in a minimum size configuration, when it is not mounted on the steering wheel, an open position of the container 6 is provided, wherein the housing portions 2, 3, 4 are enclosed one inside the other in a fan-like manner; the stable maintenance of this open position is assured by the use of a second pivot 18 such as to prevent the mutual rotation of the aforementioned housing portions 2, 3, 4. The second pivot 18, shown in Figure 1 included in the lock means 5 and commanded by the same means 5, having an axis B substantially parallel to the first pivot 7, can translate along the axis B itself to be inserted into openings 19 obtained respectively in each of the housing portions 2, 3, 4. The openings 19 are able to be mutually superimposed in the open position and only in this position is it possible to engage the second pivot 18 simultaneously in each of the openings 19. When the device 1 is in lock position of the steering wheel 1, the second pivot 18 of the lock means 5 blocks the portion 3, getting in the opening 19a made in the same portion 3. For a greater safeness, the opening 19a comprises an reinforcement ring 19b. As shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, alternatively to the second pivot 18, for the stable maintenance of the open position are mounted a third magnetic element 20 integral with the second portion 3 and a fourth magnetic element 21 integral with the first portion 2. These magnetic elements 20 and 21 are situated in such positions as to be able to move into mutual contact upon reaching the open position with the consequent formation of a magnetic joint able to assure the stable maintenance of the open position for the container 6. In order easily to transport the device 1 and to facilitate the insertion and extraction of the device 1 itself on the steering wheel, a grip element 22 is mounted integral with the first housing portion 1. In Figure 1 this grip element 22 is constituted by a handle 23. In order to guarantee an easy mounting of the device 1 on the steering wheel, it is necessary easily and precisely to reach the mutual position of the housing portions 2, 3, 4 wherein the lock means 5 are able to be activated; for this purposes, a strike element 24, integral with the first housing portion 2, is present, which engages with a slot guide 25 obtained in the third housing portion 4 and extends for a circumference sector. The strike element 24 slides within the guide 25 during the fan-like rotation of the housing portions 2, 3, 4 between the closed and the open position of the container 6 and vice versa. The angular extremities of the guide 25 constitute for the mutual rotation of the housing portions 2, 3 and 4, two limit stop points. In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 8, the locking means 105 comprise a second locking pivot 108 which presents an inclined extremity 108a. In the action of closing the anti-theft device 1 on the steering wheel, the second portion 3 with one of its edges 3a makes the second pivot 108 recede by sliding on its inclined extremity 108a. In this way, the anti-theft device is closed with no need to activate the locking means 105 and improving ease of employment. Essentially the locking means 105 are closed with a snap-on action; the lock means 105 must be activated with a key 106 only to open the anti-theft device 1. The invention thus conceived can be subject to numerous modifications and variations, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept according to the claims. Moreover, all components can be replaced with technically equivalent elements. LEGEND 1 anti-theft device 2 first portion (of the anti-theft device) 3 second portion 3a edge of the second portion 4 intermediate portion 5 lock means 6 container 7 pivot 8 thruster 9 elastic element 10 flexing spring 10a first extremity (of the flexing spring) 10b second extremity (of the flexing spring) 11 arm 12 support element 13 hinge 14 return means 15 second elastic element 15a first extremity of the second elastic element 15b second extremity of the second elastic element 16 first magnetic element 17 second magnetic element 18 second pivot 19 openings 19a opening of portion 3 19b reinforcement ring of opening 19a 20 third magnetic element 21 fourth magnetic element 22 grip element 23 handle 24 strike element 25 guide 105 lock means 106 key 108 second pivot 108a inclined extremity of the second pivot

Claims: Anti-theft device (1) for vehicles or parts of vehicles comprising at least two housing portions (2, 3) for a steering wheel and lock means (5; 105) integral with one of said housing portions (2, 3) to lock at least a first (2) and a second (3) housing portion in a closed position wherein said housing portions define a protective container (6) for the steering wheel, said housing portions (2, 3) being hinged to a same first pivot (7) substantially coaxial with the steering wheel and free to rotate in fan-like fashion around said pivot (7) between an open position for the insertion and extraction of the device (1) itself on and off the steering wheel and said closed position, characterised in that it comprises at least a thruster (8) mounted between said first (2) and said second (3) housing portion to bring said housing portions (2, 3) from the closed position to the open position and in that it comprises third magnetic elements (20) integral with the first housing portion (2) and fourth magnetic elements (21) integral with the second housing portion and co-operating with said third magnetic elements (20) to lock said housing portions (2, 3, 4) in correspondence with said open position. Anti-theft device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said thruster (8) comprises at least a first elastic element (9) having a first extremity connected with the first (2) of said housing portions and a second extremity connected with the second (3) of said housing portions. Anti-theft device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that said elastic element (9) comprises at least a flexing spring (10) having a first extremity (10a) connected with the first (2) of said housing portions and a second extremity (10b) connected with the second (3) of said housing portions, said flexing spring (10) being loaded in the closed position. Anti-theft device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises an arm (11) projecting with respect to said container (6) connected to one of said housing portions (2, 3, 4) and engageable in contact with at least a fixed part of the vehicle to limit the rotation of the device. Anti-theft device (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that it comprises a support element (12) integral with one of said housing portions (2, 3, 4), to said support element (12) being pivotingly engaged the arm (11) to allow the arm (11) itself to be folded from an operative position to a rest position. Anti-theft device (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that it comprises return means (14) interposed between said arm (12) and said support (12) of the arm (11) to maintain the arm (11) itself stably in said rest position. Anti-theft device (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that said return means (14) comprise a second elastic element (15) having a first end (15a) connected with the arm (11) and a second extremity (15b) connected with said support element (12). Anti-theft device (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that said return means (14) comprise a first magnetic element (16) integral with any one of the housing portions (2, 3, 4) and a second magnetic element (17) integral with the arm (11), said first (16) and second (17) magnetic element interacting magnetically to maintain the arm (11) itself in said rest position. Anti-theft device (1) according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that said lock means (5; 105) comprise a second pivot (18) having an axis (B) substantially parallel to the first pivot (7) and able to translate along said axis (B) to insert itself in opening (19) obtained respectively in each of said housing portions (2, 3, 4), said openings (19) being able to be mutually superposed in the open position. Anti-theft device (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that said lock means (105) comprise a second pivot (108) provided with an inclined extremity (108a) and co-operating with an edge (3a) of the second portion (3) to allow the snapping closure of the anti-theft device (1) itself without having to activate the lock means (105) themselves. Anti-theft device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises at least a grip element (22) integral with any one of said housing portions (2, 3, 4) to transport the device (1) and facilitate the insertion and extraction of the device (1) itself on the steering wheel. Anti-theft device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises at least a strike element (24) integral with one of said housing portions (2, 3, 4), at least one slot guide (25) extending on one of said housing portions (2, 3, 4) for a circumference sector, said slot guide (25) and said strike element (24) lying on two adjacent housing portions and mutually engaging between said open position and said closed position of the device and vice versa.

Inventors: MAIER WILLI, MAIER, WILLI
Applicants: TAVOLA S P A, TAVOLA S.P.A.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B60R25
IPC codes: B60R25