Abstract:
The invention is a device for locked attachment to the steering wheel of an automobile, attaching to the outer perimeter of a steering wheel at three locations relatively equally spaced apart, covering the central portion of the steering wheel to lock the steering wheel in a stationary position to deter theft of the automobile and to prevent theft of the air bag in the steering wheel.

Description:
NO CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention is a device for locked attachment to the steering wheel of an automobile, attaching to the outer perimeter of a steering wheel at three locations relatively equally spaced apart, covering the central portion of the steering wheel to lock the steering wheel in a stationary position to deter theft of the automobile and to prevent theft of the air bag in the steering wheel. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     The following United States patents were discovered and are disclosed within this application for utility patent. All relate to steering wheel locks and theft deterring devices. These prior art patents are disclosed as follows: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,927 to Wu discloses a steering wheel lock that completely covers the steering wheel of an automobile, the cover having a single U-shaped hook to hook the steering wheel of the automobile at a singular location with the anti-theft rod attaching to the cover through the steering wheel, affixing the device to two locations of the steering wheel. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,076 to Kajuch, a another two point automobile and air bag anti-theft device is disclosed, this device attaching a two locations on the inside of the steering wheel partially covering the steering wheel and the central air bag portion of the steering wheel. The steering wheel is captured within and between an upper plate, a lower plate and a rim, held together by a keyed padlock with a movement preventing rod attached to the upper plate to prevent rotation of the steering wheel encapsulated within the device, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,078 to Harrell. 
     A semi-circular disc is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,122 to Jinn-Fu, the disc having a formed groove with which approximately half of the outer perimeter of the steering wheel is contained and wherein a hooked locking rod is inserted and locked to affix the device on the steering wheel. A compressing two point attaching steering wheel lock is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,464 to Perez, this device having three slidably engaging tubes with a locking rachet and pawl slide rod, compressing the device onto the steering wheel at opposing locations across a diameter of the steering wheel. 
     Two design patents disclose ornamental designs for two point attaching steering wheel locks, these patents disclosed as U.S. Design Pat. No. D 421,891 to Yang and D 411,821 to Markegard, et al. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the invention is to provide a steering wheel lock which attaches to a steering wheel of an automobile at three points on the steering wheel, covering the central portion of the steering wheel preventing removal and theft of the air bag in the central portion of the steering wheel and deterring theft of the vehicle by prevention of rotation. A second objective of the device is the provision of a three point attachment providing a more secure and immovable attachment to the steering wheel as opposed to the two point attaching steering wheel covers of the prior art. In addition, the portion of the device in contact with the outer perimeter of the steering wheel is lined with a friction enhancing material to prevent rotational movement or disengagement of the device once attached to the steering wheel. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following drawings are submitted with this utility patent application. 
     FIG. 1 is a drawing of a steering wheel, showing the center portion containing an airbag. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the device in an unlocked position. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the device in an unlocked position. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the device in an unlocked position in relation to a steering wheel. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the device in a locked position in relation to a steering wheel. 
     FIG. 6 is an underside view of the device in a locked position shown from below the steering wheel. 
     FIG. 7 is a close view of the auxiliary catch flange engaging the steering wheel. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention, as shown in FIGS. 2-7, is a device  10  for locked attachment to an outer perimeter  210  of an automobile steering wheel  200 , as shown in FIG. 1, having a centrally located airbag  240  in a central support  220  of the steering wheel, preventing operation of the vehicle by prohibiting rotation of the steering wheel  200 , and disallowing removal of the centrally located airbag  240 . The device comprises a first tubular shaft  20  attaching to a first steering wheel engaging fin  40  having a curved hook portion  44 , the first tubular shaft  20  having an elongated handle  24 , and an inner receiving portion  28  having an internal lock  30 , a shortened second tubular shaft  60  having an outer threaded portion  64  slidably engaging the inner receiving portion  28  of the first tubular shaft  20 . The second tubular shaft  60  has a pivotally attached second steering wheel engaging fin  80  having a curved hook portion  84  and a pivotally attached third steering wheel fin  100  having a curved hook portion  104 , wherein the curved hook portions  44 ,  84 ,  104  of the first, second and third steering wheel fins  40 ,  80 ,  100  engage the outer perimeter  210  of the automobile steering wheel  200 , and are drawn to a secure tight fit on the steering wheel by sliding the second tubular shaft  60  into the first tubular shaft  20  and engaging the internal lock  30 . 
     More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2-6, the first tubular shaft  20  has a first end  22  having the elongated handle  24  and a second end  26 , having the inner receiving portion  28 . The first steering wheel engaging fin  40 , most preferably, is triangular in shape, having a narrowed end  50  opposing a curved edge  42 , the curved edge  42  including the curved hook portion  44  contoured to the relative shape of the outer perimeter  210  of the steering wheel  200 . The first steering wheel engaging fin  40  has an upper surface  46  and a lower surface  48 , the lower surface  48  being the surface in contact with the steering wheel, and the upper surface  46  permanently attached to the first tubular shaft  20 . The first steering wheel engaging fin  40  is oriented to position the curved hook portion  44  towards the first end  22  of the first tubular shaft  20  with the elongated handle  24  of the first tubular shaft  20  projecting at least a foot beyond the first steering wheel engaging fin  40 , as shown in FIGS. 2-6 of the drawings. 
     The second tubular shaft  60 , as shown in FIGS. 2-6 of the drawings, has a first end  62 , having the outer threaded portion  64 , and a second end  66 . Located near the first end  62  is a pivot hole  70  containing a pivot rivet  72 . The second steering wheel engaging fin  80  and the third steering wheel engaging fin  100  are similar and triangular in shape, having single curved edges  82 ,  102  including the curved hook portions  84 ,  104 , contoured to the relative shape of the outer perimeter  210  of the steering wheel  200 . Each of the second and third steering wheel engaging fins  80 ,  100  have an upper surface  86 ,  106  and a lower surface  88 ,  108 , the lower surface  88 ,  108  being the surface in contact with the steering wheel  200 . Each of the second and third steering wheel engaging fins  80 ,  100  have an angled end  90 ,  110 , opposite the curved hook portion  84 ,  104 . These angled ends  90 ,  110  are pivotally attached to the second tubular shaft  60  by the pivot rivet  72 , with the respective upper surfaces  86 ,  106  of the second and third steering wheel engaging fins  80 ,  110  towards the second tubular shaft  60 . 
     Application of the device to the steering wheel commences by disengaging the internal lock  30  and sliding the first tubular shaft  20  away from the second tubular shaft  60 . The device is then placed on the steering wheel  200  with the lower surfaces  48 ,  88 ,  108  of the first, second and third steering wheel engaging fins against the steering wheel. The respective curved hook portions  44 ,  84 ,  104  of the first, second and third steering wheel fins are oriented to make contact with the steering wheel  200  at three points, such three points as far apart as possible, preferably as “three”, “seven” and “eleven” positions on a clock, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. 
     The outer threaded portion  62  of the second tubular shaft  60  is pushed into the inner receiving portion  28  of the first tubular shaft  20  until the curved hook portions  44 ,  84 ,  104  of the first, second and third steering wheel engaging fins are snug against the outer perimeter  210  of the steering wheel. The internal lock  30  is then engaged, locking the second tubular shaft  60  into the first tubular shaft  20 . Once attached to the steering wheel and locked, the elongated handle  24  extends beyond the outer perimeter  210  of the steering wheel, prohibiting rotation of the steering wheel. The narrowed end  50  of the first steering wheel engaging fin, the angled ends  90 ,  110  of the second and third steering wheel engaging fins, the second end  26  of the first tubular shaft and the first end  62  of the second tubular shaft substantially cover the central portion  220  of the steering wheel  200  when the device is locked onto the steering wheel disallowing access to and removal of the centrally located airbag  240 . 
     In an embodiment of the device, as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, an auxiliary catch flange  120  extends from the lower surface  88  of the second steering wheel engaging fin  80 , forming a crook which captures a portion of the central support  220  of the steering wheel. This auxiliary catch flange  120  provides further security in providing additional prevention of rotation of the device on the outer perimeter  210  of the steering wheel once engaged and locked on the steering wheel  200 . 
     An additional embodiment of the device may include lining the lower surface  48 ,  88 ,  108  of the first, second and third steering wheel engaging fins, and their respective curved hook portions  44 ,  84 ,  104  with a rubberized friction enhancing material providing additional resistance to rotation of the device engaged and locked onto the steering wheel  200 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.