Abstract:
An anti-theft device for preventing unauthorized use of an automobile by prohibiting rotation of the steering wheel. The device including first and second telescopic members with a lock for securing the members in an extended locked condition. The device further including opposing hooks for engaging the rim of the steering wheel and at least one stand off element for spacing the telescoping members from the rim.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to the art of anti-theft devices for automobiles, and more particularly to a steering wheel lock for preventing the unauthorized use of an automobile by prohibiting rotation of the steering wheel when the steering wheel lock is in the installed position.  
         INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
         [0002]    The present invention prevents unauthorized use of an automobile by selectively lockingly engaging the rim of the steering wheel and by including a blocking member that extends radially beyond the rim of the steering wheel. Such anti-theft devices are well known in the art and are generally shown and described in Wu U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,047 and Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,308. These patents are incorporated by reference herein as background information illustrating steering wheel locks which mount diametrically across the rim of the steering wheel and include a portion extending radically beyond the same adapted to block rotation of the steering wheel.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    It is, of course, well known that a device which selectively prevents rotation of a steering wheel is an effective theft deterrent. However, preventing unauthorized rotation of a steering wheel can be accomplished in many ways. In this respect, as is shown in Liou U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,201, disclosed is a device which interengages the steering wheel at generally one location and includes a handle member that extends radially beyond the rim of the steering wheel to prevent rotation. Fuller U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,823 also discloses a steering wheel lock which engages the steering wheel at generally one point. However, this device includes a handle tangent to the rim at the point of engagement. Pazik U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,308 discloses a steering wheel lock which engages the hub of the steering wheel. Other devices, as with the present invention, include opposing hooks connected to each of two telescoping engaging elongated members that mount diametrically across the rim of the steering wheel.  
           [0004]    The problem with steering wheel locks which mount diametrically across the rim of the steering wheel is that steering wheels which include air bags can have a steering hub which extends laterally beyond the rim of the steering wheel. Furthermore, the hub of the steering wheel typically includes the horn mechanism of the vehicle. As a result, steering wheel locks, such as shown in Wu and Johnson, can be difficult to install due to the obstruction formed by the outwardly extending steering hub and can often activate the vehicle&#39;s horn inadvertently during installation. Further, these diametrical steering wheel locks may not fit some steering wheels.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In accordance with the present invention, an improved steering wheel lock is provided which advantageously attaches to virtually all steering wheels even though it mounts diametrically across the rim of the steering wheel. Further, the steering wheel lock according to the present invention reduces the likelihood of inadvertently activating the vehicle&#39;s horn during installation of the anti-theft device on the steering wheel. In this respect, a steering wheel lock according to the present invention provides clearance between the telescoping members and the steering wheel hub when the steering wheel lock is in the installed position even though the steering wheel lock mounts diametrically to the steering wheel rim. Further, even though clearance is provided between the telescoping members and the steering wheel hub, the diametrically mounted steering wheel lock still prevents theft of the air bag system mounted within the steering wheel hub by partially covering the hub.  
           [0006]    The foregoing advantages are achieved in accordance with the present invention by spacing the rim engaging hooks from the telescoping members. In this respect, a stand off is provided between each of the wheel rim engaging hooks and the corresponding telescoping member. Further, the stand off can be configured to provide additional hook portions to allow the diametrically mounted steering wheel lock to be mounted in multiple positions providing adjustment in the spacing between the rim engaging hooks and the telescoping members.  
           [0007]    It is accordingly an outstanding object of the present invention to provide an improved diametrically mounted steering wheel lock that produces clearance between the steering wheel hub and the telescoping members of the steering wheel lock.  
           [0008]    A further object is the provision of a steering wheel lock of the foregoing character which easily allows adjustment of the clearance between the telescoping members and the steering wheel hub.  
           [0009]    Another object is the provision of a steering wheel lock of the foregoing character that can be easily installed and uninstalled on the rim of a steering wheel.  
           [0010]    Still another object is the provision of a steering wheel lock of the foregoing character that maintains protection of the air bag system within the steering wheel hub while providing clearance between the hub and the telescoping members of the steering wheel lock.  
           [0011]    Yet another object is the provision of a steering wheel lock of the foregoing character which is economical to manufacture and is an effective theft deterrent device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The foregoing objects, and others, will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out more fully hereinafter in conjunction with the written description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the accompanied drawings in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the steering wheel lock in accordance with the present invention shown in an installed position on a steering wheel rim;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a top view of the steering wheel lock shown in FIG. 1 which is shown in the installed position;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an end view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 1 showing a first lock mechanism;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 1 further showing the first lock mechanism;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the steering wheel lock in accordance with the present invention having a second lock mechanism;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is an end view taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 6;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 6 further showing the second lock mechanism;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 6 further showing the second lock mechanism;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the steering wheel lock shown in FIG. 1 having a third lock mechanism;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of FIG. 10 showing the third lock mechanism;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of FIG. 11 further showing the third lock mechanism;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  of FIG. 12 further showing the third lock mechanism; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  14 - 14  of FIG. 12 further showing the third lock mechanism. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same, FIG. 1 illustrates a steering wheel lock  10  mounted diametrically on outer rim  12  of steering wheel  14 . Steering wheel lock  10  includes a tubular handle member  16  which telescopically receives elongated rod  18 . More particularly, handle member  16  has an opened end  20  and an outer end  22 . Outer end  22  can include a plastic handle  24  to aid in the installation of the wheel lock  10  and to provide cushioned engagement with the handle  16  and the interior of the vehicle. Opened end  20  includes a rod receiving opening  26  adjacent lock housing portion  28 . The lock housing  28  encloses a lock  30  which prevents unauthorized retraction of rod member  20  with respect to handle member  16  in any one of a plurality of axially spaced positions. Lock  30  will be discussed in greater detail below.  
         [0028]    Tubular handle member  16  further comprises an elongated tube  32  having a circular cross section about an axis A. Elongated tube  32  includes an elongated passageway  34  extending from rod receiving opening  26  toward outer end  22 . Elongated passageway  34  has a circular cross section concentric about the axis A. In addition, elongated tube  32  is comprised of inner sleeve  36  and outer sleeve  38  producing a double wall construction best shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. A portion of elongated tube  32  extends within lock housing  28  thereby securing lock housing  28  to elongated tube  32 .  
         [0029]    Handle member  16  further includes a rim engaging member  40  comprising a stand off  42  and an outwardly facing hook  44 . Referring to FIG. 2, stand off  42  can be a bar portion  46  perpendicular to axis A and having a handle end  48  and a hook end  50 . More particularly, handle end  48  of bar portion  46  is welded to the outer sleeve  38  of handle member  16  and extends perpendicular from handle member  16 . Hook end  50 , which is opposite of handle end  48 , is secured to outwardly facing hook  44 . Outwardly facing hook  44  comprises a first hook arm  52  and a second hook arm  54  which are generally parallel to one another and have inner ends commonly joined to web portion  56 . When in the installed position, outer rim  12  of the steering wheel  14  is maintained between first and second hook arms  56 ,  58  and web portion  56 .  
         [0030]    Stand off  42  has a length L1 extending from handle end  48  to hook end  50  which defines the amount of off set between the engagement point of hook  44  and the outer sleeve  38  of handle  16  respectively. Further, length L1 of stand off  42  can be proportioned to produce a secondary hook portion  58  between second hook arm  54  and outer sleeve  38 . Secondary hook portion  58  allows for the adjustment of the off set between the handle and rod members  16 ,  18  respectively and steering wheel hub  60 . This adjustment ability provides greater protection of the air bag mechanism within the hub  60  by allowing the clearance between hub  60  and telescoping handle and rod members  16  and  18  to be optimized which will be discussed in greater detail below.  
         [0031]    Rod member  18  includes an elongated rod  62  and a rim engaging member  64 . Elongated rod  62  is of circular cross section wherein the outer diameter of rod  62  is dimensioned slightly less than the inner diameter of elongated passageway  34 . This allows the elongated rod  62  of rod member  18  to freely telescopically move within handle member  16  and thus the ability of rim engaging members  40  and  64  to move relative to one another. The relative motion of members  40  and  46  allows the steering wheel lock  10  to be easily installed on the outer rim  12  of steering wheel  14  and allows the steering wheel lock  10  to be used in connection with outer rims  12  of differing diameters. In addition, elongated rod  62  includes a grooved portion  66  corresponding to lock mechanism  30  to interengage with the lock mechanism  30  which will be discussed in greater detail below.  
         [0032]    Rim engaging member  64  comprises an outwardly facing hook  68  and a stand off  70 . With respect to outwardly facing hook  68 , included is a first hook arm  72  and a second hook arm  74  which is generally parallel to and spaced from first hook arm  72 . Both first and second hook arms  72  and  74  have an inner end joined by web portion  76  and the three members interengage with rim  12  in similar fashion as outwardly facing hook  44 . Stand off  70  has a bar portion  78  with a rod end  80  and a hook end  82  which produces a length L2 which defines the degree of off set between the point of engagement with rim  12  by hook  60  and the handle and rod members  16  and  18  respectively. As stated above with respect to stand off  42 , length L2 of stand off  70  can be proportioned to produce a secondary hook portion  88  between second hook arm  74  and elongated rod  62 . Secondary hook portion  88  allows for adjusting the off set between the hub  60  and handle and rod members  16  and  18  respectively. More particularly, the greatest offset between the steering wheel hub  60  and axis A of telescoping members  16  and  18  is produced when both outwardly facing hooks  44  and  68  of rim engaging members  44  and  64  respectively are utilized to interengage with the outer rim  12 . However, an intermediate offset can be achieved if one of hooks  44  and  68  of rim engaging member  40  and  64  is used to interengage with the rim  12  while the secondary portions  58  or  88  of the other rim engaging members  40  and  64  respectively is utilized for the second contact point with the rim  12 . This adjustment ability provides greater protection of the air bag mechanism within steering wheel hub  60  by allowing the necessary clearance between hub  60  and axis A of telescoping handle and rod members  16  and  18  but by allowing the user to more accurately maintain desired clearance.  
         [0033]    It should be noted that rim engaging members  40  and  64  can be constructed of two bar members. In this respect, a single elongated bar can be utilized to produce the first hook arm  52 , web portion  56  and bar portion  46  of rim engaging member  40  and that a similar elongated bar can be utilized to produce first hook arm  72 , web portion  76  and bar portion  78  of rim engaging member  64 . Single bar members can be utilized to produce second hook arm  58  and second hook arm  74 . Further, in order to protect outer rim  12 , steering wheel  14  and other interior components of the vehicle, steering wheel lock  10  should include a durable plastic coating encapsulating the portion of wheel lock  10  which engages at least one of these components. In this respect, durable plastic coating  84  is provided on elongated tube  32  and rim engaging member  40  and durable plastic coating  86  is provided on the end of elongated rod  62  and on rim engaging member  64 .  
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a second embodiment is shown, namely, steering wheel lock  100 . Steering wheel lock  100  differs from steering wheel lock  10  only in that it includes differently configured rim engaging members  101  and  102 . Accordingly, in order to simplify the description of this embodiment, the numbering with respect the remaining components of the steering wheel lock  100  is the same as that of steering wheel lock  10 .  
         [0035]    Rim engaging member  101  includes a first and a second laterally spaced outwardly facing hook  104  and  106  respectively which are configured similar to outwardly facing hook  44  of steering wheel lock  10 . However, rim engaging member  101  is substantially U shaped and since rim engaging member includes two hooks  104 ,  106 , it interengages with outer rim  12  at two points. In this respect, rim engaging member includes a U-shaped stand off  108  having a first end  110  and a second end  112  with a web portion  114  therebetween. First end  110  interengages with first hook  104  and second end  112  interengages with second hook  106 . The center of web portion  114  is connected to outer sleeve  38  of handle member  16 . As stated above, with respect to steering wheel lock  10 , it is recommended that stand off  108  be welded to outer sleeve  38  even though other joining techniques may be utilized.  
         [0036]    Referring to outwardly facing hooks  104  and  106  in greater detail, hook  104  is comprised of a first hook arm  116  and a second hook arm  118  which are generally parallel to one another and have inner ends commonly joined by web portion  120 . When in the installed position, outer rim  12  of the steering wheel  14  is maintained between first and second hook arms  116 ,  118  and web portion  120 . Hook  106  is comprised of a first hook arm  122  and a second hook arm  124  which are generally parallel to one another and have inner ends commonly joined by web portion  126 . When in the installed position, outer rim  12  of the steering wheel  14  is maintained between first and second hook arms  122 ,  124  and web portion  126  at a point radially spaced from that of hook  104 . Hooks  104  and  106  are generally equally spaced from outer sleeve  38  such that second hook arms  118  and  124  are in a common plane P1 parallel to a spaced from outer sleeve  38 . More particularly, plane P1 is spaced from outer sleeve  38  a distance L3.  
         [0037]    Rim engaging member  102  includes first and second laterally spaced outwardly facing hooks  128  and  130  respectively configured similarly to outwardly facing hooks  104  and  106  although facing in the opposite direction. Rim engaging member  102  includes a U-shaped stand off  132  having a first end  134  and a second end  136  with a web portion  138  therebetween. First end  122  is connected to first hook  116  while second end  124  is connected to second hook  118  thereby joining the hooks together to form the rim engaging member  102 . U-shaped stand off  120  further includes a web portion  126  between the first and second ends  122  and  124  which is connected to elongated rod  62  at its center. As with rim engaging member  101 , rim engaging member  102  also interengages with outer rim  12  at two points since it includes two hooks  128  and  130  Referring to hooks  128  and  130  in greater detail, hook  128  is comprised of a first hook arm  140  and a second hook arm  142  which are generally parallel to one another and have inner ends commonly joined by web portion  144 . When in the installed position, outer rim  12  of the steering wheel  14  is maintained between first and second hook arms  140 ,  142  and web portion  144 . Hook  130  is comprised of a first hook arm  146  and a second hook arm  148  which are generally parallel to one another and have inner ends commonly joined by web portion  150 . When in the installed position, outer rim  12  of the steering wheel  14  is maintained between first and second hook arms  146 ,  148  and web portion  150  at a point radially spaced on rim  12  from that of hook  128 . Hooks  128  and  130  are also generally equally spaced from elongated rod  62  such that second hook arms  142  and  148  are in a common plane P2 parallel to a spaced from elongated rod  62 . More particularly, plane P2 is spaced from elongated rod  62  a distance L4.  
         [0038]    The result of stand offs  108  and  132  is that the point of engagement between hooks  104 , 106 , 128  and  130  and rim  12  of steering wheel  14  is spaced from handle and rod members  16  and  18  based on the distance L3 and L4. Further, distance L3 and L4 of stand offs  108  and  132  can be proportioned to produce secondary hook portions  152  and  154  respectively. In this respect, when secondary hook portion  152  is utilized, rim engaging member  101  maintains rim  12  between second hook arms  118  and  124 ; stand off  108  and outer sleeve  38 . When secondary hook portion  154  is utilized, rim engaging member  102  maintains rim  12  between second hook arms  142  and  148 ; stand off  132  and elongated rod  62 . As discussed above, secondary hook portions  152  and  154  provide greater protection of the air bag mechanism within steering wheel hub  60 . More particularly, the greatest offset between the steering wheel hub  60  and axis A of telescoping members  16  and  18  is produced when both outwardly facing hooks  104  and  106  of rim engaging member  102  and outwardly facing hooks  128  and  130  of rim engaging member  102  are utilized to interengage with the outer rim  12 . However, an intermediate offset can be achieved if the hooks  104  and  106  or  128  and  130  of one rim engaging member  101  or  102  is used to interengage with the rim  12  while the secondary portions  152  or  154  of the other of rim engaging members  101  and  102  respectively are utilized for the diametrically opposite contact point with the rim  12 .  
         [0039]    Steering wheel lock  100  interengages with outer rim  12  at four points which adds additional protection. Further, by providing U shaped stand offs  108  and  132 , first outwardly facing hooks  104  and  106 ; and second outwardly facing hooks  128  and  130  can be respectively mounted to outer rim  12  in the installed position about a steering wheel spoke. Referring to FIG. 7, first outwardly facing hook  128  and second outwardly facing hook  130  are shown mounted to outer rim  12  about steering wheel spoke  156  regardless of whether steering wheel spoke  156  extends transversely beyond outer rim  12 .  
         [0040]    It should be noted that rim engaging members  101  and  102  can be constructed of three bar members. With reference to rim engaging member  101  only since each are of similar design, a single formed bar member can be used to produce first hook arms  116  and  122 ; web portions  120  and  126  and standoff  108 . Second hooks arms  118  and  124  can then be welded to the single formed bar.  
         [0041]    It is recommended that elongated tube  32  and rim engaging member  101  are encapsulated by a durable plastic coating  158  while a portion of elongated rod  62  and rim engaging member  102  are encapsulated by durable plastic coating  160   
         [0042]    Steering wheel locks  10  and  100  can include any locking mechanism  30  commonly known in the art. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a deadbolt lock arrangement  170  is shown. In this arrangement, the grooved portion  66  of elongated rod  62  includes annular grooves  172 , transverse to axis A of rod member  18  which are provided along a major portion of elongated rod  62 . Annular grooves  172  are generally semi-circular and spaced axially along the grooved portion  66 . Further, grooves  172  provide intermediate surfaces  174 .  
         [0043]    With respect to handle member  16 , lock housing  28  is provided on opened end  20 . Lock housing  28  includes locating hole  176  which houses locating ball  178 . In this respect, inner sleeve  36  includes a hole  180  which is a smaller diameter than locating ball  178  thereby only allowing locating ball  178  to partially penetrate inner sleeve  36  and engage one of annular grooves  172 . This ensures that one of annular grooves  172  is aligned to receive locking member  182 . Locking ball  178  is urged into engagement with one of grooves  172  by spring  184 . Locking ball  178  and spring  184  are maintained in locking hole  176  by plug  186 .  
         [0044]    Locking member  182  is actuated by a conventionally known key lock  188  and is generally cylindrical in shape wherein its arcuate outer surface  190  is of a diameter generally matching the diameter of annular grooves  172 . Further, locking member  182  includes a recessed portion  192 . When in the locked condition, the arcuate outer surface  190  of locking member  182  engages one of annular grooves  178  thereby preventing movement of rod member  18  relative to handle member  16 . When locking member  182  is rotated generally  180 ° by key lock  188  such that recessed portion  192  faces annular grooves  172 , lock  170  is in the unlocked condition and rod member  18  is able to freely telescopically move within handle member  16 . Pin  194  is press fit into hole  196  to maintain the positioning of key lock  188 .  
         [0045]    Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a second lock assembly is shown, namely a ratcheting lock arrangement  210 . Ratcheting lock arrangement  210  includes a lock housing  212  about inner sleeve  36  of handle  16 . Further, lock housing  212  includes a blind hole  214  perpendicular to axis A and coaxial with holes  216  and  218  in inner sleeve  36 . Blind hole  214  retains locking pawl  220  toward rod  224  by spring  222 . As with elongated rod  62 , rod  224  has a circular cross section and a diameter dimensioned slightly less than the inner diameter of elongated passageway  34 ; however, rod  224  includes a plurality of axially spaced ratchet teeth  226  which comprise a conical surface  228  extending radially outwardly in an axial direction away from the outer end of rod  224 . Ratchet teeth  226  further includes an annular stop surface  230  extending perpendicularly to the axis A.  
         [0046]    Lock housing  212  further includes a handle receiving hole  232  which is circular in cross section and has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of sleeve  36 . Lock housing  212  further includes a key tumbler hole  234  having an inner end  236  opened to blind hole  214 . Ratcheting lock arrangement utilizes a conventional key tumbler  238  received within key tumbler hole  234 , wherein key tumbler  238  can rotate torque blade  240  which locks or unlocks the lock arrangement  210  which will be discussed in more detail below. Key tumbler  238  is maintained within hole  234  by pin  242  which is received in pin hole  244 .  
         [0047]    Locking pawl  220  comprises a shaft  246  which includes a recessed portion  248  having a back surface  250 . On the rod engaging end  252 , locking pawl  220  includes an annular end surface  254  and a stop surface  256 . Torque blade  240  extends into the recessed portion  248  in locking pawl  220  to engage and cooperate with the back surface  250  to move pawl  220  from a locked position to an unlocked position. In this respect, spring  222  biases locking pawl  220  toward elongated rod  62  and into engagement with an annular stop surface  230  of ratchet tooth  226  on elongated rod  62  which is the locked position. The rod member  18  is thereby constrained from moving axially inwardly within tubular handle member  16 . However, movement of rod member  18  axially outwardly of the tubular handle member outward of the tubular handle member  16  is provided by conical surface  228  of ratchet tooth  226  acting against annular surface  254  and angled plane  255  whereby the locking pawl  220  is moved inwardly into blind hole  214  against the force of spring  222  and thereby moves out of engagement with the ratchet teeth  226  to allow rod member  18  to be indexed outwardly and locking pawl to be indexed to the next ratchet tooth. The spring  222  then moves locking pawl outwardly to engage the corresponding annular stop surface  230  of the next ratchet tooth  226  to prevent inward movement.  
         [0048]    Actuation of key tumbler  238  rotates the torque blade  240  to act against back surface  250  of locking pawl  220 , whereby locking pawl  220  is moved away from ratchet teeth  226  which is the unlocked position. In this position, rod member  18  is free to move either outwardly or inwardly within tubular handle member  16 .  
         [0049]    Referring to FIGS.  11 - 14 , a third lock mechanism is shown, namely a push button style locking arrangement  270 . More particularly, grooved portion  66  of elongated rod  62  includes ring shaped teeth  272  separated by recesses  274 . Lock housing  276  has a blind hole  278  which is noncircular and has a first and second spring containment holes  280  and  282  respectively. With reference to spring hole  280 , this hole contains a locating ball  284  which is biased toward elongated rod  62  by spring  286 . Locating ball  284  has a diameter slightly less than spring containment hole  280  but larger than the width of recess  274  so that locating ball only partially penetrates recess  274  and is forced away from elongated rod  62  by annular teeth  272  as elongated rod  62  is moved inwardly or outwardly from tubular handle member  16 . Blind hole  278  is shaped to receive and retain locking member  288  in an inward or locked position and in an outward or unlocked position.  
         [0050]    Locking member  288  comprises a key tumbler  290  which locks and unlocks arrangement  270  by actuating locking blades  292  and  294  that work in connection with spring  287 . In this respect, recess  274  further includes lateral pockets  296  and  298  that are generally L shaped wherein stop surfaces  300  and  302  respectively form part of the base of the L. In addition, blades  292  and  294  are shaped to be received in pockets  296  and  298  respectively. Blades  292  and  294  are controlled by key tumbler  290  in that when in the locked condition, blades  292  and  294  are biased outwardly by spring  308 . When key tumbler  290  is rotated to the unlocked condition, blades  292  and  294  are drawn partially out of lateral pockets  296  and  298  respectively. However, blades  292  and  294  are not completely withdrawn from pockets  296  and  298  which prevents locking member  288  from becoming detached.  
         [0051]    Lock arrangement  270  is put into the locked condition by rotating key tumbler  290  to the locked position, wherein spring  308  forces blades outwardly. Then, the user pushes locking member  288  into blind hole  278 . As blades  292  and  294  pass stop surfaces  300  and  302 , blades  292  and  294  are urged outwardly by spring  308  into the base portions  312  and  314  of pockets  296  and  298  and member  288  is in the locked condition. The interengagement between blades  292  and  294  and stop surfaces  300  and  302  then maintain lock member  288  in its inward or locked position. In order to unlock arrangement  270 , the key tumbler is rotated to the unlocked position, wherein torque blade  310  drives blades  292  and  294  inwardly until they clear stop surface  300  and  302  respectively which allow spring  287  to urge lock member  288  outwardly to its unlocked position. As stated above, lock member  288  is retained in blind hole  278  by the partial retraction of torque blades  292  and  294 . As a result, locking member  288  is urged outward by spring  287  until torque blades  292  and  294  engage stop surfaces  316  and  318  respectively which is the unlocked position.  
         [0052]    Locking member  288  further includes rod engaging portion  304  having annular recess  306  shaped to receive a portion of one of the annular teeth  272 . When locking member  288  is in its inward or lock position, annular recess  306  of rod engaging portion  304  interengages with one of annular teeth  272  to prevent movement either outwardly or inwardly of rod member  18  relative to tubular handle member  16 . As locking member  288  moves outwardly, annular recess  306  of rod engaging portion  304  disengages annular tooth  272  thereby allowing rod member  18  to move freely inwardly and outwardly from handle member  16 .  
         [0053]    While considerable emphasis has been placed on the embodiments of the invention, illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that other embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, it is distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.