Patent ID: 8272239

Claim:
An anti-theft locking device for a vehicle including a steering column ( 10 ) having a rotation shaft ( 15 ) operatively connected to a lock ( 14 ) and a universal joint ( 20 ) respectively, comprising: a limit unit ( 30 ) affixed onto the rotation shaft ( 15 ) and comprising a ring plate ( 35 ) including a plurality of longitudinal apertures ( 36 ) spaced around; a locking unit ( 40 ) comprising a hollow guide ( 43 ) affixed to the steering column ( 10 ), the guide ( 43 ) being disposed above the ring plate ( 35 ) and adapted to register with a respective one of the apertures ( 36 ), the guide ( 43 ) having a longitudinal slot ( 44 ), a lock element ( 48 ) moveably disposed in the guide ( 43 ), the lock element ( 48 ) having a laterally projecting neck ( 481 ) and a nut ( 480 ) at one end of the neck ( 481 ), and a peg ( 49 ) extending downward from a bottom of the lock element ( 48 ); and a driving unit ( 50 ) affixed to the steering column ( 10 ) and comprising a battery powered drive member ( 53 ) and a threaded driving shaft ( 54 ) driven through the nut ( 480 ) so that a rotation of the driving shaft ( 54 ) moves the nut ( 480 ) either downward to move the peg ( 49 ) into a respective one of the apertures ( 36 ) for locking or upward to disengage the peg ( 49 ) from the aperture ( 36 ) for unlocking, whereby locking the lock ( 14 ) and activating the drive member ( 53 ) will counterclockwise rotate the driving shaft ( 54 ) which in turn moves the nut ( 480 ) downward and moves the peg ( 49 ) into a respective one of the apertures ( 36 ) wherein the neck ( 481 ) contacting a bottom end of the slot ( 44 ) stops the movement of the peg ( 49 ) to lock the steering column ( 10 ); and whereby activating the driving unit ( 50 ) will actuate the drive member ( 53 ) to clockwise rotate the driving shaft ( 54 ) which in turn moves the nut ( 480 ) upward and causes the peg ( 49 ) to clear the aperture ( 36 ) wherein the lock member ( 48 ) contacting the steering column ( 10 ) stops the movement of the peg ( 49 ) to unlock the steering column ( 10 ).