Anti-theft vehicle brake

• US 10,023,158 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Coffey
• Original Assignee: Michael Coffey
• Inventors: Coffey, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/351,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20170137001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 188156-164, 188265, 303 89, 70226, 70228, 70233
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/09 by restraining wheel rotation, e.g. wheel clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/005 by locking of wheel or transmission rotation

Abstract

An anti-theft vehicle brake including a lockable restraining hub coupled to a wheel. The lock'"'"'s default state being engaged and preventing rotation of the wheel. The lock including a solenoid bolt controlled through the communication of authenticating information sent from a transmitter and recognized by a receiver, triggering the disengagement of the bolt from the restraining hub allowing rotation of the wheel.

Claims

1. An anti-theft vehicle brake for use on a vehicle, comprising:

one or more spindles, each spindle having an anchor end where said spindle is attached to said vehicle, and a free end extending away from said vehicle, said spindle having a first axis running through said anchor end and said free end;

an electronic spring bolt lock mounted to said spindle, said electronic spring bolt lock having a power source, a solenoid, a spring bolt positioned within said solenoid, and a spring;

said spring bolt having an engagement end oriented toward said free end of said spindle, and a spring end in contact with said spring, said spring positioned between said spring end and a barrier, said electronic spring bolt lock configured such that, when said electronic spring bolt lock is at rest, said spring is relaxed and exerts a force against said spring end, which causes said spring bolt to travel through said solenoid toward said free end of said spindle, and when electronic spring bolt lock is active, said spring bolt withdraws into said solenoid and compresses said spring;

a restraining hub mounted to said spindle such that said restraining hub is normal to said first axis, said restraining hub having an exterior side facing said free end and containing two or more stud bolts extending toward said free end and capable of accepting a wheel and tire, and an interior side facing said anchor end, said interior side containing one or more seats configured to accept said engagement end of said spring bolt, said restraining hub positioned on said spindle such that, when said spring is relaxed, said spring bolt is capable of engaging one or more of said seats thereby preventing rotation of said restraining hub;

a receiver capable of receiving and authenticating a digital key, said digital key being necessary to activate said electronic spring bolt lock and disengage said spring bolt permitting said vehicle to be moved;

a transmitter capable of communicating said digital key to said receiver; and

said wheel and tire mountable to said spindle and coupled to said restraining hub using two or more nuts;

wherein, when in a locked position, said electronic spring bolt lock is configured to extend said spring bolt through the force of said spring, thereby engaging said one or more seats contained within said restraining hub and preventing rotation of said wheel, and said electronic spring bolt lock further configured such that, upon receipt and authentication of said digital key by said receiver, said solenoid is actuated causing said spring bolt to withdraw from said seat into an unlocked position, thereby disengaging from said restraining hub and allowing rotation of said wheel.

2. The anti-theft vehicle brake of claim 1, wherein said power source originates from said vehicle.

3. The anti-theft vehicle brake of claim 1, wherein said receiver and said transmitter are capable of communicating via proximity connection.

4. The anti-theft vehicle brake of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is contained within a key fob.

5. The anti-theft vehicle brake of claim 1, wherein said electronic spring bolt lock is contained within a housing, said housing including an aperture through which said spring bolt may travel.

6. The anti-theft vehicle lock of claim 1, wherein said receiver and said transmitter are capable of communicating via Bluetooth connection.

7. The anti-theft vehicle lock of claim 1, wherein said receiver and said transmitter are capable of communicating via WiFi connection.

8. The anti-theft vehicle lock of claim 1, wherein said restraining hub is integrated into the drum of a drum brake assembly.

9. The anti-theft vehicle lock of claim 1, wherein said restraining hub is integrated into the rotor of a disc brake assembly.

10. The anti-theft vehicle lock of claim 1, wherein said anchor end of said spindle is attached to an axle and said electronic spring bolt lock is mounted to said axle.

11. The anti-theft vehicle lock of claim 1, wherein said power source originates from a tow vehicle.

12. The anti-theft vehicle lock of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a trailer and said receiver and said transmitter communicate via a wired connection between said trailer and a tow vehicle configured to tow said trailer.

13. An anti-theft vehicle brake for use on a vehicle, comprising:

one or more spindles, each spindle having an anchor end where said spindle is attached to said vehicle, and a free end extending away from said vehicle, said spindle having a first axis running through said anchor end and said free end;

an electronic spring bolt lock mounted to said spindle, said electronic spring bolt lock having a power source, a solenoid, a spring bolt positioned within said solenoid, and a spring, said power source originating from said vehicle, and said spring bolt lock contained within a housing, said housing including an aperture through which said spring may travel;

said spring bolt having an engagement end oriented toward said free end of said spindle, and a spring end in contact with said spring, said spring positioned between said spring end and a barrier, said electronic spring bolt lock configured such that, when said electronic spring bolt lock is at rest, said spring is relaxed and exerts a force against said spring end, which causes said spring bolt to travel through said solenoid toward said free end of said spindle, and when electronic spring bolt lock is active, said spring bolt withdraws into said solenoid and compresses said spring;

a restraining hub mounted to said spindle such that said restraining hub is normal to said first axis, said restraining hub having an exterior side facing said free end and containing two or more stud bolts extending toward said free end and capable of accepting a wheel and tire, and an interior side facing said anchor end, said interior side containing one or more seats configured to accept said engagement end of said spring bolt, said restraining hub positioned on said spindle such that, when said spring is relaxed, said spring bolt is capable of engaging one or more of said seats thereby preventing rotation of said restraining hub;

a receiver capable of receiving and authenticating a digital key, said digital key being necessary to activate said electronic spring bolt lock and disengage said spring bolt permitting said vehicle to be moved;

a transmitter contained within a key fob and capable of communicating said digital key to said receiver using a proximity connection; and

said wheel and tire mountable to said spindle and coupled to said restraining hub using two or more nuts;

wherein, when in a locked position, said electronic spring bolt lock is configured to extend said spring bolt through the force of said spring, thereby engaging said one or more seats contained within said restraining hub and preventing rotation of said wheel, and said electronic spring bolt lock further configured such that, upon receipt and authentication of said digital key by said receiver, said solenoid is actuated causing said spring bolt to withdraw from said seat into an unlocked position, thereby disengaging from said restraining hub and allowing rotation of said wheel.

14. An anti-theft vehicle brake for use on a vehicle, wherein said vehicle is a trailer, comprising:

one or more spindles, each spindle having an anchor end where said spindle is attached to an axle, and a free end extending away from said trailer, said spindle having a first axis running through said anchor end and said free end;

an electronic spring bolt lock mounted to said axle, said electronic spring bolt lock having a power source, a solenoid, a spring bolt positioned within said solenoid, and a spring, said power source configured to receive power from a tow vehicle configured to tow said trailer upon said tow vehicle being electronically connected to said trailer;

said spring bolt having an engagement end oriented toward said free end of said spindle, and a spring end in contact with said spring, said spring positioned between said spring end and a barrier, said electronic spring bolt lock configured such that, when said electronic spring bolt lock is at rest, said spring is relaxed and exerts a force against said spring end, which causes said spring bolt to travel through said solenoid toward said free end of said spindle, and when electronic spring bolt lock is active, said spring bolt withdraws into said solenoid and compresses said spring;

a restraining hub mounted to said spindle such that said restraining hub is normal to said first axis, said restraining hub having an exterior side facing said free end and containing two or more stud bolts extending toward said free end and capable of accepting a wheel and tire, and an interior side facing said anchor end, said interior side containing one or more seats configured to accept said engagement end of said spring bolt, said restraining hub positioned on said spindle such that, when said spring is relaxed, said spring bolt is capable of engaging one or more of said seats thereby preventing rotation of said restraining hub;

a receiver capable of receiving and authenticating a digital key, said digital key being necessary to activate said electronic spring bolt lock and disengage said spring bolt permitting said vehicle to be moved;

a transmitter capable of communicating said digital key to said receiver, said transmitter located within a tow vehicle configured to tow said trailer and further configured to transmit said digital key using a wired connection between said trailer and said tow vehicle, and

said wheel and tire mountable to said spindle and coupled to said restraining hub using two or more nuts;

wherein, when in a locked position, said electronic spring bolt lock is configured to extend said spring bolt through the force of said spring, thereby engaging said one or more seats contained within said restraining hub and preventing rotation of said wheel, and said electronic spring bolt lock further configured such that, upon receipt and authentication of said digital key by said receiver, said solenoid is actuated causing said spring bolt to withdraw from said seat into an unlocked position, thereby disengaging from said restraining hub and allowing rotation of said wheel.