Vehicle security device

• US 5,613,383 A
• Filed: 04/14/1995
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
• Original Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
• Inventors: Banez, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US08/422,034
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 70/209, 70/DIG. 58, 70/225, 70/226, 70/424, 70/238, 70/211, 70/212, 70/178, 70/180, 70/259, 70/260, 70/158-173, 74/558, 74/558.5
• US Class Current: 70/209
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/0225 using a rod locked on the steering wheel rim B60R25/0221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/0227 using means preventing access, e.g. boxes enclosing the steering wheel B60R25/014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5566 External locking devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5575 Directly seating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5765 Rotary or swinging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5841 Rotation blocking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2087 Rim grips and covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20876 Caps and covers

Abstract

A motor vehicle security device for protecting against the cutting of an automobile steering wheel which includes a protective member made of cut-resistant material covering the steering wheel rim and a connector for attaching the protective member to the steering wheel rim. The protective member radially and circumferentially overlies the steering wheel rim to preclude access to the rim and protect against cutting of the rim.

Claims

1. A vehicle security device for protecting a steering wheel having a rim comprising a cover means for substantially covering a front face of said steering wheel and connection means for attaching said cover means to said steering wheel, said cover means including a cut-resistant plate having a peripheral edge, said connection means including two hooks and lock means for locking said hooks in at least one position, said connection means including two telescopically engaging rods wherein each rod including at least one of said hooks.

2. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lock means is scoured to at east one of said rods.

3. A vehicle security device as defined claim 1, wherein said two hooks are facing diametrically apart.

4. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 2, wherein said two hooks are facing diametrically apart.

5. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover means including a flange attached to the peripheral edge of said plate.

6. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 4, wherein said cover means including a flange attached to the peripheral edge of said plate.

7. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 3, wherein said plate including two spaced openings wherein each opening is positioned adjacent to said peripheral edge of said plate and positioned substantially diametrically opposite from each other.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said openings is positioned to overlie said rim when said face plate is attached to said steering wheel.

9. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein at least one of said openings is oblong in shape.

10. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plate including two spaced openings wherein each opening is positioned adjacent to said peripheral edge of said plate and positioned substantially diametrically opposite from each other.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said openings is positioned to overlie said rim when said cut-resistant plate is attached to said steering wheel.

12. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein at least one of said openings is oblong in shape.

13. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cut-resistant plate is divided into at least two plate sections, said cut-resistant plate including means for connecting together said at least two plate sections.

14. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said openings is positioned to overlie said rim when said plate is attached to said steering wheel.

15. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein at least one of said openings is oblong in shape.

16. A vehicle security device for protecting against the cutting of a steering wheel, said steering wheel including a rim having a given diameter and a front face, a back face and radially inner and outer edges, said device comprising:

a) a generally circular planar protective face plate with an outwardly extending peripheral edge with a diameter generally larger than said given diameter of said rim and formed from a cut resistant material, said face plate including two spaced openings and a curvilinear flange attached to substantially the entire peripheral edge of said face plate and extending outward from said planar face plate, said two openings positioned adjacent to said peripheral edge of said face plate and substantially diametrically opposite from each other; and

b) means for attaching said face plate to said steering wheel, said means for attaching including means extending through each of said opening and at leas partially around the inner edge of said steering wheel, said means extending through including two hooks positioned substantially diametrically apart.

17. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said openings is positioned to overlie said rim when said face plate is attached to said steering wheel.

18. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein at least one of said openings is oblong in shape.

19. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein said face plate is divided into at least two plate sections, said face plate including means for connecting together said at least two plate sections.

20. A device as defined in claim 19, wherein said means for connecting including hinge means for pivotally displacing said plate sections about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said planar face plate.

21. A vehicle security device for protecting a steering wheel rim comprising a substantially circular protective face plate and connection means for connecting said face plate to said steering wheel rim, said face plate having a diameter at least as large as the diameter of said rim, formed of a cut resistant material, including two openings and a flange attached to a peripheral edge of said face plate, said two openings spaced substantially diametrically apart and both openings positioned adjacent to and substantially equal distances from the peripheral edge of said face plate, and said flange attached to substantially the complete peripheral edge of said face plate and coveting at least a part of an outer surface of said rim when said face plate is placed onto said rim, said connection means including a pair of telescopically engaging rod members, hook means on each rod member for attaching said rod members to said rim and a locking mechanism for locking said rod members in at least one position.

22. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein said hook means on each rod member includes a hook, said hooks on said two rod members facing diametrically apart from one another.

23. A vehicle security device for protecting a steering wheel rim comprising a steering wheel cover and connection means for securing said steering wheel cover to said steering wheel rim, said steering wheel cover comprising a protective face plate formed of a cut resistant material and designed to overlie at least a majority of a front face of said steering wheel rim, said face plate including at least two openings and at least one flange attached to a peripheral edge of said face plate, said at least one flange designed to cover at least a part of an outer surface of said steering wheel rim when said face plate is positioned onto said steering wheel rim, each of said at least two openings positioned on said face plate such that each opening is at least closely adjacent to said steering wheel rim when said face plate is positioned onto said steering wheel rim, said connection means including lock means and elongated means, said lock means adapted for locking said steering wheel cover in substantially a fixed position on said steering wheel rim and including at least two hook means, each of said hook means adapted to extend through at least one of said openings in said face plate and at least closely engage at least a portion of said steering wheel rim, and said elongated means adapted for preventing full rotation of said steering wheel rim when said connection means is securing said steering wheel cover to said steering wheel rim.

24. A device as defined in claim 23, wherein said protective face plate is substantially circular in shape and has a diameter at least as large as the diameter of said steering wheel rim.

25. A device as defined in claim 24, wherein at least one of said at least two openings at least partially overlies said steering wheel rim when said face plate is positioned on said steering wheel rim.

26. A device as defined in claim 25, wherein said each of said at least two openings spaced substantially diametrically apart and spaced from the edge of said face plate at substantially equal distances.

27. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 26, wherein said two hook means are facing diametrically apart.

28. A device as defined in claim 23, wherein at least one of said at least two openings at least partially overlies said steering wheel rim when said face plate is positioned on said steering wheel rim.

29. A device as defined in claim 28, wherein said each of said at least two openings spaced substantially diametrically apart and spaced from the edge of said face plate at substantially equal distances.

30. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 29, wherein said connection means including two telescopically engaging rods wherein each rod including at least one of said hook means.

31. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 30, wherein said lock means secured to at least one of said rods.

32. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 31, wherein said two hook means are facing diametrically apart.

33. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 29, wherein said two hook means are facing diametrically apart.

34. A device as defined in claim 23, wherein said each of said at least two openings spaced substantially diametrically apart and spaced from the edge of said face plate at substantially equal distances.

35. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 34, wherein said two hook means are facing diametrically apart.

36. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 23, wherein said connection means including two telescopically engaging rods wherein each rod including at least one of said hook means.

37. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 36, wherein said lock means secured to at least one of said rods.

38. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 37, wherein said two hook means are facing diametrically apart.

39. A vehicle security device as defined in claim 23, wherein said two hook means are facing diametrically apart.