Steering wheel lock

• US 6,694,784 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2000
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Societe de Conseils de Recherches et d'Applications Scientifiques
• Original Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
• Inventors: Wu, Jinn Fu
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US09/728,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 702/09--12, 702/25, 702/26, 702/37, 702/38
• 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: Y10T 70/5765 Rotary or swinging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5841 Rotation blocking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5889 For automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5894 Plural point

Abstract

A motor vehicle steering wheel lock for mounting diametrically across the rim of the steering wheel and having an extended portion adapted to block complete rotation of the steering wheel has locking means which simplify and reduce the number of manual manipulations required to mount and remove the steering wheel lock. A locking means is provided to permit only axial extension of the elongated steering wheel lock when in the locked condition, and to permit axial contraction of the elongated steering wheel lock only when in the unlocked condition.

Claims

1. An anti-theft device to be mounted in the driver compartment of a motor vehicle with fixed surfaces defining the interior of said compartment and on an element that must be manually manipulated during driving of such vehicle, said anti-theft device having an expanded locked configuration capturing said device on said element and a collapsed unlocked configuration, releasable from said element and removable as a unit from said compartment, said device comprising:

an elongated tubular member having an elongated passageway extending along an axis therethrough, said tubular member having a first outwardly extending end adapted to physically engage at least one of said fixed surfaces to limit rotation of said device when said device is in said expanded locked configuration on said element and an inner end where said inner end is spaced from said first end in a given direction;

a rod member having an elongated rod adapted to extend in a telescopic manner within said passageway of said tubular member and a hook secured to one end of said rod, said hook having an opening facing in said given direction away from said first end of said tubular member and adapted to engage and capture said manipulated element when said anti-theft device is captured on said element by manually retracting said rod member from said elongated tubular member placing said device in said expanded locked configuration;

a plurality of spaced annular grooves found in said rod, each of which include a vertical side wall and a frusto conical side wall sloping from said vertical side wall toward away from said from said first end of said elongated member;

a housing firmly formed around said second end of said tubular member with said elongated passageway of said tubular member extending therethrough;

a lock having a locking member extending downwardly;

means offset with respect to the axis of the tubular member and in said housing for firmly receiving said lock;

a transverse passageway transversely formed in said housing and interconnecting said elongated passageway in said tubular member;

rod-like bearing means slidably accommodated in the transverse passageway and having a pawl attached to an end thereof and arranged to be activated between a locking position with the pawl protruding into said elongated passageway to contact said vertical side wall of one of said grooves and an unlocking position with said pawl withdrawn from said elongated passageway, said bearing means further including a recess to receive said locking member and control the position of said pawl in a locking position or unlocking position; and

,

a spring disposed in said transverse passageway and biasing said rod-like bearing means toward said passageway in said tubular member.

2. An anti-theft device as defined in claim 1 wherein said manually manipulated driving element is a steering wheel.

3. An anti-theft device to be mounted in the driver compartment of a motor vehicle with fixed surfaces defining the interior of said compartment and an element that must be manipulated during driving of said vehicle, said anti-theft device having an expanded locked configuration capturing said device on said element and a collapsed unlock configuration releasable from said element and removable as a unit from said compartment, said device comprising:

a bar member having a hook for engaging said element and a plurality of teeth longitudinally extending over a portion thereof;

a tubular member telescopically receiving said bar member and having an extended portion adapted to engage one of said fixed surfaces when said device is in said expanded locked configuration;

a lock housing associated with said tubular member having a central passage through which said bar member telescopically extends and a cavity opening to said central passage;

a ratchet pawl in said cavity and a spring biasing said ratchet pawl into contact with said teeth configured to allow said bar member to telescope out of said tubular member while preventing said bar member from telescoping into said tubular member; and

,

a key activated lock in said housing for retracting said pawl out of said central passage against said spring bias when operated to permit said bar to freely telescope into and out of said tubular member.