GB2120614A

GB2120614A - Vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2120614A
Application number: GB08214836A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Thorpe; Roger Richardson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-05-21
Filing date: 1982-05-21
Publication date: 1983-12-07
Also published as: GB2120614B

Abstract

An anti-theft device (1) for a caravan comprises a body (2, 4) which has means, such as a groove (3), arranged to engage a tow bar coupling (12) of the caravan to mount and support the body (2, 4) thereon, and has a shroud arranged to cover and close the towing socket (15) of the coupling (12), and means (5, 6) for locking the body (2, 4) to the coupling (12). The groove (3) of the engaging means is preferably arranged to engage a complementary flange (13) of the coupling (12) and the locking means (5, 6) can comprise a pin (6) arranged to pass through a bore (7) in the body (2, 4) with its free end (10) located within the coupling socket (15) adjacent an inner wall thereof, to prevent the body (2, 4) from being slid off the coupling (12), thereby preventing exposure to the socket (15) for towing purposes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Caravan anti-theft device This invention reiates to an anti-theft device for a caravan, the device being securable to the tow bar coupling of a caravan.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an anti-theft device for a caravan, the device comprising means arranged to engage the caravan tow bar coupling to mount and support the device thereon, a shroud arranged to cover and close the towing socket of the tow bar coupling when the device is mounted and supported thereon, and means for locking the device to the tow bar coupling when the device is mounted and supported thereon with the shroud covering and closing the tow bar coupling socket.

In a standard form of caravan tow bar coupling there is provided a peripheral flange upon which the device can be mounted and supported with a sliding action. When the device has been so mounted and supported on the coupling the shroud covers the open end of the generally hemispherical towing socket, whereby the unauthorised insertion therein of a tow ball of a towing vehicle cannot be achieved. In this position of the device, the locking means is then used to lock the device securely to the tow bar coupling, thereby preventing unauthorised removal of the device therefrom.

Preferably, said locking means consists of a pin which is passed through a bore in the body of the device to have its free end located within the coupling socket adjacent an inner wall thereof, to prevent the device from being slid off the coupling, thereby preventing exposure of the socket for towing purposes. The pin is locked into position within the socket by a key-operated locking mechanism securely mounted within the body of the device. In this regard, the pin is preferably provided with an annular groove which, with the pin in the locking position, is engaged by a correspondingly-shaped, semi-circularly crosssectioned spigot operated by turning the key of the locking mechanism to its locking position.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of anti-theft device for a caravan, in accordance therewith, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the anti-theft device; and Fig. 2 is a partial elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1 but with a locking pin inserted.

Referring to the drawing, an anti-theft device 1 for a caravan comprises a first body portion 2 having a generally U-shape in plan and an inner groove 3 which is adapted to engage and to slide on to a correspondingly-shaped, peripheral flange 13 of a caravan tow bar coupling 12, as shown in Fig. 2 in chain-dotted lines, whereby the device 1 is mounted and supported thereon. Associated with the first body portion 2 is a second body portion 4 depending therefrom and incorporating a key-operated locking mechanism 5, as shown in Fig. 1. The locking mechanism 5 includes a locking pin 6 which is received within a bore 7 passing through the two body portions 2, 4.The pin 6 has an annular groove 8 which, when the pin is inserted in the bore 7, as shown in Fig. 2, such that its free, upper end 10 is located adjacent the inner wall 14 of the towing socket 15 of the coupling 12, lies in register with a rotatable generally semi-circularly cross-sectioned spigot 9, as shown in Fig. 1, of the locking mechanism 5.

The spigot 9 can be rotated into its locking position, to engage the annular groove 8 of the locking ring 6, by means of a key (not shown) associated with the locking mechanism 5. In this locked position of the pin 6, the device 1 cannot be slid off the coupling 12, because the free end 10 of the pin 6 will abut the inner wall 14 of the socket 15, thereby preventing unauthorised removal of the device 1.

For authorised removal of the device 1 and a subsequent towing operation, the key (not shown) of the locking mechanism 5 is rotated to disengage the spigot 9 from the annular groove 8 of the pin 6, whereby the pin can be removed from the bore 7, such that the device 1 can be slid off the peripheral flange 13 of the coupling 12, thereby exposing the towing socket 1 5.

It will be appreciated that the lower part 20 of the first body portion 2 below the inner groove 3 acts as a shroud to close and cover the hemispherical socket 1 5 of the coupling 12, thereby preventing unauthorised access thereto.

It will also be appreciated that other means may be provided for mounting and supporting the device 1 upon the coupling 12. Similarly, other suitable forms of locking means for securing the device 1 to the coupling 12, such that the open end of the towing socket 1 5 is shrouded by the lower part 20 of the body portion 2, may also be employed.

1. An anti-theft device for a caravan, comprising a body which has: (i) means arranged to engage a tow bar coupling to mount and support the body thereon; (ii) a shroud arranged to cover and close the towing socket of the coupling, when the body is mounted and supported thereon; and (iii) means for locking the body to the coupling, when the body is mounted and supported thereon, to maintain the socket covered and closed by the shroud.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said engaging means comprises a groove in the body, which is complementary with and which is arranged to slidingly engage a peripheral flange on the coupling.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises a pin which is arranged to be passed through a bore in the body of the device, with its free end located within the coupling socket adjacent an inner wall thereof when the body is mounted and supported on the coupling, to prevent the body from being slid off the coupling, thereby preventing exposure of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Caravan anti-theft device This invention reiates to an anti-theft device for a caravan, the device being securable to the tow bar coupling of a caravan. In accordance with the invention, there is provided an anti-theft device for a caravan, the device comprising means arranged to engage the caravan tow bar coupling to mount and support the device thereon, a shroud arranged to cover and close the towing socket of the tow bar coupling when the device is mounted and supported thereon, and means for locking the device to the tow bar coupling when the device is mounted and supported thereon with the shroud covering and closing the tow bar coupling socket. In a standard form of caravan tow bar coupling there is provided a peripheral flange upon which the device can be mounted and supported with a sliding action. When the device has been so mounted and supported on the coupling the shroud covers the open end of the generally hemispherical towing socket, whereby the unauthorised insertion therein of a tow ball of a towing vehicle cannot be achieved. In this position of the device, the locking means is then used to lock the device securely to the tow bar coupling, thereby preventing unauthorised removal of the device therefrom. Preferably, said locking means consists of a pin which is passed through a bore in the body of the device to have its free end located within the coupling socket adjacent an inner wall thereof, to prevent the device from being slid off the coupling, thereby preventing exposure of the socket for towing purposes. The pin is locked into position within the socket by a key-operated locking mechanism securely mounted within the body of the device. In this regard, the pin is preferably provided with an annular groove which, with the pin in the locking position, is engaged by a correspondingly-shaped, semi-circularly crosssectioned spigot operated by turning the key of the locking mechanism to its locking position. In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of anti-theft device for a caravan, in accordance therewith, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the anti-theft device; and Fig. 2 is a partial elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1 but with a locking pin inserted. Referring to the drawing, an anti-theft device 1 for a caravan comprises a first body portion 2 having a generally U-shape in plan and an inner groove 3 which is adapted to engage and to slide on to a correspondingly-shaped, peripheral flange 13 of a caravan tow bar coupling 12, as shown in Fig. 2 in chain-dotted lines, whereby the device 1 is mounted and supported thereon. Associated with the first body portion 2 is a second body portion 4 depending therefrom and incorporating a key-operated locking mechanism 5, as shown in Fig. 1. The locking mechanism 5 includes a locking pin 6 which is received within a bore 7 passing through the two body portions 2, 4.The pin 6 has an annular groove 8 which, when the pin is inserted in the bore 7, as shown in Fig. 2, such that its free, upper end 10 is located adjacent the inner wall 14 of the towing socket 15 of the coupling 12, lies in register with a rotatable generally semi-circularly cross-sectioned spigot 9, as shown in Fig. 1, of the locking mechanism 5. The spigot 9 can be rotated into its locking position, to engage the annular groove 8 of the locking ring 6, by means of a key (not shown) associated with the locking mechanism 5. In this locked position of the pin 6, the device 1 cannot be slid off the coupling 12, because the free end 10 of the pin 6 will abut the inner wall 14 of the socket 15, thereby preventing unauthorised removal of the device 1. For authorised removal of the device 1 and a subsequent towing operation, the key (not shown) of the locking mechanism 5 is rotated to disengage the spigot 9 from the annular groove 8 of the pin 6, whereby the pin can be removed from the bore 7, such that the device 1 can be slid off the peripheral flange 13 of the coupling 12, thereby exposing the towing socket 1 5. It will be appreciated that the lower part 20 of the first body portion 2 below the inner groove 3 acts as a shroud to close and cover the hemispherical socket 1 5 of the coupling 12, thereby preventing unauthorised access thereto. It will also be appreciated that other means may be provided for mounting and supporting the device 1 upon the coupling 12. Similarly, other suitable forms of locking means for securing the device 1 to the coupling 12, such that the open end of the towing socket 1 5 is shrouded by the lower part 20 of the body portion 2, may also be employed. CLAIMS

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises a pin which is arranged to be passed through a bore in the body of the device, with its free end located within the coupling socket adjacent an inner wall thereof when the body is mounted and supported on the coupling, to prevent the body from being slid off the coupling, thereby preventing exposure of the socket for towing purposes.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the pin is arranged to be locked in position, with its free end located within the coupling socket adjacent an inner wall thereof, by means of a keyoperable locking mechanism securely mounted within the body.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the pin has an annular groove which, with the pin in its locking position, is engaged by a correspondingly-shaped spigot operable by a key of the locking mechanism.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein a first portion of the body includes said engaging means and the shroud and a second portion of the body, which depends from the first portion, includes said locking means.

7. A caravan anti-theft device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.