GB2260801A

GB2260801A - Motor vehicle anti-theft device

Info

Publication number: GB2260801A
Application number: GB9122747A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Pace
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-10-26
Filing date: 1991-10-26
Publication date: 1993-04-28
Also published as: GB9122747D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle anti-theft device takes the form of a valve which is incorporated with a lock within a common body 10 both of which are actuated by a key 11 so to permit or prohibit the passage of fuel through the valve via single ports of entry and exit. The device is interposed in the vehicle's fuel supply pipeline by means of hose connectors which are attachable to/at the ports. The device is secured to the underbody of the vehicle by means of shear-off-head set screws 13 screwed into tapped holes in seating plates on the body 10. A clearance hole is provided in the floor of the vehicle to allow protrusion of the lock head into the vehicle interior to facilitate actuation of the device by the driver. <IMAGE>

Description

MOTOR VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE This invention relates to a motor vehicle anti-theft device.

Anti-theft devices on motor vehicles are commonplace and many have become integrated into vehicle manufacturers specifications including not only the more obvious devices, such as door locks and ignition switch locks, but also, in many instances, devices for locking the steering. Another type of anti-theft device is the audible alarm which is intended to be actuated when the vehicle is tampered with by any person who is not in possession of the devices silencing unit. Yet another anti-theft device is the portable one which is intended to provide a means of imposing a lockable restriction upon a vehicle's main controls, such as the gear change lever and steering wheel, thus providing additional vehicle security so to supplement the anti-theft devices that are already fitted to the vehicle.

popular opinion holds that all of the above described anti-theft devices have failed to thwart or deter the determined and skilful car thief. Traditional lock and key combinations per se are rarely defeated by the thief but, nevertheless, such combinations are often so mis employed as to be bypassable by the thief, Door locks, for example, will not deter the thief who is prepared to gain entry by forcing open, or breaking, a side screen window. An ignition switch lock will not prevent a thief from starting the vehicles engine if he is able to locate the appropriate electrical wires, cut away some of the insulation, and thereby complete an electric circuit so to operate the starter motor and energise the ignition system.Steering locks serve no effective purpose if, as is commonplace, they only activate to apply a mechanism which is of insufficient strength to resist the torsional force which can be applied on the steering wheel by a reasonably strong person.

Audible alarms are, by their very nature, highly sensitive devices which are frequently actuated by the forces of nature, such as wind currents and rain, or by non-human forms of life, such as birds and cats, in consequence of which members of the general public have become oblivious to, or even irritated by, such alarms to an extent where they now tend to pay them no heed which thereby reduces the value or effectiveness of such equipment. Furthermore, the theory of scaring away a potential thief as opposed to that of immobilisation must be questionable.

portable anti-theft devices which restrict the movement of either the gear change lever or steering wheel tend to be cumbersome and clumsy to set in place thereby making them inconvenient to a degree which is usually related to the frequency with which the driver may need to apply such a device. Clearly the driver who needs to make many business calls per day is disadvantaged by this type of device and such time consuming application may lead, firstly to impatience, then to laxity and, finally, to carelessness in his attitude toward the security of his vehicle.

According to the present invention there is a means provided for prohibiting, and securing in that status, the supply of fuel to the vehicle5 engine by the interposal of a lockable valve (hereinafter referred to as The Valve) into the vehicle's fuel supply pipeline. The protection of the integrity of The Valve from would-be thieves is intended to be achieved by the choice of location for its fitment on the vehicle which is strongly recommended to be one of maximum inaccessibility with a strong preference for the underbody or other sector of equal merit where such a location would be able to facilitate itself of the vehicle manufacturer's choice of route for the fuel pipeline.Accessibility for the insertion of the key, whereby The Valve is actuated by the driver, is facilitated by the provision of, during or prior to installation, a clearance hole in the floor or other chosen panel through which the key slot head of The Valve can protrude into the interior of the vehicle or other area of ease of access. The Valve is securable to the vehicle body or chassis by any suitable means but preferably by means of shear-off-head set screws as an additional factor of security.The Valve is interposable into the vehicles fuel supply pipeline by any convenient means such as flexible hose connectors0 A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which : The Valve is shown in both fiont elevation and plan and comprises the incorporation of a lock and valve within a common body 10 which are actuated in unison by a personalised key 11.

The Valve is shown in situ in preparation for interposal connection into the vehicle's fuel supply pipeline.

Clearance holes are shown ill the vehicle's floor or underbody and its carpet to permit protrusion of The Valve's key-slot head.

The Valve is shown secured to the vehicles underbody by means of shear-off-head set screws 13 into tapped holes in the seating plates.

The Valve has a dust cap attachment 14 to prevent ingress of foreign matter whilst the key is absent from The Valve.

The Valve has single tubular ports of entry and exit 12 which are dimensionally compatible with the main fuel supply pipe so to facilitate interposal by means of hose connectors (flexible) and clips.

The Valve is seen to have a ninety degrees actuation movement.

The front elevation shows The Valve and its key in separation.

Claims

1 A motor vehicle anti-theft device comprising a lockable valve for alternatively permitting or prohibiting the supply of fuel to the engine, such a device being adapted to be securable to the vehicle's bodywork or chassis at any convenient point and which is also adapted to facilitate interposal into the vehicle's fuel supply pipeline and further incorporating a personalised key by means of which the driver, or other authorised person, can effect security of the vehicle.

2 A motor vehicle anti-theft device as claimed in Claim 1 but which also utilises securing screws with shear-off heads which, having sheared after tightening, prohibit, or tend to prohibit, their removal therefrom.

3 A motor vehicle anti-theft device as described in Claims 1 or 2 which is so devised as to be securable in a position of maximum inaccessibility on the vehicle for the purpose of imposing much difficulty for any unauthorised person to attempt to tamper with any fixings subsequent to installation. Notwithstanding such said inaccessibility, the device is also devised as to permit ease of access to authorised persons for actuation of the device by means of its key0

4 A motor vehicle anti-theft device as claimed in Claims 1,2 and 3 but having an actuation movement of ninety degrees or any other convenient angle of actuation.

5 A motor vehicle anti-tbeft device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6 A motor vehicle anti-theft device substantially as described in Claims 1 to 5 inclusively but which is also manufactured as two or more separate components which are assembled or connected in situ so as to operate as such a device as is herein described0 7 A motor vehicle anti-theft device substantially as described in Claims 1 to 6 inclusively but which takes the form of a nan-aligned configuration of the lock and valve axes of rotation, the said lock and valve able to interact accordingly by any convenient means such as a system of gears.