GB2261413A

GB2261413A - Vehicle security device

Info

Publication number: GB2261413A
Application number: GB9124342A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Denton Anthony Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-11-15
Filing date: 1991-11-15
Publication date: 1993-05-19
Also published as: GB9124342D0

Abstract

A vehicle anti-theft security device comprises a lockable clamp (10) engageable about at least two of the control pedals of the vehicle e.g. the brake and clutch pedals. Conveniently a pair of flat plates (12, 14) are pivoted in face to face relationship and provided with cut-outs (20) which together form pedal engaging apertures when the clamp is closed onto the pedals, secured by a padlock in aligned further apertures (18). A projecting abutment (26) may be provided which engages the floor to prevent pedal movement. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE SECURITY DEVICE This invention relates to anti-theft security devices for motor vehicles.

Vehicle-related crime and in particular theft or unauthorised taking away of motor vehicles e.g. for socalled tijoy-riding' is an increasing problem often giving rise to loss of life and injury as well as heavy costs in damage to property, police time, and insurance claims. This has led to pressure for greatly improved vehicle security, particularly for expensive and high- performance cars, when left unattended.

Such security provisions as improved door locking systems, alarms and the like are often costly, complex to instal, and sometimes unreliable in operation and do not alays deter a persistent thief. The object of the present invention is to provide an effective yet simple and inexpensive vehicle security device giving a high degree of protection and which can either be used alone or to supplement other forms of protection on almost any motor vehicle.

According to the invention there is provided a security device for a vehicle comprising a lockable clasp shaped for engagement about stems of at least to control pedals of the vehicle in use to prevent or limit their depression while the clamp is locked in place.

Conveniently the clamp includes a pair of strong and rigid plates which together define apertures for engagement on said stems, pivotally interconnected for opening and closing and with or adapted to receive inching means for securing tem in the closed condition.

The locking means may be a strong padlock whose shac'çle ;s received in aligned apertures of the plates to secure them in the closed condition.

The device may include a projecting or other abutment formation for engagement with the floor or other structure of the vehicle adjacent to the pedals to positively retain the latter at their outward or nondepressed position.

An example of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing being a perspective view of a vehicle security device.

The device comprises a clamp 10 having front and rear plates 12, 14 of heavy gauge high-tensile steel so that they cannot readily be bent or cut. In the closed condition shown in the drawing the plates overlie each other in face to face relationship.

They are secured at one end by a high-tensile pivot rivet 16 while the other end is provided with aligned through apertures 18 for receiving the shackle of a heavy duty padlock (not shown).

Front plate 12 is provided with a pair of spaced cut-outs 20 opening from its bottom edge whilst rear plate 14 has similar cut-outs opening from its upper edge so that, with the plates in the closed position, the respective cut-outs are aligned to form a pair of spaced rectangular apertures 24.

These apertures are spaced and dimensioned to engage with the stems of the brake and clutch pedals of a motor vehicle so that, when clamp 10 is locked about the stems neither pedal can be depressed independently of the other.

For added security one of the plates, in this example the rear plate 14, is provided with an integral abutment formation in the form of an L shaped foot 26 extending below and cranked rearwardly of said plate.

Foot 26 engages the floor of the vehicle so that, when clamp 10 is locked in place, inward movement, i.e.

depression, of either or both pedals is prevented or substantially-inhibited in that such movement is possible only for a minimal distance, i.e. not sufficient for either pedal to have any effect on the controls.

The device is preferably coloured or provided with some other surface finish so that it is readily visible from outside the vehicle, e.g. it may be coloured bright yellow, so that its presence will act as a deterrent to an intending thief.

For some applications the foot 26 or like abutment may be dispensed with, or some other form of limiting abutment may be employed, e.g. engaging the steering column or some other adjacent part of the vehicle structure.

Pedals other than or additional to the brake and clutch pedals may be engaged, for example the device could be extended to engage the accelerator pedal also.

Provisions for adjustment could be incorporated to enable a common device to fit a range of different vehicles, for example plates 14 and 12 could have a telescopic or other sliding section mid-way between apertures 24 so that the pitch of said apertures could be selectively varied to suit vehicles having different spacing between their brake and clutch pedals.

However, as the construction is simple and plates 12 and 14 are readily fabricated by inexpensive industrial processes, the stocking of a range of devices suited to different makes and models of vehicles is practicable.

As well as use on high performance and other passenger cars it is contemplated that the device will be particularly useful for added security of commercial vehicles such as lorries, and specialist vehicles such as tractors and contractors? plant which are otherwise vulnerable when left unattended on remote sites.

Claims

1. A security device for a vehicle comprising a lockable clamp shaped for engagement about stems of at least two control pedals of the vehicle in use to prevent or limit their depression while the clamp is locked in place

2. A device as in Claim l including locking means securing the clamp in engagement with the stems.

3. A device as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the clamp comprises a pair of strong and rigid plates which together define apertures for engagement on said stems pivotally interconnected for opening and closing

4. A device as in Claim 3 wherein the plates overlie each other in face to face relationship in the closed position.

5. A device as in Claim 3 or 4 wherein the plates are formed fro heavy gauge hi-tensile steel

6. A device as in Claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein the locking device is a padlock whose shackle is received in further apertures in each plate which are in alignment en the clamp is closed.

7. . device as in any preceding claim wherein the cla.:mp includes an abutment formation which will come into engagement with structure of the vehicle adjacent to the pedals in use to positively retain the latter at an outward or non-depressed condition.

8. A device as in Claim 7 wherein the abutment formation is shaped for engagement with a floor of the vehicle.

9. A device as in any preceding claim wherein the clamp is telescopically or slidably adjustable to vary the pitch of the control pedal engaging parts to suit pedals of different relative spacing.

10. A device as in any preceding claim shaped to engage the braze and clutch pedals of the vehicle.

11. A device as in any one of Claims 1 to 9 shaped to engage the brake, clutch and accelerator pedals of the vehicles.

12. A device as in any preceding claim having a brightly coloured finish so as to be readily visible.

13. A security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.