GB2552420A

GB2552420A - A lock for a door of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2552420A
Application number: GB1710223.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Powell Anthony
Original assignee: Trade Vehicle Locks Ltd
Current assignee: Trade Vehicle Locks Ltd
Priority date: 2016-07-21
Filing date: 2017-06-26
Publication date: 2018-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-26
Also published as: GB2552420B; GB201710223D0

Abstract

A lock for a vehicle door such as passenger door of a van; the lock comprising a barrel 8 and a portion 14 that projects from the vehicle door skin; the lock further comprising a shroud which prevents the lock portion being gripped by tools, e.g pliers. The lock shroud may be a single component or multi-part shroud. Preferably the protective shield comprises a first shroud piece 28 with tapering formation and a second shroud piece 30 with second tapering formation different to the first tapering piece.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A lock for a door of a vehicle Abstract Title: A protective shroud or a vehicle lock (57) A lock for a vehicle door such as passenger door of a van; the lock comprising a barrel 8 and a portion 14 that projects from the vehicle door skin; the lock further comprising a shroud which prevents the lock portion being gripped by tools, e.g pliers. The lock shroud may be a single component or multi-part shroud. Preferably the protective shield comprises a first shroud piece 28 with tapering formation and a second shroud piece 30 with second tapering formation different to the first tapering piece.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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FIG. 1

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FIG. 2

FIG. 3

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20-^		7

FIG.4 • ··

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FIG. 5

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FIG. 7

FIG. 8

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FIG. 9

FIG. 10

A LOCK FOR A DOOR OF A VEHICLE

This invention relates to a lock and, more especially, this invention relates to a lock for a door of a vehicle. This invention also relates to the vehicle when provided with the lock.

Vehicles are locked by means of a lock on their doors. The locks are usually operated by a central locking system. Some vehicles, for example a Ford Transit van manufactured from 2014 onwards, have door locks which comprise a lock barrel, and a lock portion which in use projects beyond an outer surface of the door the vehicle. The lock portion comprises a rim which is able to be gripped by gripper means such as pump pliers. The rim is then able to be rotated by the gripper means such as to cause the lock barrel to be rotated. This causes the central locking system of the vehicle to think that a key has been used and thus to operate to unlock the vehicle. This then enables thieves to gain access to the vehicle, either for the purpose of stealing things from the vehicle, or for stealing the entire vehicle.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lock for a door of a vehicle, which lock comprises a lock barrel, and a lock portion which in use projects beyond an outer surface ofthe door of the vehicle, and the lock being such that:

(i) the lock portion comprises a rim which is able to be gripped by gripper means, and then rotated by the gripper means such as to cause the lock barrel to be rotated and thereby cause a central locking system of the vehicle to think that a key has been used and thus to operate to unlock the vehicle; and (ii) the lock comprises shroud means which fits over the lock barrel and/or the lock portion, and which shrouds the lock portion with a formation that is not able to be gripped by the gripper means such as to cause the lock barrel to be rotated.

The lock of the present invention is thus advantageous in that the shroud means prevents the operation of the gripping means, and thereby the unauthorised operation of the central locking system to open the vehicle and leave it vulnerable to theft of articles from the vehicle or theft of the entire vehicle itself.

The formation is preferably a tapering formation. Other shaped formations may be employed. Generally, the formation may be of any shape that prevents the operation of the gripping means.

The shroud means may be a one-piece shroud means. The one-piece shroud means may have one of the formations, for example one of the tapering formations, or it may have two or more different ones of the formations, for example two or more different tapering formations.

Alternatively, the shroud means may be a multi-piece shroud means. The multi-piece shroud means may have one of the formations, for example one of the tapering formations, or it may have two or more different ones of the formations, for example two or more different tapering formations. The multipiece shroud means may be a two-piece shroud means. In this case the lock may be one in which a first piece of the two-piece shroud means provides a first tapering formation, in which a second piece ofthe two-piece shroud means provides a second tapering formation, and in which the second tapering formation is different from the first tapering formation. Alternatively, if desired, the second tapering formation may be the same as the first tapering formation.

The present invention also provides a vehicle when provided with a lock ofthe invention.

The vehicle is preferably a van. The vehicle may however be another type of vehicle, for example a lorry or a van, provided that the vehicle has a lock with the lock barrel and the lock portion which in use projects beyond the outer surface of the door of the vehicle.

In the case of a van, the door of the vehicle may be a front door. The door could be another door if desired, for example a rear door. Alternatively, all doors ofthe vehicle may be provided with a lock ofthe present invention.

Preferably, the vehicle is a Ford Transit vehicle which has been manufactured from 2014 onwards. Other types of vans may be provided with the lock of the present invention.

The gripper means may be pump pliers. Other types of gripper means may be employed so that, for example, the gripper means may be manually adjustable pliers, a wrench, pinchers, or any other device that is able to grip the lock portion with sufficient force to rotate the lock barrel and cause the automatic locking system of the vehicle to operate to unlock the vehicle.

When thieves are attempting to rotate the rim by the gripper means, they sometimes initially use a screwdriver or other sharp instrument to stab the door of the vehicle around the circumference of the lock. Often the door of the vehicle around the circumference of the lock is simply formed of thin sheet metal. The screwdriver or other sharp instrument penetrates the door and this helps to loosen the lock in the door. This in turn helps the rotation of the rim by the gripper means such as the pump pliers.

If the vehicle is a Ford transit vehicle then the shroud means will typically be a two-piece shroud. If the vehicle is a Ford Transit Custom vehicle, then the shroud means will typically be one-piece shroud means. The formation on the shroud means may be of one or more various angles and/or profiles. Generally, the formation may be of any shape that acts to prevent the operation of the gripping means.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a known lock on a rear door of a vehicle, with the lock being attacked by a thief using gripper means;

Figure 2 is a front view of the gripper means on the lock as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the gripper means on the lock;

Figure 4 is a side view of a lock barrel of the lock shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 1 but shows a lock of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a side view of shroud means forming part of the lock shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view of shroud means and a lock barrel forming part of the lock shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an exploded view of the lock parts shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of shroud means as shown in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a view from the front and one side of a lock having shroud means which is a one-piece shroud means.

Referring to Figures 1-4, there is shown a lock 2 for a door 4 of a vehicle 6. The lock 2 comprises a lock barrel 8 and a lock portion 10 which in use projects beyond an outer surface 12 of the door 4 of the vehicle 6.

The lock 2 is such that the lock portion 10 comprises a rim 14 which is able to be gripped by gripper means 16 such as to cause the lock barrel 8 to be rotated. This thereby causes a central locking system (not shown) of the vehicle 6 to think that a key (not shown) has been used. The central locking system thus operates to unlock the vehicle 6. The gripper means 16 is shown being operated by a person 18.

Referring to Figure 4, the lock barrel 8 has a fork 20 at one end as shown. When the gripper means 16 rotates the lock barrel 8, then the fork 20 rotates, and it is the rotation of the fork 20 that causes the central locking system to think that a key has been used, and thereby to operate to open the vehicle 6.

Referring now to Figures 5-9, there is shown a lock 22 of the present invention. Similar parts as in Figures 1 - 4 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.

The lock 22 comprises shroud means 24 which fits over the lock barrel 8 and/or the lock portion 10. The shroud means 24 shrouds the lock portion 10 with a formation 26 that is not able to be gripped by the gripper means 16 such as to cause the lock barrel 8 to be rotated. This in turn means that the person 18 is not able to use the gripper means 16 to fool the central locking system into thinking that a key has been used, and thus to unlock the vehicle 6.

The formation 26 is a tapering formation 26. As best seen from Figures 6-9, the shroud means 24 is a two-piece shroud means 24. A first piece 28 of the shroud means 24 provides a first tapering formation. A second piece 30 provides a second tapering formation. The second tapering formation is different from the first tapering formation. The first and second pieces 28, 30 fit together to form the formation 26, as can be appreciated from Figures 7, 8 and

9. The second piece 30 may act as a shim.

The vehicle 6 is a Ford Transit van which has been manufactured from 2014 onwards. The door 4 is a right hand front door ofthe vehicle 6. The gripper means 16 are pump pliers. The rim 14 is on a bezel 32.

Referring now to Figure 10, there is shown a one-piece shroud means 32 which fits over a lock barrel 8 having a central lock portion 10. The onepiece shroud means 42 has a tapering formation which tapers and curves as shown. This formation acts to prevent gripping by gripper means, and subsequent turning of the lock barrel 8 by the gripper means.

In all embodiments of the present invention, the shroud means may be made of any suitable and appropriate material. Stainless steel is one satisfactory material. The stainless steel is expensive and typically requires machining to produce the shroud means. Thus stainless steel may be used where expense is not a major consideration. Cheaper materials may be cast materials including cast synthetic materials such as cast plastics materials and cast zinc-based alloys, for example Mazak.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the shroud means 24 may be a one-piece shroud means or it may alternatively comprise more than two pieces. The shroud means 24 may be such that the first piece 28 and the second piece 30 provide the same type of taper. The lock, for example the lock 22, may be a known lock which has had the shroud means, for example the shroud means 24, added. Alternatively the lock may be a new lock which is manufactured and sold with the shroud means as part of the lock. The lock, whether it be a known lock or a new lock, may be one having guide means for guiding one part into another part. The guide means may be fluting, for example on a lock body part that receives a lock barrel. The lock barrel may be one which is pushed into position and then twisted to achieve a fixed position. The vehicle 6 may be any vehicle 6 which is provided with a lock portion, for example the lock portion 10, and which is able to be gripped by gripper means, for example the gripper means 16, such as to cause a lock barrel of the lock to be rotated and a central locking system of the vehicle thereby to operate. The gripper means 16 are shown as pump pliers but they may alternatively be another type of pliers, a wrench, pinchers or any other device able to grip the lock portion 10 as required. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention. The invention also extends to the individual components mentioned and/or shown above, taken singly or in any combination.

The names Ford and Ford Transit24 are Registered Trade Marks.

Claims

1. A lock for a door of a vehicle, which lock comprises a lock barrel, and a lock portion which in use projects beyond an outer surface of the door of the vehicle, and the lock being such that:

2. A lock according to claim 1 in which the formation is a tapering formation.

3. A lock according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the shroud means is a one-piece shroud means.

4. A lock according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the shroud means is a multi-piece shroud means.

5. A lock according to claim 4 in which the multi-piece shroud means is a two-piece shroud means.

6. A lock according to claim 5 in which the first piece of the two-piece shroud means provides a first tapering formation, in which a second piece of the two-piece shroud means provides a second tapering formation, and in which the second tapering formation is different from the first tapering formation.

7. A vehicle when provided with a lock according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. A vehicle according to claim 7 in which the vehicle is a van.

9. A vehicle according to claim 8 in which the door of the van is a front door.

10. A vehicle according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which the vehicle is a Ford Transit van which has been manufactured from 2014 onwards.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1710223.7 Examiner: Ben Munns