US 5,689,981 AGranted

Anti-theft vehicle wheel lock

AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology

InventorsNicholas Paolo DeLuca, Alvin L. Ramsey, Edward M. Lee, Patricia Ann Foote, Shin John Choi, Arlene A. Guerra

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Abstract

The apparatus immobilizes a wheel of a vehicle. A chock is connected to a facing bar. Also connected to the facing bar, spaced away from the chock is an engaging bar. The engaging bar has a first, generally elongated straight section and a second section that is shorter than the first straight section, and that is joined to one end of the first section such that the angle between the first section and a portion of the second section is between -45.degree. and +45.degree., preferably 0.degree.. The engaging bar is attached to the facing bar, such that the first straight section is generally perpendicular to the facing bar, the engaging bar is movable along its first section relative to the facing bar and the second section is rotatable around an axis coaxial with the first section. A lock locks the engaging bar at a desired position relative to the facing bar. The apparatus is arranged such that a user can engage it with a vehicle from a generally standing position, without the need to kneel or reach into the wheel well. The lock may comprise a locking element, locked by a key in a cooperating key receptacle and a detachable key blocker, which attaches to the key before it is removed from the receptacle. Typically, the key is a starter key for the vehicle to be immobilized, the key blocker attaching to the key such as to prevent use of the key to start the vehicle.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus for immobilizing an annular tire of a vehicle, said tire having an outer radius and diameter, an inner radius and an annular radius, an outer face and an inner face, and a width therebetween, said apparatus comprising:

a. a chock, having a tire circumference engaging surface and a around engaging surface;
b. an elongated facing bar, having first and second ends, which facing bar is connected to said chock at said first end, such that said facing bar is located in a tire facing plane that is perpendicular to both said around engaging surface and said tire circumference engaging surface and which tire facing plane, in use, is parallel to and adjacent the outer face of a tire to be immobilized;
c. an engaging bar, that is connected to said facing bar, spaced away from said chock approximately one outer diameter of a tire to be immobilized, said engaging bar comprising:
i.) a first, generally elongated straight section having a first and a second end, that is connected near its first end perpendicularly to said facing bar, and that is also oriented perpendicular to said tire facing plane;
and
ii.) a second section that is shorter than said first straight section, and that is free at a first end and joined at a second end to said end of said first section, such that an angle between said first section and a portion of said second section is between -45.degree. and +45.degree.;
d. means for adjustably attaching said engaging bar to said facing bar, such that:
i). said engaging bar is translatable perpendicularly to said tire facing plane, relative to the facing bar;
and
ii). said second section is rotatable around an axis coaxial with said first section;
and
e. a lock that locks said engaging bar at a desired position relative to said facing bar.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.