Removable steering wheel device
OwnerIsaac N. Longinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A removable steering wheel device for permitting removal of the steering wheel to make the vehicle undriveable and thus undesirable to a potential thief. The removable steering wheel device includes a steering wheel having a boss engageable with an upper end of a steering column of the vehicle. The boss includes a bore and a base wall at the bottom of the bore. A bayonet connection assembly for removably connecting the boss to the upper end of the steering column. A locking cap disposed within the bore for fixing the bayonet connection between the boss and the upper end. The locking cap including an assembly for preventing rotation of the boss relative to the upper end, and including an assembly for fixing the locking cap within the bore.
Claims8
An anti-theft device for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a steering wheel having a boss engageable with an upper end of a steering column of the vehicle, the boss including a bore and a base wall at the bottom of the bore;
- bayonet connection means for removably connecting the boss to the upper end of the steering column;
- and
- a locking cap disposed within the bore for fixing the bayonet connection between the boss and the upper end, the locking cap including means for preventing rotation of the boss relative to the upper end, and including means for fixing the locking cap within the bore.
An anti-theft device for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a steering wheel having a boss engageable with an upper end of a steering column of the vehicle, the boss including a bore and a base wall at the bottom of the bore;
- bayonet connection means for removably connecting the boss to the upper end of the steering column;
- a locking cap disposed within the bore for fixing the bayonet connection between the boss and the upper end, the locking cap including means for preventing rotation of the boss relative to the upper end, and including means for fixing the locking cap within the bore;
- wherein the bayonet connection means comprises a plurality of elongated slots in the base wall and a corresponding plurality of studs extending from the upper end of the steering column and engaged within the slots;
- a covering cap being attached to the boss for closing the top of the bore;
- wherein the rotation preventing means comprises a plurality of locking holes in the base wall and a corresponding plurality of locking holes in the upper end of the steering column, the holes in the base wall being aligned with the holes in the upper end when the boss is connected to the steering column, and a corresponding plurality of studs extending from the locking cap and disposed within the aligned holes;
- wherein the fixing means comprises a pin engaged with the boss;
- an actuating means for actuating the pin into and out of engagement with the boss;
- and
- wherein the actuating means comprises a finger operated lever pivotally attached to the locking cap and operatively engaged with the pin for actuating the pin upon pivoting movement of the lever.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.