Lug nut locking device
OwnerJeff M. Groteinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lug nut locking device is provided to prevent theft of vehicle wheels. The locking device includes a collar adapted to fit over the lug nut. A tube fits within the collar and has a threaded first end to threadably mount onto the lug bolt. The second end of the tube has an opening to receive a tool to tighten the tube onto the lug bolt. A lock cylinder slides into the tube and has a tab extendable by a key into a recess within the tube to lock the cylinder in the tube. A decorative cap frictionally fits over the collar to cover the lock cylinder. The collar and cap spin freely about the lug nut, to prevent use of a wrench while the lock device is mounted on the lug nut and bolt assembly.
Claims12
A method of locking a lug nut on a lug bolt to secure a wheel on a vehicle, comprising:
- tightening the lug nut onto the lug bolt;
- then
- positioning a collar over the lug nut;
- then
- inserting a tube into the collar and threading the tube onto the lug bolt;
- and then
- inserting a lock cylinder into the tube and locking the cylinder in the tube;
- and
- allowing the collar to spin freely about the lug nut and tube.
A lock device for a lug nut mounted on a lug bolt to secure a wheel on a vehicle, comprising:
- a collar having a first end fit over the lug nut after the lug nut is tightened on the lug bolt;
- a tube inserted into a second end of the collar and threaded to the lug bolt inside the collar after the collar is fit over the nut;
- a plug locked in the tube to prevent unthreading of the tube from the lug bolt;
- and
- the collar has at least one O-ring to inhibit passage of dirt into the lock device.
A lock device for a lug nut mounted on a lug bolt to secure a wheel on a vehicle, comprising:
- a collar fit over the lug nut after the nut is tightened on the bolt;
- a tube threaded to the lug bolt inside the collar after the collar is fit over the nut;
- a plug locked in the tube to prevent unthreading of the tube from the lug bolt;
- and
- a C-clip on the tube to retain the collar and tube together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.