ANTITHEFT DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR MOTORVEHICLES

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an antitheft device, particularly applicable to two-wheeled motor vehicles (hereinafter "motor vehicles", differentiating them from the class of four-wheeled motor vehicles) like, e.g., motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, scooters and the like, without excluding bicycles and three-wheeled vehicles that may be likened, in form and functions, to two-wheeled vehicles.

These specific vehicles share the feature of requiring a standing system allowing them to be parked in a substantially vertical position.

The standing system generally comprises a kickstand, which may specifically be structured so as to form a rest below the center of gravity of the motor vehicle. This kickstand is commonly referred to as central kickstand.

Under travel conditions, the kickstand is kept folded below the motor vehicle, between the front and rear wheels, and it is held in this position, e.g., by a spring system.

Under standing conditions, the driver has to lower the kickstand, which will pivot about hinges arranged in the bottom of the motor vehicle, until having it touching the ground. Then, the driver has to exert traction that, by pivoting onto the lowered kickstand, translates into a lifting. Thus, one of the motor vehicle wheels, typically the rear one, remains lifted off the ground, while the kickstand bears the weight of the motor vehicle by remaining stuck between it and the ground.

In order to free the motor vehicle, it suffices to exert a forward push to return the kickstand to its original position. Another form of kickstand, frequently provided along with the preceding one, consists in a rod that, under travel conditions, lies it also folded on the motor vehicle body. The former is commonly referred to as side kickstand.

For parking, the rod is arranged in a configuration projecting groundwise and its end is engaged to rest the vehicle sideways. This system, though exhibiting evident problems of stability - above all on uneven or non-level grounds - is often preferred for its simplicity of use.

Though described with reference to the first type of kickstand, hereinafter the invention will be understood as applicable, the necessary changes having been made, also to the other type of kickstand. In standard use, motor vehicles are provided, by their drivers with various

antitheft systems, generally structured so as to lock one of the wheels or keep the front wheel in a steered position. These systems widely use chains and other mechanical elements, fastened with padlocks or alike devices.

However, they are inconvenient to use, above all when the vehicle and/or the road are dirty. Moreover, it could be rather easy for an ill-intentioned person to sever, with nippers, a wheel-locking chain. In addition, these systems are often bulky when not in use, and therefore have to take up scanty available space in the cases or beneath the saddle.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide an antitheft device allowing to overcome the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the known art.

Such a problem is solved by an antitheft device comprising pin means such as to interfere with the stroke of a kickstand preventing its folding, movable between an interference-free inactive position and an active position, said pin means being provided with a locking system controllable by the owner of a key, even electronic, and/or of a security combination.

The main advantage of the antitheft device according to the present invention lies in allowing an easy locking of the kickstand that, by remaining in a parking configuration, prevents a moving of the motor vehicle. The present invention will hereinafter be described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example and without limitative purposes with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

* figure 1 shows a perspective view of a motor vehicle provided with an antitheft device according to the invention; * figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device according to the present invention, together with a kickstand; and

* figures 3A and 3B schematically and sectionally show the device of figure 2 in different operative configurations thereof.

Referring to the figures, a motor vehicle is denoted by 1. It comprises a kickstand 2 arranged (assembled) in the bottom portion of the frame, between front and rear wheels.

The kickstand 2 is of the type discussed in the foregoing, hinged to the frame and apt to be operated with a slight lifting of the motor vehicle 1 that causes a raising of the rear wheel 3. The kickstand 2 comprises a pair of feet 4, two uprights 5 and a connecting

rod 6 rotating in the frame. Other elements of the kickstand are not depicted here.

The antitheft device is generally denoted by 10. It comprises a bracket-like element 11 that serves for assembling the device 10 on the frame of the motor vehicle 1 or on the kickstand itself. However, it is understood that the assembling may be carried out with any one fastening element or, moreover, the device 10 may be built in the frame of the vehicle or into the kickstand itself.

The antitheft device 10 comprises pin means such as to interfere with the stroke of the kickstand 2, preventing its folding. In this embodiment said pin means consists of a bush 12 housing a mechanism with a key cylinder 13 causing the advance or the retreat of a pin that may move to a position such as to interfere with the uprights 5 of the kickstand 2.

Hence, said pin means is movable between an inactive position (figure 3A), devoid of interference, and an active position (figure 3B).

The pin means is provided with a locking system operable by the owner of a key 15, formed just by said mechanism with a key cylinder 13.

The key may be the one for starting the motor vehicle 1 or another one, e.g. a key formed according to European security standard.

According to an alternative version, the pin 14 is connected to an electrostatic or hydraulic actuation system, actuated through a remote connection, e.g., an infrared, microwave, radio wave one or the like.

In this case, the pin 14 may be actuated by a traditional key, an electronic key such as a smart card, or by a combination held, e.g., in a remote control.

The inserting of the pin 14 may be connected to the control of an acoustic and/or luminous alarm, which is deactivated once the pin 14 is retracted by the owner of the motor vehicle.

Moreover, it is understood that the pin means could also be assembled in correspondence of a side kickstand, not depicted here.

To the above-described device a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy further and contingent needs, could effect several further modifications and variants all however encompassed by the protective scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.