Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for blocking the hand brake lever of cars, preferably for the use in passenger cars. The aim of the proposed device is to prevent the theft of cars.

Background Art

Several devices became known for preventing car thefts. In particular, devices connected to the electric system of cars are widely used in practice. In case of an intended non-competent use these devices produce an acoustic or another signal and inform in 'such a manner the proprietor or the person being in charge of super¬ vising the car in order to be able to prevent the car thefts.

Electrically operated devices are also known which hinder the proper use of the car as long, as the car is not put into running condition by using a key or some other suitable means.

A drawback o the known devices preventing car thefts based on electric operational principles lies in that installation, maintenance, in several cases engagement and disengagement thereof require special skill and in addition they modify the electric system of. the cars by increasing possibilities of defects. Some

devices may disturb normal operation of the motor, make defect tracing more difficult. In addition, further common disadvantageous feature of the known devices lies in that they are rather expensive, ount- 5 ing is also very costconsuming.

Mechanical devices serving for the prevention of car theft have also become known. Out of these first of all the types should be mentioned, which are simple chains or- coated wires which are passed through the O steering wheel and padlocked to some organ of the car. Chains and wires, respectively, are also known, by the aid of which the tilted back of the driver's . seat can be fixed to the steering wheel.

Disclosure of the Invention

5 . By using the device according to the invention the deficiencies of known solutions serving for similar purposes can be well eliminated. The device proposed is inexpensive, installation does not require special skill or tools, every driver can install it himself 0 without difficulties. In spite of its simple structure it is suitable to prevent efficiently car thefts.

The aim set by the invention is to develop a device which keeps the hand brake in a retracted state for non—competent persons, 'while the release of the hand 5 brake could be made possible at the intervention of a person acquainted with the mode of releasing.

The aim set according to the invention is achieved in such a manner that the press button belonging to

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the ratchet serving for the engagement and disengage¬ ment of the hand brake lever is provided with cover¬ ing elements while an opening member is placed between the said elements by the aid of which the press button 5 releasing the ratchet of the hand brake can be operat¬ ed, if the lock belonging to the device acciording to the invention is set into the proper position. The opening member can be displaced axially only in this case. The lock blocking and releasing the motion 10 of the opening member is formed expediently as a unit containing a plurality of clock-type dials and the free axial displacement of said opening member may take place with a certain combinations of the numbers within said clock-type dials only.

15 Accordingly, the essence of the invention lies in that the device comprises elements covering the free end and at least a portion of the hand brake lever, where¬ by one of the elements forms a displaceably mounted opening member fitted to the press—button of the

20 engaging organ of the hand brake lever, further there is a locking device preventing the displacement of said opening member.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device accor ding to the invention at least a part of the hand brake 25 lever is covered by a casing in which the opening member can be operated in an axial direction.

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With an other preferred embodiment at least two rotatab rings belonging to the locking device are used which enclose partly the opening member; grooves are formed 30 in the inner side of the rings, while pins connected

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to the opening member are provided fitting into the grooves in the proper position of each one of the rings.

A further preferred embodiment may be obtained, if the casing is formed with a neck portion and the opening member is displaceably mounted therein, while the pins belonging to the locking device extend over the longi-' tudinal openings of the neck portion.

A very simple structural arrangement may be obtained if the rings belonging to the locking device are rotata mounted between the end of the casing and the outer flange of the neck.

It is possible to fix the head to the opening member, in this case it is expedient to insert a spring between the head and the shoulder (facing inward) of the neck.

The locking device is expediently shaped, so that in each one of the rings belonging thereto a cavity with a staggered cross-section should be formed while the grooves should open in to the cavity-parts with the larger diameter.

In order to facilitate opening of the locking device, the outer part of the rings belonging to the locking device are provided with markings preferably with numbers or letters referring to the position of the grooves.

Brief Description of Drawing

The invention will be described in the following by

means of a preferred embodiment, by the aid of the drawing enclosed. On the said drawing

Figure 1 is the longitudinal sectional view of the device according to the invention and Figure 2 is the side view of the same embodiment corresponding to Figure 1.

Best Mode of Carrying out the Invention

The casing 1 may be fitted on the hand brake lever not illustrated on the drawing. The casing 1 can be fixed to the hand brake lever in dif erent manners• With the embodiment shown here two fixing elements 5 are used, these are grub screws with an internal key-hole. The neck 3 is fitted into the upper part of the casing 1 , the outer flange of the neck is pressing the rings of the locking device 2 to the front part of the casing 1. The cavity within the neck 3 is divided into two parts by the shoulder facin inwards. The opening member 6 is also mounted in the neck 3 _» the said member is staggered along its length, i, e. said opening member consists of two cylindrical sections with different diameters. The cylindrical section with the larger diameter represents the part which is fitted to the press-button 11' of the hand brake lever not illustrated here. The shoulder of the opening member 6 leans on the inner lange of the neck 3« The section of the opening member 6 with the smaller diameter extends over the cavity defined by the inner flange, while it extends with the extensi at its free end through the central bore of the head 4.

Said extension is fixing the head 4 to the opening member 6 serving as a rivet. Within . the cavity of the head 4 the spring 7 is disposed enclosing the section with smaller diameter of the opening member 6. The spring 7 abuts on the one hand against the end pla-fce of the head 4 and the flange of the neck 3 facing inwards on the other.

Pins 8 are fixed on the part of the opening member 6 with larger diameter, said pins extend radially through the longitudinal openings 10 of the neck, said openings being disposed in the direction of the generatrix of the neck. A plurality of longitudinal openings 10 are formed in the neck 3- The numbered rings of the locking device 2 are enclosing a part of the section of the neck 3 intruding into the casing 1, with the embodiment shown on the drawing three rings are mounted. These rings are provided with a ball-guide known per se,suppor ed with a spring, in relation to the cylindrical mantle of _. the neck 3« In the inner part of the individual numbered rings cavities with a staggered cross-section are formed, while a groove 9 as the axial continuation of the staggered cavity with the larger diameter is shaped within the rings.

When applying the device according to the invention, the casing 1 is to be fixed on the hand brake lever of the car by means of the fixing elements 5» Mounting is to be performed so that the free end of the opening member 6 should just abut against — eventually fit in leaving a slight clearance - the press button 11 of the ratchet belonging to the hand brake lever in its free position. In the retracted position of the hand

brake, before leaving the car, the rings of the locking device are to be turned into the position different from that allowing the opening thereof. In this case the pin 8 belonging to the relating ring is placed on the section with the larger diameter of the inner staggered cavities of the ring. Axial displacement of the opening member 6 is impossible ^* in the outlined situation, as an axial displacement of the pins 8 is prevented by the shoulders of the staggered cavities of the rings belonging to the locking device 2. As a consequence, release of the hand brake is impossible inspite of the pressure exerted onto the head 4. Axial displacement of the opening member 6 — and thus the possibility of release of the hand brake - is possible only, if the groove 9 belonging to each of the rings of the locking device 2 are in line, as it is shown on Figure 1. In this position namely the opening member 6 is displacable under the pressure having been exerted on the head 4, as axial displacement of the pins 8 is not prevented. In course of the axial displacement the opening member 6 is pressing the press-button 11 of the rafchet assuring the fixed state of the hand brake and release of the hand brake is possible after the dis¬ placement, of the press-button only.

It is obvious on basis of the above description that different combinations are possibly varying the number of the longitudinal openings 10, as well as the number of the rings belonging to the locking device 2, to obtain a less or more complicated locking device. The driver of the car knows the position in which the locking device can be opened. This can be achieved only in a sole co-position coded by numbers.

The main advantage of the device according to the invention lies in its utmost simplicity, installation and use do not involve any difficulty. Manufacture is also without problems since all component parts are easy to manufacture by using simple technology. No special material is required, accordingly the device can be manufactured at a low cost.