DEVICE FOR PREVENTION OF VEHICLE DEPARTURE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for prevention αf a vehicle departure designed in order to make λhe departure of the vehicle impossible, for example, in case of unanthorized parking, or in order to safeguard the vehicle against a car theft, etc. These cbjects are attained by means of fastening the present device onto the vehicle wheel in order to make the wheel rotation impossible .

BACKGROUND ART

In order to prevent a vehicle departure, for example, in case of unanthorized or wrong parking in the prohibited or restricted place, there are known and generally used the devices for prevention of a vehicle departure commonly called as wheel clamps or so called "bootees".

These devices are usually arranged onto the wheel of the vehicle, the departure of which is to be prevented, wherein the object of these devices is to achieve the blocking of the wheel rotation.

The currently used devices for prevention of a vehicle departure, i.e. so called wheel clamp or "bootee", comprises a strong massive horizontal base made integrally in one piece with a vertical support plate, which plate is provided with a vertically oriented bar having at its end a horizontally moveable hook to be fastened onto the wheel of the vehicle.

This device is put onto the wheel and by means of gear assembly it is with an Allen wrench firmly attached to the tyre. Subsequently, this device is blocked by means of a lock.

However, such known devices for prevention of a vehicle departure are too complicated and cumbersome, their structure is complex, they comprise a plurality of structural components having often sharp edges. These known devices are very bulky and heavy so that the handling is difficult. Locking and keying is also too sophisticated.

In view of the fact that the number of undisciplined drivers as well as car thefts is constantly increasing, these devices are used very frequently, and in particular in big conurbations or on the occasions of programmes with high attendance of motorized visitors.

However, as mentioned above, the known, currently used and available wheel clamps or "bootees" have a lot of substantial disadvantages.

Consequently, there is a need for an improved device for prevention of a vehicle departure that will overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for prevention of a vehicle departure, which will be quite simple, comprising minimal number of structural components having low weight, will be suitable for storage and transport in a great number of pieces in minimal volume in collapsed state, handling will be simple and easy, danger of injury as a result of the sharp edges or dangerous components will be avoided, wherein secure and simple mounting of this device onto the wheel of the vehicle as well as its reliable locking to prevent a vehicle departure will be guaranteed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a device for prevention of a vehicle departure designed for putting on and fastening to a vehicle wheel in order to prevent rotation of this vehicle wheel. The device according to the present invention comprises a basic arm, provided with a foot to embrace the respective vehicle tyre, and with a restraint to prevent turning under the wheel arch, wherein a locking arm is

connected by means of a pivot hinge to the basic arm, said locking arm is provided with a foot to embrace the vehicle tyre and with a restraint to prevent turning under the wheel arch, wherein said basic arm is further provided with a sliding arm having a curved end to embrace the vehicle tyre, and the locking arm is provided with a blocking mechanism to block a set of arms in the adjusted position.

In a preferred embodiment, the blocking mechanism comprises a sliding blade, a retaining plate and a lock, each arranged inside the hollow profile of the locking arm.

The sliding blade is preferably provided with a sliding catch.

The sliding blade is advantageously provided on its upper end with a pin.

The retaining plate is preferably provided on its lower side with a compression spring.

The retaining plate can be advantageously provided with an operating element.

This operating element advantageously comprises a bolt or pin.

The hollow profile of the locking arm is preferably provided on its upper side with a longitudinal slot for receiving a shank of said sliding catch.

The hollow profile of the locking arm can be advantageously provided on its lateral side with an oval slot for receiving said operating element.

The sliding arm is preferably provided with a set of holes.

The widths of said foots and said curved end of the sliding arm are preferably adjustable.

The basic arm is preferably provided on its upper side with a hollow profile for receiving said sliding arm.

The advantages of the device for prevention of a vehicle departure according to the present invention consist especially in the following factors:

- small number of easily producible components,

- lower weight,

- simple handling,

- easy, quick and prompt installation and dismantling,

- good storability and transportability - very compact in collapsed state,

- safety - without any sharp edges, thus avoiding possible injuries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These, as well as other objects and advantages of this invention, will be more completely understood and appreciated by careful study of the following more detailed description of the presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partly sectional perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention in operational state;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partly sectional front elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a part D in Fig. 1 showing the components of the blocking mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view showing an exemplary embodiment of the basic arm according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the basic arm shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the basic arm shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the basic arm shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view showing an exemplary embodiment of the locking arm according to the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the locking arm shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the locking arm shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the locking arm shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view showing the profile of the locking arm according to the present invention;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a partial plan view showing the profile of the locking arm shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the profile of the locking arm shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view showing the sliding arm according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 18 is a schematic view of the upper part of the sliding arm shown in direction A-A indicated in Fig. 13;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the sliding arm shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of the sliding blade with the sliding catch and the pin;

Fig. 21 is an elevational view of the sliding blade shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is an elevational view of the retaining plate;

Fig. 23 is a plan view of the retaining plate shown in Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the retaining plate shown in Fig. 22;

Fig. 25 is an elevational view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the operating element;

Fig. 26 is a perspective view of the operating element shown in Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is a side elevational view showing an exemplary embodiment of the lock;

Fig. 28 is an elevational view of the lock shown in Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is a plan view of the lock shown in Fig. 27; and

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the device according to the present invention in the collapsed transport state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A device M) for prevention of a vehicle departure according to the present invention is designed for fixing on a vehicle wheel in order to prevent rotation of this vehicle wheel.

The present device M) comprises a basic arm 1 provided with a foot l_a to embrace the respective vehicle tyre, a restraint Ib to prevent turning under the wheel arch, and a hollow profile l_c_ for receiving a sliding arm _3. A locking arm 2_ is connected by means of a pivot hinge 4_ to the basic arm _1. The locking arm 2 _^ is provided with a foot ^a. to embrace the vehicle tyre and with a restraint 2b_ to prevent turning under the wheel arch.

The basic arm 1 is provided with the sliding arm _3 having a curved end ^3a_. The sliding arm 3_ is freely arranged in the hollow profile l_c fastened on the upper side of the basic arm 1_. Therefore, the sliding arm 3_ can be shifted in and out, as desirable, depending on the size of the vehicle wheel. The sliding arm 3_ is provided with a plurality of holes 9_.

Both foots _la_ and Za^ as well as the curved end 3_a of the sliding arm 3 _^ can be preferably made as adjustable according to the tyre width.

The locking arm 2 _^ is made from a hollow profile, inside that there is arranged a blocking mechanism 6Q_ for blocking the device _5JD according to the present invention in a desired position. Said blocking mechanism 6JD substantially comprises a sliding blade _5, a retaining plate 1_ and a lock 12.

The sliding blade _5 is slidingly arranged inside the hollow profile of the locking arm .2 along the upper side thereof.

The sliding arm 3_ is arrested by means of a pin _6 arranged on the upper end of the sliding blade _5. The pin Jδ is inserted into the respective hole _9 in the sliding arm 3_ in order to avoid a movement of the sliding arm _3, backward tilting of the arms 1_ and 2^ and subsequent removal of the device _50 _^ from the vehicle wheel.

The sliding blade _5 is provided with a sliding catch 13 _. for guiding the blade _5 at the upper side of the hollow profile of the locking arm _2 against the retaining plate 1_. Said upper side of the hollow profile of the locking arm 2_ is provided with a longitudinal slot L4 for guiding a shank 13a of the sliding catch 13.

If the pin _6 is sufficiently inserted into the hole _9 in the sliding arm 3_, the retaining plate 1_ will automatically snap in, and therefore any backwards movement

of the blade 5 _^ is avoided so that the device 5_0 according to the present invention cannot be released.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retaining plate 1_ is provided with a compression spring _8, the bushings 1_1 ^for fastening an operating element HL as well as with the respective operating element JLCL The retaining plate !_ is pivotally attached by its lower end under the internal upper side of the hollow profile of the locking arm 2_. Accordingly, the retaining plate ]_ is pivoted around the point of its attachment, wherein by means of the compression spring _8_ it is constantly forced to the upper side of the hollow profile of the locking arm 2_.

By means of the operating element IJO, made in the form of a bolt or pin, for example, which operating element I ₁ O is firmly connected to the retaining plate 1_ by means of bushings YL_, for example, and is movable in an oval slot JLJ5, it is possible to overcome the force of compression spring 8_ in the downward direction. Thus the retaining plate 2 will be pushed away from the upper side of the hollow profile of the locking arm 2_, and the backward movement of the sliding catch will be enabled.

Due to the backward movement of the sliding blade 5_, the pin _6 will disengage from the hole 9_ in the sliding arm 3 _y and therefore the arms 1_, 2_ and _3 of the device bθ_ according to the present invention will be released.

A lock 1_2 is arranged inside the hollow profile of the locking arm 2_.

If the lock 1_2 is locked, then its dead bolt 1_6 is in engagement with the lower surface of the retaining plate 1_, so that the retaining plate 1_ cannot be by means of the operating element IJD tilted in the downward direction. Any rotational movement of the retaining plate 1_ is avoided in this manner, because this movement is prevented by the dead bolt 1^6 of the locked lock _12_.

If the lock 12_ is unlocked, the dead bolt 1_6 of the lock 12 is retracted, so that by means of the operating element l_0 _^ the retaining plate 1_ can be turned inwards the hollow profile of the locking arm 2 _^ , so that the sliding blade _5 can be shifted inwards the hollow profile of the locking arm 2_.

The operation of the device 5_0 for prevention of a vehicle departure according to the present invention, as well as the respective handling, installation and dismantling, will be explained hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In order to arrange the device 5_0 according to the present invention onto the vehicle wheel, the device 50_ is initially placed in the collapsed transport position, it means that the basic arm 1_ and the locking arm 2_ are in horizontal position (see Fig. 30).

The lock 12_ is then unlocked and the retaining plate 2 is pressed by means of the operating element ]J3, so that the sliding blade 5 _^ is released and can be shifted inwards the profile of the locking arm 2_.

Consequently, the sliding arm _3 and the basic -arm _1 are released, so that the basic arm 1_ and the locking arm 2 _^ can be tilted one another around the pivot hinge _4, wherein the sliding arm _3 is freely moveable.

The unlocked device _5_0 lying on the ground is inserted under the vehicle, so that the foots ^a and ^a are placed on both sides of a single vehicle wheel. By means of gripping and lifting the sliding arm _3, the whole device 5^ will raise up to its maximal high allowed by the structural embodiment of the device 5J3. In this situation the foots la_ and _2a_ are in horizontal position.

The sliding arm 3 _^ can then be adjusted into the position corresponding to the size of the wheel. The sliding blade _5_ is then shifted into the sliding arm _3 into its maximal position. Consequently, the retaining plate 1_ will automatically snap after the backward end of the sliding blade _5 and therefore the adjusted position is arrested.

The retaining plate 1_ is by force of the compression spring 8_ pressed to the inward upper side of the hollow profile of the locking arm 2^ After the lock 1_2 is locked, the device 5J) is blocked in its operational position.

In order to dismantle the device 5J3 from the vehicle wheel, first of all the lock L2 is to be unlocked. After unlocking the lock 1_2 it is possible to push away, by means of the operating element l_0, the retaining plate 1_ f ^rom the inward upper side of the hollow profile of the locking arm 2_ against the force of the compression spring 8_. In this

manner, the sliding blade _5 is released and is freely moveable.

When the sliding blade _5 is shifted back, then the arresting of the arms 1_, 2_ and 3_ is released. The device 5^0 can be removed from the vehicle wheel and can be arranged into the transport position or again into the operational position.

In order to prepare the device _50^ according to the present invention for transport after its removal from the vehicle wheel, it is sufficient to place the basic arm 1_ and the locking arm 2_ into the horizontal position and to shift the sliding blade 5> into its maximal position.

Thus the whole device 50_ is again arrested, wherein after locking the lock 12 it remains in fixed and compact state .

DEVICE FOR PREVENTION OF VEHICLE DEPARTURE

PARTS LIST

50 - device 50 for prevention of a vehicle departure 60 - blocking mechanism

1 basic arm

Ia foot

Ib restraint

Ic hollow profile element

2 locking arm

2a foot

2b restraint

3 sliding arm

3a curved end

4 pivot hinge

5 sliding blade

6 pin

7 retaining plate

8 compression spring

9 hole

10 operating element

11 bushing

12 lock

13 sliding catch

13a shank

14 longitudinal slot

15 oval slot

16 dead bolt

17 slot