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Title:
THEFT PREVENTION DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2009/140702
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
A theft prevention device 10 according to the invention includes an elongate housing 12 having perforated side walls 14 and an end wall 16. A mounting arrangement 18 is located at an end of the housing 12 remote the end wall 16 for in use mounting the device 10 at an inlet to a fluid reservoir (not shown) so that the housing 12 extends into the reservoir.

Inventors:
PARKER MICHAEL JOHN (ZA)
STEYN ANDRE (ZA)
Application Number:
PCT/ZA2009/000039
Publication Date:
November 19, 2009
Filing Date:
May 13, 2009
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
PARKER MICHAEL JOHN (ZA)
STEYN ANDRE (ZA)
International Classes:
B60K15/04
Foreign References:
EP1782993A1
EP1724145A1
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
HAHN & HAHN INC. et al. (222 Richard StreetHatfield, 0083 Pretoria, ZA)
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Claims:

Claims

1. A theft prevention device including:- an elongate housing having perforated side walls and an end wall; and - a mounting arrangement located at an end of the housing remote the end wall for in use mounting the device at an inlet to a fluid reservoir so that the housing extends into the reservoir.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end wall is perforated.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the device includes a plate spaced apart from the end wall of the housing, which plate is mounted on struts extending from the housing and/or end wall.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the device includes a plate spaced apart from the end wall of the housing, thereby forming a second end wall.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the plate is perforated.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plate is arranged so that the perforations in the end wall and plate are offset from each other.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the perforations in the housing, end wall, and plate are substantially round and between

2mm and 6mm, preferably 4 mm in diameter.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall thickness of the housing is between 3 mm and 7 mm, preferably about 5 mm.

9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is manufactured from a metal or metal alloy having a hardness of at least HRC 20, preferably HRC 30, more preferably HRC 40.

10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inlet is defined at the end of the housing remote the end wall to permit a fluid to be introduced into the housing.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inlet is defined by the mounting arrangement.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the inlet is dimensioned to permit insertion of a conventional fuel dispensing nozzle therethrough.

13. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid reservoir is a fuel tank of a vehicle.

14. A theft prevention device according to the invention, substantially as hereinbefore described or exemplified.

15. A theft prevention device as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.

16. A theft prevention device including any new and inventive integer or combination of integers, substantially as herein described.

Description:

THEFT PREVENTION DEVICE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a theft prevention device and, more particularly, to a device for inhibiting unauthorised removal of fluid from a reservoir or tank in which the fluid is stored.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a theft prevention device including:- an elongate housing having perforated side walls and an end wall; and« α a mounting arrangement located at an end of the housing remote the end wall for in use mounting the device at an inlet to a fluid reservoir so * that the housing extends into the reservoir.

The end wall may be perforated.

The device may include a plate spaced apart from the end wall of the housing. The plate may be mounted on struts extending from the housing or end wall.

In an alternative embodiment, the housing may extend past the end wall and the plate may be mounted at a free end of the housing, thereby forming a second end wall.

In both of the abovementioned embodiments, the plate may be perforated or it may be solid. If the plate is perforated, it may be arranged so that the perforations in the end wall and plate are offset from each other. In this manner, insertion of one or more thin pipes into the reservoir via end walls of the housing is inhibited.

The perforations in the housing, end wall, and plate may be round and may be between 2mm and 6mm, preferably 4 mm in diameter. The relatively small size of the perforations further inhibits insertion of a pipe into the reservoir via the housing. The wall thickness of the housing may be between 3 mm and 7 mm and is preferably about 5 mm.

The housing may be manufactured from a metal or metal alloy having a hardness of at least HRC 20, preferably HRC 30, more preferably HRC 40.

Drilling into the housing to obtain access to the interior of the reservoir and thereby the fluid is inhibited by the hardness of the material from which the housing is manufactured.

An inlet may be defined at the end of the housing remote the end wall to permit a fluid to be introduced into the housing. Once introduced into the housing, the fluid may flow into the reservoir by flowing through the perforations into the reservoir.

The inlet may be dimensioned to permit insertion of a conventional fuel dispensing nozzle therethrough. Accordingly, the fluid may be a liquid hydrocarbon fuel such as, for example, petrol or diesel. The inlet may be defined by the mounting arrangement. It is to be appreciated, that the housing is dimensioned to permit a substantial portion of a fuel nozzle to be inserted into the housing.

The reservoir may be a fuel tank of a vehicle. It is to be appreciated, that the device may be mounted at an inlet of any fluid-containing reservoir to inhibit theft of the fluid. The mounting arrangement may be configured and dimensioned so as to be mountable at an inlet of the fuel tank or reservoir.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be described by way of the following, non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional cross sectional view of an embodiment of a theft prevention device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a top view of the device of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the device of Figure 1.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a theft prevention device in accordance with the present invention.

A theft prevention device 10 according to the invention includes an elongate housing 12 having perforated side walls 14 and an end wall 16.

A mounting arrangement 18 is located at an end of the housing 12 remote the end wall 16 as can best be seen in Figure 1 for in use mounting the device 10 at an inlet to a fluid reservoir (not shown) so that the housing 12 extends into the reservoir.

In the embodiment shown, the end wall 16 is also perforated. The device 10 includes a plate 20 spaced apart from the end wall 16 of the housing 12. In the embodiment shown, the housing 12 extends past the end wall 16 and the plate 20 is mounted at a free end of the housing 12, thereby forming a second end wall.

The plate 20 is also perforated and is arranged so that the perforations 22 in the end wall 16 and plate 20 are offset from each other. In this manner, insertion of one or more thin pipes into the reservoir via end walls 16 and 20 of the housing 12 is inhibited.

The perforations 22 in the housing 12, end wall 16, and plate 20 are typically round and have a diameter of between 2mm and 6mm, preferably 4 mm. The relatively small size of the perforations 22 further inhibits insertion of a pipe into the reservoir via the housing 12. The wall thickness of the housing 12 is between 3 mm and 7 mm and is preferably about 5 mm.

The housing 12 is manufactured from a metal or metal alloy having a hardness of at least HRC 20, preferably HRC 30, more preferably HRC 40.

Drilling into the housing 12 to obtain access to the interior of the reservoir and thereby the fluid is inhibited by the hardness of the material from which the housing 12 is manufactured.

An inlet 24 is defined in closure member 26 at the end of the housing 12 remote the end wall 16 to permit a fluid to be introduced into the housing 12. Once introduced into the housing 12, the fluid flows into the reservoir by flowing through the perforations 22 into the reservoir.

The inlet 24 is dimensioned to permit insertion of a conventional fuel dispensing nozzle therethrough. Accordingly, the fluid is typically a liquid hydrocarbon fuel such as, for example, petrol or diesel. The housing 12 is dimensioned to permit a substantial portion of a fuel nozzle to be inserted into the housing 12.

The reservoir is typically a fuel tank of a vehicle. It is to be appreciated, that the device 10 can be mounted at an inlet of any fluid-containing reservoir to inhibit

theft of the fluid. In the embodiment shown, the mounting arrangement 18 is configured and dimensioned so as to be mountable at an inlet of the fuel tank or reservoir.

It is to be appreciated, that the invention is not limited to any particular embodiment or configuration as hereinbefore generally described or illustrated.