VEHICLE SECURITY

THIS INVENTION relates to vehicle security. In particular, this invention relates to a threaded fastener, to a key member, to an anti-theft kit, to a database, to a vehicle security arrangement and to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The wheels of road transport vehicles or earth moving equipment are popular targets of thieves. Often vehicles are parked next to the road while the driver rests inside the cabin. This scenario presents the opportunity for thieves to steal wheels from the vehicle. It is an object of this invention to make it more difficult for unauthorized persons to remove a wheel from a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly the invention provides a threaded fastener having a coded drive formation dhvingly engageable only by a mating drive formation of a specially provided key member.

In particular the invention relates to a threaded fastener having a coded drive formation in the form of at least one of a plurality of sockets and a plurality of spigots extending parallel to and spaced about a thread axis of the threaded fastener, the coded drive formation drivingly engageable only by a mating drive formation in the form of a plurality of spigots and sockets of a matched key member.

The coded drive formation may be defined by any one or more of the cross sectional shape of the sockets/spigots, the cross sectional size of the sockets/spigots, the arcuate spacing of the sockets/spigots and the radial positioning of the sockets/spigots about the thread axis.

Conveniently, the socket formations may be provided on the nut/bolt and the spigot formations may be provided on the key member. The spigot formations may be manufactured to fit snugly into the socket formations with little clearance.

The threaded fastener may include guide means in use to ensure that a key member, when in driving engagement with the fastener is co-axially aligned with the fastener.

The guide means may be defined by a socket formation in a head of the nut/bolt co-axial with the thread axis, the socked being shaped and dimensioned to receive an end of a key member.

The threaded fastener may have a circular fastening formation with a screw thread defined on the circular fastening formation for screwthreadingly receiving a matched fastening formation of the key member.

The circular fastening formation may be in the form of an outer surface of a head of the threaded fastener for receiving a threaded ring of a key member.

In one embodiment, the threaded fastener may be in the form of a wheel nut and in another embodiment the threaded fastener may be in the form of a wheel bolt.

In this specification, when the term wheel nut or nut is used, it is to be appreciated that the term can also refer to a bolt. Therefore the term threaded fastener in this specification is used to refer to both a wheel nut and a wheel bolt.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a key member for engaging a threaded fastener, the key member having a coded drive formation in the form of at least one of a plurality of spigots and a plurality of sockets extending parallel to and spaced about a rotational axis of the key member and threaded fastener combination, the arrangement of the plurality of spigots and sockets of the key member and the threaded fastener matched to each other to engage each other in driving relationship.

The key member may have a spanner engageable drive formation spaced from the coded drive formation whereby a turning moment applied to the spanner engageable drive formation is transmitted to the threaded fastener via the driver formation.

The key member may include a solid state memory device arranged to store information in electronic format on the key member.

The key member may include electrical terminals connected to the memory device for accessing the information stored in the memory device externally. In particular, the spigot formations may define the electrical terminals.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an anti- theft kit which includes at least one threaded fastener as described; and a key member as described.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a database populated with information of coded drive formations of key members, the database comprising any one or more of a cross sectional shape of sockets/spigots, a cross sectional size of sockets/spigots, an arcuate spacing of the sockets/spigots and a radial positioning of sockets/spigots about a rotational axis of the a particular key member.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle security arrangement, which includes a key member as described; and a key receptacle for receiving the key member, the key receptacle and the key member having matched spigot and socket formations corresponding to the coded drive formations of the key member and a threaded fastener.

The key receptacle may have electrical terminals matched to the electrical terminals on the key member and may be removably connectable thereto when the key member is inserted into the key receptacle for accessing the memory device in the key member.

The electrical terminals in the key receptacle may be provided at different depths in the sockets and the spigot formations of the key member may be of different lengths corresponding to the depths of the key sockets, thereby to be in electrical contact only when the pins and sockets form a uniquely matched set.

The vehicle security arrangement may include an interrogation unit connected to the key receptacle for accessing the memory device of the key member when located in the key receptacle.

The vehicle security arrangement may include a processor operable to retrieve information from a memory device of a key member and operable to compare the information with predefined information of a valid key member.

In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle security arrangement may be connectable to an electrical system of a vehicle, operable to activate electrical circuits of the vehicle when information retrieved from a key member confirms that a valid key member is inserted into the key receptacle.

The key receptacle may be in the form of a rotary switch operable as a rotary vehicle ignition switch.

The invention extends to a vehicle which includes a vehicle security arrangement, as described, connected to an electrical circuit of the vehicle.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the follow diagrammatic drawings.

DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an axial section of a threaded fastener in accordance with the invention, in position holding a wheel rim on a wheel stud (shown in broken lines); Figure 2 shows a partial end view of the fastener taken at M-Il in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a partial axial section of a key member in accordance with the invention;

Figure 4 shows a vehicle security arrangement in accordance with the invention;

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of a threaded fastener in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of a key member in accordance with the invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a threaded fastener in the form of a wheel nut in accordance with the invention, locking a wheel 12 (shown in broken lines) of a vehicle (not shown) onto a wheel stud 14 (also shown in broken lines).

The axis of the screw thread 10.1 of the nut is indicated by reference numeral 10.2.

The nut 10 has a plurality of circular cylindrical sockets 16 asymmetrically spaced from and about the axis 10.2, according to a predefined code. The sockets 16 are intended to receive in a snug fit the spigot formations 18 of a key member 20 (shown in part section), described hereafter. The nut 10 has a guide socket 10.3 to receive in a snug fit the end 20.1 of the key member 20, thereby to ensure that in use, the key member 20 and nut 10 are coaxially aligned.

In order to prevent removal of the nut 10 from the wheel stud 14 by means of a stillson wrench, a slip ring 30 is provided around the nut 10. The slip ring 30 clips onto a circlip-type lock ring 32 located in a circumferential groove 34 in the nut 10. The slip ring 30 is axially located in position on the nut 10 by the lock ring 32.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, the key member 20 has spigot formations 18 in the form of pins 116, shaped, dimensioned and positioned to engage operatively with the socket formations 16 of the nut 10, when the end 20.1 of the key member 20 is in a working position with the guide socket 10.3. The pins 116 are of a

high grade material to ensure that they have adequate shear strength to resist the shearing effect when torque is applied to the nut 10 via the key member 20. The key member 20 has a spanner engageable drive formation in the form of a hexagonal formation 20.2. The pins 116 have the dual function of engaging only a unique set of sockets matched to the layout of the pins 116 and also to transfer the torque applied to the hexagonal formation 20.2. Typically the pins are circular in cross section with a diameter of between 4mm to 10mm. However, it is to be appreciated that other the coded drive formation may include other cross sectional shapes with different cross sectional sizes.

In use, at least one of the conventional vehicle wheel nuts per wheel will be replaced with the nut 10. The matching key member 20 will be stored in the vehicle ready for use when a wheel needs to be replaced. Without such key member, thieves will find it difficult to remove a wheel.

The applicant envisages that each key member with its set of nuts will have its own coded drive formation according to a code based on the cross sectional shape, size, and position radially from and about the axis 10.2 of the spigot/sockets. The code will be held in a database and a duplicate key member 20 and nuts 10 can be made only upon satisfactory proof that the request is authentic. To this end, when the anti- theft kit is initially supplied to a customer, the customer is issued with a unique personal identification number (PIN). When any components are subsequently ordered, the customer is requested to supply the unique PIN, and only upon presentation of such PIN, is the request processed.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a schematic block diagram of a vehicle security arrangement 50 which includes a key member 20 and a vehicle mounted receiver unit 54 in which is defined a key receptacle 56 (shown in broken lines).

The key member 20 includes a memory device 52, into which is stored information which includes a unique number associated with the unique key 20.

The memory device 52 is connected to the pins 116, as shown in broken lines. The memory device can thus be accessed via the pins 116.

The receiver unit 54 includes an interrogator unit 58 which is connected to terminals 16.1 inside the sockets 16 for connection to the pins, when the key member 20 is inserted into the key receptacle 56.

The interrogator is in electrical communication with a vehicle electrical system 60 (shown in broken lines), such as an ignition system, a vehicle immobilizer, or the like.

In use, when the key member 20 is inserted into the key receptacle, the interrogator unit 58 accesses the memory device 52 inside the key member to read the unique number of the key member 20. If the unique number matches a previously stored number, the interrogator unit enables the vehicle electrical system 60 and the vehicle can be operated. If the unique number does not match the previously stored number, the interrogator unit disables the vehicle electrical system 60 and the vehicle is immobilized.

Also, if the correct key member 20 is not inserted into the key receptacle 56, the driver will not be able to operate the vehicle which would then be immobilized.

The vehicle immobilization feature would assist in the driver remembering the key member 20 before leaving his depot. Also, when the key member 20 is removed, the vehicle will be immobilized and thieves will not be able to remove the wheels of the vehicle.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, there is provided a key member 20 and a threaded fastener 10. The same reference numerals have been used to refer to the same parts as in Figures 1 , 2 and 3.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, the key member 20, includes a fastening ring 70, held in position on a shoulder 20.2 of the key member 20 by a circlip

72, located in a circumferentially extending groove 20.3 around the shoulder 20.2 of the key member 20.

The fastening ring 70 includes a threaded formation 74 on an inside surface. The threaded fastener 10 includes a matched threaded formation 76 on an outer surface of the fastener for receiving the threaded formation 74.

In use, once the end of the key member 20.1 is located in the socket 10.3, the key member 10 is removably fastened to the fastener 10 by means of the fastening ring 70, thereby holding the key member 20 and the fastener 10 in unison with each other while the fastener is fastened or removed from the stud 14.

It is envisaged that the embodiments shown in Figure 1 and Figure 5 can be combined by providing a ring around the head of the fastener 10 as illustrated in Figure 1 , but to provide also a thread on the outer surface of the ring as illustrated in Figure 5.

Because of the number of combinations available by varying the variables of spigot/socket cross sectional shape, the spigot/socket cross sectional size, and the arcuate and radial spacing of the spigot/sockets, it is necessary to store the information of each anti-theft kit in a database with the particular PIN of the kit.

The inventor believes the invention, as described an illustrated will assist in the reduction of theft of wheels of vehicles and of vehicles.