GB2220720A - Security device - Google Patents

Abstract

A security device suitable for use, for example in securing a car wheel trim 32 in position with respect to a wheel 30 by means of a nut, 8 comprises a shroud 2 which is provided with an inwardly extending flange 4 and an outwardly extending flange 6. In use, the wheel 30 is placed on a bolt 28 projecting from the vehicle axle and the nut 8 threaded onto the bolt. The wheel trim 32 is then clipped in place so that an aperture 34 in the trim is positioned about the end of the nut 8 so as to leave an annular gap into which the shroud 2 is placed so that the flange 6 overlaps the edges of the aperture 34. A cylinder lock 20 is then positioned within the shroud so as to lie flush. On removing the key, the lock operates conventionally so that the inwardly extending flange 4 of the shroud is captive between the nut 8 and a shoulder 26 of the lock. <IMAGE>

Description

SECURITY DEVICE The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to a security device for use in securing to a first member a second, apertured, member and third member superposed upon said second member. The invention may be used particularly but not exclusively for securing to a vehicle axle bolt a wheel and an accessory such as a wheel trim.

It is conventional to secure, for example, a vehicle wheel to a bolt by means of a nut. Such a nut is however readily removable and therefore presents an easy task to a thief. Attempts have been made to produce a locking device for use in association with one of the nuts provided for the four bolts normally provided on a vehicle axle and a wheel having such a device is normally considered thief-proof. Such a device is described in United Kingdom Patent 1198922, which describes a locking device for a nut having a recess at the end of its threaded bore into which is received a cylinder lock having latching members engageable with indents formed in the bore. A shroud is provided to encase the flats on the nut, the shroud having a retaining portion trapped between the nut and the lock in use to prevent access to the nut to turn it.

Nevertheless such a device is incapable of preventing a type of theft prevalent since the introduction of ornamental accessories known generally as wheel trims, which may comprise a generally disc-like cover concealing the wheel nuts and imparting an improved appearance to a vehicle wheel. Such covers may be relatively expensive and are normally readily prised off, making them an easy target.

It is an object of the invention to provide a security device suitable use to reduce the risk of this type of theft.

This invention provides a security device suitable for use in securing to a first member a second, apertured, member and a third member to be superposed upon said -second member, the device comprising a nut having a threaded bore for receiving a bolt extending from said first member, at one end of which bore is provided a recess having a plurality of grooves provided in the inner wall surface thereof, a cylinder-type lock having extensible latching members engageable in use with said -grooves, and a shroud member enclosing the nut so as to conceal the flats thereof and having an extension portion projecting beyond the nut in a direction generally away from the threaded bore said extension portion being provided with internal retaining means adapted to be held captive between the nut at the mouth of its recess and the lock and external retaining means adapted to hold captive said third member in a superposed relationship to the second member through which passes the bolt of said first member.

In the example to be described below, the first members a vehicle axle, the second member is a wheel for attachment to the axle and the third member is a so-called car wheel trim.

Advantageously, the internal retaining means may comprise an annular flange the central aperture surrounded by the flange having a dimension adapted to permit reception of the cylinder of the lock so that a shoulder of said lock abuts the flange. The external retaining means may also comprise an annular flange adapted to overlap the margins of an aperture formed in the third member, in the example the wheel trim.

There will now be described an example of a device according to the invention. It will be understood that the description, which is to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figures 1 and 2 are a part-sectional view of a shroud member of the device and a top view thereof respectively; Figures 3 and 4 are a side view and a top view of a nut of the device respectively; Figures 5 and 6 are a side view and a top view of a lock of the device respectively; and Figure 7 is a side view partly in section of the shroud member, the nut and the lock in an assembled condition.

The shroud member of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 2 having a first internal retaining means in tne form of an annular flange 4 and a second, external, retaining means in the form of an annular flange 6.

The nut of Figures 3 and 4 comprises a body portion 8 having a bore axially, therethrough, the lower portion 10 of which is threaded and the upper portion of which is in the form of a recess 12. The recess 12 is provided with grooves 14 around its cylindrical surface. For operation of the nut in the absence of the shroud, as will be explained below, flats 16 are provided in the region of the internal recess and at a lowermost portion thereof the body portion is tapered at 18.

Figures 5 and 6 show a cylinder lock comprising a body portion 20 provided with extensible latching members 22 receivable, in use, in the grooves 14 of the recess 12 (Figure 3). A key-receiving head portion 24 of the lock provides an annular shoulder 26.

Referring now to Figure 7, the device according to the invention is assembled to secure to a first member in the form of a bolt 28 (shown in chain-dotted lines) of a vehicle axle, a second member in the form of a wheel 30 (part of which only is shown, in chain-dotted lines) and a third member in the form of a wheel trim 32 (also in chain-dotted lines). The tapered portion 18 of the nut is introduced into a bore of the wheel 30 as the nut is threaded onto the axle bolt 28. This secures the wheel to the axle. The wheel trim 32 is then clipped in place so that edge portions around an aperture 34 therein are positioned about the mouth of the recess 14 leaving an annular gap therebetween.

Into this annular gap is then inserted the shroud 2 so that the flange 6 overlaps the edge portions of the aperture 34. The lock body portion 20 is then positioned in the recess 12 so that the outer surface of the head portion 24 is flush with the flange 6. The extensible latching members are operated conveniently by removal of the key (not shown) and the retaining flange 4 of the shroud will be seen to be captive between the body portion 8 at the mouth of the recess 12 and the shoulder 26 of the lock.

Thus the wheel trim is held firmly on the wheel and cannot be removed without use of the key unless damage is cause to the trim. As damaged trims have no value, the presence of the device according to the invention will reduce the number of unauthorised attempts made to remove the trims. If, however, the trims are removed and an attempt made to remove the wheel itself, the shroud will simply rotate freely about the nut, to which access cannot be gaIned.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A security device suitable for use in securing to a first member a second, apertured, member and a third member to be superposed upon said second member, the device comprising a nut having a threaded bore for receiving a bolt extending from said first member, at one end of which bore is provided a recess having a plurality of grooves provided in the inner wall surface thereof, a cylinder-type lock having extensible latching members engageable in use with said grooves, and a shroud member enclosing the nut so as to conceal the flats thereof and having an extension portion projecting beyond the nut in a direction generally away from the threaded bore, said extension portion being provided with internal retaining means adapted to be held captive between the nut at the mouth of its recess and the lock, and external retaining means adapted to hold captive said third member in a superposed relationship to the second member through which passes the bolt of said first member.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the internal retaining means comprises an annular flange, the construction and arrangement being such that a centrally disposed aperture surrounded by said annular flange is dimensioned to receive a cylinder of the cylinder lock so that a shoulder of the cylinder lock abuts the flange.

3. A device as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the external retaining means comprises an annular flange having dimensions such that the flange overlaps the margins of an aperture formed in said third member.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first member is a vehicle axle portion having a bolt extending therefrom, the second member is a wheel for attachment to the first member and the third member is a non-structural cover plate.

5. A security device suitable for use in securing to a first member a second, apertured, member and a third member to be superposed upon said second member, constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.