Locking system for car wheel

Abstract

A locking device for car wheels is disclosed to prevent unauthorized removal of the wheels. The device includes a locking unit that allows covering of special bolt heads by covering wings. The locking module can be further covered with a covering plate. The system provides multiple layers of protection to the wheels and considerably lengthens the time required to remove the wheel without proper keys.

Claims

1. A wheel locking device comprising: a center part adapted to cover a hub portion of a wheel; a multitude of protecting cases extending radially from the center part, wherein at least one of the cases is adapted to cover a lug nut head or a wheel bolt head of the wheel, and at least one of the cases comprises an access hole adapted to receive a device locking bolt or a device locking nut; a locking mechanism; and an access control member adapted to be operated by the locking mechanism between a first and a second position, wherein in the first position the access control member limits or blocks access to the device locking bolt or the device locking nut, and in the second position the access control member reveals access to the device locking bolt or the device locking nut.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device has two protecting cases comprising an access hole adapted to receive a device locking bolt or a device locking nut.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the access hole is a through hole.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein in the first position the access control member forms a cover or a lid adapted to fully cover the access hole and the bolt head or lug nut.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the access control member is a covering wing.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking unit arranged in the center part.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the locking unit extends through the center part.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is made of steel or aluminum.

9. A kit for locking a wheel, said kit comprising a locking device of claim 1, a multitude of lug nuts, at least two bolts, a key for operating the locking mechanism, and wrenches to open the lug nuts and the bolts.

10. A car wheel kit comprising one or more car wheels, locking devices of claim 1 for each of the one or more wheels, a multitude of lug nuts, and bolts, a key for operating the locking mechanism, and wrenches to open the lug nuts and the bolts.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a front view of the locking device of this invention in locked position with an outer cover attached.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a front view of the locking device of this invention in locked position without an outer cover.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a back view of the locking device of this invention in locked position

[0027] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the locking device of this invention in locked position.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a front view of the locking device of this invention in open position without an outer cover.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a back view of the locking device of this invention in an open position.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the locking device in an open position without an outer cover.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the locking device in an open position with an outer cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The invention is now described with reference to the appended drawings.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a front view of the locking device. The locking device has a center part (200) and a multitude of nut head cases (300). In this embodiment the device has five nut head cases (300) three of which (350) are lug nut head cases and two of which are special bolt head cases (320). The nut head cases (300) extend radially from the center part (200). Those two cases (320) that are for special bolt heads have a through aperture/hole (360) perpendicular to the front side of the device. The device is shown to have a covering plate (400) covering the center part (200). The device shown in FIG. 1 is in locked position as the covering wings (100) cover apertures (360) and special bolt heads (550, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) are not accessible.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the locking device without the covering plate. The center piece (200) has a cover retaining notch (600) for attachment of the covering plate (400, shown in FIG. 1). The covering plate may be attached to the notch for example by snapping or by screwing. In middle of the center part (200) there is a key hole (700) of a lock unit (730a shown in FIG. 3). The lock unit (730a) penetrates the center part (200). Again the device is in locked position as the cover wings (100) cover the apertures (360) and the heads of the special bolts (550) are not accessible.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a back view of the locking device. The back side of the center part has a guiding rim (250). The guiding rim (250) has slots (220) wide enough to allow the covering wings (100) to extend through the slots (220). There is a lock plate (720) within the guiding rim (250) covering the lock stud (730). The lock plate (720) has pin holes (710) for attaching first ends of attachment pins (800) while the second ends of the attachment pins (800) are attached to a pin hole (110) in the covering wings (100). Upon turning a key in the keyhole (shown in FIG. 1) the lock plate (720) turns within the guiding rim (250) and the pins (800) attached to the lock plate (720) change position thereby extending the covering wings (100) through the slots (220) to cover the apertures (360 shown in FIG. 1) when the device is in closed or locked position, and pulling the covering wings (100) to expose the apertures (360 shown in FIG. 1) when in open or unlocked position.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the locking device. The figure shows the device in closed or locked position as the covering wings (100) are shown to cover the aperture (360) thereby preventing access to the special bolt (500). The figure shows the first and the second ends (820, 840) of the pin (800), the lock plate (720), the cover retaining notch (600), and the case for lug nut head (350).

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the locking device in open position as the apertures (360) are open and there is a free access to the special bolts (500).

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a back view of the locking device in open position as the covering wings (100) are pulled away to expose the apertures (360) by turning a key in the key hole (700, shown in FIG. 1) to turn the lock plate (720) within the guiding rim (250) and thereby moving the pins (800) attached from their first end to the lock plate (720) and from the second end to the covering wings (100).

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of the locking device in an open position as the covering wings (100) are pulled away to expose the apertures (360).

[0040] FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the locking device in a closed position where the covering wings (100) are extended to cover the apertures (360). The figure also shows the additional protection provided by the covering plate (400) attached to prevent access to the lock unit (720).

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, the locking device of this invention comprises a center part from which five nut head cases are extended radially. The center is shown to be circular, but it may have other shapes as well. Two of the nut head cases have a through aperture perpendicular to the front side of the device and three of the nut head cases are covered. The covered cases are to cover regular lug nut heads, while the cases with through holes are for special bolts. The special bolts are preferably longer than the regular lug nuts and they also require a special wrench to remove them. The device also has a lock unit that extends through the center part. The key hole of the lock unit is on the front side of the center part. The lock unit has a lock stud that extends through the center part from the front side to the back side of the center part. A locking plate is attached to the locking stud. According to one embodiment the locking stud goes through the locking plate. The locking plate is capable of turning within a guiding rim of the back side of the center part. The guiding rim has two slots opening toward the special nut head cases. Two pins having a middle part and two ends bent to opposite directions are attached to the lock plate from their first ends via pinholes in the lock plate. The other ends of the pins are attached to two covering wings, each extending through a slot in the guiding rim toward one special bolt nut case. When the lock stud is turned by turning a key in the key hole the locking plate attached to the lock stud turns within the guiding rim. When the locking plate turns it causes the pins to move as one of their ends is attached to the locking plate. When the pins move they cause the covering wings to move: either to extend outward to cover the through holes of the special bolt head case or inward to expose the through holes. Thus when the device is in closed or locked position an access to the special bolt heads is prevented by the covering wings.

[0042] The locking system according to this invention provides multiple layers of protection against a theft of a car wheel. The first layer of protection is the system includes two types of bolts to attach each wheel: two or more regular lug nuts are used for each wheel and these nuts require a usual type of lug wrench. At least two special bolts are used in each wheel. These bolts require a special type of wrench. The second layer of the protection is provided by the covering wings that prevent access to the special bolt and by the locking key that is required to turn the lock stud to move the covering wings. Finally, the third layer of protection is provided by the covering plate that can be attached to cover the center piece and prevent observation and immediate access to the key hole. To add yet another layer of security, the lock unit may be a high security cylinder lock with features making its manipulation extremely difficult with known methods such as drilling. Example of such high security lock would be Assa Abloy's cylinder locks in Dessa+ series.

[0043] A skilled artisan understands that the number of special bolts may vary, but it is essential that the system has two types of bolts. The skilled artisan also appreciates that the device can be customized to various types of wheels, e.g. wheels that are attached with four or with five bolts various patterns.

[0044] The device may be manufactured from various types of materials; however aluminum and steel are the preferred materials.