EP0224977A2 — Automobile steering lock

Claim 1

Independent Claim 145 words

An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile comprising: an elongated body member having a passage extending along an axis therethrough, first hook means secured to said body member for engagement with a portion of said steering wheel wherein said first hook means engages said wheel from the inside thereof with said body member extending outward beyond the periphery of said steering wheel, an elongated rod member adapted to move in telescopic fashion in said passage of said body member along said axis, second hook means secured to said rod member for engaging from the inside a portion of said steering wheel diametrically opposed to said first hook means, and means associated with said body member engaging said rod within said passage for locking said rod member stationary with respect to said body member at any of a plurality of positions.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 145 words

An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile comprising: an elongated body member having a passage extending along an axis therethrough, first hook means secured to said body member for engagement with a portion of said steering wheel wherein said first hook means engages said wheel from the inside thereof with said body member extending outward beyond the periphery of said steering wheel, an elongated rod member adapted to move in telescopic fashion in said passage of said body member along said axis, second hook means secured to said rod member for engaging from the inside a portion of said steering wheel diametrically opposed to said first hook means, and means associated with said body member engaging said rod within said passage for locking said rod member stationary with respect to said body member at any of a plurality of positions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a housing associated with said body member having said passage extending therethrough, and having said means for locking contained therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing encases a portion of said body member.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said body member is a tubular member of metallic material having a circular cross-section, and said housing is metal and die cast around an end of said body member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 74 words

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rod includes transverse grooves, axially spaced along the length thereof, and said locking means includes a locking member within said housing movable between a rod locking first position and a rod releasing second position, said locking member in said first position intersecting said passage and positioned within one of said plurality of grooves in a manner which limits movement of said rod through said passage.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 99 words

A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said passage in said body member has a circular cross-section, said rod is generally circular in cross-section for sliding engagement within said passage and said grooves are arcuate and extend in annular fashion about the axis of said rod, and said locking member is generally cylindrical in shape having a flat portion on one side thereof and an arcuate portion opposite thereto, said locking member rotatable about an axis through said housing wherein said first position said arcuate portion of said locking member communicates with said annular grooves on said rods.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means associated with said body member for locating said rod member at one of said plurality of positions.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 111 words

An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel in an automobile comprising: an elongated, tubular body member having first hook means at one end thereof, said hook portion opening along the length of said body member for engaging the inner edge of said wheel when said body member extends beyond the periphery thereof, an elongated telescoping member movable in telescoping fashion in said body member, said telescoping member having second hook means opening opposite to said first hook means for engaging an opposed inner segment of said steering wheel, and means for locking said telescoping member with respect to said body member at any one of a plurality of positions.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 111 words

An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel in an automobile comprising: an elongated, tubular body member having first hook means at one end thereof, said hook portion opening along the length of said body member for engaging the inner edge of said wheel when said body member extends beyond the periphery thereof, an elongated telescoping member movable in telescoping fashion in said body member, said telescoping member having second hook means opening opposite to said first hook means for engaging an opposed inner segment of said steering wheel, and means for locking said telescoping member with respect to said body member at any one of a plurality of positions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

An antitheft device as defined in claim 8, wherein said telescoping member is an elongated rod of circular cross-section having a plurality of spaced annular grooves disposed along the length thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

A device as defined in claim 8, wherein stationary means is a housing encasing the end of said body member, said housing having said means for locking contained therein.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

A device as defined in claim 8 further including means associated with said body member for locating said telescoping member at any one of a plurality of positions.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 112 words

An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel in an automobile comprising: an elongated tubular body member of predetermined length having a central axis; first and second longitudinally spaced hooks movable along said axis for engaging diametrically opposed segments of said steering wheel from the inside, said first hook secured to one end of said body member such that said body member extends beyond the circumference of said steering wheel, and said second hook having means extending within said body member to effect telescopic movement therebetween; and means associated with said body member for releasably locking said hooks with respect to each other at any one of a plurality of positions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 112 words

An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel in an automobile comprising: an elongated tubular body member of predetermined length having a central axis; first and second longitudinally spaced hooks movable along said axis for engaging diametrically opposed segments of said steering wheel from the inside, said first hook secured to one end of said body member such that said body member extends beyond the circumference of said steering wheel, and said second hook having means extending within said body member to effect telescopic movement therebetween; and means associated with said body member for releasably locking said hooks with respect to each other at any one of a plurality of positions.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

An antitheft device as defined in claim 12, further comprising a housing associated with said tubular body member, said housing including locking means for locking said second hook stationary with respect to said body portion.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 92 words

An antitheft device as defined in claim 12 wherein; said tubular body has a passage of circular cross-section extending along an axis therethrough, said extending means comprise an elongated rod of circular cross-section dimensioned for sliding engagement within said passage, said rod including a plurality of spaced annular grooves disposed along the length thereof, and said means for locking including means stationary with respect to said tubular member for selectively intersecting within said passage one of said grooves on said rod to restrict movement of said rod relative to said body member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

An antitheft device as defined in claim 14 further comprising a housing die-cast around the end of said tubular member having said passage extending therethrough, said housing contain said means for locking.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

A device as defined in claim 12 further including means associated with said tubular body for locating said extending means at any of a plurality of positions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 67 words

A device as defined in claim 16 wherein, said tubular body has a passage extending along an axis therethrough, said extending means comprise an elongated rod dimensional for sliding engagement within said passage, said rod including a plurality of transverse spaced grooves disposed along the length thereof, and said locating means including a spherical bearing biased to partially intersect said passage and said grooves in said rod.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

A device as defined in claim 17 wherein said passage and said rod are of circular cross-section.

Automobile steering lock

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