US4228974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protective device for instruments and locking of aircraft controls
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-02-15
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Granted: 1980-10-21
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Expires: 1999-02-15
Abstract
Abstract A device for locking the ailerons and elevators of an aircraft controlled by a wheel-operated longitudinally shiftable and rotatable control column, and, at the same time preventing theft of the navigational instruments and radio equipment mounted on the instrument panel in the cockpit of the plane. The protective device takes the form of a cover plate mounted immediately adjacent the instrument panel by means of upper and lower clamping blocks secured about the control column in such a manner as to prevent unauthorized movements of the column and access to the instruments on the panel. The blocks have complementary semi-cylindrical grooves which clamp about the control column, and one block is fixed to the cover plate while the other has sliding, tongue and groove engagement to couple with said one block and clamp the control column against movement. The pair of blocks are held in clamped arrangement by a padlock whose shackle passes through aligned apertures in the blocks.
Inventors
- 👤 August B. Yates
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:24
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C13/00; B64C13/02; B64C13/04; B64C13/14; B64C13/042; B64C13/0423; B64D; B64D47/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009; Y10T70/5093; Y10T70/554; Y10T70/5562; Y10T70/5575; Y10T70/558; Y10T70/5889; Y10T70/5982
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
In an aircraft having an instrument panel and controls for ailerons and elevators, said controls including at least one column turned by a hand operated yoke and movable axially for controlling the ailerons and elevators respectively, a protective device for preventing theft of the aircraft instruments from said panel and preventing unauthorized flight removal of the aircraft from a parking area, said device comprising a protective instrument cover, and means for lockingly mounting said cover in a position immediately adjacent the aircraft instrument panel and to said at least one column in such manner as to prevent unauthorized movements of said at least one column and the ailerons and elevators controlled thereby, said means for lockingly mounting the cover comprises first and second complementary blocks which clamp about said at least one column to prevent its movements, said first block being fixed to said cover and the second block being separable from the first, and means for locking the blocks together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
In an aircraft having an instrument panel and controls for ailerons and elevators, said controls including at least one column turned by a hand operated yoke and movable axially for controlling the ailerons and elevators respectively, a protective device for preventing theft of the aircraft instruments from said panel and preventing unauthorized flight removal of the aircraft from a parking area, said device comprising a protective instrument cover, and means for lockingly mounting said cover in a position immediately adjacent the aircraft instrument panel and to said at least one column in such manner as to prevent unauthorized movements of said at least one column and the ailerons and elevators controlled thereby, said means for lockingly mounting the cover comprises first and second complementary blocks which clamp about said at least one column to prevent its movements, said first block being fixed to said cover and the second block being separable from the first, and means for locking the blocks together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A protective device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a substantially planar, rigid plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A protective device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second blocks have complementary semicylindrical surfaces which frictionally clamp about said at least one column, and said means for locking the blocks comprises complementary tongue and groove surfaces which enable the second block to slidably engage and interfit with the first block.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A protective device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said tongue and groove surfaces are parallel to said semicylindrical surfaces, and said means for locking the blocks further includes a through aperture in each of said blocks which are aligned when the blocks are positioned for clamping the at least one column, and a padlock having a shackle insertable through said aligned apertures to secure the blocks in clamped condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A protective device according to claim 4, wherein said means for lockingly mounting the cover further comprises a chain fixedly secured at one end to a portion of the aircraft cockpit adjacent the top of said cover and affixed to said padlock at its other end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said first block is further secured to cover reinforcing means extending vertically upwardly of the cover.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second blocks have complementary semicylindrical surfaces which frictionally clamp about said at least one column, said cover having a slot extending upwardly from its bottom edge and aligned with the semicylindrical surface of the first block to permit mounting and removal of the plate over said at least one column.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-21 | 1984-04-21 | 1984-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-21 | 1988-04-21 | 1988-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-21 | 1992-04-21 | 1992-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |