Anti-theft devices for motor vehicles

Claim 1

In a vehicle having a housing disposed therein in substantially horizontal disposition, an engine, and an electric system therefor including an ignition circuit, the provision of a lever assembly comprising (a) a lever, essential to the operation of the vehicle, having a first portion for connection to the vehicle mechanism to be operated, extending through an aperture in the housing and a second portion pivotally mounted on the first portion about an axis disposed above the housing, said second portion of the lever being manually movable between an operative position at which the lever extends substantially vertically of said housing and a stowed position at which the lever extends along and substantially parallel to said housing, (b) a catch member located at a position on said housing spaced from said first lever portions for effecting retention of the lever when the latter is in its stowed position, (c) a key-operated cylinder lock for actuating said catch member to effect release of said lever, (d) a locking rod movably disposed within said lever for locking said first and second lever portions together when in use, (e) spring means for urging said rod into a locking position, (f) a rotatable handle provided at the distal end of the second lever portion, (g) a push rod operable on rotation of said handle to effect release of said locking rod, (h) first electrical contact means mounted at said distal end of the second lever portion, and (i) second electrical contact means provided on said rotatable handle cooperable with said first contact means on rotation of said handle, said first and second contact means serving to control the electrical system wherein the rotatable handle in one region of rotation causes release of the locking rod and in another region of rotation causes engine starting.