Lockable chock for dual wheels of vehicle

Claim 2

A locking device for preventing unauthorized, premature displacement of the wedge-shaped block of a wheel-blocking chock from a wheel-blocking relationship with a set of dual wheels of a truck, for use in an instance where the wheels are supported on a pavement with a gap laterally between such wheels above and below a central structure where the wheels are connected to an axle of the truck, said locking-device comprising: a bracket adapted to be fixed on the block; means defining a first cooperative securement structure on said bracket; a T-bar including a longitudinally extending central leg affixed to a cross-bar, said cross-bar being longer than said gap is wide but operatively shorter than said gap is tall; means defining at least one second cooperative securement structure on said central leg of said T-bar distally of said cross-bar; said first and second cooperative securement structures being adapted to receive and be locked together by a padlock; said T-bar being flatter than said gap is wide, so that said T-bar may be turned on edge and inserted rearwardly, cross-bar first, through said gap, under said central structure, then turned flat with said central leg distally of said cross-bar continuing to project forwardly of said gap and said cross-bar resting on the pavement; said second cooperative securement structure being so located on said central leg relative to the length of said central leg, that as said T-bar, after being inserted rearwardly on edge through said gap and turned flat and said cross-bar resting on the pavement, the T-bar may be drawn forwardly until the cross-bar is disposed substantially forwardly of the rearmost extent of said wheels and in close proximity with said wheels, at which time the second cooperative securement structure may be juxtaposed with said first cooperative securement structure so that the first and second cooperative securement structures may be locked together by a padlock.

Claim 3

The locking device of claim 1, wherein: said bracket is constituted by an upstanding member adapted to be fixed on top of the block; and said first securement means is constituted by an opening formed through the upstanding member.

Claim 4

The locking device of claim 2, wherein: the upstanding member is elongated longitudinally and is less thick transversally; and said opening is oriented horizontally, transversally.

Claim 5

The locking device of claim 2, wherein: the upstanding member is adapted to be welded onto the block.

Claim 6

The locking device of claim 2, wherein: the upstanding member is adapted to be bolted onto the block.

Claim 7

The locking device of claim 1, wherein: the T-bar is a unitary structure fabricated of metal pipe stock.

Claim 8

The locking device of claim 1, wherein: the T-bar is a unitary structure fabricated of metal bar stock.

Claim 9

The locking device of claim 1, wherein: the T-bar is a unitary structure fabricated of material that is practically inextensible in tension in conditions of use; and said means defining at least one second cooperative securement structure on said central leg is constituted by at least one slot provided transversally through said central leg.

Claim 10

The locking device of claim 8, wherein: each said slot is provided horizontally through said central leg.

Claim 11

The locking device of claim 9, wherein: each said slot is elongated longitudinally of said central leg and is relatively less thick widthwise of said central leg.

Claim 12

The locking device of claim 9, wherein: said at least one slot is constituted by a series of such slots which are spaced from one another longitudinally along said central leg distally of said cross-bar.

Claim 13

The locking device of claim 2, wherein: the T-bar is a unitary structure fabricated of material that is practically inextensible in tension and conditions of use; and said means defining at least one second cooperative securement structure on said central leg is constituted by at least one slot provided transversally through said central leg.

Claim 14

The locking device of claim 3, wherein: each said slot is provided horizontally through said central leg; and each said slot is elongated longitudinally of said central leg and is relatively less thick widthwise of said central leg.

Claim 15

The locking device of claim 13, wherein: said upstanding member is adapted to be alternatively received, from below, through each of said slots so as to expose at least part of said opening above the respective slot for reception of said padlock therethrough.

Claim 16

The locking device of claim 14, further comprising: a security chain including an elongated member which is practically inextensible in tension and has a first fastener provided at one end thereof and a second fastener provided at the other end thereof; said first fastener being adapted to be secured on said T-bar adjacent said cross bar; said second fastener being adapted to be effectively secured to said bracket by said padlock; and said elongated member, between said first and second fasteners being contructed and arranged to extend through said gap above said central structure but below the upper extents of said wheels, so that when said security chain is in place and secured by said first and second fasteners, said block of said wheel-blocking chock cannot be non-destructively disassociated from the truck without unlocking said padlock.

Claim 17

The locking device of claim 15, wherein: said elongated member is a flexible element.

Claim 18

The locking device of claim 16, wherein: said elongated member is a length of a metal link chain; and said first and second fasteners are constituted by respective rings, of which the first is adapted to be slipped onto the central leg of the T-bar distally of said cross-bar and slid back towards proximity with the cross-bar prior to securement of the second of said rings to said bracket by the padlock.

Claim 19

The locking device of claim 1, further comprising: a security chain including an elongated member which is practically inextensible in tension and has a first fastener provided at one end thereof and a second fastener provided at the other end thereof; said first fastener being adapted to be secured on said T-bar adjacent said cross-bar; said second fastener being adapted to be effectively secured to said bracket by said padlock; and said elongated member, between said first and second fasteners being contructed and arranged to extend through said gap above said central structure but below the upper extents of said wheels, so that when said security chain is in place and secured by said first and second fasteners, said block of said wheel-blocking chock cannot be non-destructively disassociated from the truck without unlocking said padlock.

Claim 20

The locking device of claim 18, wherein: said elongated member is a flexible element.

Claim 21

The locking device of claim 19, wherein: said elongated member is a length of a metal link chain; and said first and second fasteners are constituted by respective rings, of which the first is adapted to be slipped onto the central leg of the T-bar distally of said cross-bar and slid back towards proximity with the cross-bar prior to securement of the second of said rings to said bracket by the padlock.

Claim 22

The locking device of claim 14, further comprising: a security chain including an elongated member which is practically inextensible in tension and has a first fastener provided at one end thereof and a second fastener provided at the other end thereof; said first fastener being adapted to be secured on said T-bar adjacent said cross-bar; said second fastener being adapted to be effectively secured to said bracket by said padlock; and said elongated member, between said first and second fasteners being adapted to extend through said gap above said central structure but below the upper extents of said wheels, so that when said security chain is in place and secured by said first and second fasteners, said block of said wheel-blocking chock cannot be non-destructively disassociated from the truck without unlocking said padlock.

Claim 23

The locking device of claim 21, wherein: said elongated member is a flexible element.

Claim 24

The locking device of claim 22, wherein: said elongated member is a length of a metal link chain; and said first and second fasteners are constituted by respective rings, of which the first is adapted to be slipped onto the central leg of the T-bar distally of said cross-bar and slid back towards proximity with the cross-bar prior to securement of the second of said rings to said bracket by the padlock.

Claim 25

A lockable chock, comprising: a wheel-blocking chock including a wedge-shaped block adapted to be placed in wheel-blocking relationship with a set of dual wheels of a truck, for use in an instance where the wheels are supported on a pavement with a gap laterally between such wheels above and below a central structure where the wheels are connected to an axle of the truck; and a locking device for preventing unauthorized, premature displacement of said block from said wheel-blocking relationship, said locking device including: a bracket fixed on the block; means defining a first cooperative securement structure on said bracket; a T-bar including a longitudinally extending central leg affixed to a cross-bar, said cross-bar being longer than said gap is wide but operatively shorter than said gap is tall; means defining at least one second cooperative securement structure on said central leg of said T-bar distally of said cross bar; said first and second cooperative securement structures being adapted to receive and be locked together by a padlock; said T-bar being flatter than said gap is wide, so that said T-bar may be turned on edge and inserted rearwardly, cross-bar first, through said gap, under said central structure, then turned flat with said central leg distally of said cross-bar continuing to project forwardly of said gap and said cross-bar resting on the pavement; said second cooperative securement structure being so located on said central leg relative to the length of said central leg, that as said T-bar, after being inserted rearwardly on edge through said gap and turned flat and said cross-bar resting on the pavement, the T-bar may be drawn forwardly until the cross-bar is disposed substantially forwardly of the rearmost extent of said wheels and in close proximity with said wheels, at which time the second cooperative securement structure may be juxtaposed with said first cooperative securement structure so that the first and second cooperative securement structures may be locked together by a padlock.

Claim 26

A lockable chock, comprising: a wheel-blocking chock including a wedge-shaped block adapted to be placed in wheel-blocking relationship with a set of dual wheels of a truck, for use in an instance where the wheels are supported on a pavement with a gap laterally between such wheels above and below a central structure where the wheels are connected to an axle of the truck; and a locking device for preventing unauthorized, premature displacement of said block from said wheel-blocking relationship, said locking device including: a bracket fixed on the block; means defining a first cooperative securement structure on said bracket; a T-bar including a longitudinally extending central leg affixed to a cross-bar, said cross-bar being longer than said gap is wide but operatively shorter than said gap is tall; means defining at least one second cooperative securement structure on said central leg of said T-bar distally of said cross bar; said first and second cooperative securement structures being adapted to receive and be locked together by a padlock; said T-bar being flatter than said gap is wide, so that said T-bar may be turned on edge and inserted rearwardly, cross-bar first, through said gap, under said central structure, then turned flat with said central leg distally of said cross-bar continuing to project forwardly of said gap and said cross-bar resting on the pavement; said second cooperative securement structure being so located on said central leg relative to the length of said central leg, that as said T-bar, after being inserted rearwardly on edge through said gap and turned flat and said cross-bar resting on the pavement, the T-bar may be drawn forwardly until the cross-bar is disposed substantially forwardly of the rearmost extent of said wheels and in close proximity with said wheels, at which time the second cooperative securement structure may be juxtaposed with said first cooperative securement structure so that the first and second cooperative securement structures may be locked together by a padlock.

Claim 27

The lockable chock of claim 24, further comprising: a security chain including an elongated member which is practically inextensible in tension and has a first fastener provided at one end thereof and a second fastener provided at the other end thereof; said first fastener being adapted to be secured on said T-bar adjacent said cross-bar; said second fastener being adapted to be effectively secured to said bracket by said padlock; and said elongated member, between said first and second fasteners being adapted to extend through said gap above said central structure but below the upper extents of said wheels, so that when said security chain is in place and secured by said first and second fasteners, said block of said wheel-blocking chock cannot be non-destructively disassociated from the truck without unlocking said padlock.

Claim 28

The lockable chock of claim 25, wherein: said elongated member is a flexible element.

Claim 29

The lockable chock of claim 26, wherein: said elongated member is a length of a metal link chain; and said first and second fasteners are constituted by respective rings, of which the first is adapted to be slipped onto the central leg of the T-bar distally of said cross-bar and slid back towards proximity with the cross-bar prior to securement of the second of said rings to said bracket by the padlock.

Claim 30

The lockable chock of claim 27, wherein: said bracket is constituted by an upstanding member adapted to be fixed on top of the block; and said first securement means is constituted by an opening formed through the upstanding member; the T-bar is a unitary structure fabricated of material that is practically inextensible in tension in conditions of use; and said means of defining at least one second cooperative securement structure on said central leg is constituted by at least one slot provided transversally through said central leg; each said slot is provided horizontally through said central leg; each said slot is elongated longitudinally of said central leg and is relatively less thick widthwise of said central leg; and said upstanding member is adapted to be alternatively received, from below, through each of said slots so as to expose at least part of said opening above the respective slot for reception of said padlock therethrough.