Automobile steering lock

Claim 1

An antitheft device for attachment to a steering wheel of an automobile, comprising: a first longitudinally extended tubular member having a centrally disposed passageway extending longitudinally from an open first end to an opposing second end, said second end being closed and having a first hook member fixedly coupled to an external surface of said first tubular member adjacent said second end; a second longitudinally extended tubular member being dimensioned for telescopic receipt within said passageway formed in said first tubular member and having a bore extending axially therethrough, said second tubular member having an axially extended groove formed in an external surface thereof, said second tubular member having a plurality of through openings formed in longitudinally spaced relation adjacent a first end thereof; a second hook member fixedly coupled to said second tubular member adjacent a second end thereof; a cap member coupled to said second end of said second tubular member, said cap member having a through opening formed therein, said through opening being in axial alignment with said bore of said second tubular member for open communication therethrough; a rod member dimensioned for telescopic receipt within said bore formed in said second tubular member and for passage through said through opening formed in said cap member, said rod member having a plurality of annular grooves formed in axially spaced relation on one end thereof; a clip member coupled to said rod member within an end-most one of said plurality of annular grooves, said clip member having an external diameter dimension being (1) greater than a diameter dimension of said cap through opening, and (2) less than a diameter dimension of said second tubular member bore; a housing extending axially in said longitudinal direction and having one end coupled to said open end of said first tubular member, said housing having (1) a through passage formed therein, said through passage being in open communication with said first tubular member passageway and in axial alignment therewith, and (2) a through opening formed through a wall of said housing for receiving a screw therein, said screw extending through said housing wall for insertion into said groove formed in said second tubular member, said housing including a boss extending transverse to said longitudinal direction of said first tubular member, said boss having a transversely extending passageway formed therein, said boss further having a through opening extending between said transverse passageway and said passageway formed in said first tubular member; and, locking means disposed within said transverse passageway of said boss for releasably coupling said second tubular member and said rod member to said first tubular member, said locking means including: a. a spring biased rod-like bearing member, said rod-like bearing member being disposed in said through opening formed in said boss, said rod-like bearing member having an insert end for engagement with one of said plurality of annular grooves of said rod member through a respective one of said through openings formed in said second tubular member; b. an actuating member disposed within said transverse passageway of said boss for vertical displacement of said rod-like bearing member responsive to rotation of said actuating member; and, c. a lock rotatively coupled to said actuating member for rotatively displacing said actuating member responsive to an actuation of said lock.