US5450736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable steering wheel gripper
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-12-13
•
Granted: 1995-09-19
•
Expires: 2013-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A steering wheel gripper for preventing unauthorized steering of a motor vehicle, generally including and a flexible, multi-link member circumscribing the rim of a steering wheel along substantially the entire perimeter of the rim, formed of separate hollow links having an arcuate cross-section corresponding to the rim cross-section, made of a rigid, hard-to-sever material and pivotally connected in series to one another and, an elongate member fixedly connected to a middle link tangentially thereto and extending in the longitudinal direction of the middle link.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathan Volkmar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/01; B60R25/02; B60R25/022; B60R25/0225; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5611; Y10T70/5757; Y10T70/5765; Y10T70/5836; Y10T70/5841; Y10T70/5889; Y10T70/5894
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A steering wheel gripper for preventing unauthorized steering of a motor vehicle, said steering wheel gripper comprising: a flexible, multi-link member for circumscribing a rim of a steering wheel along substantially an entire perimeter of the rim and including a plurality of separate hollow links having an arcuate cross-section to conform to the rim, formed of a rigid, hard-to-sever material and connected in series one to another, and pivot means for pivotally connecting adjacent separate links to each other, said multi-link member having opposite end links connectable to each other for securing the gripper on the steering wheel; an elongate member, fixedly connected to a link located intermediate the end links, extending in a longitudinal direction of the intermediate link, the elongate member having a length such that, in the mounted condition of the gripper, the elongate member limits rotation of the steering wheel upon contact with a respective fixed part of the motor vehicle, which is located in a region of the driver's seat of the motor vehicle; and lock means for securing the end links to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A steering wheel gripper for preventing unauthorized steering of a motor vehicle, said steering wheel gripper comprising: a flexible, multi-link member for circumscribing a rim of a steering wheel along substantially an entire perimeter of the rim and including a plurality of separate hollow links having an arcuate cross-section to conform to the rim, formed of a rigid, hard-to-sever material and connected in series one to another, and pivot means for pivotally connecting adjacent separate links to each other, said multi-link member having opposite end links connectable to each other for securing the gripper on the steering wheel; an elongate member, fixedly connected to a link located intermediate the end links, extending in a longitudinal direction of the intermediate link, the elongate member having a length such that, in the mounted condition of the gripper, the elongate member limits rotation of the steering wheel upon contact with a respective fixed part of the motor vehicle, which is located in a region of the driver's seat of the motor vehicle; and lock means for securing the end links to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A steering wheel gripper as set forth in claim 1, wherein each link has opposite spaced longitudinal and opposite transverse sides and a pair of opposite ears at each of the transverse sides connectable with a pair of ears of an adjacent transverse side of an adjacent link for forming the multi-link member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A steering wheel gripper as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pivot means comprises a plurality of pins having a threaded opening and extending through overlapping pairs of ears of adjacent sides of adjacent links, and a plurality of screws extending into said threaded openings, respectively, for connecting the adjacent sides of the adjacent links together to form the multi-link member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A steering wheel gripper as set forth in claim 1, wherein the links are formed of tempered steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A steering wheel gripper as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lock means comprises self locking male and female members attached respectively to the end links of the multi-link member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-18 | 1999-03-20 | 1999-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-18 | 2003-03-20 | 2003-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-18 | 2007-03-20 | 2007-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |