BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to automobile anti-theft devices.

It is well known that numerous automobiles are stolen each year because most thieves know how to start up a car without a key so that once the thief gains entry inside the vehicle, there is nothing to prevent him from driving it off. This situation is accordingly in need of an improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore it is a principal object of the present invention, to provide a bar which is clamped across a steering wheel of the vehicle, so that even if the engine is started and a thief gains entry inside the car, then the steering wheel is unable to be turned for steering the vehicle, so that the vehicle is further protected against theft.

Another object is to provide a steering wheel lock bar which does not in any way mar or injure the steering wheel, and which is quick and easy to apply or remove.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a driver's area of an automobile interior, showing the invention mounted on the steering wheel.

FIG. 2 is a side view of steering wheel lock bar illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3--3 of FIG. 2, showing the lug holes that receive the padlock.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another design of the wheel lock bar, which is adjustable in length.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view on line 5--5 of FIG. 4, shown enlarged.

FIG. 6 is a side view of still another design which is also adjustable in length.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 thereof at this time, the reference numeral 10 represents a steering wheel lock bar according to the present invention, wherein there is an elongated straight bar member 11 that is made of a tough steel so that it cannot be bent. The surface of the bar is polished so that it will not scratch any object against which it is placed. A rubber end cap 12 is fitted on each end thereof. The bar is preferably approximately four feet long.

A steel hook 13 is welded to a side of the bar, so that it can be hooked around the vehicle steering wheel rim 15.

A pair of steel lugs 16 are also welded to the same side of the bar, and are spaced apart so that a diametrically opposite side of the wheel rim can be fitted between the lugs.

Each lug has a hole 17 therethrough, the holes of the two lugs being aligned so that a padlock 18 can be inserted through both, thus locking the wheel rim inside a space 19 formed between the lugs.

Thus mounted on the steering wheel rim, the bar cannot be removed by a thief, and the extending opposite ends of the bar extend excessively too far so as to permit the wheel to be turned. The bar ends may be stopped in rotation by the vehicle seat, windshield or car ceiling.

In a modified design of steering wheel lock bar 20 showing in FIGS. 4 and 5, the same is made of two short bars 21 and 22 which have a screw thread 23 at their one ends for being screwed in opposite ends of a threaded sleeve 24. One of the bars 21 has the above-described hook 13 and the other bar 22 has the above-described lugs 16. This form of the invention allows the bars, when disassembled, to fit in a smaller storage place inside the vehicle when not used. Also this design allows the hook and lugs to be made any desired distances apart so that the invention is adaptable for either smaller or larger diameter steering wheels. When the bars 21 and 22 are assembled together they may be approximately the same assembled length as the single bar 11, described above.

In a further modified design of steering wheel lock bar 25, shown in FIG. 6, the same is comprised of a pair of steel bars 26 and 27 which screw together instead into a sleeve therebetween. In this design, one bar has an external screw thread 28 and the other has an internally threaded hole 29 in one end thereof. Alternately the bar 27 may comprise a pipe. The bar 26 carries the hook while the bar 27 carries the lugs, as described above.

Thus different designs of the invention are presented.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.