Control pedal disabling device

Abstract

A motor vehicle anti-theft device adapted to disable the brake pedal of the vehicle. In a first embodiment the device includes an outer housing and an inner shaft member mounted within the housing for relative rotary and telescopic movement. A first clamp structure is journaled on the shaft and a second clamp structure is threaded on the shaft so that as the shaft is rotated in the housing the clamp members are moved toward and away from each other into an out of locking engagement with the brake pedal. The inner shaft and outer housing are slid telescopically relative to each other to firmly engage the fire wall of the vehicle with the clamp members clamped about the brake pedal and a lock structure is provided to preclude relative rotary and relative longitudinal movement of the housing and the shaft. In a second embodiment, the device includes a tubular strut with an opening sized to receive the pedal arm of the brake pedal and a lock bar which may be slid forwardly following movement of the pedal arm into the opening to trap the pedal arm in the opening. The device further includes an actuator rod and a strut rod interconnected by a gear and rack structure so that rearward movement of the actuator rod generates forward movement of the strut rod to plant a foot carried on the forward end of the strut rod against the fire wall of the vehicle following entrapment of the pedal arm. A lock structure is provided to preclude retraction of the lock bar and to preclude retraction of the strut rod.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A motor vehicle anti-theft device comprising: 
 an elongated housing member having a major first axis;    a shaft disposed within the housing member, the housing member at least substantially encircling a circumference of the shaft such that the shaft is slidably supported by the housing;    a front structure protruding from a first end of the shaft in a direction generally perpendicular to the first axis, the shaft and front structure selectively moveable relative to the housing member generally parallel to the first axis; and    a key-operated locking mechanism having a housing fixed relative to the housing member, the locking mechanism for selectively locking the shaft to the housing member to prevent relative axial movement between the shaft and the housing member.    
     
     
         2 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 1  wherein the shaft includes a handle at an outer end of the shaft, the handle extending outside an outer end of the housing member.  
     
     
         3 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 2  wherein the locking mechanism is disposed between the handle and the front structure.  
     
     
         4 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 1  wherein the elongated housing member has a foot at a first end and wherein the front clamp structure is substantially between the lock assembly and the foot.  
     
     
         5 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 1  wherein the housing of the locking mechanism completely surrounds the shaft about an entire circumference of the shaft.  
     
     
         6 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 5  wherein the housing member includes an opening through which the front clamp structure protrudes from the shaft.  
     
     
         7 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 1  wherein the housing member includes an opening through which the front clamp structure protrudes from the shaft.  
     
     
         8 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking pin selectively movable transversely to the shaft in order to engage the shaft and selectively prevent relative movement between the shaft and the housing member.  
     
     
         9 . A motor vehicle anti-theft device comprising: 
 an elongated hollow housing having a major first axis;    a shaft disposed within the housing, the shaft including a plurality of axially-spaced detents or serrations;    a front structure on a first end of the shaft;    a handle mounted to a second end of the shaft opposite the first end of the shaft, the handle extending outside the housing, wherein the shaft, handle and front structure are selectively moveable relative to the housing generally parallel to the first axis;    a locking mechanism fixed to the housing between the handle and the front structure, the locking mechanism including a locking pin selectively movable transversely to the shaft in order to engage at least one of the detents or serrations on the shaft to selectively prevent relative movement between the shaft and the housing member.    
     
     
         10 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 9  wherein the locking mechanism has a lock housing integral with the housing.  
     
     
         11 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 9  wherein a housing of the locking mechanism completely surrounds the shaft about an entire circumference of the shaft.  
     
     
         12 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 9  wherein at least a portion of the housing completely surrounds the shaft about an entire circumference of the shaft.  
     
     
         13 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 12  wherein the housing includes an opening through which the front structure protrudes generally perpendicularly from the shaft.  
     
     
         14 . A motor vehicle anti-theft device comprising: 
 an elongated housing having a major first axis;    a shaft slidably disposed within the housing;    a front structure protruding from a lower end of the shaft in a direction generally perpendicular to the first axis;    a handle mounted to an upper end of the shaft opposite the lower end of the shaft, the handle extending outside the housing, wherein the shaft, handle and front structure are selectively moveable relative to the housing generally parallel to the first axis; and    a rear structure mounted to the housing and having a body portion extending generally perpendicularly to the first axis and an upper portion extending from an outer end of the body portion downwardly in a direction generally parallel to the first axis.    
     
     
         15 . The anti-theft device of  claim 14  further including a locking mechanism between the handle and the rear structure, the locking mechanism selectively locking the shaft to the housing to prevent relative axial movement between the shaft and the housing.  
     
     
         16 . The anti-theft device of  claim 15  wherein the locking mechanism is a key-operated locking mechanism.  
     
     
         17 . The anti-theft device of  claim 15  wherein the locking mechanism interacts with a plurality of axially-spaced detents or serrations on the shaft to prevent relative axial movement between the shaft and the housing.  
     
     
         18 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 17  wherein a housing of the locking mechanism completely encircles the shaft about an entire circumference of the shaft.  
     
     
         19 . The motor vehicle anti-theft device of  claim 18  wherein at least a portion of the housing completely surrounds the shaft about the entire circumference of the shaft.