Device for immobilising a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method of and device for immobilising a motor vehicle having a foot actuated brake pedal affixed at the end of a pedal arm. A pedal clasping portion of the immobilisation device is hooked around the brake pedal and a rigid strut portion slides from an elongate body portion where it is locked in such extended position to prevent depression of the brake pedal to its actuating position. The pedal clasping portion has the form of a deep channel firmly affixed to the elongate body portion of the device and may have a cutout in one of the flanges through which the pedal arm passes.

1 . A method of immobilising a motor vehicle having a foot actuated brake pedal, said pedal being affixed at the end of a pedal arm, wherein: 
 said pedal has a front face onto which a driver's foot would press to brake the vehicle,    said pedal has a rear onto which said pedal arm is affixed, and    said pedal arm is adapted to transmit force from the pedal to a braking system in the vehicle,    said method comprising:    hooking around the brake pedal a pedal capturing portion of an immobilisation device, said pedal capturing portion having the form of a deep channel and said pedal capturing portion being firmly affixed to an elongate body portion of the device,    slidably extending from the elongate body portion a rigid strut portion downwards to beyond the pedal capturing portion, and    locking the strut in such extended position such that said extended strut prevents depression of the brake pedal to its actuating position.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said strut is extended until it reaches a floor or firewall of the motor vehicle while the pedal is in its undepressed position.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the channel's longitudinal axis is substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the pedal capturing portion covers at least most of the front face of the pedal.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the pedal capturing portion covers at least most of the rear of the pedal.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the pedal capturing portion largely envelops the pedal.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the elongate body is tubular.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the channel has two flange portions and a web portion, one said flange portion has an open-ended cutout, and the pedal arm passes through the cutout when the strut is in said extended position.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the strut prevents removal of the pedal arm from the cutout.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein there are a plurality of positions at which the strut is lockable.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said locking of the strut prevents both upwards and downwards movement of the strut relative to said body portion.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said locking of the strut prevents upwards movement of the strut relative to said body portion but does not prevent downward movement of the strut relative to said body portion.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein at that end of the elongate body distal of the pedal capturing portion, the immobilisation device is hooked to a steering wheel for the vehicle by an elongate member slidably extendible from the body portion.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said locking of the strut is by means of a key operated barrel lock.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the body portion is laid substantially horizontally on the floor of the vehicle and is hooked to a seat component.