Anti-theft vehicle wheel lock

Abstract

The apparatus immobilizes a wheel of a vehicle. A chock is connected to a facing bar. Also connected to the facing bar, spaced away from the chock is an engaging bar. The engaging bar has a first, generally elongated straight section and a second section that is shorter than the first straight section, and that is joined to one end of the first section such that the angle between the first section and a portion of the second section is between -45.degree. and +45.degree., preferably 0.degree.. The engaging bar is attached to the facing bar, such that the first straight section is generally perpendicular to the facing bar, the engaging bar is movable along its first section relative to the facing bar and the second section is rotatable around an axis coaxial with the first section. A lock locks the engaging bar at a desired position relative to the facing bar. The apparatus is arranged such that a user can engage it with a vehicle from a generally standing position, without the need to kneel or reach into the wheel well. The lock may comprise a locking element, locked by a key in a cooperating key receptacle and a detachable key blocker, which attaches to the key before it is removed from the receptacle. Typically, the key is a starter key for the vehicle to be immobilized, the key blocker attaching to the key such as to prevent use of the key to start the vehicle.