The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 06, 1998
Mark Nickeas, Westlake Village, CA (US);
Martin Nickeas, Oxnard, CA (US);
Pasco C Ponticelli, Jr, Camarillo, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An anti-theft device for motor vehicles which selectively disables the vehicle by interrupting the operative connection of the steering wheel to the steering column. The device includes an outer cylindrical boss which is affixed to the steering wheel and an inner cylindrical boss which is affixed to the steering column. The outer boss is disposed about the inner boss and axially movable thereon with the steering wheel between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position the inner boss is coupled to the outer boss by a plurality of engaged locking teeth for operation of the vehicle. In the disengaged position locking teeth on the outer boss are axially separated from locking teeth on the inner boss and the outer boss and attached steering wheel are freely rotatable about the inner boss, operatively disengaging the steering wheel from the steering column and effectively disabling the vehicle. A locking assembly employing a key actuated cam and associated spring biased latch provides a dual coupling of the outer boss to the inner boss to securely lock the steering wheel in either the engaged position or the disengaged position.