초록 ▼

A wheel lock apparatus for a wheeled vehicle, said vehicle having a tire, the wheel lock apparatus comprising at least one tooth, wherein the at least one tooth is moveable between a first position, against the tire, and a second position, remote therefrom, such that, in the first position, the at l

A wheel lock apparatus for a wheeled vehicle, said vehicle having a tire, the wheel lock apparatus comprising at least one tooth, wherein the at least one tooth is moveable between a first position, against the tire, and a second position, remote therefrom, such that, in the first position, the at least one tooth is oriented to substantially prevent forward rotation of the tire by engaging the tire, whilst in the second position, the tire is free to rotate.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A trailer wheel lock apparatus for a wheeled trailer vehicle, said trailer vehicle having a trailer tire, the trailer wheel lock apparatus comprising at least one tooth and a lock opened by a key, wherein the trailer wheel lock apparatus is supported by the body of the

The invention claimed is: 1. A trailer wheel lock apparatus for a wheeled trailer vehicle, said trailer vehicle having a trailer tire, the trailer wheel lock apparatus comprising at least one tooth and a lock opened by a key, wherein the trailer wheel lock apparatus is supported by the body of the trailer vehicle, wherein the at least one tooth is moveable between a first position, against the trailer tire, and a second position, remote therefrom, such that, in the first position, the at least one tooth is oriented to substantially prevent forward rotation of the tire by engaging the trailer tire, whilst in the second position, the trailer tire is free to rotate and wherein the at least one tooth is keyably lockable in at least the first position by way of the lock, thereby allowing the wheeled vehicle to be secured against unauthorised use. 2. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 1, where the trailer tire comprises a tread portion interposed between two wall portions, wherein the at least one tooth is moveable between a first position, against the tread portion of the trailer tire, and a second position, remote therefrom, such that, in the first position, the at least one tooth is oriented to substantially prevent forward rotation of the trailer tire by engaging the tread portion thereof. 3. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when in the first position, an edge of the at least one tooth contacts the tread of the trailer tire and a body of the at least one tooth always extends from the edge of the tooth in a direction between normal to the tread of the trailer tire and tangential to the tread of the trailer tire such that forward rotation of the trailer tire causes the tooth to engage the tread of the trailer tire. 4. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wheel lock apparatus comprises at least one further tooth, wherein the at least one further tooth is moveable between a first position, against the tread portion of the tire of the trailer, and a second position, remote therefrom, such that, in the first position, the at least one further tooth is oriented to substantially prevent rearward rotation of the trailer tire by engaging the tread portion thereof, whilst in the second position, the trailer tire is free to rotate. 5. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when in the first position, an edge of the at least one further tooth contacts the tread of the trailer tire and a body of the or each further tooth always extends from the edge of the further tooth in a direction between normal to the tread of the trailer tire and tangential to the tread of the trailer tire such that rearward rotation of the trailer tire causes the further tooth to engage the tread of the trailer tire. 6. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one tooth and the at least one further tooth are provided on a plate, wherein the plate is moveable between a first position, wherein the at least one tooth and the at least one further tooth are always positioned against the tread portion of the trailer tire, and a second position, remote therefrom. 7. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the or each tooth and the or each further tooth, are provided integrally with the plate. 8. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trailer wheel lock apparatus comprises an arm member, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm member is pivotally attached to the trailer, and the or each tooth is provided on a plate about the second end of the arm member, wherein the arm member may be pivoted between a first position, where the or each tooth is against the tread portion of the trailer tire, and a second position, where the or each tooth is remote therefrom. 9. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the trailer wheel lock apparatus comprises an actuator assembly, wherein the actuator assembly is adapted to act on the arm member such that operation of the actuator assembly causes the arm member to be moved between the first position and the second position. 10. A wheel lock apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a plunger, having a first end and a second end, such that the first end of the plunger pivotally engages the arm member at a point intermediate the first and second ends thereof, and the second end is located exterior to the mounting plate. 11. A wheel lock apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an aperture is provided through the mounting plate, the plunger extending through the aperture. 12. A wheel lock apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the locking assembly is provided in the form of one or more indentations or apertures provided along the length of the plunger, and a pin member slidably mounted to the trailer, wherein the or each aperture or indentation is adapted to at least partially receive the pin member, the sliding movement of the pin member being governed by a lock. 13. A wheel lock assembly according to claim 10, wherein the biasing assembly is provided in the form of a spring, wherein the spring is provided about the portion of the plunger exterior to the mounting plate, between the outer face of the mounting plate and a flared second end of the plunger. 14. A wheel lock apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, where the actuator assembly is provided in the form of a plunger, the arm member is formed from a flexibly resilient material such that, in use, pressure on the plunger causes deformation of the arm member, in turn providing pressure to maintain the contact of the or each tooth with the tire tread. 15. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a cam and lever assembly, having a lever portion operatively interconnected with a cam portion, wherein the cam and lever assembly is adapted to pivot between a first position where the cam portion acts on the arm member and causes such to assume the first position, and a second position, where the cam portion allows the arm member to assume the second position. 16. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to chum 15, further comprising a mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is attached to the bodywork of the trailer vehicle proximate the tire thereof, wherein the cam assembly is pivotally attached to the mounting plate, with an aperture being provided through the mounting plate such that, when the cam and lever assembly is in the first position, the cam portion extends through the aperture to act on the arm member. 17. A wheel lock apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the cam portion and the lever portion of the cam and lever assembly are provided integrally. 18. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the cam and lever assembly comprises a handle attached to a disk-shaped member, wherein pulling the handle rotates the disk-shaped member about a pivot point and forces it against the arm member, pushing the arm member into the first position. 19. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the lever portion is locked in place by a locking mechanism of the keyed locking assembly. 20. A trailer wheel lock apparatus for a wheeled trailer vehicle, said trailer vehicle having a trailer tire, the trailer wheel lock apparatus comprising at least one tooth and a lock opened by a key, wherein the at least one tooth is moveable between a first position, against the trailer tire, and a second position, remote therefrom, such that, in the first position, the at least one tooth is oriented to substantially prevent forward rotation of the tire by engaging the trailer tire, whilst in the second position, the trailer tire is free to rotate and wherein the at least one tooth is keyably lockable in at least the first position by way of the lock, thereby allowing the wheeled vehicle to be secured against unauthorised use, wherein the trailer wheel lock apparatus comprises an arm member, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the arm member is pivotally attached to the trailer, and the or each tooth is provided on a plate about the second end of the arm member, wherein the arm member may be pivoted between a first position, where the or each tooth is against the tread portion of the trailer tire, and a second position, where the or each tooth is remote therefrom, wherein the plate is pivotally attached to the second end of the arm member. 21. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the trailer wheel lock apparatus comprises one tooth, and one further tooth, the tooth and further tooth being provided integrally with the plate in the form of a concave member. 22. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the trailer wheel lock assembly comprises a mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is attached to the bodywork of the trailer vehicle proximate the tire thereof, such that the mounting plate faces the tread portion of the trailer tire, the mounting plate having an inner face proximate the trailer tire and an outer face remote therefrom, defining an interior, proximate the trailer tire, and an exterior remote therefrom. 23. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the first end of the arm member is pivotally attached to the inner face of the mounting plate. 24. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the trailer wheel lock apparatus comprises a biasing assembly such that, when the or each tooth is not locked in the first position, the or each tooth is biased toward the second position. 25. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a cam and lever assembly, having a lever portion operatively interconnected with a cam portion, wherein the cam and lever assembly is adapted to pivot between a first position where the cam portion acts on the arm member and causes such to assume the first position, and a second position, where the cam portion allows the arm member to assume the second position, wherein the cam portion acts on the arm member at a point intermediate the first and second ends thereof. 26. A trailer wheel lock apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a cam and lever assembly, having a lever portion operatively interconnected with a cam portion, wherein the cam and lever assembly is adapted to pivot between a first position where the cam portion acts on the arm member and causes such to assume the first position, and a second position, where the cam portion allows the arm member to assume the second position, wherein, the arm member is formed from a flexibly resilient material such that, in use, the cam portion causes deformation of the arm member, in turn providing pressure to maintain the contact of the or each tooth with the tire tread. 27. A wheel lock apparatus for a wheeled vehicle, said vehicle having a tire, the wheel lock apparatus comprising at least one tooth and a locking assembly, wherein the at least one tooth is moveable between a first position, against the tire, and a second position, remote therefrom, such that, in the first position, the at least one tooth is oriented to substantially prevent forward rotation of the tire by engaging the tire, whilst in the second position, the tire is free to rotate and wherein the at least one tooth is lockable in at least the first position by way of the locking assembly, thereby allowing the wheeled vehicle to be secured against unauthorised use, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a cam and lever assembly, having a lever portion operatively interconnected with a cam portion, wherein the cam and lever assembly is adapted to pivot between a first position where the cam portion acts on the arm member and causes such to assume the first position, and a second position, where the cam portion allows the arm member to assume the second position, wherein the locking assembly is provided in the form of first and second projections provided from the mounting plate, each having an aperture provided therethrough, and an aperture is provided through the cam and lever assembly such that, when the cam and lever assembly is in the first position, the aperture of the cam and lever assembly is substantially aligned with the aperture through the first projection and, when the cam and lever assembly is in the second position, the aperture of the cam and lever assembly is aligned with the second projection, whereby the cam and Lever assembly may be conveniently locked in either the first or second positions. 28. A wheel lock apparatus for a wheeled vehicle, said vehicle having a tire, the wheel lock apparatus comprising at least one tooth and a locking assembly, wherein the at least one tooth is moveable between a first position, against the tire, and a second position, remote therefrom, such that, in the first position, the at least one tooth is oriented to substantially prevent forward rotation of the tire by engaging the tire, whilst in the second position, the tire is free to rotate and wherein the at least one tooth is lockable in at least the first position by way of the locking assembly, thereby allowing the wheeled vehicle to be secured against unauthorised use, wherein the wheel lock assembly comprises a mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is attached to the bodywork of the vehicle proximate the tire thereof, such that the mounting plate faces the tread portion of the tire, the mounting plate having an inner face proximate the tire and an outer face remote therefrom, defining an interior, proximate the tire, and an exterior remote therefrom, and wherein, where the vehicle is provided with a wheel arch, the mounting plate may be provided in the form of a portion of the wheel arch.