Rotative anti-theft bar lock for tractor trailers

Abstract

An easy to use trailer anti-theft device that forms an integral part of said trailer comprising a front exterior wall mounted locking mechanism having a rotatable lock bar extending therefrom with the lock bar having an upper arm pivotally and swivelably connected to a lower swing bar that can be unlocked and moved from a stored position to a downwardly depending blocking position. The lock bar has a partially rotative lower swing arm that under force extends under the trailer substantially in the direction of the trailer king pin. A trailer lock assembly can include a housing mounted on a front wall of a trailer, an upper arm operably connected to the housing, and a swing arm pivotally connected to the upper arm. The swing arm is capable of pivoting under the bottom of the trailer in order to prevent a tractor's fifth wheel from engaging the trailer's king pin. The swing arm can also be swivelably connected to the upper arm to compensate for angular swing arm movement when a tractor attempts to hook up with the trailer from an angle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to locks and, more specifically, to a trailer mountable bar lock to prevent a tractor's fifth wheel from engaging the trailer's king pin.

The trailer mountable bar lock is preferably mounted to the trailer's exterior front wall so that the lock bar is peripherally within the confines of the front wall and when unlocked extends vertically beneath the trailer with the pivot point of the swing arm positioned at approximately the base of the trailer so that when pivoted the swing arm will engage the bottom of the trailer.

Also provided is a swivel joint allowing for limited rotation of the swing arm to compensate for angular swing arm movement when a tractor attempts to hookup from an angle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are other antitheft devices designed for trailers having king pins. While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they bartrailers trailer 12 that prevents a tractor 14 from hooking its fifth wheel 16 to the trailer's king pin 18, making the trailer 12 impossible to haul away.

FIG. 2 is a side and detail view of the present invention in the raised unblocked position. The present invention is a trailer bar anti theft device 10 comprising a housing 20 with a key lock 22 for a rotatable lock bar 24 with an upper arm 26 and a swing arm 28 connected by a pivot joint 30 extending therefrom movable between a blocking position and an unblocking position. The bar, deployable to a king pin 18 blocking position, incorporates a pivotal segment to prevent damage to the blocking member under a determined force while preventing coupling with a tractor. Optionally, the anti theft device further incorporates means for engaging activating an alarm when said pivotal segment the swing arm 28 pivots.

FIG. 3 is a side and detail view of the present invention in a lock down position. The present invention is a trailer bar anti theft device 10 comprising a housing 20 with a key lock 22 having a rotatable lock bar 24 with an upper arm 26 and a swing arm 28 connected by a pivot joint 30 extending therefrom movable between a blocking position and an unblocking position. Shown is the present invention lowered into a lock down position effectively blocking the hitching of a trailers fifth wheel to the king pin 18 by creating an un-closable gap with the swing arm.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the present invention in a lock bar down position. Shown is a sectional view of the trailer bar lock anti theft device 10 for a trailer 12 comprising a housing 20 bolted 34 to the trailer 12 wall having a key lock 22 with a pivot point 36 for a rotatable lock bar 24 comprising an upper arm 26 and swing arm 28 connected by a pivot joint 30 and a swivel joint 32 movable between a trailer coupling blocking position and an unblocking position. As depicted in FIG. 4, the pivot joint 30 can be below the front wall of the trailer adjacent a base portion of the trailer 12. Thus, the swing arm 28 can be pivotally connected to the upper arm 26 below the front wall of the trailer 12 adjacent a base portion of the trailer 12. The bar, deployable to a king pin 18 blocking position, incorporates a pivotal segment that under an applied force moves under the trailer preventing coupling with the tractor. The swing arm 28 is capable of being pivoted to a position substantially perpendicular to the upper arm 26. The swing arm 28 can be pivoted with respect to the upper arm 26 so that the swing arm 28 is substantially perpendicular to the upper arm 26. When substantially perpendicular to the upper arm 26, the swing arm 28 can be in a substantially horizontal position. That substantially horizontal position can be underneath the trailer. The terminus end of the swing arm 28 (indicated by reference number 42 in FIG. 5) distal from the pivot joint 30 can be substantially adjacent to the king pin 18 when the swing arm 28 is pivoted to a position substantially perpendicular to the upper arm 26. When the housing 20 is mounted on a wall of the trailer 12 in FIG. 4, the front wall), the upper arm 26 is in a vertical position, and the swing arm 28 is pivoted to a position substantially perpendicular to the length of the upper arm 26 (e.g., a substantially horizontal position underneath the trailer 12), the swing arm 28's length can extend a majority of the horizontal distance between the king pin 18 of the trailer and the pivotal connection (pivot joint 30) between the upper arm 26 and the swing arm 28.

FIG. 5 is a frontal view of the present invention in a lock down position. Shown is a sectional frontal view of the trailer bar lock anti theft device 10 for a trailer 12 comprising a housing 20 with a rotatable lock bar 24 comprising an upper arm 26 with a first end 38 and a second end 40 and a swing arm 28 having a first end 52 connected by a pivot joint 30 and a swivel joint 32 with said swing arm 28 having a terminus end 42 movable between a trailer coupling blocking position and an unblocking position relative to the king pin. The upper arm 26 defines a length between the first end 38 and the second end 40. As depicted in FIG. 4, the swing arm 28 can be pivoted to a position substantially perpendicular to the length between the first end 38 and the second end 40 of the upper arm 26. The first end 38 of the upper arm 26 can be operatively connected to the housing 20.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention in a lock down and block positions. Shown is a side view of the trailer bar lock anti theft device 10 having a pivot joint 30 that serves to give way in the event of a trailer tractor trying to attach its fifth wheel to a trailer's king pin. Also shown is a swivel joint 32 providing limited swing arm 28 rotation to prevent damage to the bar by a trailer tractor attempting to circumvent the lock bar 24 by angularly coupling to the trailer's king pin.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention. Shown is a perspective view of the trailer bar lock anti theft device 10 depicting the range of motion utilized by the device comprising rotating the lock bar 24 from a substantially horizontal locked position to a vertical locked position. A pivotal swing arm 28 is movable along a pivot joint 30 from a vertical position to a trailer king pin blocking position and a rotative swivel joint 32 for partially rotating the swing arm 28 to prevent angularly hitching a tractor to the trailer.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the lock bar 24 of the present invention. Shown is an enlarged view of the rotative pivot joint 30 for extending under a trailer and a swivel joint 32 comprises a stationary collar 44 with a slot 46 extending partially therethrough and a rotative shaft 50 with a stop 48 projecting therefrom through said slot 46 for allowing the limited movement of the swing arm 28 moving in an angular direction to prevent damage to the lock bar 24 while backing up at an angle.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an additional element of the present invention. The trailer bar lock anti theft device 10 further incorporates means for engaging activating an audible alarm 54 integral with said housing 20 when said pivotal segment the swing arm 28 pivots.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the swiveling joint 32 and pivoting joint 30 connecting the upper arm 26 and the swing arm 28. Shown is the collar 44 and slot 46 with the stop element 48 projecting from the interior rotative shaft 50.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the pivot joint 30 of the bar lock 24 lock 10 of the present invention. Shown is an enlarged sectional view of the swing arm 28 depicting the structure of a pivoting joint 30 and a swivel joint 32 in its construction. Additionally shown is the swing arm 28 bending and giving way at its pivot direction upon the application of force.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the present invention. Shown is a detailed view of the components comprising the lock bar 24 having a pivot joint 30 with a pin 58 and corresponding apertures 56 and swivel joint 32 in communication with the swing arm 28 and the swivel joint 32 upper arm 26. Also depicted is the relationship between the slotted 46 collar 44 affiliated with the upper arm 26 and the shaft 50 and stop 48 which allows for limited rotation of the swing arm 28. As indicated by FIG. 5, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12, a first end of the swing arm 28 (which first end is indicated by reference number 52 in FIG. 5) can be at least partially disposed within the upper arm 26.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

1. A rotative anti-theft bar lock for tractor trailers comprising:

a) a housing mountable to a front wall of a trailer;

b) a lock bar rotatively associated with said housing comprising an upper arm with a first end that rotates through the sidewall of said housing, a second end that terminates below the bottom edge of said trailer, and a swing arm pivotally connected to said second end of said upper arm with a pivot joint having a pin that passes through corresponding apertures in said swing arm and a swivel joint; and

c) said swing arm having a terminus end that is of a length wherein said end terminates at a point adjacent to the front portion of the king pin of said trailer when in the blocking position; and

d) means for locking said lock bar in a selected position.

2. The rotative anti-theft bar lock for tractor trailers according to claim 1, wherein said locking means for said lock bar is a key lock in said housing.

3. The rotative anti-theft bar lock for tractor trailers according to claim 1, wherein said lock bar is locked in the horizontal position with said upper arm and said swing arm in linear relation when in the non-blocking position.

4. The rotative anti-theft bar lock for tractor trailers according to claim 3, wherein said lock bar is unlocked and rotated into a vertical blocking position.

5. The rotative anti-theft bar lock for tractor trailers according to claim 4, wherein said swing arm is pivoted into a substantially horizontal position upon application of force thereto with said terminus end proximal to the front portion of said king pin to achieve the blocking position.

6. The rotative anti-theft bar lock for tractor trailers according to claim 5, wherein having the swing arm in the blocking position prohibits a fifth wheel of a tractor from uniting with said king pin.

7. The rotative anti-theft bar lock for tractor trailers according to claim 1, further comprising an audible alarm disposed in said housing that engages when a hookup is attempted with the lock arm engaged in the blocking position.

8. A bar lock anti-theft device for trailers comprising:

a) a housing for mounting on the external front side of a trailer; and

b) a lock bar associated with said housing comprising;

i) an upper arm having a first end rotatively connected to said housing and a second end;

ii) a swing arm having a first end and a second terminus end;

iii) a pivot joint pivotally coupling said second end of said upper arm to said first end of said swing arm; and

iv) a locking mechanism incorporated with said housing for locking said lock bar in position; and

c) wherein said lock bar is moved from the unblocking position to the blocking position by unlocking said lock mechanism and moving said lock bar from the horizontal state to the vertical position and said swing arm pivots to a substantially horizontal position when force is applied thereto thereby placing the terminus end thereof next to said king pin thereby forming an unbreachable gap thus effectively denying access of said king pin to the fifth wheel of a tractor.

9. The bar lock anti-theft device for trailers recited in claim 8, further comprising an audible alarm that is activated when a tractor attempts to hook up to said trailer when said lock bar is in the blocking position.

10. A method of utilizing an anti-theft bar lock device to prevent the unauthorized removal of a dropped trailer by a tractor comprising the steps:

a) providing an anti-theft bar lock device comprising a housing for mounting on the external front side of a trailer, a lock bar associated with said housing comprising an upper arm having a first end rotatively integral with said housing and a second end, a swing arm having a first end and a second terminus end, a pivot joint pivotally connected to said first end of said swing arm, a swivel joint connecting said pivot joint with said upper arm to compensate for angular swing arm movement when a tractor attempts to hook-up from an angle, said swivel joint comprising an external stationary collar with a slot disposed therein, an inner rotative shaft and a stop element projecting from said shaft through said slot in said collar thereby limiting angular swing arm movement when said stop abuts an end of said slot, and a locking mechanism incorporated with said housing for locking said lock bar in position;

b) mounting said anti-theft locking device to said trailer wherein said pivot joint is situated below the bottom side of said trailer;

c) using said lock mechanism to lock said lock bar in a substantially horizontal non-blocking position;

d) backing up an authorized tractor to hook up the fifth wheel thereof with said kingpin and moving and dropping said trailer;

e) removing said fifth wheel of said tractor from said king pin and moving said tractor therefrom;

f) unlocking said lock mechanism and rotating said lock bar into a substantially vertical position;

g) locking said lock bar with said lock mechanism;

h) pivoting said swing arm to a substantially horizontal plane when a bias is applied thereto thus placing said terminus end thereof proximal to said king pin thereby blocking and preventing access to said king pin by the fifth wheel of a tractor; and

i) reversing the procedure for authorized use of said trailer.

11. The method of utilizing an anti-theft bar lock device to prevent the unauthorized removal of a dropped trailer according to claim 10, wherein said housing further comprises an audible alarm for activation when an unauthorized hook-up of said trailer is attempted.

12. A rotative anti-theft bar lock for tractor trailers comprising:

a) a housing mountable to the front wall of a trailer;

b) a lock bar rotatively associated with said housing comprising an upper arm with a first end that rotates through the sidewall of said housing, a second end that terminates below the bottom edge of said trailer, a swing arm pivotally connected to said second end of said upper arm with a pivot joint having a pin that passes through corresponding apertures in said swing arm and a swivel joint, and said swivel joint to allow for limited rotation of said swing arm to compensate for angular swing arm movement when a tractor attempts to hookup from an angle, said swivel joint including a stationary collar with a slot disposed therein and a rotative inner shaft with a stop element projecting through said slot; and

c) means for locking said lock bar in a selected position.

13. The rotative anti-theft bar lock for tractor trailers according to claim 12, wherein said stop element restricts the rotation of said inner shaft when abutted against one of the sides of said slot.

14. A bar lock anti-theft device for trailers comprising:

a) a housing for mounting on the external front side of a trailer;

b) a lock bar associated with said housing comprising;

i) an upper arm having a first end rotatively connected to said housing and a second end;

ii) a swing arm having a first end and a second terminus end;

iii) a pivot joint pivotally coupling said second end of said upper arm to said first end of said swing arm; and

iv) a locking mechanism incorporated with said housing for locking said lock bar in position; and

c) a swivel joint to allow for limited rotation of said swing arm to compensate for angular swing arm movement when a tractor attempts to hookup from an angle, said swivel joint comprising:

a) an external stationary collar;

b) an inner rotative shaft;

c) a slot disposed in said collar; and

d) a stop element projecting from said shaft through said slot in said collar thereby limiting angular swing arm movement when said stop abuts an end of said slot.

15. A trailer lock assembly comprising:

a housing mounted on a front wall of a trailer;

an upper arm operatively connected to the housing; and

a swing arm pivotally connected to the upper arm below the front wall of the trailer and capable of being pivoted to a position substantially perpendicular to the upper arm, the swing arm comprising a terminus end, wherein the terminus end of the swing arm is substantially adjacent to a king pin of the trailer when the swing arm is substantially perpendicular to the upper arm.

16. The trailer lock assembly of claim 15, wherein the swing arm comprises a length extending a majority of a horizontal distance between the king pin of the trailer and the pivotal connection between the upper arm and the swing arm when the swing arm pivots to the position substantially perpendicular to the upper arm.

17. The trailer lock assembly of claim 15, wherein the upper arm comprises a first end, and wherein the upper arm is operatively connected to the housing at the upper arm's first end.

18. The trailer lock assembly of claim 15, wherein the swing arm is further swivelably connected to the upper arm.

19. The trailer lock assembly of claim 15, wherein the swing arm further comprises a first end opposite its terminus end, and wherein the swing arm is pivotally connected to the upper arm at the swing arm's first end.

20. The trailer lock assembly of claim 19, wherein:

the upper arm comprises two apertures;

the first end of the swing arm defines two apertures in the swing arm that correspond to the two apertures in the upper arm; and

the upper arm and the swing arm are pivotally connected by a pin through the two apertures in the upper arm and the two apertures in the swing arm.

21. The trailer lock assembly of claim 20, wherein the first end of the swing arm is at least partially disposed within the upper arm.

22. A method of operating a trailer lock assembly, the trailer lock assembly comprising a trailer lock, the trailer lock comprising a housing mounted on a front wall of a trailer, an upper arm operatively connected to the housing and pivotally connected to a swing arm, the swing arm having a terminus end, the method comprising:

placing the upper arm in a downwardly depending position; and

permitting the swing arm to pivot with respect to the upper arm so that a portion of the swing arm including the terminus end can be pivoted to a position beneath the trailer;

wherein the terminus end of the swing arm is positioned substantially adjacent to a king pin of the trailer when the swing arm pivots with respect to the upper arm so that the portion of the swing arm including the terminus end is positioned beneath the trailer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the swing arm is substantially perpendicular to the upper arm when the swing arm pivots with respect to the upper arm so that the portion of the swing arm including the terminus end is positioned beneath the trailer.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein permitting the swing arm to pivot with respect to the upper arm so that the portion of the swing arm including the terminus end can be pivoted to the position beneath the trailer comprises placing the upper arm and swing arm in a vertical orientation.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the swing arm is substantially horizontal beneath the trailer when the swing arm pivots with respect to the upper arm so that the portion of the swing arm including the terminus end is positioned beneath the trailer.

26. A trailer lock comprising:

a housing mountable to a front wall of a trailer;

an upper arm operatively connected to the housing, the upper arm having a first end and a second end, the upper arm defining a length between the first end and the second end; and

a swing arm pivotally connected to the upper arm and capable of pivoting to a position substantially perpendicular to the length of the upper arm, the swing arm comprising a length extending a majority of a horizontal distance between a king pin of the trailer and the pivotal connection between the upper arm and the swing arm when the housing is mounted on the front wall of the trailer, the upper arm is in a vertical position, and the swing arm pivots to the position substantially perpendicular to the length of the upper arm.

27. The trailer lock of claim 26, wherein the swing arm comprises a first end, and wherein the swing arm is pivotally connected to the upper arm at the swing arm's first end.

28. The trailer lock of claim 27, wherein:

the upper arm comprises two apertures;

the first end of the swing arm defines two apertures in the swing arm that correspond to the two apertures in the upper arm; and

the upper arm and the swing arm are pivotally connected by a pin through the two apertures in the upper arm and the two apertures in the swing arm.

29. The trailer lock of claim 28, wherein the first end of the swing arm is at least partially disposed within the upper arm.

30. The trailer lock of claim 26, wherein the swing arm is also swivelably connected to the upper arm.

31. The trailer lock of claim 26, wherein the upper arm is operatively connected to the housing at the upper arm's first end.

32. A trailer lock assembly comprising:

a housing mounted on a front wall of a trailer;

an upper arm operatively connected to the housing; and

a swing arm pivotally connected to the upper arm below the front wall of the trailer and capable of being pivoted to a position substantially perpendicular to the upper arm when the upper arm is in a vertical position such that the swing arm blocks a fifth wheel of a tractor from engaging a king pin of the trailer.

33. The trailer lock assembly of claim 32, wherein the swing arm is pivotally connected to the upper arm at a first end of the swing arm.

34. The trailer lock assembly of claim 32, wherein:

the upper arm comprises two apertures;

the swing arm comprises a first end defining two apertures in the swing arm that correspond to the two apertures in the upper arm; and

the upper arm and the swing arm are pivotally connected by a pin through the two apertures in the upper arm and the two apertures in the swing arm.

35. The trailer lock assembly of claim 34, wherein the first end of the swing arm is at least partially disposed within the upper arm.

36. The trailer lock assembly of claim 32, wherein the swing arm is capable of swiveling with respect to the upper arm.

37. A trailer lock comprising:

a housing for mounting on a wall of a trailer;

an upper arm operatively connected to the housing; and

a swing arm pivotally connected to the upper arm;

wherein, when the housing is mounted on the wall of the trailer and the upper arm is in a vertical position, the swing arm is capable of pivoting to a substantially horizontal position underneath the trailer that prevents a tractor from engaging with a king pin of the trailer.

38. The trailer lock of claim 37, wherein the swing arm comprises a length extending a majority of a horizontal distance between the king pin of the trailer and the pivotal connection between the upper arm and the swing arm when the housing is mounted on the wall of the trailer, the upper arm is in the vertical position, and the swing arm pivots to the substantially horizontal position underneath the trailer.

39. The trailer lock of claim 37, wherein the swing arm is pivotally connected to the upper arm at a first end of the swing arm.

40. The trailer lock of claim 37, wherein the housing is for mounting on a front wall of the trailer.

41. The trailer lock of claim 37, wherein the upper arm comprises two apertures, the swing arm comprises a first end that defines two apertures in the swing arm that correspond to the two apertures in the upper arm, and wherein the upper arm and the swing arm are pivotally connected by a pin through the two apertures in the upper arm and the two apertures in the swing arm.

42. The trailer lock of claim 41, wherein the first end of the swing arm is at least partially disposed within the upper arm.

43. The trailer lock of claim 37, wherein the swing arm is capable of swiveling with respect to the upper arm.

44. A method of preventing access to a king pin of a trailer having a front wall, the method comprising:

mounting a housing to the front wall of the trailer, the housing being operably connected to an upper arm, the upper arm being pivotally connected to a swing arm via a pivot joint, the swing arm capable of pivoting to a position substantially perpendicular to the upper arm, the swing arm comprising a terminus end; and

placing the upper arm and swing arm in a downwardly depending position with the pivot joint positioned below the front wall of the trailer adjacent a base portion of the trailer;

wherein, when the swing arm is pivoted to the position substantially perpendicular to the upper arm, the terminus end of the swing arm is substantially adjacent to the king pin so as to prevent access to the king pin of the trailer.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the position substantially perpendicular to the upper arm to which the swing bar is capable of being pivoted is a substantially horizontal position.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the upper arm and swing arm are both pivotally connected and swivelably connected, and further comprising permitting the swing arm to swivel with respect to the upper arm.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein mounting the housing to the front wall of the trailer comprises bolting the housing to the front wall of the trailer.

48. A trailer lock comprising:

a lock bar comprising an upper arm and a swing arm;

means for mounting the lock bar to a front wall of a trailer; and

means for pivotally connecting the upper arm and the swing arm to permit the swing arm to be pivoted underneath the trailer from a vertical position to a substantially horizontal position perpendicular to the upper arm while the lock bar is mounted to the front wall of the trailer and the upper arm is in a vertical position.

49. The trailer lock of claim 48, further comprising means for swivelably connecting the upper arm and the swing arm.

50. The trailer lock of claim 48, wherein the means for mounting the lock bar to the front wall of the trailer comprises a housing mountable to the front wall of the trailer.

51. A method of preventing access to a king pin of a trailer having a front wall on which a housing is mounted, the housing being operably connected to a lock bar comprising an upper arm, the upper arm being pivotally connected to a swing arm, the swing arm having a terminus end and capable of being pivoted to a substantially horizontal position beneath the trailer when the lock bar is in a vertical position, the method comprising:

placing the lock bar in the vertical position with the pivot joint positioned below the front wall of the trailer adjacent a base portion of the trailer;

wherein the terminus end of the swing arm is substantially adjacent to the king pin of the trailer when the swing arm is pivoted with respect to the upper arm to the substantially horizontal position beneath the trailer, thereby preventing access to the king pin of the trailer.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the upper arm and swing arm are both pivotally connected and swivelably connected, and further comprising permitting the swing arm to swivel with respect to the upper arm.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein placing the lock bar in the vertical position with the pivot joint positioned below the front wall of the trailer comprises rotating the lock bar with respect to the housing from a substantially horizontal position to the vertical position with the pivot joint positioned below the front wall of the trailer.