US-12618262-B2 - Automotive element theft prevention device

US12618262B2US 12618262 B2US12618262 B2US 12618262B2US-12618262-B2

Abstract

An anti-theft device configured to be installed around at least a portion of the perimeter of the vehicle wherein the present invention inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle. The anti-theft device includes a first rail member and a second rail member that are identically constructed and deployed on opposing sides of the vehicle. The first rail member and second rail member include upper longitudinal support members and lower longitudinal support members. A plurality of vertical support members are intermediate the upper and lower longitudinal support members having a void therebetween of sufficient size to inhibit a human from traversing therethrough. The present invention can further be deployed with front and rear rail members built similarly to the first and second rail members. Tire platforms are hingedly secured to the first and second rail members and are configured to have tires of a vehicle superposed thereto.

Inventors

Mavis Shaw
Tamara Dolinsky

Assignees

Mavis Shaw
Tamara Dolinsky

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230216

Claims (20)

1 . An anti-theft device that inhibits access to an area underneath a vehicle wherein the anti-theft device comprises: a first rail member, said first rail member being disposed on a first side of the vehicle, said first rail member extending between a front end and a rear end of the vehicle, said first rail member having a height that extends to a floorboard of the vehicle; a second rail member, said second rail member being disposed on a second side of the vehicle, said second rail member extending between the front end and the rear end of the vehicle, said second rail member having a height that extends to the floorboard of the vehicle; and wherein said first rail member and said second rail member are releasably secured in place and configured to inhibit access to the area underneath the vehicle, and wherein said first rail member includes one of an upper longitudinal support member and a lower longitudinal support member, said longitudinal support member being parallel to the floorboard of the vehicle.
2 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first rail member further includes an other of said upper longitudinal support member and said lower longitudinal support member, with said upper longitudinal support member and said lower longitudinal support member being parallel.
3 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 2 , wherein said first rail member further includes a plurality of vertical support members, said vertical support members being intermediate said upper longitudinal support member and a lower longitudinal support member and further being perpendicular thereto.
4 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 3 , wherein said plurality of vertical support members have a void therebetween.
5 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 4 , and further including a front rail member, said front rail member operable to be disposed adjacent a front of the vehicle.
6 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 5 , and further including a rear rail member, said rear rail member configured to be disposed adjacent a rear of the vehicle.
7 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 6 , wherein said first rail member includes a first tire platform and a second tire platform, said first tire platform and said second tire platform being operably coupled to said lower longitudinal support member of said first rail member, said first tire platform and said second tire platform configured to have tires on the first side of the vehicle superposed thereon.
8 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 7 , wherein said second rail member includes a first tire platform and a second tire platform, said first tire platform and said second tire platform of said second rail member being operably coupled to said lower longitudinal support member of said second rail member, said first tire platform and said second tire platform of said second rail member being configured to have tires on the passenger side of the vehicle superposed thereon.
9 . An anti-theft device that inhibits access to an area underneath a vehicle wherein the anti-theft device comprises: a first rail member, said first rail member being disposed on a driver's side of the vehicle, said first rail member extending between a front end and a rear end of the vehicle, said first rail member having a height that extends to a floorboard of the vehicle, said first rail member having a first end and a second end, said first rail member having an upper longitudinal support member and a lower longitudinal support member, said lower longitudinal support member being superposed on a ground surface adjacent the vehicle, said upper longitudinal support member and said lower longitudinal support member being parallel and having a void therebetween, said first rail member having a plurality of vertical support members extending between said upper longitudinal support member and said lower longitudinal support member and being perpendicular thereto; a second rail member, said second rail member being disposed on a passenger side of the vehicle, said second rail member extending between the front end and the rear end of the vehicle, said second rail member having a height that extends to the floorboard of the vehicle, said second rail member having a first end and a second end, said second rail member having an upper longitudinal support member and a lower longitudinal support member, said lower longitudinal support member of said second rail member being superposed on a ground surface adjacent the vehicle, said upper longitudinal support member and said lower longitudinal support member of said second rail member being parallel and having a void therebetween, said second rail member having a plurality of vertical support members extending between said upper longitudinal support member and said lower longitudinal support member of said second rail member and being perpendicular thereto.
10 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 9 , wherein said first rail member further includes a first tire platform, said first tire platform being operably coupled to said first end of said first rail member, said first tire platform being perpendicular to said first rail member extending outward therefrom, said first tire platform configured to have a tire of the vehicle superposed thereon.
11 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein said first rail member further includes a second tire platform, said second tire platform being operably coupled to said second end of said first rail member, said second tire platform being perpendicular to said first rail member extending outward therefrom, said second tire platform configured to have a tire of the vehicle superposed thereon.
12 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 11 , wherein said second rail member further includes a first tire platform, said first tire platform of said second rail member being operably coupled to said first end of said second rail member, said first tire platform of said second rail member being perpendicular to said second rail member extending outward therefrom, said first tire platform of said second rail member configured to have a tire of the vehicle superposed thereon.
13 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 12 , wherein said second rail member further includes a second tire platform, said second tire platform of said second rail member being operably coupled to said second end of said second rail member, said second tire platform of said second rail member being perpendicular to said second rail member extending outward therefrom, said second tire platform of said second rail member configured to have a tire of the vehicle superposed thereon.
14 . The anti-theft device that inhibits access to the area underneath the vehicle as recited in claim 13 , wherein the anti-theft device further includes at least one wheel lock member, said at least one wheel lock member configured to releasably secure to a wheel of the vehicle.
15 . An anti-theft device that inhibits access to an area underneath a vehicle wherein the anti-theft device comprises: a first rail member, said first rail member being disposed on a first side of the vehicle, said first rail member extending between a front end and a rear end of the vehicle, said first rail member having a height that extends to a floorboard of the vehicle; a second rail member, said second rail member being disposed on a second side of the vehicle, said second rail member extending between the front end and the rear end of the vehicle, said second rail member having a height that extends to the floorboard of the vehicle; and a front rail member, said front rail member operable to be disposed adjacent a front of the vehicle, wherein said first rail member and said second rail member are releasably secured in place and configured to inhibit access to the area underneath the vehicle.
16 . The anti-theft device as recited in claim 15 , and further including a rear rail member, said rear rail member configured to be disposed adjacent a rear of the vehicle.
17 . The anti-theft device as recited in claim 16 , wherein said first rail member includes a first tire platform and a second tire platform, said first tire platform and said second tire platform being operably coupled to said lower longitudinal support member of said first rail member, said first tire platform and said second tire platform configured to have tires on the first side of the vehicle superposed thereon.
18 . The anti-theft device as recited in claim 17 , wherein said second rail member includes a first tire platform and a second tire platform, said first tire platform and said second tire platform of said second rail member being operably coupled to said lower longitudinal support member of said second rail member, said first tire platform and said second tire platform of said second rail member being configured to have tires on the passenger side of the vehicle superposed thereon.
19 . The anti-theft device as recited in claim 18 , wherein said first rail member includes an upper longitudinal support member and a lower longitudinal support member, said upper longitudinal support member and said lower longitudinal support member being parallel.
20 . The anti-theft device as recited in claim 19 , wherein said first rail member further includes a plurality of vertical support members, said vertical support members being intermediate said upper longitudinal support member and a lower longitudinal support member and further being perpendicular thereto.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to anti-theft devices for vehicles, more specifically but not by way of limitation, an anti-theft device for a vehicle wherein the device of the present invention inhibits an ability to access underneath the vehicle and as such prevent theft of the catalytic convertor of the vehicle. BACKGROUND A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction. Catalytic converters are usually used with internal combustion engines. The first widespread introduction of catalytic converters was in the United States automobile market. To comply with the EPA regulation of exhaust emissions, most gasoline-powered vehicles starting with vehicles produced in 1975 are now equipped with catalytic converters. These converters combined oxygen with carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons to produce carbon dioxide and water. These stringent emission control regulations forced the removal of the antiknock agent tetraethyl lead from automotive gasoline, to reduce lead in the air. Requiring the removal of lead allowed the use of catalytic converters to meet the other emission standards in the regulations. The catalytic converter includes a portion that is a mix of precious metals from the platinum group. Platinum is the most active catalyst and is widely used, but is not suitable for all applications. Palladium and rhodium are two other precious metals used. Rhodium is used as a reduction catalyst, palladium is used as an oxidation catalyst, and platinum is used both for reduction and oxidation. The cost of the aforementioned precious metals utilized in the manufacturing of catalytic converters has resulted in a dramatic increase in the theft of catalytic convertors. According to the recent crime statistics, the average number of catalytic converter thefts per month rose from 108 in 2018 to 1,203 in 2020. Platinum, palladium, and rhodium are usually worth more than gold. In 2021 when rhodium was worth a little under thirty thousand dollars per troy ounce. To date, there are no real effective solutions to prevent theft of catalytic convertors. Accordingly, there is a need for an anti-theft device that can be releasably coupled to a vehicle that is operable to inhibit theft of the catalytic convertor of the vehicle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to provide an anti-theft device for a vehicle that is operable to inhibit theft of a catalytic convertor wherein the present invention includes a first rail member. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that inhibits access underneath a parked vehicle wherein the first rail member includes a first tire platform and a second tire platform at opposing ends thereof. A further object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft device for a vehicle that is operable to inhibit theft of a catalytic convertor wherein the present invention includes a second rail member that is located on the opposing side of the vehicle from the first rail member. Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a device that inhibits access underneath a parked vehicle wherein the second rail member includes a first tire platform and a second tire platform secured to opposing ends thereof. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft device for a vehicle that is operable to inhibit theft of a catalytic convertor wherein the first rail member and the second rail member further include wheel lock members. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a device that inhibits access underneath a parked vehicle wherein the present invention can further include a front rail member and a rear rail member. Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft device for a vehicle that is operable to inhibit theft of a catalytic convertor wherein the first rail member and the second rail member are configured to either fold or telescopically reduce in size for storage thereof when not in use. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rail member of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a side view of a rail member of the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of an exemplary installation of the present inven