Sunken security chain for trailered vehicles

Abstract

An apparatus to secure a trailered vehicle with a standard hitch type lock comprising: a hollow pipe 5, a retaining bolt 6, a chain 4 and a ball hitch 3. The hollow pipe is positioned below the ground, the retaining bolt located at the lower end of the hollow pipe, the security chain attached to the retaining bolt and the ball hitch attached to the chain. The hollow pipe may be made of metal or resin. The width of the pipe may be 0.1 to 0.15m. The depth of the pipe may be 0.1 to 0.4m. The hollow pipe may be secured below the ground with concrete or resin. The security chain may be 0.4 to 0.9m long. The security chain may be a high strength hardened security chain with squared profile. The security chain may be made from a hardened steel alloy. The retaining bolt may be made of steel. The retaining bolt may protrude 0.025 to 0.05m either side of the hollow pipe. The apparatus may also comprise a cap 2. The cap may be made from metal or resin.

Description

This invention relates to an apparatus for securing a trailered vehicle with a standard hitch type lock. Security devices for trailered vehicles are important not only to stop theft but can allow reductions on insurance premiums. Security devices for trailered vehicles range from security posts, GB2443879A, to security locks around the hitch. Security posts have the disadvantage of the trailered vehicle having to be in a specific place to ensure security along with being a trip hazard for the users. Security hitch locks overcome these disadvantages however are not deemed as secure. This current invention overcomes the above disadvantages as the underground stowage prevents trip hazards to users when not in use and the chain allows the trailered vehicle to be located without the precise positioning of the trailered vehicle. Furthermore, it is more secure than the security lock due to the attachment to the ground. This invention comprises: a hollow pipe, a retaining bolt, a security chain and a ball hitch; wherein the hollow pipe is located below the ground, the retaining bolt located at the lower end of the hollow pipe, the security chain attached to the retaining bolt and the ball hitch attached to the chain. The hollow pipe may be made of metal or resin. The width of the pipe may be 0.1-0.15m. The depth of the pipe may be 0.1-0.4m. The hollow pipe may be located below the ground with concrete or resin. The security chain may be 0.4-0.9m long. The security chain may be a high strength hardened security chain with squared profile. The security chain may be made from a hardened steel alloy. The retaining bolt may be made of steel. The retaining bolt may protrude 0.025-0.05m either side of the hollow pipe. The apparatus may also comprise a cap. The cap may be made from metal or resin. Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows the invention in use with a trailered vehicle. Preferred embodiments Figure 1 shows the hollow pipe, 5, that will be located in the ground. The hollow pipe, 5, could be made of a suitable metal or a suitable resin. The metal could be steel, iron or similar. The resin could be a two-part epoxy resin or similar material. This hollow pipe will be sunken into the ground which will require concrete, resin or other suitable material to fix the hollow pipe into the ground. Attached to the hollow pipe 5 at the lower end is the retaining bolt, 6, which is made of a high strength metal such as steel. The retaining bolt, 6, threads through the hollow pipe, 5, and protrudes either side 0.025-0.05m. Attached to the retaining bolt, 6, is one end of the high security chain, 4. The security chain, 4, is attached to the retaining bolt, 6, by either welding or where the retaining bolt, 6, is through a link of the security chain, 4. The security chain, 4, could be a high strength hardened security chain designed with a squared profile to prevent easy cutting. The security chain, 4, could be made out of a hardened steel alloy or a similar material. The security chain may be between 0.4m and 0.9m. The security chain will usually extend 0.35m-0.42m out of the ground. The other end of the security chain, 4, has a hitch ball insert, 3, attached to it. The ball hitch, 3, insert could be welded to the end of the security chain, 4. The ball hitch, 3, insert could be a standard tow ball hitch insert. The standard ball hitch, 3, insert allows attachment to a trailered vehicle comprising the hitch locking mechanism. When not in use the security chain, 4, and ball hitch, 3, insert will fit inside the hollow pipe, 5, such that they would not be a trip hazard. To stop the ingress of water into the hollow pipe, 5, a weather cap, 2, can be placed on top of the hollow pipe, 5, to cover the inside of the hollow pipe, 5, security chain, 4, and ball hitch, 3. The weather cap, 2, could be made of metal or a suitable resin. The metal could be steel, iron or similar and the resin could be a two-part epoxy resin or similar. The weather cap, 2, comprises a hole, 1, that allows the user to remove the weather cap, 2, when the ball hitch, 3, and security chain, 4, need to be accessed. Figure 2 show the claimed invention in use with a trailered vehicle, specifically a trailer. Figure 2 shows the hollow pipe, 1, located in the ground. The hollow pipe will be fixed into the ground with cement or resin or any other suitable material. The security chain, 2, that can be located in the hollow pipe, 1, when not in use, is attached to the trailered vehicle, 4, by the ball hitch, 3. The trailered vehicle, 4, could be a caravan, trailer, horsebox or any other vehicle with a ball hitch connection.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a hollow pipe, a retaining bolt, a security chain and a ball hitch; wherein the hollow pipe is located below the ground, the retaining bolt located at the lower end of the hollow pipe, the security chain attached to the retaining bolt and the ball hitch attached to the chain.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, where the hollow pipe is made of metal or resin.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2, where the width of the hollow pipe is 0.1-0.15m.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1-3 where the depth of the hollow pipe is 0.1-0.4m.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1-4, where the hollow pipe is fixed below the ground with concrete or resin.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1-5, where the security chain is 0.4-0.9m long.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1-6, where the security chain is a high strength hardened security chain with squared profile.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1-7, where the security chain is made from a hardened steel alloy.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1-8, where the retaining bolt is made of steel.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1-9, where the retaining bolt protrudes 0.025-0.05m either side of the hollow pipe.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1-10, where the apparatus also comprises a cap.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, where the cap is made from metal or resin.

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