Abstract: A steering wheel lock assembly includes a plunger for mating engagement with an opening in a steering wheel shaft or a rack of a rack and pinion steering assembly and an actuating mechanism for selectively applying a force to move the plunger towards mating engagement with the shaft opening. A bi-directional biasing mechanism operatively connected between the actuating mechanism and the plunger biases the plunger towards engagement with the opening when the actuating mechanism applies force thereagainst and the plunger is unaligned with the opening and biasing the plunger out of engagement with the opening when force applied by the actuating mechanism is selectively removed and the opening is applying a torque on the plunger to retain the plunger therein such that release of the torque disengages the plunger. The assembly will prevent subsequent locking and unlocking of the device if an actuating cable to the device is disconnected.

Abstract: Two embodiments of anti-theft devices for motor vehicles, each of which includes a locking device that is engageable with the steering mechanism for preventing steering of the vehicle. A remotely positioned operator is connected to the locking device by a breakaway connection that prevents operation of the locking device if the connection is tampered with. In one embodiment, the device is operated electrically and in the other embodiment, it is operated mechanically.