Remote vehicle disabling system and method

• US 10,155,498 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elsie Howroyd, Frederick Howroyd
• Original Assignee: Elsie Howroyd, Frederick Howroyd
• Inventors: Howroyd, Frederick, Howroyd, Elsie
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramesh, Krishnan
• Application Number:
  US15/229,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20170036644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/0415 with safe immobilisation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1013 Alarm systems characterised by the type of warning signal, e.g. visual, audible
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/042 operating on the fuel supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/209 Remote starting of engine

Abstract

A remote vehicle disabling system and method. The remote vehicle disabling system includes a master unit in communication with a slave unit. The slave unit is operably connected to a vehicle and one or more operational components of the vehicle. The slave unit can activate or deactivate the operational component and immobilize the vehicle. If the slave unit needs to be overridden, an override switch may be actuated to provide electrical power to the operational components, which form an operational group. The slave unit and master unit are in periodic communication with each other. If the time between communication between the units exceeds a certain amount of time, then the operational component disables the vehicle.

Claims

1. A remote vehicle disabling system comprising:

a slave unit configured to receive instructions from a master unit via a wireless communication network, the master unit comprising a trigger unit;

the slave unit operably connectable to an operational component of a vehicle;

wherein the slave unit is configured to change a state of the operational component;

wherein the operational component of a vehicle is selected from the following group consisting of a fuel valve, an ignition system, an engine starter, a door locking system, a horn system, and a light system;

the disabling system further comprising a memory, a processor, a logic stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, causes the slave unit to perform a method comprising the steps of;

receiving a command from the master unit;

changing the state of the operational component via actuating the slave unit upon receipt of the command;

transmitting a confirmation message to the master unit upon changing the state of the operational component of the vehicle;

wherein the operational component is electrically connected to a negative terminal of a power source;

an ignition relay switch electrically connected to a positive terminal of the power source and operably connected to the slave unit; and

a bypass switch operably connected to the slave unit, wherein the bypass switch is configured to override the slave unit and allow activation of the operational component.

2. The remote vehicle disabling system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a telecommunications network.

3. The remote vehicle disabling system of claim 1, wherein the fuel valve includes a solenoid valve configured to regulate fuel to an engine of the vehicle.

4. The remote vehicle disabling system of claim 1, wherein the engine starter includes a starter motor configured to control the activation of the engine.

5. The remote vehicle disabling system of claim 1, wherein:

the operational component is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the power source; and

the engine starter is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the power source and operably connected to the slave unit.

6. The remote vehicle disabling system of claim 1, wherein the door locking system includes a locking mechanism operably connected to at least one door of the vehicle.

7. The remote vehicle disabling system of claim 1, wherein the horn system includes a sound making device operably connected to the vehicle.

8. The remote vehicle disabling system of claim 1, wherein the light system includes lighting devices operably connected to the vehicle.