Automobile anti-theft system

• US 20020100300A1
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oʼhair, Colin G., Rex Reeb
• Original Assignee: Oʼhair, Colin G., Rex Reeb
• Inventors: Reeb, Rex, OʼHair, Colin G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,499,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/201
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/005 of foot actuated control means rods connecting pedals and steering wheels B60R25/0221
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5642 Rod
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/573 Single
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5889 For automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control

Abstract

This invention is a remote-controllable automobile anti-theft device which replaces a common connection between the accelerator and the throttle of an automobile with a locking main shaft connector between an accelerator shaft and a throttle shaft. The locking main shaft rotates about a central axis in response to motion from the accelerator, and translates that motion to the throttle. The locking main shaft contains a hole. The remote control activates a push-pull solenoid which reversibly inserts a solenoid locking pin into the hole in the locking main shaft. When the solenoid locking pin is inserted into the hole in the locking main shaft, the locking main shaft is prevented from rotating around its pivot axis. Therefore, when the locking pin is inserted into the hole in the locking main shaft, motion of an accelerator shaft does not translate to the throttle shaft, and the automobile'"'"'s engine cannot rev. In addition, the invention has tamper-resistant features such as being attached to the fire wall of the automobile by tamper resistant fasteners which are inserted from the engine side of the fire wall. Therefore, to remove the fasteners, the person removing the fasteners must have access to the engine side of the fire wall. In addition, the accelerator shaft contains a spring mechanism so that the accelerator pedal can still be pushed to the floor even when the device is locked.

Claims

1. An automobile anti-theft system comprising:

a locking mechanism which couples the accelerator to the throttle, the locking mechanism having an aperture opening,

a locking shaft, the locking shaft selectively extendable into the aperture opening, such that when the locking shaft is not extended into the aperture opening the accelerator can operate the throttle and when the locking shaft is extended into the aperture opening the accelerator is prevented from operating the throttle.

2. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 1 further comprising a switch to selectively extend and retract said locking shaft into said aperture opening.

3. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 2 wherein said switch comprises a remote-control switch.

4. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 2 wherein said switch comprises an integrated paging system whereby said switch to be remotely actuated by the paging system.

5. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 2 wherein said switch comprises an under-the dash switch.

6. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 2 further comprising an electromechanical actuator to receive a signal from the switch and in response to the signal from the switch to insert or remove the locking shaft from the aperture opening.

7. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 6 wherein the electromechanical actuator is a solenoid.

8. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 6 wherein the electromechanical actuator is a servo.

9. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 6 wherein the electromechanical actuator is a motor.

10. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 1 wherein said system is affixed to the interior surface of a fire wall of an automobile.

11. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 10 wherein said locking mechanism is contained inside a tamper-resistant box.

12. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 11 wherein said tamper-resistant box is affixed to the interior surface of a fire wall of an automobile by fasteners inserted from the engine side of the fire wall whereby a person disassembling the system by removing the fasteners must have access to the engine side of the fire wall.

13. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 1 further comprising a flexor to allow the accelerator to retain the ability to move even when the locking shaft is extended into the aperture opening and the accelerator is prevented from operating the throttle.

14. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 13 wherein said flexor is spring-steel whereby said accelerator shaft having two ends is comprised of spring-steel which allows said accelerator shaft to flex in response to pressure on one end of said accelerator shaft even when the other end of said accelerator shaft is fixed.

15. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 1 further comprising a loader whereby said locking mechanism can be engaged when an automobile is moving.

16. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 15 wherein said loader comprises a spring-loaded solenoid structured and arranged to actuate the locking mechanism by extending the locking shaft into a loaded position such that when the aperture rotates into alignment with the locking shaft, the locking shaft can spring into the aperture to prevent the accelerator from operating the throttle.

17. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 15 wherein said loader comprises a gravity-loaded solenoid structured and arranged to actuate the locking mechanism by extending the locking shaft into a loaded position such that when the aperture rotates into alignment with the locking shaft, the locking shaft can drop into the aperture to prevent the accelerator from operating the throttle.

19. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 18 wherein said switch comprises a remote-control switch.

20. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 18 wherein said switch comprises an integrated paging system whereby said switch to be remotely actuated by said paging system.

21. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 18 wherein said switch comprises an under-the dash switch.

22. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 18 further comprising an electromechanical actuator to receive a signal from the switch and in response to the signal from the switch to insert or remove the locking shaft from the aperture opening.

23. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 22 wherein the electromechanical actuator is a solenoid.

24. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 22 wherein the electromechanical actuator is a servo.

25. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 22 wherein the electromechanical actuator is a motor.

26. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 18 wherein said system is affixed to the interior surface of a fire wall of an automobile.

27. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 26 wherein said locking mechanism is contained inside a tamper-resistant box.

28. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 27 wherein said tamper-resistant box is affixed to the interior surface of a fire wall of an automobile by fasteners inserted from the engine side of the fire wall so that a person disassembling the system by removing the fasteners must have access to the engine side of the fire wall.

29. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 18 further comprising a flexor to allow the accelerator to retain the ability to move even when the locking shaft is extended into the aperture opening and the accelerator is prevented from operating the throttle.

30. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 29 wherein said flexor is spring-steel which allows said accelerator shaft to flex in response to pressure on one end of said accelerator shaft even when an other end of said accelerator shaft is fixed.

31. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 18 further comprising a loader to allow said locking mechanism to be actuated when an automobile is moving.

32. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 31 wherein said loader comprises a spring-loaded solenoid structured and arranged to actuate the locking mechanism by extending the locking shaft into a loaded position such that when the aperture rotates into alignment with the locking shaft, the locking shaft can spring into the aperture to prevent the accelerator from operating the throttle.

33. The automobile anti-theft system of claim 31 wherein said loader comprises a gravity-loaded solenoid structured and arranged to actuate the locking mechanism by extending the locking shaft into a loaded position such that when the aperture rotates into alignment with the locking shaft, the locking shaft can drop into the aperture to prevent the accelerator from operating the throttle.

18. An automobile anti-theft system comprising:

a locking mechanism which couples the accelerator to the throttle, the locking mechanism comprising a main shaft;

said main shaft comprising;

an aperture opening; and

two ends;

wherein said main shaft comprises a central pivot axis about which said main shaft rotates;

wherein said main shaft is coupled at one end to an accelerator shaft and at the other end to a throttle shaft; and

a locking shaft, the locking shaft selectively extendable into the aperture opening;

wherein when the locking shaft is not extended in to the aperture opening the accelerator shaft is coupled to the main shaft which is coupled to the throttle shaft such that rotational energy from the accelerator shaft causes the main shaft to rotate around the central pivot axis which transfers rotational energy to the throttle shaft and revs the engine; and

,

wherein when the locking shaft is extended into the aperture opening the main shaft is prevented from rotating about the central pivot axis such that rotational energy from the accelerator shaft does not cause the main shaft to rotate around the central pivot axis and does not transfer rotational energy to the throttle shaft and does not rev the engine; and

a switch to selectively extend and retract said locking shaft into said aperture opening.

34. An automobile anti-theft system comprising:

a locking mechanism which couples the accelerator to the throttle, the locking mechanism comprising a main shaft said main shaft comprising;

an aperture opening; and

two ends;

wherein said main shaft further comprises a central pivot axis about which said main shaft rotates;

wherein said main shaft is coupled at one end to an accelerator shaft and at the other end to a throttle shaft; and

a locking shaft, the locking shaft selectively extendable into the aperture opening;

wherein when the locking shaft is not extended in to the aperture opening the accelerator shaft is coupled to the main shaft which is coupled to the throttle shaft such that rotational energy from the accelerator shaft causes the main shaft to rotate around the central pivot axis which transfers rotational energy to the throttle shaft and revs the engine; and

wherein when the locking shaft is extended into the aperture opening the main shaft is prevented from rotating about the central pivot axis such that rotational energy from the accelerator shaft does not cause the main shaft to rotate around the central pivot axis and does not transfer rotational energy to the throttle shaft and does not rev the engine;

a remote control switch to selectively extend and retract said locking shaft into said aperture opening; and

,

a spring-loaded solenoid structured and arranged to actuate the locking mechanism by extending the locking shaft into a loaded position such that when the aperture rotates into alignment with the locking shaft, the locking shaft can spring into the aperture to prevent the accelerator from operating the throttle.