VEHICLE ALARM SYSTEM

• US 3,649,962 A
• Filed: 10/17/1969
• Issued: 03/14/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Spall Jr, Peter R. Bedard
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Spall Jr, Peter R. Bedard
• Inventors: Bedard, Peter R., Spall, Charles J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Habecker, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US04/867,309
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 340/64,65,63,276
• US Class Current: 340/429
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001

Abstract

The invention provides a protective alarm system for a vehicle by sounding an alarm when the vehicle is tampered with or entered during the owner'"'"''"'"'s absence. A first set of switches, including an inertia switch, is connected by a normal sensing relay to sound the alarm immediately if the vehicle is shaken or tampered with in other ways. A second set of switches is provided to set up an alarm condition by holding relay and a thermostatic delay relay if normal entry is gained to the vehicle, as by opening a door, but will not sound the alarm during a predetermined 15 second delay. Turning the ignition on during this 15 second entry period disables the entire alarm system by way of a de-activating relay and a further thermostatic delay relay. When the ignition switch is turned off the further delay relay provides a 120-second nonalarming period for exit from and locking of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle alarm system operable from the vehicle electrical system to alarm when the ignition switch is off excluding periods immediately prior to and subsequent to the period when the ignition switch is on comprising in combination, at least one entrance switch means actuable by normal entry into the vehicle, normal entrance delay switching means, alarm signaling means, first switching means for actuating the normal entrance delay switching means in response to actuation of the entrance switch means, said normal entrance delay switching means actuating the alarm means after a predetermined delay, at least one tamper switch means, second switching means for actuating the alarm means in response to actuation of the tamper switch means, exit delay switching means for rendering inoperative the first switching means, the second switching means and the normal entrance delay switching means when actuated, and third switching means responsive to switching the ignition switch on to actuate the exit delay switching means, said exit delay switching means remaining actuated for a predetermined period of delay subsequent to the ignition switch being turned off.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the entrance switching means comprise vehicle door switches actuable by opening a door.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the tamper switch means comprises at least an inertia switch.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the delay switching means comprise thermostatic delay relays.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first, second, and third switching means comprise relays.

6. An alarm system for use with a vehicle electrical system including its ignition switch comprising in combination a plurality of sensing switches connected in the alarm system and carried by the vehicle, alarm means, sensing relay switching means normally operative from the electrical system responsive to actuation of any of selected switches in said plurality to operate the alarm means, holding switching means connected to switches in said plurality other than the selected switches for operation upon actuation of any of said other switches, first delay switching means eneRgized by the holding switching means when operative to operate the alarm means after a predetermined period only if the holding switching means is still operative, further delay switching means connected to prevent operation of the sensing relay switching means, the holding switching means and the first delay switching means when rendered operative, and de-actuating switching means responsive to the ignition switch when on to operate the further delay switching means.

7. A vehicle alarm system operable from the vehicle electrical system to alarm when the ignition switch is off excluding the periods immediately prior and subsequent to the period when the ignition switch is on, comprising in combination at least one entrance switch means actuable by normal entry into the vehicle, a first electromagnetic relay responsive to said entrance switch means, said first electromagnetic relay including a coil, normally opened and normally closed contacts, a second electromagnetic relay responsive to the vehicle ignition switch, said second electromagnetic relay including normally opened and normally closed contacts, a first thermo relay including a heater and normally opened contacts, said thermostatic relay heater responsive to said normally opened contacts of said first electromagnetic relay and said normally open contacts of said second electromagnetic relay, an alarm means responsive to said first thermostatic relay normally opened contacts, a third electromagnetic relay responsive to said normally closed contacts of said first electromagnetic relay and said normally opened contacts of said second electromagnetic relay, said third electromagnetic relay including a coil and normally opened contacts, tamper switch means, first interconnection means for connecting said tamper switch means to said alarm means via said normally opened contacts of said third electromagnetic relay, a second thermostatic relay including a heater and normally closed contacts, said second thermostatic relay heater responsive to said normally opened contacts of said second electromagnetic relay, said coils of said first and said third electromagnetic relay responsive to said normally closed contacts of said second thermostatic relay, and manually operable switch means interconnectable between said heater and said normally closed contacts of said second thermostatic relay and the vehicle electrical system.