ANTI-HIJACKING VEHICULAR ALARM SYSTEM

• US 3,656,100 A
• Filed: 05/08/1970
• Issued: 04/11/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph P. Beltrami
• Original Assignee: Joseph P. Beltrami
• Inventors: Beltrami, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/035,606
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 340/63,64,65,276,278 307/10
• US Class Current: 307/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1013 Alarm systems characterised by the type of warning signal, e.g. visual, audible
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device

Abstract

In an anti-hijacking vehicular alarm system in which an alarm is to be actuated upon unauthorized opening of a door of a vehicle, alarm circuit means for actuating the alarm in response to the opening of a vehicle door, operator means for selectively activating or deactivating the alarm circuit means, timer means capable of being actuated to operate for a selected interval of time, means for precluding operation of the operator means during the selected interval of time without actuation of the alarm, and means for precluding alteration of the duration of the selected interval of time during that interval without actuation of the alarm.

Claims

1. An anti-hijacking vehicular alarm system in which an alarm is to be actuated upon unauthorized opening of a door of the vehicle, said alarm system comprising:

alarm circuit means for actuating the alarm in response to the opening of a vehicle door;

operator means for selectively activating or deactivating the alarm circuit means;

timer means capable of being actuated to operate for a selected interval of time;

means for precluding operation of said operator means during said selected interval of time without actuation of said alarm; and

means for precluding alteration of the duration of said selected interval of time during said interval without actuation of said alarm.

2. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has an ignition circuit and including means for deactivating said ignition circuit upon actuation of the alarm.

3. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein:

said operator means is operated by a key; and

said operation-precluding means includes means responsive to the absence of said key from a given location during said interval of time for actuating the alarm.

4. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said timer means includes a manually operated timing device and said duration alteration-precluding means includes means for closing off manual access to said timing device;

and tamper means responsive to the opening of said closing-off means during said interval of time for actuating the alarm.

5. The alarm system of claim 4 wherein:

said timing device is operated by a manual actuator;

said closing-off means includes an enclosure which precludes manual access to said actuator, said enclosure having an access door for enabling selective access to said actuator; and

said tamper means includes means responsive to the opening of said door during said interval of time for actuating the alarm.

6. The alarm system of claim 5 including means for selectively deactivating said tamper means when the access door is open and responsive to the closing of the access door to activate the tamper means when the door is closed during said timed interval.

7. The alarm system of claim 5 wherein:

said operator means is operated by a key; and

said operation-precluding means includes means responsive to the absence of said key from a given location within said enclosure during said interval of time for actuating the alarm.

8. The alarm system of claim 7 including means for deactivating said tamper means when the access door is open and responsive to the closing of the access door to activate the tamper means when the door is closed during said timed interval.

9. The alarm system of claim 1 including means for precluding movement of said vehicle without actuation of the alarm when the timer means is not actuated to operate for said interval of time.

10. The alarm system of claim 9 wherein said movement-precluding means includes means responsive to motion of the vehicle, said alarm system including means connecting said motion-responsive means and the alarm when said timer means is not actuated and disconnecting said motion-responsive means from the alarm when said timer means is actuated.

11. An anti-hijacking vehicular alarm system in which an alarm is to be actuated upon unauthorized opening of a door of the vehicle, said alarm system comprising:

an electrically operated alarm;

a first circuit for actuating the alarm in response to the opening of a vehicle door;

a first switch;

a key for selectively operating said first switch to connect or disconnect the first circuit and the alarm;

a timing device including a manually operated actuator such that the timing device is capable of being manually actuated for operation through a selected interval of time at the end of which interval said timing device comes to rest;

an enclosure, said enclosure having an access door for precluding manual access to said actuator when closed and for enabling access to the actuator when open;

a second circuit for actuating the alarm when said access door is open;

a third circuit for actuating the alarm in the response to the absence of the key from a given location;

a second switch operated by the timing device for connecting the second and third circuits with the alarm during the interval of time and for disconnecting the second and third circuitS from the alarm when the timing device is at rest;

a third switch between the second switch and the alarm for operation between a first position wherein the second switch is disconnected from the alarm and a second position wherein the second switch is connected to the alarm; and

means for precluding operation of the third switch to the first position thereof when the access door is closed.

12. The alarm system of claim 11 including:

a fourth circuit for actuating the alarm in response to movement of the vehicle;

a fourth switch operated by the timing device for connecting the fourth circuit and the alarm when the timing device is at rest and for disconnecting the fourth circuit from the alarm upon actuation of the timing device;

said fourth switch connecting the fourth circuit to the alarm when said third switch is in said first position.

13. The alarm system of claim 11 wherein the vehicle has an ignition circuit and including means for deactivating said ignition circuit upon actuation of the alarm.

14. The alarm system of claim 11 wherein said given location of the key is within said enclosure.

15. The alarm system of claim 11 wherein:

said third switch is actuated from the first position to the second position thereof in response to closing of the access door;

said second circuit includes a further switch responsive to the position of the access door such that the second circuit is open when the door is closed and closed when the door is open; and

said system includes means responsive to closing of the access door for actuating the further switch to open the second circuit and subsequently actuating the third switch to the second position thereof.