VEHICLE LOCKING CIRCUIT

• US 3,656,574 A
• Filed: 07/13/1970
• Issued: 04/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph Edwards
• Original Assignee: Joseph Edwards
• Inventors: Edwards, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/054,153
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 180/114,82,111 188/265 303/89
• US Class Current: 180/287
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/18 Safety devices; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 3/00 Portable devices for preventing unwanted movement of vehicles, e.g. chocks

Abstract

A circuit is disclosed for locking and unlocking the brakes, ignition and hood of a vehicle so as to secure it from theft. A key-operated master switch is effective in its plurality of positions to: (a) open the ignition-power source circuit; (b) energize a circuit to unlock a normally closed hood lock; (c) energize a circuit which effects the opening and closing of brake locks; and (d) open all electrical circuits of the vehicle. The ignition of the vehicle is connected to the power source via the master switch and is energized only when that switch is in the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'ignition on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position. When the master switch is in the brake locking and unlocking position, a secondary switch effects selective actuation of a motor; when the secondary switch is in the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'brake lock'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position, a half stroke of the motor closes brake locks, and in the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'brake unlock'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position, the completed stroke of the motor opens the brake locks. The hood lock, being normally closed, is opened when the master switch is in the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'hood unlock'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' position due to the energization of the hood unlock circuit. In the remaining master switch position, the power source is isolated from all electrical circuits of the vehicle, ensuring that the ignition, hood and brakes all remain locked during the absence of the owner or user from the vehicle.

Claims

1. For use in a vehicle comprising brakes, an engine compartment and a hood enclosing said engine compartment, an anti-theft system comprising a power source, brake locking means operatively connected to said brakes and effective when actuated to lock said brakes, means connected to said brake locking means and effective when energized by said power source to deactuate said brake locking means, thereby to unlock said brakes, hood locking means operatively connected to said hood and effective when actuated to lock said hood, means operatively connected to said hood locking means and effective when energized by said power source to deactuate said hood locking means, thereby to unlock said hood, and master switch means operatively connected to said power source and having a first position energizing said brake lock deactuating means, a second position energizing said hood lock deactuating means, and a third position energizing neither said brake lock deactuating means nor said hood lock deactuating means.

2. The anti-theft system of claim 1, wherein said master switch means is key operated.

3. The anti-theft system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises an ignition means, said master switch means being interposed between said power source and said ignition means.

4. The anti-theft system of claim 3, wherein said master switch means is key operated.

5. The anti-theft system of claim 3, wherein said master switch means has a fourth position which connects said ignition means to said power source.

6. The anti-theft system of claim 5, wherein said master switch means is key operated.

7. The anti-theft system of claim 5, further comprising secondary switch means interposed between said master switch means and said brake lock deactuating means and effective in a first position to connect said brake lock deactuating means to said master switch means and in a second position to disconnect said brake lock deactuating means from said master switch means.

8. The anti-theft system of claim 7, wherein said master switch means is key operated.

9. The anti-theft system of claim 1, further comprising secondary switch means interposed between said master switch means and said brake lock deactuating means and effective in a first position to connect said brake lock deactuating means to said master switch means and in a second position to disconnect said brake lock deactuating means from said master switch means.

10. The anti-theft system of claim 9, wherein said master switch means is key operated.

11. The anti-theft system of claim 1, further comprising cut off switch means operatively connected between said hood lock deactuating means and said power source and effective, in response to the opening of said hood, to de-energize said hood lock deactuating means.

12. The anti-theft system of claim 11, wherein said hood locking means is automatically actuated in response to the closing of said hood.