VEHICLE ELECTRICAL COMBINATION LOCK

• US 3,710,316 A
• Filed: 09/01/1971
• Issued: 01/09/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George L. Kromer
• Original Assignee: George L. Kromer
• Inventors: Kromer, George L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/176,859
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 340/63,64 307/1AT 317/134 200/42,43,44,45 180/114
• US Class Current: 307/10.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence

Abstract

An electrical combination lock circuit providing output signals representing locked, unlocked and semi-locked states. An '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'unlocked'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal is produced by providing input signals in proper sequence representing the unlocking combination. The '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'semi-locked'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal is produced only by providing an appropriate input signal when the combination lock circuit is in the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'unlocked'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' state. The semi-locked state may be used to allow limited access to the protected area. Provision of an input signal representing a digit that is out of sequence in the combination or that is not in the combination causes the circuit to return to the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'locked'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' state. In each of the locked, unlocked and semi-locked conditions the lock circuit provides a momentary electrical signal, a continuous electrical signal and a contact closure or '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'continuity'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' state for use by external locking devices. The electrical combination lock has particular advantage in protecting an automobile. In the semi-locked condition limited use of the automobile is permitted, such as by a parking lot attendant. Multiple sets of combination input means may be employed to provide access to individual areas only such as to the ignition system, trunk or doors of an automobile.

Claims

1. A combination-operated electrical lock system for providing signals to open a lock when signals representing N digits of an N-digit combination are sequentially entered into the system comprising means for providing a sequence of combination input signals, sequencing means for providing a series of signal conditions in predetermined sequence, means responsive to coincidence between predetermined ones of said input signals and predetermined ones of said signal conditions for advancing said sequencing means to an N+1 signal condition providing an unlocking output signal, and means responsive to coincidence between the N+1 signal condition and a predetermined one of said combination input signals for providing a semi-locking output signal.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 including means responsive to coincidence between said input signals and said signal conditions other than between predetermined ones of said input signals and predetermined ones of said signal conditions for resetting said sequencing means to its initial condition.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said unlocking signal includes a momentary electrical signal, a continuous electrical signal and a closed circuit connection.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said semi-locking output signal includes a momentary electrical signal, a continuous electrical signal and a closed circuit connection.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sequencing means includes stepping switch means providing a signal path to allow itself to be advanced when predetermined ones of said combination input signals occur in predetermined sequence.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said stepping switch means provides a signal path to allow itself to be reset to its initial condition when coincidence is not found between predetermined ones of said input signals and predetermined ones of said signal conditions.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said stepping switch means provides an output unlocking signal when it has been advanced to the N+1 step.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stepping switch means provides an output semi-locking signal when it has been advanced to the N+2 step.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sequencing means includes a shift register for producing a series of signals in predetermined sequence, and wherein each of said coincidence responsive means includes gating means for detecting coincidence between predetermined ones of said combination input signals and predetermined ones of said signal conditions.

10. A combination-operated electrical lock system for opening a lock on an automobile when signals representing N digits of an N-digit combination are sequentially entered into the system comprising means for providing a sequence of combination input signals, sequencing means for providing a series of signal conditions in predetermined sequence, means responsive to coincidence between predetermined ones of said input signals and predetermined ones of said signal conditions for advancing said sequencing means for a series of N input signals to an N+1 signal condition providing an unlocking signal, means responsive to coincidence between the N+1 signal condition and a predetermined one of said combination input sigNals for providing a semi-locking signal, said automobile lock including ignition lock means for maintaining the ignition of said automobile normally locked, said ignition lock means being responsive to said unlocking signal or to said semi-locking signal for unlocking said ignition.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 including hood lock switch means associated with the hood of said automobile for maintaining said hood normally locked, said hood lock switch means being responsive to said unlocking signal for enabling said hood to be opened.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10 including means responsive to coincidence between said input signals and said signal conditions other than between predetermined ones of said input signals and predetermined ones of said signal conditions for resetting said sequencing means to its initial condition.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means for providing combination input signals includes separate sets of combination switches for the doors, for the ignition and for the trunk of said automobile.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13 including a trunk lock switch circuit for maintaining the trunk of said automobile normally locked, said trunk lock switch circuit being responsive to said unlocking signal to unlock said trunk only when said combination input signals are provided from said set of trunk combination switches.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13 including a door lock switch circuit associated with said automobile and operative to lock the doors of said automobile only in response to signals initiated from said door combination switches.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said doors are locked in response to coincidence between the combination input signal representing the first digit of the unlocking combination and the first of said signal conditions.

17. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the doors of said automobile are locked in response to a lack of coincidence between one of said input signals and a corresponding one of said signal conditions.

18. The system as claimed in claim 15 including a plurality of door switches opening and closing with the closing and opening of the doors of said automobile, and an alarm switch circuit responsive to the locked condition of said door lock switch circuit for providing an audible alarm when one of said door switches is closed.

19. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said door lock switch circuit is responsive to said unlocking signal to unlock said doors only when said combination input signals are provided from said door combination switches.

20. The system as claimed in claim 13 including means responsive to said unlocking signal for rendering said set of door combination switches and said set of trunk combination switches inoperative to provide combination input signals when the motor of said automobile is running.

21. The system as claimed in claim 13 including means responsive to said semi-locking signal for rendering said set of door combination switches and said set of trunk combination switches inoperative to provide combination input signals.

22. The system as claimed in claim 10 including means responsive to said semi-locking signal for energizing the turn signals of said automobile when the normal ignition switch of said automobile is closed.

23. The system as claimed in claim 10 including a hood switch and a trunk switch opening and closing with the closing and opening of said hood and said trunk, and an alarm switch circuit responsive to the absence of said unlocking signal and to the closing of either of said hood or trunk switches for providing an audible alarm.

24. The system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said alarm switch circuit is responsive to said semi-locking signal and to the closing of either of said hood or trunk switches for providing an audible alarm.

25. A combination-operated electrical lock system for opening a lock on an automobile when signals representing N digits oF an N digit combination are sequentially entered into the system comprising switch means for providing a sequence of combination input signals, sequencing means for providing a series of signal conditions in predetermined sequence, first gate means responsive to coincidence between predetermined ones of said input signals and predetermined ones of said signal conditions for advancing said sequencing means, second gate means responsive to coincidence between said input signals and said signal conditions other than between predetermined ones of said input signals and predetermined ones of said signal conditions for resetting said sequencing means to its initial condition, said sequencing means being advanced to an N+1 signal condition providing an unlocking signal, third gate means responsive to coincidence between said N+1 signal condition and a predetermined one of said combination input signals for advancing said sequencing means to an N+2 signal condition providing a semi-locking signal, said automobile lock including ignition lock means and hood lock switch means for maintaining the ignition and the hood of said automobile normally locked, said ignition lock means being responsive to said unlocking signal or to said semi-locking signal for unlocking said ignition, and said hood lock switch means being responsive to said unlocking signal for enabling said hood to be opened.

26. A combination-operated electrical lock system for opening a lock on an automobile when signals representing N digits of an N-digit combination are sequentially entered into the system comprising switch means for providing a sequence of combination input signals, stepping switch means having:

a first set of contacts providing a signal path to allow itself to be advanced when predetermined ones of said combination input signals occur in predetermined sequence, a second set of contacts providing a signal path to allow itself to be reset to its initial condition when combination input signals occur other than in predetermined sequence, and a third set of contacts providing an output unlocking signal when said stepping switch means is advanced to an N+1 step, and providing a semi-locking output signal when said stepping switch is advanced to an N+2 signal condition in response to coincidence between said N+1 signal condition and a predetermined one of said combination input signals, said automobile lock including ignition lock means and hood lock switch means for maintaining the ignition and the hood of said automobile normally locked, said ignition lock means being responsive to said unlocking signal or to said semi-locking signal for unlocking said ignition, and said hood lock switch means being responsive to said unlocking signal for enabling said hood to be opened.