SAFETY CUT-OFF DEVICE FOR IGNITION SWITCH

• US 3,786,892 A
• Filed: 11/29/1972
• Issued: 01/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George F. Horton
• Original Assignee: George F. Horton
• Inventors: Horton, George F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Church, Gene A.
• Application Number:
  US05/310,224
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 180/99,82,103 200/52
• US Class Current: 440/85
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/04 responsive to presence or absence of the driver, e.g. to weight or lack thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/28 Adaptations of vessel parts or furnishings to life-saving purposes

Abstract

The specification discloses an ignition switch cut-off device for use on an open type carrier, for example a motor boat, to cut off the engine in the event that the operator is thrown out or falls out of the boat. The cut-off device comprises a control member to be supported in front of the keyhole of the ignition switch housing and having a slot for receiving the ignition switch key when the key is inserted into the keyhole. A housing means is provided for supporting the control member for rotational movement in front of the ignition switch keyhole to allow the key to be inserted through the slot into the ignition switch keyhole and to turn with the key when it is turned to its run and off positions. A flexible pull member is coupled to the control member and is adapted to extend out of the housing means in a manner such that when the key is at its run position and the pull member is pulled, the control member and hence the key will be pulled to its off position to cut off the motor. The pull member is adapted to be coupled to the operator.

Claims

1. An ignition switch cut-off device for use in an open top carrier powered by a motor adapted to operate when the ignition switch key is at a run position and to be turned off when the ignition switch key is turned to an off position, comprising:

control means to be supported in front of the keyhole of the ignition switch housing, said control means having a slot for receiving the ignition switch key when the key is inserted into the ignition switch keyhole, housing means for supporting said control means for rotational movement in front of the ignition switch keyhole to allow the key to be inserted through said slot into the ignition switch keyhole and to turn with the key when it is turned to its run and off positions, and a flexible pull means coupled to said control means and adapted to extend out of said housing means in a manner such that when said key is at its run position and said pull means is pulled, said control means and hence the key will be pulled to its off position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing means comprises:

a flared opening through which said pull means is adapted to extend for allowing said pull means to be pulled effectively from a plurality of directions to turn said control means and hence the key to its off position.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said pull means comprises a flexible chain or cord adapted to be connected to a person in the boat whereby the key will be pulled to its off position by the cord or chain to turn off the boat'"'"''"'"'s motor in the event that the person is thrown out of or falls out of the boat.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said housing means comprises:

a flared opening through which said pull means is adapted to extend for allowing said pull means to be pulled effectively from a plurality of directions to turn said control means and hence the key to its off position.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein:

said housing means comprises a generally cup-shaped member having a front opening and an aperture formed through its back end to be fitted around the extending male threaded portion of an ignition switch housing and to be attached thereto by a threaded nut member to be threaded to said male threaded portion on the inside of said housing means, said control means having a front side with an indented central portion through which said slot is formed, and means for supporting said control means in said housing means to face its front side outward through said front opening to provide an inward extending space within said indented portion to allow a person to turn the key to its on and off position.