Method and apparatus for controlling access to a facility

• US 4,189,708 A
• Filed: 04/25/1977
• Issued: 02/19/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Occupant Safety Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gateway Industries, Inc. (Function(x), Inc.)
• Inventors: Bryll, Medard Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nowicki, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US05/790,597
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 340/64, 340/272, 340/274, 340/280, 340/545, 340/549, 340/666, 340/686, 340/542, 307/10 AT, 180/114, 70/262, 70/263, 70/277, 70/279, 70/280, 177/1, 177/50, 177/136, 177/142, 177/245, 177/137, 235/91 L, 235/92 WT
• US Class Current: 307/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/25 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

The system denies unauthorized access to a locked facility by a person having a weight characteristic differing from that of the weight characteristic of the person locking a facility such as an automotive ignition system. The system comprises a method and apparatus which may be selectively activated to measure a deflection caused by a person seated in the vehicle'"'"'s driver seat. The deflection is a weight information which is stored. A person subsequently seated in the vehicle seat and attempting to operate the igniton causes a second measuring operation and a comparison of the newly measured weight information with the stored information to test for a substantial parity therebetween. A substantial parity of these weights allows operation of the starting motor of a vehicle. A disparity between the weights operates a timer and/or alarm means while disabling the vehicle starter motor. The system may be used to control access to various other kinds of locked facilities such as locked rooms or buildings.

Claims

1. An antitheft method for a vehicle having a deflection storing means, a key operated ignition lock and an ignition circuit for operating a starting motor for the vehicle'"'"'s internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a selectively operable activation switch means for rendering an antitheft system operative, measuring the deflection of a person seated in the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle, storing of the deflection measurement in the storing means of the vehicle subsequent to activation of the antitheft system by operation of said switch means, retaining said deflection measurement even though the person leaves the vehicle seat, measuring the deflection of a person next seated in the driver'"'"'s seat and next attempting to use a key or other means to operate the ignition lock, comparing the stored deflection measurement with the newly measured deflection measurement for substantial parity therebetween immediately after the operation of the ignition key to operate the ignition lock, and enabling operation of the ignition circuit and the starter motor upon a substantial parity of said deflection measurements.

2. An apparatus for protecting against the theft of a vehicle having a key operated ignition lock and an ignition circuit for operating a starting motor for the vehicle'"'"'s internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising a selectively operable activation switch means for rendering an antitheft system operative, means for measuring a deflection measurement of a person seated in the driver'"'"'s seat, means in said vehicle for storing the deflected measurement in the vehicle subsequent to activation of the antitheft system and for retaining said deflected measurement even though the person leaves the vehicle seat, said measuring means measuring the deflection of a person next seated in the driver'"'"'s seat, switch means operable by the person next seated and operating the same to institute an immediate comparison of the deflection of the person seated with the deflection information previously stored, means operable by said last mentioned switch means for comparing the stored deflection measurement with the newly measured deflection measurement for substantial parity therebetween immediately after operation of said last mentioned switch means, and means for enabling operation of the ignition circuit and the starter motor upon a substantial parity of said deflection measurement.

3. A system for denying access by a person to a locked facility, said system comprising a locking means for locking the facility, weight measuring means for measuring and providing weight information about a person operating the locking means, means for storing the weight information obtained by said weight measuring means and for retaining said weight information even though the person leaves said facility, a weight comparing means operable upon a subsequent operation of said weight measuring means to compare the stored weight information with a newly measured weight information for substantial parity thereof, and means operable by said weight comparing means upon finding of a substantial parity of said weights to enable operation of said locking means and access to the facility by a person whose weight has been newly measured, and a timing means responsive to said weight comparing means for allowing access to the facility by operating the locking means after a predetermined period of time by persons having a weight other than that stored.

4. A system for denying access to a facility by a person having a weight different from that of the weight of the person locking the facility, said system comprising a locking means operable by a key by a person at a predetermined position, a weight measuring reel means including an elongated coiled member and a reel therefor at said predetermined position with the elongated coiled member being displaced by the weight of the person using the key, weight storing means being set by the first displacement of the weight sensitive reel means even though the person leaves said predetermined position, said weight measuring means being operable by other persons attempting to pick the lock or to use the key to measure their weights for comparison with the first weight, weight comparing means for comparing the first weight stored with the subsequent weights for substantial weight parity, and enabling means operable by said weight comparing means upon a weight parity to allow operation of said locking means and access to said facility, an activating means for activating said weight storing means to store the first weight measured after activation of the system, and a timing means responsive to said weight comparing means for operating said enabling means after a predetermined period of time to allow operation of said locking means by persons having a weight other than the stored weight.

5. An antitheft method for a vehicle having a key operated ignition lock and an ignition circuit for operating a starting motor for the vehicle'"'"'s internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a selectively operable activation switch means for rendering an antitheft system operative, measuring weight information about a person seated in the driver'"'"'s seat, storing the weight information subsequent to activation of the antitheft system, retaining said weight information even though the person leaves the vehicle seat, measuring the weight of a person subsequently seated in the driver'"'"'s seat and attempting to use a key or other means to operate the ignition lock, comparing the stored weight information with the newly measured weight information for substantial parity therebetween, and enabling operation of the ignition circuit and the starter motor upon a substantial parity of said weights, starting a timing period each time a person sits in the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle and operates the ignition key after the antitheft system has been activated, and timing a predetermined period of time after which a timing means responsive to said weight comparing means operates an enabling means to enable operation of the ignition circuit and starter motor despite a lack of parity between the stored weight information with the newly measured weight information.