Anti-theft door actuated hazard light and horn circuits for automobiles

• US 4,354,174 A
• Filed: 04/14/1980
• Issued: 10/12/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William A. Heidman Jr
• Original Assignee: William A. Heidman Jr
• Inventors: Heidman, William A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nowicki, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US06/139,789
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 340/63, 340/64, 340/65, 340/81 F, 340/83, 340/88, 340/75, 340/76, 307/10 AT, 315/83, 315/84
• US Class Current: 340/426.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features

Abstract

Anti-theft circuits are provided which can be obtained by incorporating a few components into the electrical system of an existing automobile. In one embodiment interior mounted anti-theft and bypass switches, and an exterior mounted arming switch are interconnected between the turn signal circuitry, the horn circuitry and the door actuated dome and courtesy light circuitry. When all three of these switches are in their off positions, operation of the turn signal lamps, the brake lamps, the horn, and the dome and courtesy lights is conventional. Both the anti-theft and bypass switches can be moved to their on positions to place the circuit into a hazard mode in which the front and rear turn signal lamps flash on and off together, and the rear brake lamps flash on and off together alternatingly with the flashing of the rear turn signal lamps. When only the anti-theft and arming switches are in their on positions, unauthorized opening of any of the passenger doors, trunk lid, hood or fuel door by a would-be car thief will cause intermittent honking of the horn and flashing of the turn signal and brake lamps.

Claims

1. In combination with the wiring system of an automobile having a battery with a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the negative terminal of the battery being connected to a ground, at least one ignition switch having a first side connected to the positive terminal of the battery, a pair of left and right forward turn signal lamps, a pair of left and right rear turn signal lamps, a pair of left and right rear brake lamps, a turn signal switch assembly, a flasher, a brake light switch, a plurality of conductors interconnecting the lamps, ignition switch, brake light switch, flasher and turn signal switch assembly to permit selective flashing of the left or right turn signal lamps and selective simultaneous illumination of both of the brake lamps, the wiring system further including a horn, and at least one interior light having a first terminal connected to the positive terminal of the battery and a second terminal connectable to the ground by the closing of any one of a plurality of automobile body mounted switches through the opening of a corresponding one of a plurality of structural access panels of the automobile, the improvement comprising:

an anti-theft switch;

a bypass switch;

an arming switch; and

means for interconnecting the anti-theft switch, the bypass switch, and the arming switch with the battery, the flasher, the turn signal lamps, the brake lamps, the turn signal switch assembly, the horn and the interior light so that when the ignition switch is open, closing the anti-theft switch and the bypass switch without closing the arming switch will cause intermittent flashing of the turn signal lamps and the brake lamps to provide a hazard mode, and closing the anti-theft switch and the arming switch without closing the bypass switch and thereafter opening of any one of the structural access panels will result in intermittent blasting of the horn and flashing of the turn signal lamps and the brake lamps to provide an anti-theft mode.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the turn signal lamps and the brake lamps each have a filament, the filaments of the left rear turn signal lamp and the left brake lamp are connected in series to the ground, the filaments of the right rear turn signal lamp and the right brake lamp are connected in series to the ground, and the interconnecting means is connected to the plurality of conductors interconnecting the lamps, ignition switch, brake light switch, flasher and turn signal switch assembly so that in the hazard mode and in the anti-theft mode the rear turn signal lamps and the brake lamps will flash alternatingly.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting means includes a holding relay interconnected between the anti-theft switch, the bypass switch, the arming switch, and the horn so that in the anti-theft mode closing of the one structural access panel will not terminate the flashing of the turn signal lamps and the brake lamps.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting means includes a second flasher interconnected between the anti-theft switch, the bypass switch, the arming switch, and the positive terminal of the battery for providing intermittent signals to the turn signal lamps and the brake lamps.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the interconnecting means includes a third flasher connected to the horn and selectively connectable to the positive terminal of the battery to provide intermittent current to the horn.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the anti-theft switch and the bypass switch are mounted in the interior of the automobile, and the arming switch is mounted on the exterior of the automobile.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the anti-theft switch and the bypass switches are linear slide switches, each including a manually movable slide member, the automobile includes an ignition lock having a collar adapted to be rotated by an ignition key, the collar having a pair of shields which extend therefrom, and further wherein the anti-theft switch and the bypass switch are mounted adjacent the ignition lock so that the collar can be rotated with the ignition key to conceal the slide members behind the shields to prevent manual movement thereof.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein the automobile further includes a fuel door lock actuated by a fuel door key and the arming switch is adapted to be actuated by movement of the fuel door key in the fuel door lock.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the arming switch includes a pair of ganged switches.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein the arming switch includes first and second ganged switches each having first and second sides, the first side of the first ganged switch being connected to the ground and the first side of the second ganged switch being connected to the plurality of automobile body mounted switches, and further wherein the interconnecting means includes:

a second flasher having first and second terminals, the first terminal of the second flasher being connected to the anti-theft switch;

a third flasher having first and second terminals, the first terminal of the third flasher being connected to the horn;

a resistor having a first end connected to the second terminal of the second flasher and a second end connected to the second terminal of the third flasher;

a holding relay having a switch and a coil for closing the holdng relay switch when energized, the switch of the holding relay having first and second sides, the coil of the holding relay having first and second terminals, the first side of the holding relay switch being connected to the positive terminal of the battery, the second side of the holding relay switch being connected to the first end of the resistor and the second terminal of the holding relay coil, and the first terminal of the holding relay coil being connected to the second side of the first ganged switch of the arming switch; and

an arming relay having a switch and a coil for closing the arming relay switch when energized, the switch of the arming relay having first and second sides, and the coil of the arming relay having first and second terminals, the first side of the arming relay switch being connected to the second terminal of the third flasher and to the second end of the resistor, the second side of the arming relay switch being connected to the first side of the holding relay switch and to the second terminal of the arming relay coil, and the first terminal of the arming relay coil being connected to the second side of the second ganged switch of the arming switch.

11. In combination with the wiring system of an automobile having a battery with a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the negative terminal of the battery being connected to a ground, at least one ignition switch having a first side connected to the positive terminal of the battery, a pair of left and right forward turn signal lamps, a pair of left and right rear turn signal lamps, a turn signal switch assembly, a first flasher, a plurality of first conductors interconnecting the lamps, ignition switch, flasher and turn signal switch assembly to permit selective flashing of the left or right turn signal lamps, the wiring system further including a horn, and at least one interior light having a first terminal connected to the positive terminal of the battery and a second terminal connectable to the ground by the closing of any one of a plurality of automobile body mounted switches through the opening of a corresponding one of a plurality of structural access panels of the automobile, the improvement comprising:

a relay actuated anti-theft switch having a first side and a second side;

a coil for opening and closing the anti-theft switch, the coil having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the coil being connected to the ground;

a plurality of second conductors each having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the second conductors being connected to the first side of the anti-theft switch and the second ends of the second conductors being connected to separate ones of the first conductors which are connected to the turn signal lamps;

a second flasher having first and second terminals, the first terminal of the second flasher being connected to the second terminal of the coil and to the second side of the anti-theft switch;

a bypass switch having a first side and a second side, the first side of the bypass switch being connected to the second terminal of the second flasher and the second side of the bypass switch being connected to the positive terminal of the battery;

a manually actuable arming switch; and

means for interconnecting the arming switch between the positive terminal of the battery, the horn, the interior light and the second terminal of the second flasher so that when the bypass switch is closed and the arming switch is open the turn signal lamps will flash, and when the bypass switch is open and the arming switch is closed, opening of any of the structural access panels will cause intermittent blasting of the horn and flashing of the turn signal lamps.

12. In combination with the wiring system of an automobile having a battery with a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the negative terminal of the battery being connected to a ground, at least one ignition switch having a first side connected to the positive terminal of the battery, a pair of left and right forward turn signal lamps, a pair of left and right rear turn signal lamps, a pair of left and right rear brake lamps, a turn signal switch assembly, a flasher, a plurality of conductors interconnecting the lamps, ignition switch, flasher and turn signal switch assembly to permit selective flashing of the left or right turn signal lamps, the wiring system further including a horn, and at least one interior light having a first terminal connected to the positive terminal of the battery and a second terminal connectable to the ground by the closing of any one of a plurality of automobile body mounted switches through the opening of a corresponding one of a plurality of structural access panels of the automobile, the improvement comprising:

an anti-theft switch;

a bypass switch;

an arming switch; and

means for interconnecting the anti-theft switch, the bypass switch, and the arming switch with the battery, the flasher, the turn signal lamps, the brake lamps, the turn signal switch assembly, the horn and the interior light so that when the ignition switch is open, closing the anti-theft switch and the bypass switch without closing the arming switch will cause intermittent flashing of the turn signal lamps and the brake lamps to provide a hazard mode, and closing the anti-theft switch and the arming switch without closing the bypass switch and thereafter opening of any one of the structural access panels will result in intermittent blasting of the horn and flashing of the turn signal lamps and the brake lamps to provide an anti-theft mode.

13. In combination with the wiring system of an automobile having a battery with a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the negative terminal of the battery being connected to a ground, at least one ignition switch connected to the positive terminal of the battery, a horn having first and second terminals, the first terminal of the horn being connected to the ground, at least one interior light having a first terminal connected to the positive terminal of the battery and a second terminal connectable to the ground by the closing of any one of a plurality of automobile body mounted switches through the opening of a corresponding one of a plurality of structural access panels of the automobile, the improvement comprising:

an arming switch including first and second ganged switches each having first and second sides, the first side of the first ganged switch being connected to the ground and the first side of the second ganged switch being connectable to the plurality of an automobile body mounted switches;

a flasher having first and second terminals, the first terminal of the flasher being connected to the second terminal of the horn;

a holding relay having a switch and a coil for closing the holding relay switch when energized, the switch of the holding relay having first and second sides, the coil of the holding relay having first and second terminals, the first side of the holding relay switch being connected to the positive terminal of the battery, the second side of the holding relay switch being connected to the second terminal of the flasher and the second terminal of the holding relay coil, and the first terminal of the holding relay coil being connected to the second side of the first ganged switch of the arming switch; and

an arming relay having a switch and a coil for closing the arming relay switch when energized, the switch of the arming relay having first and second sides, and the coil of the arming relay having first and second terminals, the first side of the arming relay switch being connected to the second terminal of the flasher and the second side of the holding relay switch, the second side of the arming relay switch being connected to the first side of the holding relay switch and to the second terminal of the arming relay coil, and the first terminal of the arming relay coil being connected to the second side of the second ganged switch of the arming switch.