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Security system for a motor vehicle

  • US 4,837,567 A
  • Filed: 09/15/1987
  • Issued: 06/06/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a motor vehicle having a mechanical door latch and a rotatable steering column, a security system comprising:

  • a key formed with a laterally open recess and including transmitter means for emitting a coded signal;

    means for receiving the signal and connected to the latch for unlocking a door secured thereby only when the coded signal is received;

    a housing secured to the steering column;

    a column bolt displaceable in the housing between a locking position preventing relative rotation between the column and the housing and a freeing position out of engagement with the column and with the column freely rotatable in the housing;

    a barrel rotatable in the housing between end positions and formed with an axially open pocket generally complementary to the key and with a radially open latching recess;

    means coupling the barrel to the bolt for displacement of the bolt between its locking and freeing positions on displacement of the barrel between its end positions;

    means including a switch actuatable in one end position of the barrel for starting the vehicle;

    a locking pin radially displaceable in the barrel and engageable into the pocket and into the recess of the key when same is fitted in the pocket;

    a lever having one arm engageable in the recess of the barrel in the other of the barrel end positions and another arm engageable in this other barrel end position with the pin to push same into the pocket and into the recess of the key therein;

    spring means for urging the lever into a normal position with the one arm engaged in the barrel recess and the other arm pulled away form the pin, whereby, in the normal position of the lever and the other barrel end position of the barrel, the barrel cannot rotate in the housing and the key can be moved axially out of the pocket;

    solenoid means connected to the lever and energizable in the other barrel end position of the barrel for pulling the lever out of the normal position and thereby pulling the one arm out of the barrel recess and pushing the other arm against the pin to push same in turn into the key recess, whereby when the solenoid means is energized the barrel and key can turn in the housing but the key cannot be withdrawn axially from the barrel; and

    means in the housing including a receiver and a decoder connected to the solenoid means for receiving the signal from the key in the pocket and for energizing the solenoid means only on receiving the signal.

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