Harm preventing apparatus for vehicle

• US 4,876,649 A
• Filed: 05/04/1987
• Issued: 10/24/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Aoki, Koji, Yasuda, Tomio, Kawai, Taneichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/046,006
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.05, 364/425, 364/550, 340/63-65, 340/517, 340/523, 340/541, 340/542, 340/545, 340/562, 340/426, 180/173, 180/272-274, 180/277, 180/287, 307/10 AT, 307/10.2-10.5
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/014 comprising means for locking the seat or parts thereof in a driving prevention position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1001 Alarm systems associated with another car fitting or mechanism, e.g. door lock or knob, pedals features related to the general power supply B60R25/1018

Abstract

A harm preventive mode for a vehicle is established upon detection of a condition that there is no occupant within the vehicle and the doors of the vehicle are closed, or an out-of-use condition of the vehicle, until the doors are unlocked by authentic unlocking means such as a door key. Measures which can be taken to prevent harm when the harm preventive mode is established include controlling the attitude of a driver'"'"'s seat and/or steering wheel to reduce the spacing therebetween to resist against an attempted seating, energizing a horn or headlamp to bluff an aggressor or interrupting a fuel supply. In addition, various other conditions may be used in establishing the harm preventive mode. In this manner, a variety of effective measure to prevent harm to the vehicle can be taken.

Claims

1. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard a vehicle;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condition of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlock means for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting means for detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

and means for establishing a harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and to the detection of the closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and for terminating the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means;

said means for establishing a harm preventive mode includes running distance detecting means for detecting the distance through which the vehicle has run, and establishes the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of a given distance run by the vehicle by the running distance detecting means after the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of the closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and before the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means;

wherein said harm preventive mode comprises a theft monitoring mode which includes means for monitoring said first, second and third detecting means and a theft detecting mode which includes means for energizing alarm means when the harm preventive mode is established.

2. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1 in which the second detecting means comprises means for detecting an opening or closing of the door, means for detecting a locked/unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism, and signal processing means which establishes the detection of a closed condition of the door when said open/closing detecting means detects a closed condition of the door and the door lock detecting means detects the locked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism and which establishes the detection of an open condition of the door when the opening/closing detecting means detects an opening of the door or when the door lock detecting means detects an unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism.

3. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1 in which said means for establishing a harm preventive mode establishes the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the open condition of the door by the second detecting means after the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of the closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and before the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means.

4. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1 in which said means for establishing a harm preventive mode establishes the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the presence of an occupant by the first detecting means after the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of the closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and before the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means.

5. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1 in which said means for establishing a harm preventive mode includes time limit means which begins a time limiting function in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of the closed condition of the door by the second detecting means, said means for establishing a harm preventive mode establishing the harm preventive mode when the time limit means has reached a given time limit before the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detection means.

6. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard a vehicle;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condition of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlocking means for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting means for detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

means for establishing a harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and for terminating the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means;

said means for establishing a harm preventive mode includes running distance detecting means which detects a distance run by the vehicle, and establishes the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of a given distance run by the vehicle by the running distance detecting means during a time interval after the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means until the operation of the unlocking means is detected by the third detecting means;

and means for preventing maneuvering of the vehicle during the time the harm preventive mode is established including alarm means and energization control means for energizing the alarm means when the harm preventive mode is established.

7. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 6 in which the second detecting means comprises means for detecting an opening or closing of a door of the vehicle, means for detecting a locked/unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism, and signal processing means for establishing the detection of a closed condition of the door in response to the detection of a door closing by the door opening/closing detecting means and to the detection of a locked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism by the door lock detecting means and for establishing the detection of an open condition of the door when the door opening/closing detecting means detects a door opening or when the door lock detecting means detects an unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism.

9. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 6 in which said means for establishing a harm preventive mode establishes the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the presence of an occupant by the first detecting means after the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of the closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and before the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means.

10. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 6 in which said means for preventing a maneuvering of the vehicle comprises solenoid valve means connected in a fuel feed line which feeds a fuel to an engine, and fuel control means for controlling the solenoid valve means to interrupt the fuel fed to the engine when the harm preventive move is established.

11. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 6 in which the unlocking means comprises a door key.

8. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim in which said means for establishing a harm preventive mode establishes the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the open condition of the door by the second detecting means after the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of the closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and before the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means.

12. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard a vehicle;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condition of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlocking means for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting means for detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

means for establishing a harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and for terminating the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means;

said means for establishing a harm preventive mode includes running distance detecting means which detects a distance run by the vehicle, and establishes the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of a given distance run by the vehicle by the running distance detecting means during a time interval after the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means until the operation of the unlocking means is detected by the third detecting means; and

means for preventing maneuvering of the vehicle during the time the harm preventive mode is established,

wherein said means for establishing a harm preventive mode includes time limit means which begins its time limiting occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means, and establishes the harm preventive mode when the time limit means reaches a given time interval before the time interval before the operation of the unlocking means is detected by the third detecting means.

13. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard a vehicle;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condition of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlocking means for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting means for detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

means for establishing a harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and for terminating the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means;

and means for preventing maneuvering of the vehicle during the time the harm preventive mode is established including alarm means and energization control means for energizing the alarm means when the harm preventive mode is established wherein said means for preventing a maneuvering of the vehicle includes a driver'"'"'s seat which is supported in a manner to change its attitude of the driver'"'"'s seat, and attitude control means for controlling the seat drive mechanism to reduce the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and a steering wheel when the harm preventive mode is established.

14. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 13 in which the attitude control means includes seat attitude detecting means for detecting the attitude of the driver'"'"'s seat, and memory means for storing information representing the attitude of the driver'"'"'s seat which prevails before the harm preventive mode is established, the attitude control means being operative, upon termination of the harm preventive mode by said means for establishing a harm preventive mode, to control the seat drive mechanism while monitoring detected information from the seat attitude detecting means to restore the driver'"'"'s seat to the attitude which is based on the stored information in the memory means.

15. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 13 in which the seat drive mechanism comprises a seat fore-and-aft drive mechanism which drives the driver'"'"'s seat before and after.

16. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the driver'"'"'s seat includes a seat back and the seat drive mechanism comprises a seat back tilting mechanism for angularly driving said seat back.

17. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard a vehicle;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condition of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlocking means for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting means for detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

means for establishing a harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and for terminating the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means;

and means for preventing maneuvering of the vehicle during the time the harm preventive mode is established including alarm means and energization control means for energizing the alarm means when the harm preventive mode is established

wherein said means for preventing a maneuvering of the vehicle comprises a steering wheel which is supported in a manner to change its attitude, a steering wheel drive mechanism for changing the attitude of the steering wheel, and attitude control means for controlling the steering drive mechanism to reduce the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel when the harm preventive mode is established.

18. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 17 in which the attitude control means comprises steering wheel attitude detecting means for detecting information representing the attitude of the steering wheel, and memory means for storing information representing the attitude of the steering wheel which prevails before the harm preventing mode is established, the attitude control means being operative, upon termination of the harm preventive mode by said means for establishing a harm preventive mode, to control the steering wheel drive mechanism while monitoring detected information from the steering wheel attitude detecting means to restore the steering wheel to the attitude which is based upon the stored information in the memory means.

19. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 17 in which the steering wheel drive mechanism comprises a steering wheel telescoping mechanism which drives the steering wheel fore and aft in its axial direction.

20. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 17 in which the steering wheel drive mechanism comprises a steering wheel tilting mechanism which drives the steering wheel angularly in a vertical plane.

21. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard a vehicle;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condtion of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlocking means for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting means for detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

means for establishing a harm preventing mode in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and for terminating the harm preventive mode in response to the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means;

and means for preventing maneuvering of the vehicle during the time the harm preventive mode is established including alarm means and energization control means for energizing the alarm means when the harm preventive mode is established

wherein said means for preventing a maneuvering of the vehicle comprises a driver'"'"'s seat which is supported in a manner to change its attitude, a seat driver mechanism for changing the attitude of the driver'"'"'s seat, a steering wheel which is supported in a manner to change its attitude, a steering wheel which is supported in as manner to change its attitude, a steering wheel drive mechanism for changing the attitude of the steering wheel, and attitude control means for controlling the seat drive mechanism and the steering wheel drive mechanism to reduce the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel when the harm preventive mode is established.

22. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 21 in which the attitude control means comprises seat attitude detecting means for detecting information representing the attitude of the driver'"'"'s seat, steering wheel attitude detecting means for detecting information representing the attitude of the steering wheel, and memory means for storing information representing the attitude of the driver'"'"'s seat and information representing the attitude of the steering wheel, both of which prevail before the harm preventive mode is established, the attitude control means being operative, upon termination of the harm preventive mode by said means for establishing a harm preventive mode, to control the seat drive mechanism while monitoring detected information from the seat attitude detecting means to restore the driver'"'"'s seat to the attitude which is based upon the stored information in the memory means and to control the steering wheel drive mechanism while monitoring detected information from the steering wheel attitude detecting means to restore the steering wheel to the attitude which is based upon the stored information in the memory means.

23. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard vehicle;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condition of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlocking means for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

an electric drive mechanism for changing the attitude of at least one of a driver'"'"'s seat and a steering wheel;

and a controller for controlling the electric drive mechanism to reduce a first spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel to a second spacing in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means, and for controlling the electric drive mechanism to increase the distance between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel from said second spacing to said first spacing when the operation of the unlocking means is detected by the third detecting means.

24. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 23 in which the electric drive mechanism comprises a seat fore-and-aft drive mechanism which changes the attitude of the driver'"'"'s seat as viewed in a fore-and-aft direction.

25. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 23 in which the electric drive mechanism comprises to a seat back tilting mechanism which changes a tilting of the seat back of the driver'"'"'s seat as viewed in the fore-and-aft direction.

26. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 23 in which the electric drive mechanism comprises a steering wheel telescoping mechanism which changes the axial attitude of the steering wheel.

27. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 23 in which the electric drive mechanism comprises a steering wheel tilting mechanism which changes an angle of the steering wheel as viewed in a vertical plane.

28. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 23 in which the electric drive mechanism comprises a seat fore-and-aft drive mechanism which changes the attitude of the driver'"'"'s seat as viewed in a fore-and-aft direction, a seat back tilting mechanism which changes a tilting of the seat back of the driver'"'"'s seat as viewed in the fore-and-aft direction, a steering wheel telescoping mechanism which changes an axial attitude of the steering wheel, and a steering wheel tilting mechanism which changes an angle of the steering wheel as viewed in a vertical plane.

29. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 23 in which the unlocking means comprises a door key.

30. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard a vehicle;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condition of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlocking means for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting means for detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

a vehicle harm preventing mechanism including at least engine stop means;

means for detecting a distance run by the vehicle;

and a controller for controlling the vehicle harm preventing mechanism to stop the engine in response to the detection of a given distance run by the vehicle by the running distance detecting means after the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and before the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means.

31. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 30 in which said means for stopping the engine of the vehicle harm preventing mechanism comprises solenoid valve means connected in a fuel feed line which feeds a fuel to the engine, thereby interrupting the feeding of a fuel.

32. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 30 in which the vehicle harm preventing mechanism additionally includes annunciator means, the controller energizing the annunciator means in response to the detection of a given distance run by the vehicle by the running distance detecting means after the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and before the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means.

33. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 30 in which the unlocking means comprises a door key.

38. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 32 in which the onboard door lock mechanism includes a third electric drive mechanism which locks at least the lock mechanism, the control means controlling the third electric drive mechanism to lock the onboard door lock mechanism in response to the detection of absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a door closing by the door opening/closing detecting means after the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel has once been reduced.

34. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard a vehicle;

an onboard opening covering member which can be opened and closed;

a first electric drive mechanism for driving the onboard opening covering member to open or close it;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condition of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlocking means for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting means for detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

a vehicle harm preventing mechanism including a second electric mechanism which drives at least one of a driver'"'"'s seat and a steering wheel of the vehicle;

and control means for controlling the first electric drive mechanism and the vehicle harm preventing mechanism, the control means operating to establish the onboard opening covering member at a preselected position in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means, and operating to reduce the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel from a first spacing to a second spacing in response to the detection of the presence of an occupant by the first detecting means or in response to the detection of an open condition of the door of the vehicle by the second detecting means, both before the operation of the unlocking means is detected by the third detecting means.

35. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 34 in which the control means restores the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel to said first spacing in response to the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means after the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel has once been reduced.

36. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 34 in which the second detecting means comprises means for detecting an opening or closing of the door, and door lock detecting means for detecting a locked/unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism.

37. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 36 in which the control means establishes the onboard opening covering member at a preselected position in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means, the detection of a door opening by the door opening/closing detecting means and the detection of a locked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism by the door lock detecting means, and reduces the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel in response to the detection of the presence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a door opening by the door opening/closing detecting means or in response to the detection of an unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism by the door lock detecting means, before the operation of the unlocking means is detected by the third detecting means.

39. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 36 in which the vehicle harm preventing mechanism includes alarm means, the control means energizing the alarm means in response to the detection of the unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism by the door lock detecting means when the door opening/closing detecting means detects a door closing.

40. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 44 in which the first detecting means includes an electrical ground formed by a car body of the vehicle, an onboard electrode disposed in opposing relationship with the electrical ground with at least part of a person located on an onboard seat interposed therebetween, and means for detecting a capacitance between the electrical ground and the onboard electrode.

41. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 40 in which the control means monitors the capacitance detected by said means for detecting a capacitance to determine the presence of an occupant in response to an increase in the capacitance and to determine the absence of an occupant in response to a decrease in the capacitance.

42. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 34 in which the first detecting means includes an electrical ground formed by a car body of the vehicle, an onboard electrode disposed in opposing relationship with the electrical ground with at least part of a person located on an onboard seat interposed therebetween, means for detecting a capacitance formed between the electrical ground and the onboard electrode, and means for detecting the presence or absence of an ignition key which is inserted into an onboard ignition key receptacle.

43. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 42 in which the control means monitors a capacitance detected by said means for detecting a capacitance and a detection output from the ignition key detecting means, determines the presence of an occupant in response to an increase in the capacitance or in response to the detection of the insertion of the ignition key by said ignition key detecting means, and determines the absence of an occupant in response to a decrease in the capacitance and the detection of the absence of the ignition key inserted by said ignition key detecting means.

44. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 34 in which the unlocking means comprises a door key.

45. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard a vehicle;

a first onboard opening covering member which can be opened and closed;

an electric drive mechanism for driving the first onboard opening covering member to open or close it;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condition of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlocking mean for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting means for detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

a second onboard opening covering member which can be opened and closed;

a vehicle harm preventing mechanism including at least an electric lock mechanism for the second onboard opening covering member;

and control means for controlling at least the electric drive mechanism and the onboard harm preventing mechanism, the control means establishing the first onboard opening covering member at a preselected position in response to detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and establishing the second onboard opening covering member in its locked condition in response to the detection of the presence of an occupant by the first detecting means or in response to the detection of an open condition of the vehicle by the second detecting means, both before the operation of the unlocking means is detected by the third detecting means.

46. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 45 in which the control means establishes the second onboard opening covering member in its unlocked condition in response to the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means after the second onboard opening covering member has once been established in its locked condition.

47. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 45 in which the second detecting means comprises means for detecting an opening or closing of a door, and door lock detecting means for detecting a locked/unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism.

48. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 47 in which the control means establishes the onboard opening covering member in a preselected position in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means, the detection of a door closing by the door opening/closing detecting means and the detection of a locked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism by the door lock detecting means, and subsequently establishes the second onboard opening covering member in its locked condition in response to the detection of the presence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a door opening by the door opening/closing detecting means or in response to the detection of an unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism by the door lock detecting means, both before the operation of the door locking means is detected by the third detecting means.

49. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 48 in which the onboard door lock mechanism includes a door lock electric drive mechanism which locks at least the lock mechanism, the control means controlling the door lock electric drive mechanism to lock the onboard door lock mechanism in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a door closing by the door opening/closing detecting means after the second onboard opening covering member has once been locked.

50. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 47 in which the vehicle harm preventing mechanism includes alarm means, the control means energizing the alarm means in response to the detection of an unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism by the door lock detecting means when a door closing is detected by the door opening/closing detecting means.

51. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 45 in which the first detecting means comprises an electrical ground formed by a car body of the vehicle, an onboard electrode disposed in opposing relationship with the electrical ground with at least part of a personnel located on an onboard seat interposed therebetween, and means for detecting a capacitance formed between the electrical ground and the onboard electrode.

52. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 45 in which the first detecting means comprises an electrical ground formed by a car body of the vehicle, an onboard electrode disposed in opposing relationship with the electrical ground with at least part of a person located on an onboard seat interposed therebetween, means for detecting a capacitance formed between the electrical

53. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 45 in which the first detecting means comprises an electrical ground formed by a car body of the vehicle, an onboard electrode disposed in opposing relationship with the electrical ground with at least part of a person located on an onboard seat interposed therebetween, means for detecting a capacitance formed between the electrical ground and the onboard electrode, and means for detecting the presence of an ignition key inserted into an onboard ignition key receptacle.

54. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 53 in which the control means monitors a capacitance detected by said means for detecting a capacitance and a detection output from said ignition detecting means, determines the presence of an occupant in response to an increase in the capacitance or in response to the detection of the presence of the ignition key by the ignition key detecting means, and determines the absence of an occupant to the detection of the absence of the ignition key by said ignition key detecting means.

55. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 45 in which the first detecting means comprises an electrical ground formed by a car body of the vehicle, an onboard electrode disposed in opposing relationship with the electrical ground with at least part of a person located on an onboard seat interposed therebetween, means for detecting a capacitance formed between the electrical ground and the onboard electrode, means for detecting the presence of the ignition key which is inserted into an onboard ignition key receptacle, and means for detecting an opening or closing of the second onboard opening covering member.

56. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 55 in which the control means monitors a capacitance detected by said means for detecting a capacitance, a detection output from the ignition key detecting means and an output from said means for detecting an opening or closing of the second onboard opening covering member, determines the presence of an occupant in response to an increase in the capacitance and the detection of the ignition key by said ignition key detecting means, or in response to the detection of an opening of the second onboard opening covering member by said means for detecting the opening or closing of the second onboard opening covering member, and determines the absence of an occupant in response to a decrease in the capacitance, the detection of the absence of the ignition key by said ignition key detecting means and the detection of a closing of the second onboard opening covering member by said means.

57. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 45 in which the second onboard opening covering member comprises a luggage lid and an engine hood, and the unlocking means comprises a door key.

58. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle comprising

first detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant onboard a vehicle;

a first onboard opening covering member which can be opened and closed;

a first electric drive mechanism for driving the first onboard opening covering member to open or close it;

second detecting means for detecting an open/closed condition of a door of the vehicle;

an onboard door lock mechanism;

unlocking means for unlocking the onboard door lock mechanism;

third detecting means for detecting the operation of the unlocking means upon the onboard door lock mechanism;

a second onboard opening covering member which can be opened and closed;

a vehicle harm preventing mechanism including a second electric drive mechanism for driving at least one of an onboard driver'"'"'s seat and a steering wheel and an electric lock mechanism for the second onboard opening covering member;

and control means for controlling at least the electric drive mechanism and the vehicle harm preventing mechanism, the control means establishing the first onboard opening covering member at its standby position in response to detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a closed condition of the door by the second detecting means and reducing the spacing between the onboard driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel and establishing the second onboard opening covering member in its locked condition in response to the detection of the presence of an occupant by the first detecting means or in response to the detection of an open condition of the vehicle by the second detecting means, both before the operation of the unlocking means is detected by the third detecting means.

59. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 58 in which the control means restores the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel and establishes the second onboard opening covering member in its unlocked condition in response to the detection of the operation of the unlocking means by the third detecting means after the spacing has once been reduced and the second onboard opening covering member has once been established in its locked condition.

60. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 58 in which the second detecting means comprises means for detecting an opening or closing of a door, and door lock detecting means for detecting a locked/unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism.

61. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 60 in which the control means establishes the onboard opening covering member in its standby position in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means, the detection of a door closing by the door opening/closing detecting means and the detection of a locked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism by the door lock detecting means, and subsequently reduces the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel and establishes the second onboard opening covering member in its locked condition in response to the detection of the presence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a door opening by the door opening/closing detecting means or in response to the detection of an unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism by the door lock detecting means, both before the operation of the door locking means is detected by the third detecting means.

62. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 61 in which the onboard door lock mechanism includes a third electric drive mechanism which locks at least the lock mechanism, the control means controlling the third electric drive mechanism to lock the onboard door lock mechanism in response to the detection of the absence of an occupant by the first detecting means and the detection of a door closing by the door opening/closing detecting means after the spacing between the driver'"'"'s seat and the steering wheel has once been reduced and the second onboard opening covering member has once been locked.

63. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 60 in which the vehicle harm preventing mechanism includes alarm means, the control means energizing the alarm means in response to the detection of an unlocked condition of the onboard door lock mechanism by the door lock detecting means when a door closing is detected by the door opening/closing detecting means.

64. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 58 in which the first detecting means comprises an electrical ground formed by a car body of the vehicle, an onboard electrode disposed in opposing relationship with the electrical ground with at least part of a person located on an onboard seat interposed therebetween, and means for detecting a capacitance formed between the electrical ground and the onboard electrode response to a decrease in the capacitance.

65. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 64 in which the control means monitors a capacitance detected by said means for detecting a capacitance and indicates the presence of an occupant in response to an increase in the capacitance and indicates the absence of an occupant in response to a decrease in the capacitance.

66. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 58 in which the first detecting means comprises an electrical ground formed by a car body of the vehicle, an onboard electrode disposed in opposing relationship with the electrical ground with at least part of a person located on an onboard seat interposed therebetween, means for detecting a capacitance formed between the electrical located on an onboard seat interposed therebetween, means for detecting a capacitance formed between the electrical ground and the onboard electrode, and means for detecting the presence of an ignition key inserted into an onboard ignition key receptacle.

67. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 66 in which the control means monitors a capacitance detected by said means, and a detection output from said ignition key detecting means for detecting a capacitance and a detection output from said ignition key detecting means, determines the presence of an occupant in response to an increase in the capacitance or in response to the detection of the presence of the ignition key by the ignition key detecting means, and determines the absence of an occupant in response to a decrease in the capacitance and to the detection of the absence of the ignition key by said ignition key detecting means.

68. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 58 in which the first detecting means comprises an electrical ground formed by a car body of the vehicle, an onboard electrode disposed in opposing relationship with the electrical ground with at least part of a person located on an onboard seat interposed therebetween, means for detecting a capacitance formed between the electrical ground and the onboard electrode, means for detecting the presence of the ignition key which is inserted into an onboard ignition key receptacle, and means for detecting an opening or closing of the second onboard opening covering member.

69. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 68 in which the control means monitors a capacitance detected by said means for detecting a capacitance, a detection output from the ignition key detecting means and an output from said means for detecting an opening or closing of the second onboard opening covering member, determines the presence of an occupant in response to an increase in the capacitance and the detection of the ignition key by said ignition key detecting means, or in response to the detection of an opening of the second onboard opening covering member by said means for detecting an opening or closing of the second onboard opening covering member and determines the absence of an occupant in response to a decrease in the capacitance, the detection of the absence of the ignition key by said ignition key detecting means and the detection of a closing of the second onboard opening covering member by said means.

70. A harm preventing apparatus for vehicle according to claim 58 in which the second onboard opening covering member comprises a luggage lid and an engine hood, and the unlocking means comprises a door key.