Motor vehicle alarm

• US 5,128,649 A
• Filed: 07/08/1991
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chao-Yean Chang
• Original Assignee: Chao-Yean Chang
• Inventors: Elmer, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Popovici, Dov
• Application Number:
  US07/726,709
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/430, 307/10.2, 307/10.4, 180/287, 70/209, 70/210, 70/211, 70/212, 70/213, 70/214, 70/252, 70/253, 70/225, 70/226, 70/237, 70/238
• US Class Current: 340/426.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/0225 using a rod locked on the steering wheel rim B60R25/0221 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5841 Rotation blocking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5889 For automotive vehicles

Abstract

A motor vehicle alarm may be locked on the steering wheel of a vehicle includes an arcuate shaped body, a locking mechanism, a control means, a detecting means, and an audible alarm. The detecting means has at least one detector to detects a presence of a person within the vehicle. The control means has a delay circuit to delay activation of the detecting means and of the audible alarm, a signal amplifier, a signal generator producing necessary coded signal, a comparator for recognition of a correct signal, for activation and deactivation of the detecting means, and for energizing the locking mechanism. The alarm may be secured on a steering wheel of a vehicle. The body has further an extending portion from one end beyond the periphery of the steering wheel to prevent a complete rotation of the steering wheel.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle alarm mechanism to be mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle, comprising an arcuately contoured hollow body, locking means including locking plates for releasably locking the body onto a steering wheel on which the body is to be fitted, detecting means for detecting a presence of a person within the vehicle, control means for activating and deactivating the detecting means and for causing the locking means to lock the body on said steering wheel, and an audible alarm arranged to be triggered in response to the presence of a person being detected by the detecting means when the detecting means is activated,

said hollow body accommodating said locking means, said control means, said detecting means, and said audible alarm therein, said hollow body further accommodating a knob and a key pad,

said control means comprising a shaft extending into said body and connected to a guide plate at one end of said shaft;

two levers, one end of each of said levers being connected to respective ends of said guide plate, the second end of each of said levers being connected to respective ones of said locking plates;

means defining two openings each slightly larger than the size of the rim of a steering wheel for permitting said mechanism to be fitted over the steering wheel;

guide means for slidably guiding said locking plates to open and close said openings in response to turning of said knob;

means for limiting the extent of travel of said locking plates in said guide means;

a solenoid fixedly mounted within the body and having a core extending towards an aperture in one of the locking plates, said aperture being in axial alignment with said core of said solenoid when said one of said locking plates is at a locking position; and

a control circuit including means for deactivating said detecting means, and for unlocking said locking plates by withdrawing said core from said aperture, in response to entry of a code in said key pad.

2. A motor vehicle alarm mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control circuit further comprises a delay circuit means for receiving a signal from said detector means upon detection of the presence of a person, and delaying said signal for a sufficient time to permit a coded input signal to be entered by said key pad;

means for storing a coded reference signal, means for comparing the coded reference signal with the coded input signal; and

means for generating an unlocking signal to retract the core of the solenoid if the coded reference and input signals are the same and, if the coded reference and input signals are different, for activating an alarm.

3. A motor vehicle alarm mechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means defining two recesses in communication with said openings and having a depth for accomodating a radial extent of the steering wheel and an area perpendicular to said depth, the area of one of said recesses being the same size as that of one of said openings, and the area of the other of said recesses being larger than the area of said one of said recesses to accommodate steering wheels of different sizes.

4. A motor vehicle alarm mechanism as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a U-shaped plate having therein a U-shaped plate recess which has an area equal to that of said one of said openings, said U-shaped plate being movable within said other of said recesses to cover an exposed area of said other of said recesses after a steering wheel has been inserted therein.