Vehicle anti-theft system including a gear shift lock and an anti-theft device operated thereby

• US 5,331,307 A
• Filed: 11/05/1991
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mul-T-Lock Ltd. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Mul-T-Lock Ltd. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Eizen, Noach
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US07/787,902
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/430, 340/438, 340/456, 340/693, 70/245, 70/246, 70/247, 70/248, 70/DIG. 49, 70/DIG. 59, 70/439, 70/432, 307/10.1, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/426.24
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/066 Locking of hand actuated control actuating means
• 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 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5934 Selective-type shift rod, fork or block

Abstract

A vehicle anti-theft device comprising a gear shift lock and an ancillary vehicle anti-theft device which is operated automatically by operation of the gear shift lock.

Claims

1. A vehicle anti-theft system comprising:

a gear shift lock having a lock housing;

a lock yoke for selectable locking engagement with the gear shift lock;

a yoke locking orientation sensor for sensing when said lock yoke is in locking engagement with said gear shift lock; and

an ancillary vehicle anti-theft device which is actuated by positioning of said lock yoke in locking engagement with said gear shift lock and is deactuated by removal of the yoke from locking engagement with the gear shift lock, said ancillary vehicle anti-theft device including electronic circuitry for controlling the operation of the anti-theft device located inside said lock housing.

2. The system according to claim 1 and wherein said ancillary vehicle anti-theft device comprises at least one of the following devices:

audio alarm, visual alarm, vehicle operation prevention means, intrusion detection apparatus and vehicle motion detection apparatus.

3. The system according to claim 1 and wherein said electronic circuitry communicates with the ancillary vehicle anti-theft device by means of wireless communication means.

4. The system according to claim 1 and wherein said lock housing includes having a reinforced apertured portion through which legs of the yoke extend when the yoke is in locking engagement with the gear shift lock.

5. The system according to claim 1 and wherein said ancillary vehicle anti-theft device is actuated following a predetermined delay.

6. A vehicle including

a gear shift lock having a lock housing;

a lock yoke for selectable locking engagement with the gear shift lock;

a yoke locking orientation sensor for sensing when said lock yoke is in locking engagement with said gear shift lock; and

an ancillary vehicle anti-theft device which is actuated by positioning of said lock yoke in locking engagement with said gear shift lock and is deactuated by removal of the yoke from locking engagement with the gear shift lock, said ancillary vehicle anti-theft device including electronic circuitry for controlling the operation of the anti-theft device located inside said lock housing.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6 and wherein said ancillary vehicle anti-theft device comprises at least one of the following devices:

audio alarm, visual alarm, ignition operation interlocking means, vehicle operation interlocking means, intrusion detection apparatus and vehicle motion detection apparatus.

8. The vehicle according to claim 6 and wherein said electronic circuitry communicates with the ancillary vehicle anti-theft device by means of wireless communication means.

9. The vehicle according to claim 6 and wherein said lock housing defines a surface lying upwardly in a plane angled between the horizontal and vertical directions with respect to the vehicle and said surface defines a key receiving opening.

10. A method for preventing vehicle theft including the steps of providing a gear shift lock having a lock housing;

a lock yoke for selectable locking engagement with the gear shift lock;

a yoke locking orientation sensor for sensing when said lock yoke is in locking engagement with said gear shift lock; and

an ancillary vehicle anti-theft device which is actuated by positioning of said lock yoke in locking engagement with said gear shift lock and is deactuated by removal of the yoke from locking engagement with the gear shift lock, said ancillary vehicle anti-theft device including electronic circuitry for controlling the operation of the anti-theft device located inside said lock housing; and

positioning the lock yoke in locking engagement with said gear shift lock, thereby actuating the ancillary vehicle anti-theft device.

11. A vehicle anti-theft system comprising:

a gear shift lock having a lock housing;

a lock yoke for selectable locking engagement with the gear shift lock by insertion thereof into the gear shift lock without requiring key operation;

a yoke locking orientation sensor for sensing when said lock yoke is in locking engagement with said gear shift lock; and

an ancillary vehicle anti-theft device which is actuated by positioning of said lock yoke in locking engagement with said gear shift lock and is deactuated by removal of the yoke from locking engagement with the gear shift lock.

12. A vehicle anti-theft system according to claim 11 and wherein said gear shift lock comprises:

a base member, a pair of bolts which are slideable with respect to said base member and a spring which is operative to urge the bolts into locking engagement with said base member and said lock yoke.