Vehicle accessory protection systems

• US 5,598,142 A
• Filed: 12/04/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
• Original Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
• Inventors: Winner, James E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/566,688
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/426, 340/428, 340/429, 340/430, 340/566, 340/587, 340/588, 340/683, 340/541, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 180/287, 180/271, 116/214, 109/20, 109/29, 109/31, 109/32
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0205 for radio sets B60R11/0211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0043 for integrated articles, i.e. not substantially protruding from the surrounding parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0096 Theft prevention of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0098 using electric or electronic means, e.g. alarms, codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/018 Thief traps
• 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 security system for preventing unauthorized removal of a vehicle accessory such as a radio from a mounted position on the vehicle comprises a dispensing container containing a pressurized protective material such as a pepper gas and having a dispensing valve displaceable from a closed position to an open position in which the protective material is dispensed from the container. A valve actuating member is responsive to displacement of the accessory from its mounted position to displace the dispensing valve from the closed to the open position whereby the protective material is dispensed from said container.

Claims

1. A security system for preventing unauthorized removal of a vehicle accessory from a mounted position on a vehicle comprising, dispensing container means containing a pressurized protective material and including valve means displaceable from a closed position to an open position in which said protective material is dispensed from said container means, a valve actuator member for displacing said valve means from said closed to said open position, said accessory in said mounted position thereof holding said actuator member in a first position corresponding to said closed position, means for displacing said actuator member in a direction from said first position toward a second position corresponding to said open position of said valve means in response to displacement of said accessory from said mounting position, and means for releasably holding said actuator member in a third position in which said actuator member is inoperable for displacing said valve means.

2. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said actuator member is a lever having opposite ends, one of said ends being pivotally mounted relative to said vehicle for displacement between said first and second positions, means biasing the other of said opposite ends to engage said accessory in said mounted position thereof, and said valve means being positioned between said opposite ends of said lever.

3. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said accessory has front and rear ends, and means removably mounting said dispensing container means adjacent said rear end of said accessory.

4. A security system according to claim 1, wherein said accessory has a top side, said actuator member engaging said top side in said mounted position of said accessory.

5. A security system according to claim 4, wherein said means for displacing said actuator member includes biasing means for biasing said actuator member against said top side.

6. A security system according to claim 4, wherein said actuator member in said second position thereof is below said top side of said accessory.

7. A security system according to claim 1, and means for blocking return of the accessory to said mounted position.

8. A security system according to claim 7, wherein said means for blocking return of said accessory includes said actuator member in said second position thereof.

9. A security system for preventing unauthorized removal of a vehicle accessory from a mounted position on a vehicle comprising, dispensing container means containing a pressurized protective material and including valve means displaceable from a closed position to an open position in which said protective material is dispensed from said container means, a valve actuator member for displacing said valve means from said closed to said open position, said accessory having a top side, said actuator member engaging said top side in said mounted position thereof holding said actuator member in a first position corresponding to said closed position, and means for displacing said actuator member in the direction from said first position toward a second position corresponding to said open position of said valve means in response to displacement of said accessory from said mounted position, and a means for releasably holding said actuator member in a third position in which said actuator member is inoperable for displacing the said valve means.

10. A security system according to claim 9, wherein said third position is spaced above said top side.

11. A security system according to claim 9, wherein said means for releasably holding said actuator member includes latch means.

12. A security system according to claim 11, wherein said latch means includes a latch member mounted relative to said vehicle for displacement between latched and unlatched positions relative to said actuator member, said latch member in said latched position thereof releasably holding said actuator member in said third position.

13. A security system according to claim 12, further including first biasing means for biasing said actuator member in the direction toward said top side, and second biasing means biasing said latch member toward said latched position.

14. A security system according to claim 13, wherein each said first and second biasing means is a spring.

15. A security system for preventing unauthorized removal of a vehicle accessory from a mounted position on a vehicle comprising, dispensing container means containing a pressurized protective material and including valve means displaceable from a closed position to an open position in which said protective material is dispensed from said container means, a lever having opposite ends, one of said opposite ends being pivotally mounted relative to said vehicle for displacement between first and second positions, means biasing the other of said opposite ends to engage said accessory in said mounted position thereof, said valve means being positioned between said opposite ends of said lever and being displaceable by said lever, said accessory in said mounted position thereof holding said lever in said first position corresponding to said closed position of said valve means, and means for displacing said lever in the direction from said first position toward said second position corresponding to said open position of said valve means in response to displacement of said accessory from said mounted position, and a latch spaced from said one of said opposite ends and pivotally mounted relative to said vehicle, said lever including a latch finger and being pivotal about said one end of said third position in which said latch engages with said latch finger to preclude pivotal displacement of said lever in the direction from said first toward said second position thereof.