Vehicle locator system

• US 5,631,641 A
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John V.W. Howe
• Original Assignee: John V.W. Howe
• Inventors: Howe, John V. W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/555,907
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/457, 340/539, 340/309.15, 340/463, 340/468, 340/474, 340/430
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

A vehicle locator system is integrated into the electrical system of a vehicle. When a hunter leaves the vehicle, the system is activated, preferably in response to turning the ignition key to the off position. Upon the lapse of a preset first delay, the system sounds an alarm so the hunter can audibly locate the vehicle. The alarm sounds again after a delay less than the first preset delay. The delay is preferably adjustable by the user. Bird hunters typically use a delay of less than about fifteen minutes. Coon hunters typically use a delay of at least one hour and usually two. The system preferably connects to the vehicle horn relay and periodically grounds the relay to cause the vehicle horn to honk.

Claims

1. A vehicle locator system for indicating the location of a motor vehicle having an engine, a first electrical circuit necessary for continued operation of the engine in its closed circuit state, an electrical power source and an audible alarm, comprising

first means for connection to the electrical power source for energizing the system;

second means for connection to the audible alarm;

third means for connection to the first electrical circuit;

means for sounding the audible alarm including

a second circuit having a normal condition not sounding the alarm and an active condition for sounding the audible alarm;

a delay mechanism allowing selection of a period of time at an end of which the second circuit is activated for sounding the audible alarm; and

means for initiating operation of the delay mechanism in response to opening the first electrical circuit.

2. The vehicle locator system of claim 1 further comprising an on-off switch for disabling the alarm system.

3. The vehicle locator system of claim 1 wherein the period of time is less than fifteen minutes.

4. The vehicle locator system of claim 1 further comprising means operative after activation of the second circuit for temporarily deenergizing the audible alarm and then reenergizing the audible alarm, the interval during which the audible alarm is deenergized is less than the period of time between opening of the first electrical circuit and activation of the audible alarm.

5. The vehicle locator system of claim 1 wherein the first circuit includes a key switch for opening and closing the first circuit.

6. The vehicle locator system of claim 1 wherein the delay mechanism includes a resistor-capacitor network.

7. The vehicle locator system of claim 6 wherein the delay mechanism includes a timer.

8. The vehicle locator system of claim 1 wherein the audible alarm includes a horn, a normally open horn circuit for energizing the horn and a horn relay operative upon grounding for closing the horn circuit, the second circuit comprising means for grounding the horn relay.

9. The vehicle locator system of claim 8 further comprising means operative after activation of the second circuit for temporarily deenergizing the horn and then reenergizing the horn.

10. The vehicle locator system of claim 9 wherein the last mentioned means comprises means for ungrounding the horn relay and then regrounding the horn relay.

11. A vehicle locator system for indicating the location of a motor vehicle having a first electrical circuit necessary for continued normal operation of the motor vehicle in its closed circuit state, an electrical power source and an audible alarm, comprising:

first means for connection to the electrical power source for energizing the system;

second means for connection to the audible alarm;

means for sounding the audible alarm including;

a second circuit having a normal condition not sounding the alarm and an active condition for sounding the audible alarm;

a delay mechanism allowing selection of a period of time less than about fifteen minutes at an end of which the second circuit is activated for sounding the audible alarm; and

means for initiating operation of the delay mechanism in response to opening the first electrical circuit.

12. The vehicle locator system of claim 11 further comprising means operative after activation of the second circuit for temporarily deenergizing the audible alarm.

13. The vehicle locator system of claim 12 wherein the interval during which the audible alarm is deenergized is less than the period of time.

14. A vehicle locator system for indicating the location of a motor vehicle having an engine, a first electrical circuit necessary for continued operation of the engine in its closed circuit state, an electrical power source, an audible alarm having a horn, a normally open horn circuit for energizing the horn and a horn relay operative upon grounding for closing the horn circuit, compromising:

first means for connection to the electrical power source for energizing the system;

second means for connection to the audible alarm;

means for sounding the horn including;

a second circuit having a normal condition not sounding the alarm and an active condition for sounding the audible alarm;

a delay mechanism allowing selection of a period of time at an end of which the second circuit is activated for sounding the audible alarm;

means for grounding the horn relay at the end of the period of time; and

means for initiating operation of the delay mechanism in response to opening the first electrical circuit.

15. The vehicle locator system of claim 14 wherein the horn sounding means comprises means for ungrounding the horn relay and then regrounding the horn relay.