Anti-confinement device preventing confinement in locked vehicle trunk which flashes taillights in distress and unlatches trunk

• US 5,859,479 A
• Filed: 10/23/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Ellis Morton David
• Original Assignee: Ellis Morton David
• Inventors: David, Ellis Morton
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/957,006
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 307/157, 340/425.5, 340/468, 340/471, 340/479, 315/77, 116/28 R, 70/237, 70/255, 70/256, 70/257, 70/92, 292/DIG. 42, 292/DIG. 43, 292/DIG. 65
• US Class Current: 307/10.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/26 Emergency opening means for persons trapped in the luggage compartment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 Emergency or safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5159 Emergency exit

Abstract

The present invention is a device which installed in a vehicle that enables a vehicle trunk to be opened from the interior of the trunk and enables at least one of the tail lights to blink. The present invention can be retrofit to existing vehicles by connecting a prepared box and wiring harness to the vehicle power supply, trunk release solenoid, and taillights. The present invention has a ON/OFF switch which enables the circuit controlling the blinking of at least one tail light. A second switch activates the trunk release opening solenoid causing the trunk lock retract opening the trunk. The present invention is mounted in such a way as to be operable by an individual confined to the trunk and be concealed from the casual observer.

Claims

1. An anti-confinement device (10) installable on an inside surface of a vehicle trunk (28A) of a vehicle (28) preventing a person from being locked therein, the anti-confinement device (10) comprising:

A) a housing (12);

B) a microchip (20) contained within the housing, the microchip (20) is electrically connected at one distal end to a left tail light electrical line (22L) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle left tail light (28L), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a right tail light electrical line (22R) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle right tail light (28R), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a trunk latch elecrical line (24) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to an electronic trunk latch (30), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a positive electrical line (26A) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle power means (28B), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a negative electrical line (26B) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a ground;

C) a first switch is electrically connected to the microchip (20), when the first switch is activated, a first electrical impulse is transmitted through the trunk latch elecrical line (24) opening the electronic trunk latch (30), a second electrical impulse is transmitted through the left tail light electrical line (22L) and the right tail light electrical line (22R) functioning to flash the vehicle left tail light (28L) and the vehicle right tail light (28R) indicating an emergency condition exists in the vehicle; and

D) a second switch is electrically connected between the positive electrical line (26A) and a light (16), when the second switch is activated, the light (16) is turned ON.

2. The anti-confinement device (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the second switch is a push button switch (14).

3. The anti-confinement device (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the first switch is a toggle switch (18).

4. The anti-confinement device (10) as described in claim 1, wherein the microchip (20) causes the vehicle left tail light (28L) and vehicle right tail light (28R) to blink a distress code.

5. The anti-confinement device (10) as described in claim 4, wherein the distress code is SOS in Morse Code.