Vehicle protection system with audio/visual alarm and auxiliary lock for storage compartment

• US 5,900,823 A
• Filed: 05/30/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E. J. Coll-Cuchi
• Original Assignee: E. J. Coll-Cuchi
• Inventors: Coll-Cuchi, E. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEANGLAUDE, JEAN BRUNER
• Application Number:
  US08/866,074
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/825.32, 340/429, 340/460, 340/692, 340/693, 340/539, 340/561, 340/567, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5, 70/209, 70/164, 70/166, 70/226, 70/264, 70/63, 74/558, 74/558.5
• US Class Current: 340/5.64
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• 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 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics

Abstract

A vehicle protection system with an auxiliary locking device that automatically locks the storage compartment where to a storage compartment of the vehicle and audio and visual alarms when the engine is started while the protection system is activated. The system includes a case fixedly attached to the body of a car which has a display and a speaker. The speaker broadcasts a prerecorded message containing vehicle identifying information. Similarly, the display provides vehicle identifying information. This facilitates the reporting of the theft by witnesses and provides an additional incentive for the thief to abandon the automobile. The system may be activated remotely.

Claims

1. A vehicle protection system for use with a vehicle having a longitudinal axis, a passenger compartment, a storage compartment spaced from the passenger compartment along the longitudinal axis, a lid member movable between a closed position in which the lid member covers the storage compartment and an open position in which the lid member permits access to articles inside the storage compartment, a factory installed lock for locking the lid member in the closed position, the vehicle protection system comprising:

an activation/de-activation switch;

a controller disposed inside the vehicle and coupled to said switch;

a sensor which senses unauthorized activity with the vehicle when said system is activated; and

a lock independent of the factory installed lock, coupled to said switch for securely locking the lid member in the closed position when said system is activated and preventing the lid member from being moved to the open position.

2. The vehicle protection system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a power source, said vehicle protection system further comprising a battery for powering said system independent of the vehicle power source.

3. The vehicle protection system of claim 1, further comprising an indicating device for indicating detection of unauthorized activity with the vehicle, wherein said indicating device is a visual indicator.

4. The vehicle protection system of claim 3, wherein said visual indicator comprises a display disposed on the vehicle.

5. The vehicle protection system of claim 4, wherein said display displays vehicle identification information.

6. The vehicle protection system of claim 3, wherein said visual indicator comprises an LED.

7. The vehicle protection system of claim 3, wherein said visual indicator comprises flashing lights on said vehicle.

8. The vehicle protection system of claim 1, further comprising an indicating device for indicating detection of unauthorized activity with the vehicle, wherein said indicating device is an audio indicator.

9. The vehicle protection system of claim 8, wherein said audio indicator comprises a recorded playback device and speaker to broadcast a prerecorded message.

10. The vehicle protection system of claim 9, wherein said prerecorded message includes vehicle identifying information.

11. The vehicle protection system of claim 8, wherein said audio indicator comprises a speaker.

12. The vehicle protection system of claim 1, wherein said switch is remotely actuated.

13. The vehicle protection system of claim 1, wherein said lock is spaced from the factory installed lock.

14. The vehicle protection system of claim 1, further comprising a case externally mounted to the storage compartment having an indicating device coupled to said controller.

15. A vehicle with a vehicle protection system comprising:

a vehicle, said vehicle having a longitudinal axis, a passenger compartment, a storage compartment spaced from the passenger compartment along a longitudinal axis, and a lid member movable between a closed position in which the lid member covers the storage compartment and an open position in which the lid member permits access to articles inside the storage compartment;

a factory installed lock for locking the lid member in the closed position;

an activation/de-activation switch for said vehicle protection system;

a controller coupled to said switch, said controller disposed within said vehicle;

a security case, said security case externally mounted to said storage compartment and including an indicating device coupled to said controller; and

an auxiliary lock, independent of said factory installed lock, coupled to said switch for securely locking the lid member in the closed position and preventing the lid member from being moved to the open position when said system is activated.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said indicating device of said vehicle protection system is a visual indicator.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein said visual indicator comprises a plurality of colored visual displays.

18. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein said visual indicator comprises an LCD display.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein said display displays vehicle identifying information.

20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said indicating device of said vehicle protection system is an audio indicator.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein said audio indicator comprises a speaker disposed in said security case, a media storage device and a playback device for playing a stored message.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein said stored message includes vehicle identifying information.

23. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said storage compartment is disposed forward from said passenger compartment.

24. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said storage compartment is disposed rearward of said passenger compartment.

25. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein said factory installed lock is spaced from said auxiliary lock.