Remote vehicular alarm

• US 6,172,599 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nicholas J. Bothen
• Original Assignee: Nicholas J. Bothen
• Inventors: Bothen, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/267,015
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/525, 340/539, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 340/426.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner

Abstract

A vehicular alarm system is provided including at least one vehicle sensor adapted for generating an activation signal upon the detection of the infiltration of a vehicle. Also included is a control unit positioned within the vehicle. The control unit is connected to the sensor and is adapted for transmitting an alarm signal via free space upon the receipt of the activation signal from sensor. Next provided is a portable remote unit having an indicator mounted thereon for generating an indication upon the actuation thereof. The remote unit serves to actuate the indicator upon the receipt of the alarm signal via free space from the control unit.

Claims

1. A vehicular alarm system comprising, in combination:

a plurality of vehicle sensors including a plurality of door sensors each mounted on a vehicle and adapted to generate an activation signal upon the detection of at least one of the doors being opened, a trunk sensor mounted on a trunk of the vehicle and adapted to generate the activation signal upon the detection of the opening of the trunk, and a hood sensor mounted on a hood of the vehicle and adapted to generate the activation signal upon the detection of the opening of the hood;

a horn mounted within the vehicle beneath the hood thereof for emitting an audible alarm upon the actuation thereof;

a battery situated within the vehicle beneath the hood thereof for powering purposes;

a control unit including a housing having a substantially rectangular configuration with a top face, a bottom face, and a periphery formed therebetween defined by a pair of elongated side faces and a pair of short end faces, the top face of the control unit having a pair of brackets mounted thereon and extending therefrom beyond the end faces for being secured to a dash of the vehicle, the control unit connected to the sensors, the horn, and the battery and adapted for transmitting an alarm signal via free space and actuating the horn upon the receipt of the activation signal from at least one of the sensors; and

a remote unit including a housing with a substantially rectangular configuration defined by a top face, a bottom face, and a thin periphery formed therebetween defined by a pair of elongated side faces and a pair of short end faces, one of the end faces of the remote unit having a key mechanism coupled thereto and extending therefrom in perpendicular relationship therewith for opening one of the doors of the vehicle, another one of the end faces of the remote unit having an eyelet coupled thereto for securing keys thereon, the top face of the remote unit having a speaker mounted thereon for emitting an audible alarm upon the actuation thereof, the remote unit adapted to actuate the speaker upon the receipt of the alarm signal via free space from the control unit;

one of the said side faces of the control unit having a light adapted for illuminating upon the actuation thereof;

a key lock being positioned on the housing of the control unit, the key lock being used to switch the control unit between an operational and an inoperational mode such that the user is required to have a key to actuate the key lock to thereby avoid unauthorized changes of the modes;

a pair of push button momentary switches located on the housing of the remote unit, said push button momentary switches being adapted to selectively control whether or not the control unit actuates the horn of the vehicle upon receipt of an actuation signal by the control unit.

2. A vehicular alarm system comprising:

at least one vehicle sensor adapted for generating an activation signal upon the detection of the infiltration of a vehicle;

a control unit positioned within the vehicle, the control unit connected to the sensor and adapted for transmitting an alarm signal via free space upon the receipt of the activation signal from the sensor;

a portable remote unit having an indicator mounted thereon for generating an indication upon the actuation thereof, the remote unit adapted to actuate the indicator upon the receipt of the alarm signal via free space from the control unit;

a horn mounted in the vehicle for emitting an audible alarm upon the actuation thereof, the control unit being adapted for actuating the horn upon the receipt of the activation signal from the sensor;

a plurality of the vehicle sensors including a plurality of door sensors each mounted on the vehicle and adapted to generate the activation signal upon the detection of at least one of the doors being opened, a trunk sensor mounted on a trunk of the vehicle and adapted to generate the activation signal upon the detection of the opening of the trunk, and a hood sensor mounted on a hood of the vehicle and adapted to generate the activation signal upon the detection of the opening of the hood;

wherein the remote unit includes a housing having a key mechanism coupled thereto and extending therefrom for opening doors of the vehicle; and

wherein the indicator of the remote unit is a speaker and the indication is an audible indication;

a key lock being positioned on the housing of the control unit, the key lock being used to switch the control unit between an operational and an inoperational mode such that the user is required to have a key to actuate the key lock to thereby avoid unauthorized changes of the modes;

a pair of push button momentary switches located on the housing of the remote unit, said push button momentary switches being adapted to selectively control whether or not the control unit actuates the horn of the vehicle upon receipt of an actuation signal by the control unit.