Smart car starter

• US 6,559,558 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Losurdo
• Original Assignee: Smart Car Starts, Inc.
• Inventors: Losurdo, Domenick, Quesnel, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeBeradinis, Robert L
• Application Number:
  US09/754,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20020084694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.6, 307/9.1, 340/5.6, 340/5.64, 340/5.72, 180/167
• US Class Current: 307/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0811 using a timer

Abstract

A housing for a remote car starter that activates such starter at pre-set times of the day, and/or in response to a telephonically-originated message, comprises a cavitated area, an activation panel, a servomotor, and a timer and/or a dial-up sub-unit. The user places the transmitter of an existing remote car starter into the housing, places pins into the hole(s) opposite the start button(s) of the remote car starter, closes the housing and places the housing into the glove box or trunk of the car. The activation panel contains a series of holes arranged in two-dimensional fashion for positioning one or more pins opposite the transmitter'"'"'s button or other activator. The timer includes means for setting at least one time of day for the timer cause activation of the servo-motor. In the dial-up embodiment, the dial-up sub-unit functions in manner similar to conventional beepers: a telephonically-originated message causes it to activate the servomotor. When the timer is activated, or the dial-up sub-unit receives an activation message, as the case may be, the servomotor is activated, which causes depression of the activation panel, thus causing the pin(s) in such panel to come into contact with, and depress, the transmitter'"'"'s activation button, which causes the car'"'"'s engine to start. In an alternate embodiment, the device learns the signal from the transmitter, and either at pre-set time(s) of the day or in response to a telephonically-originated message, emits such learned signal to cause the car to start.

Claims

1. An apparatus for causing automatic activation of a transmitter portion of a remote car starter comprising:

a) a housing adapted to securely retain the transmitter portion;

b) a power source;

c) a first actuator operatively connected to a circuit including the power source;

d) a timer, connected to the circuit including the power source, having at least one programmable set point, such that when the timer reaches a set point, the first actuator is activated;

e) a second actuator operatively connected to the first actuator, whereby upon the first actuator being activated, the second actuator activates the transmitter portion

f) an activation panel movably fitted within the housing, wherein the activation panel includes a plurality of holes each for holding a pin; and

g) at least one pin inserted into a hole of the activation panel, such that when the second actuator is activated, the activation panel is moved to force the at least one pin to depress an activator of the transmitter portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing has a cavitated area.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the timer comprises:

a) a clock;

b) function keys for setting the clock'"'"'s current time and the at least one set point; and

c) a display for use in setting the clock'"'"'s current time and the at least one set point.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first actuator is selected from the group consisting of a servomotor and a solenoid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first actuator, upon being activated, rotates.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first actuator is substantially cam shaped, such that its rotating motion is translated into a depressing motion of the second actuator.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising an arm operatively connecting the first actuator to the second actuator, which translates the rotating motion of the first activator into a depressing motion of the second actuator.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first actuator, upon being activated, pulls the second actuator to cause activation of the transmitter portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a substantially wedge-shaped member connected to the second actuator, wherein the first actuator, upon being activated, travels across the top of the second actuator and comes into contact with the substantially wedge-shaped member, thus causing depression of the second actuator to cause activation of the transmitter portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first actuator, upon being activated, pushes the second actuator to cause activation of the transmitter portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a substantially wedge-shaped member connected to the second actuator, wherein the first actuator, upon being activated, travels across the bottom of the second actuator and comes into contact with the substantially wedge-shaped member, thus causing raising of the second actuator to cause activation of the transmitter portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a switch for arming and disarming the timer.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a dial-up sub-unit responsive to a telephonically-originated radio frequency signal, connected to a circuit including the power source, such that when the dial-up sub-unit receives the telephonically-originated radio frequency signal, the first actuator is activated.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the dial-up sub-unit is a device selected from the group consisting of a beeper device, a cellular telephone device, and a personal communication system digital communication device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a switch for arming and disarming the dial-up sub-unit.

16. An apparatus for causing automatic activation of a transmitter portion of a remote car starter comprising:

a) a housing adapted to securely retain the transmitter portion;

b) a power source;

c) a first actuator operatively connected to a circuit including the power source;

d) a dial-up sub-unit responsive to a telephonically-originated radio frequency signal, connected to the circuit including the power source, such that when the dial-up sub-unit receives the telephonically-originated radio frequency signal, the first actuator is activated;

e) a second actuator operatively connected to the first actuator, whereby upon the first actuator being activated, the second actuator activates the transmitter portion

f) an activation panel movably fitted within the housing, wherein the activation panel includes a plurality of holes each for holding a pin; and

g) at least one pin inserted into a hole of the activation panel, such that when the second actuator is activated, the activation panel is moved to force the at least one pin to depress an activator of the transmitter portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the housing has a cavitated area.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the dial-up sub-unit is a device selected from the group consisting of a beeper device, a cellular telephone device, and a personal communication system digital communication device.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first actuator is selected from the group consisting of a servomotor and a solenoid.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an arm operatively connecting the first actuator to the second actuator.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first actuator, upon being activated, rotates.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the first actuator is substantially cam shaped, such that its rotating motion is translated into a depressing motion of the second actuator.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising an arm operatively connecting the first actuator to the second actuator, which translates the rotating motion of the first activator into a depressing motion of the second actuator.

24. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first actuator, upon being activated, pulls the second actuator to cause activation of the transmitter portion.

25. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a substantially wedge-shaped member connected to the second actuator, wherein the first actuator, upon being activated, travels across the top of the second actuator and comes into contact with the substantially wedge-shaped member, thus causing depression of the second actuator to cause activation of the transmitter portion.

26. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first actuator, upon being activated, pushes the second actuator to cause activation of the transmitter portion.

27. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a substantially wedge-shaped member connected to the second actuator, wherein the first actuator, upon being activated, travels across the bottom of the second actuator and comes into contact with the substantially wedge-shaped member, thus causing raising of the second actuator to cause activation of the transmitter portion.

28. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a switch for arming and disarming the dial-up sub-unit.

29. A method for starting a car having an apparatus for learning an indicator from a transmitter portion of a remote car starter and subsequently emitting the indicator to a receiver portion of the remote car starter, comprising the steps of:

a) placing the apparatus in learn mode, the apparatus comprising;

i) a power source;

ii) a processor unit coupled to a circuit including the power source;

iii) a receiver for receiving the indicator from the transmitter portion;

iv) an emitter, connected to the circuit including the power source, for emitting the indicator; and

v) a timer, connected to the circuit including the power source, having at least one programmable time set point, such that when the timer reaches a time set point, the emitter emits the indicator;

b) pointing a transmitting potion of the car starter at the apparatus, wherein the transmitter portion transmits the indicator for causing the car to start such that the apparatus receives the indicator through its receiver and forwards the indicator to its processing unit;

c) placing the apparatus anywhere in the car; and

d) triggering the apparatus to emit a starting indicator to the receiver portion of the car starter by a timer, or telephonically originated radio frequency signal.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the timer of the apparatus comprises:

a) a clock;

b) function keys for setting the clock'"'"'s current time and the at least one set point; and

c) a display for use in setting the clock'"'"'s current time and the at least one set point.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the apparatus further comprises a switch for arming and disarming the timer.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the apparatus further comprises a dial-up sub-unit responsive to telephonically-originated radio frequency signals, connected to the circuit including the power source, such that when the dial-up sub-unit receives the telephonically-originated radio frequency signal, the emitter emits the indicator.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the dial-up sub-unit is a device selected from the group consisting of a beeper device, a cellular telephone device, and a personal communication system digital communication device.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising a switch for arming and disarming the dial-up sub-unit.