Vehicle anti-theft system with tampering indicator

• US 6,734,788 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1997
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
• Original Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
• Inventors: Winner, Kevin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US08/863,345
• Time in Patent Office: 2,541 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/429, 340/430, 340/438, 340/527, 340/528, 340/541, 340/566, 340/321, 340/322, 340/426.31, 702/09, 702/26, 702/11, 702/12, 702/25, 702/37, 702/38, 702/39, 180/287
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/0225 using a rod locked on the steering wheel rim B60R25/0221 takes precedence
• 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: Y10T 70/5765 Rotary or swinging

Abstract

An electrical anti-theft device for a motor vehicle issues an audible alarm signal for a predetermined period of time in response to tampering with the vehicle which is sensed by the anti-theft device. At the end of the predetermined period of time, a strobe light is activated and operates continuously thereafter to indicate that the vehicle has been tampered with. At the same time, the electrical anti-theft device is reset so as to issue the alarm signal in response to further tampering with the vehicle. The electrical anti-theft device is incorporated in a mechanical anti-theft device mountable on a vehicle steering wheel to limit rotation thereof.

Claims

1. A vehicle anti-theft device comprising, electrical circuit means including alarm means having activated and deactivated modes, sensing means for sensing tampering with said vehicle, means for shifting said alarm means to said activated mode in response to said sensing means sensing tampering with said vehicle, means including timing means for shifting said alarm means from said activated mode to said deactivated mode after a predetermined period of time, tamper indicating mean separate from said alarm means for indicating tampering with said vehicle, and means for activating said tamper indicating means in response to said sensing means sensing tampering with said vehicle wherein said timing means includes means for activating said tamper indicating means after the expiration of said period of time.

2. An anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein said tamper indicating means includes visible indicating means.

3. An anti-theft device according to claim 2, wherein said visible indicating means includes light producing means.

4. An anti-theft device according to claim 3, wherein said light producing means includes strobe light means.

5. An anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein said alarm means includes an audible alarm.

6. An anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes vibration detecting means.

7. An anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein said electric circuit means has armed and disarmed conditions, and switch means for closing and opening said circuit to respectively provide said armed and disarmed conditions.

8. An anti-theft device according to claim 7, wherein said switch means is key operated.

9. An anti-theft device according to claim 7, wherein said electrical circuit means includes light means for indicating said armed condition.

10. An anti-theft device according to claim 9, wherein said light means for indicating said armed condition includes a plurality of light producing elements and means for continuously sequentially activating said light producing elements.

11. An anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein said alarm means includes an audible alarm and said tamper indicating means includes visible indicating means.

12. An anti-theft device according to claim 11, wherein said electric circuit means has armed and disarmed conditions and includes light means for indicating said armed condition.

13. An anti-theft device according to claim 12, wherein said sensing means includes vibration detecting means.

14. An anti-theft device according to claim 13, wherein said tamper indicating means includes a strobe light.

15. An anti-theft device according to claim 14, wherein said light means for indicating said armed condition includes a plurality of light producing elements and means for continuously sequentially activating said light producing elements.

16. An anti-theft device according to claim 15, wherein said electrical circuit means includes switch means having closed and open positions respectively providing said armed and disarmed conditions.

17. An anti-theft device according to claim 16, wherein said timing means includes means for activating said tamper indicating means after the expiration of said period of time.

18. An anti-theft device according to claim 17, wherein said switch means is key operated.

19. A vehicle anti-theft system comprising an anti-theft device mountable in a vehicle to limit rotation of a vehicle steering wheel, an alarm device mounted on said anti-theft device and including electrical circuit means, said circuit means having armed and disarmed conditions, means for shifting said circuit means between said armed and disarmed conditions, alarm means in said circuit means, said alarm means in said armed condition having activated and deactivated modes, said circuit means including sensing means for sensing tampering with said vehicle, means for shifting said audible alarm to said activated mode in response to said sensing means sensing tampering with said vehicle, means including timing means for shifting said alarm means from said activated mode to said deactivated mode after a predetermined period of time, signal means separate from said alarm means for indicating tampering with said vehicle, and means for activating said signal means in response to said sensing means sensing tampering with said vehicle wherein said timing means includes means for activating said signal means after expiration of said period of time.

20. An anti-theft system according to claim 19, wherein said anti-theft device includes first and second attachment means displaceable relative to one another between mounting and storage positions, and key operated lock means for releasably locking said first and second attachment means in said mounting position against relative displacement toward said storage position.

21. An anti-theft system according to claim 20, wherein said anti-theft device comprises tubular housing means having opposite ends and supporting said first attachment means, said second attachment means including rod means slidably received in one of said opposite ends and having an inner end displaceable toward and away from the other of said opposite ends, said alarm device being in said housing means between said other of said opposite ends thereof and said inner end of said rod.

22. An anti-theft system according to claim 21, wherein said means for shifting said circuit means between said armed and disarmed conditions includes switch means on said housing means.

23. An anti-theft system according to claim 22, wherein said switch means is key operated.

24. An anti-theft system according to claim 19, wherein said means for shifting said circuit means between said armed and disarmed conditions includes switch means.

25. An anti-theft system according to claim 19, and means for visually indicating said armed condition of said circuit means.

26. An anti-theft system according to claim 25, wherein said means for visually indicating said armed condition includes at least one intermittently activated light producing element.

27. An anti-theft system according to claim 25, wherein said means for visually indicating said armed condition includes a plurality of continuously sequentially activated light producing elements.

28. An anti-theft device according to claim 19, wherein said sensing means includes vibration detecting means.

29. An anti-theft device according to claim 19, wherein said alarm means includes an audible alarm.

30. An anti-theft device according to claim 19, wherein said signal means includes an intermittently activated light.

31. An anti-theft device according to claim 30, wherein said light is a strobe light.