Automobile emergency stop system

• US 8,371,265 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2010
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Call
• Original Assignee: Stephen Call
• Inventors: Call, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi
• Assistant Examiner(s): LATHERS, KEVIN ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US12/897,844
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 123/320, 123/332, 123/198.C, 123/198.B, 123/198.DB, 123/198.DC, 123/198.D, 123/333, 200/6.R, 200/554, 200/563, 200/522, 200/555, 200/15, 200/16.F, 200/16.R, 200/48.KB, 200/243, 200/254, 200270-272
• US Class Current: 123/332
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/042 operating on the fuel supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/21 using hidden switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/50 said parameters being related to the vehicle or its components
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 33/006 depending on engine operating conditions, e.g. start, stop or ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/42 Knife-and-clip contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/066 having switches mounted on a control handle, e.g. gear shift lever
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

The automobile emergency stop system includes a knife switch that is wired to one of the wires running to a fuel pump of a vehicle. The system is designed for use with a parking brake such that upon breaking the circuit, electrical flow to the fuel pump ceases and the engine stops. The system is designed to close the circuit when the parking brake is not lifted. The system is adapted for all types of parking brakes, and includes hand actuated or foot actuated parking brakes. The system is designed for use as an anti-theft measure as well as a safety measure for a computer controlled engine that faults and accelerates out of control.

Claims

1. An automobile emergency stop system, further comprising:

a knife switch is mounted to a floor adjacent a lever of a parking brake;

wherein a U-shaped contact attaches to the lever and engages receivers located in the knife switch;

wherein the receivers are wired between a positive wire coming from a vehicle electrical supply and a second wire attaching to a fuel pump;

wherein electrical current to the fuel pump is interrupted or restored depending upon the interplay of the U-shaped contact and the receivers such that fuel to a fuel line is cut off or maintained;

wherein the knife switch includes a base, and a label that is a reminder of the presence of the system to an end user;

wherein the base includes L-shaped sides that form cavities around the receivers;

wherein the base includes a hole for a bolt to secure the base to a floor;

wherein the U-shaped contact wraps around the lever; and

wherein a layer of insulation is wrapped around the lever, and is sandwiched between the lever and the U-shaped contact.

2. The automobile emergency stop system as described in claim 1 wherein a negative wire is wired to the fuel pump;

wherein a circuit is formed with the positive wire, the negative wire, the receivers, the U-shaped contact, and the second wire.

3. The automobile emergency stop system as described in claim 2 wherein upon applying the parking brake, the circuit is opened and the electrical current to the fuel pump is interrupted;

wherein upon disengaging the parking brake, the circuit is closed and the electrical current to the fuel pump is restored.

4. An automobile emergency stop system, further comprising:

a knife switch is mounted to a floor adjacent a lever of a parking brake;

wherein the knife switch includes a base;

wherein a U-shaped contact attaches to the lever and I engages receivers located in the knife switch;

wherein the receivers are wired between a wire coming from a vehicle electrical supply and a second wire attaching to a fuel pump;

wherein electrical current to the fuel pump is interrupted or restored depending upon the interplay of the U-shaped contact and the receivers such that fuel to a fuel line is cut off or maintained;

wherein the wire and the second wire are either a positive wire or a negative wire in between the vehicle electrical supply and the fuel pump;

wherein the base includes L-shaped sides that form cavities around the receivers;

wherein the U-shaped contact wraps around the lever, and a label is included and is a reminder of the presence of the system to an end user;

wherein a layer of insulation is wrapped around the lever, and is sandwiched between the lever and the U-shaped contact;

wherein the U-shaped contact is mounted on a lever of a hand-operated parking brake or a foot-operated parking brake;

wherein the base of the knife switch is bolted to the floor adjacent the lever;

wherein a circuit is located and wired between the vehicle electrical supply and the fuel pump;

wherein the circuit is formed via a negative wire, a second wire, a positive wire, the receivers, and a the U-shaped contact;

wherein upon applying the parking brake, the circuit is opened and the electrical current to the fuel pump is interrupted; and

wherein upon disengaging the parking brake, the circuit is closed and the electrical current to the fuel pump is restored.

5. The automobile emergency stop system as described in claim 4 wherein the base includes a hole for a bolt to secure the base to the floor, and a label included and is a reminder of the presence of the system to an end user.

6. An automobile emergency stop system, further comprising:

a knife switch is mounted to a floor adjacent a lever of a parking brake;

wherein the knife switch includes a base;

wherein a label is included and is a reminder of the presence of the system to an end user;

wherein a U-shaped contact attaches to the lever and engages receivers located in the knife switch;

I wherein the receivers are wired between a negative wire coming from a vehicle electrical supply and a second wire attaching to a fuel pump;

wherein electrical current to the fuel pump is interrupted or restored depending upon the interplay of the U-shaped contact and the receivers such that fuel to a fuel line is cut off or maintained;

wherein the U-shaped contact is mounted on a lever of a hand-operated parking brake or a foot-operated parking brake;

wherein the base of the knife switch is bolted to the floor adjacent the lever;

wherein a circuit is located and wired between the vehicle electrical supply and the fuel pump;

wherein the circuit is formed via a negative wire, a second wire, a positive wire, the receivers, and the U-shaped contact;

wherein upon applying the parking brake, the circuit is opened and the electrical current to the fuel pump is interrupted;

wherein upon disengaging the parking brake, the circuit is closed and the electrical current to the fuel pump is restored;

wherein the base includes L-shaped sides that form cavities around the receivers;

wherein the base includes a hole for a bolt to secure the base to the floor;

wherein the U-shaped contact wraps around the lever; and

wherein a layer of insulation is wrapped around the lever, and is sandwiched between the lever and the U-shaped contact.