Anti-theft, emergency system

• US 8,497,768 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Brown
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US12/499,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20110006921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 340/984
• US Class Current: 340/426.11
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2017/0009 Methods or devices specially adapted for preventing theft, or unauthorized use of vessels, or parts or accessories thereof, other than by using locks
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

Disclosed is an antitheft, emergency system for a vehicle. The system may include a system activation switch, at least one emergency switch, an engine shutoff element connected to the engine, and an emergency transmitter. The at least one emergency switch may trigger the engine shutoff element to render the engine inoperational and may simultaneously, covertly trigger an emergency transmitter to transmit a distress signal.

Claims

1. An anti-theft, emergency shutdown system for a vehicle, comprising:

a system activation switch;

at least one emergency shutoff switch; and

an engine shutoff element;

wherein the system activation switch is configured to activate the at least one emergency shutoff switch, the at least one emergency shutoff switch is configured to trigger the engine shutoff element, and the engine shutoff element is configured to instantaneously shutdown the vehicle engine;

wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch is a dedicated shutoff switch hidden in plain sight.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of (i) an audio and (ii) a visual indication of activation of the system activation switch.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch is situated at various locations within the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch is one of (i) a wired and (ii) a wireless connection.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the engine shutoff element is a fuel shutoff valve.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the fuel shutoff valve is a solenoid.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the engine shutoff element is an emergency stop circuit.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the emergency stop circuit is one of (i) a relay and (ii) a four-pole relay.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an emergency transmitter.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch is configured to trigger the emergency transmitter.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch is configured to simultaneously trigger the engine shutoff element and the emergency transmitter.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch is configured to covertly trigger the emergency transmitter.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the emergency transmitter is an emergency position indicating radiobeacon (EPIRB).

14. A method of operating an anti-theft, emergency shutdown system for a vehicle, comprising:

activating, via a system activation switch, at least one emergency shutoff switch; and

triggering, via the at least one emergency shutoff switch, an engine shutoff element, thereby initiating instantaneous shutdown of the vehicle engine;

wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch is a dedicated shutoff switch hidden in plain sight.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising providing at least one of (i) an audio and (ii) a visual indication of activation of the system activation switch.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the triggering of the engine shutoff element via the at least one emergency shutoff switch occurs by one of (i) a wired and (ii) a wireless connection.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the engine shutoff element shuts off fuel supply to the engine via a fuel shutoff valve.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the engine shutoff element shuts off fuel supply to the engine via an emergency stop circuit.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising triggering, via the at least one emergency shutoff switch, an emergency transmitter.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch simultaneously triggers the engine shutoff element and the emergency transmitter.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch covertly triggers the emergency transmitter.

22. A method of deterring hostile takeover of a vehicle, comprising:

activating, via a system activation switch, at least one emergency shutoff switch; and

triggering, via the at least one emergency shutoff switch, an engine shutoff element, thereby initiating instantaneous shutdown of the vehicle engine;

wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch is a dedicated shutoff switch hidden in plain sight.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising triggering, via the at least one emergency shutoff switch, an emergency transmitter.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch simultaneously triggers the engine shutoff element and the emergency transmitter.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one emergency shutoff switch covertly triggers the emergency transmitter.

26. An anti-theft, emergency system for a vehicle, comprising:

a system activation switch;

at least one emergency switch; and

an emergency transmitter;

wherein the system activation switch is configured to activate the at least one emergency switch, and the at least one emergency switch is configured to trigger the emergency transmitter;

wherein the at least one emergency switch is a dedicated switch hidden in plain sight.