Apparatus for preventing confinement in a vehicle trunk
First Claim
1. An anti-confinement device (10) installable on an inside surface of a vehicle trunk (28A) of a vehicle (28) preventing a person from being locked therein, the anti-coafinement device (10) comprising:
- A) a housing (12);
B) a microchip (20) contained within the housing, the microchip (20) is electrically connected at one distal end to a left tail light electrical line (22L) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle left tail light (28L), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a right tail light electrical line (22R) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle right tail light (28R), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a trunk latch elecrical line (24) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to an electronic trunk latch (30), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a positive electrical line (26A) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle power means (28B), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a negative electrical line (26B) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a ground;
C) a first switch is electrically connected to the microchip (20), when the first switch is activated, a first electrical impulse is transmitted through the trunk latch elecrical line (24) opening the electronic trunk latch (30), a second electrical impulse is transmitted through the left tail light electrical line (22L) and the right tail light electrical line (22R) functioning to flash the vehicle left tail light (28L) and the vehicle right tail light (28R) indicating an emergency condition exists in the vehicle; and
a second switch is electrically connected between the positive electrical line (26A) and a light (16), when the second switch is activated, the light (16) is turned ON.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a device which installed in a vehicle that enables a vehicle trunk to be opened from the interior of the trunk and enables at least one of the tail lights to blink. The present invention can be retrofit to existing vehicles by connecting a prepared box and wiring harness to the vehicle power supply, trunk release solenoid, and taillights. The present invention has a ON/OFF switch which enables the circuit controlling the blinking of at least one tail light. A second switch activates the trunk release opening solenoid causing the trunk lock retract opening the trunk. The present invention is mounted in such a way as to be operable by an individual confined to the trunk and be concealed from the casual observer.
14 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An anti-confinement device (10) installable on an inside surface of a vehicle trunk (28A) of a vehicle (28) preventing a person from being locked therein, the anti-coafinement device (10) comprising:
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A) a housing (12);
B) a microchip (20) contained within the housing, the microchip (20) is electrically connected at one distal end to a left tail light electrical line (22L) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle left tail light (28L), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a right tail light electrical line (22R) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle right tail light (28R), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a trunk latch elecrical line (24) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to an electronic trunk latch (30), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a positive electrical line (26A) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle power means (28B), the microchip (20) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a negative electrical line (26B) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a ground;
C) a first switch is electrically connected to the microchip (20), when the first switch is activated, a first electrical impulse is transmitted through the trunk latch elecrical line (24) opening the electronic trunk latch (30), a second electrical impulse is transmitted through the left tail light electrical line (22L) and the right tail light electrical line (22R) functioning to flash the vehicle left tail light (28L) and the vehicle right tail light (28R) indicating an emergency condition exists in the vehicle; and
a second switch is electrically connected between the positive electrical line (26A) and a light (16), when the second switch is activated, the light (16) is turned ON. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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- 6. In a vehicle having external lights and a trunk movable between open and closed conditions, a device comprising a switch accessible for actuation by an occupant enclosed in the trunk for actuating one or more of the external lights, the one or more of the external lights observable from outside the trunk in the closed condition.
- 12. In vehicle having lights and an electronic latch for engaging a lid to enclose a trunk, a device comprising a switch mounted to the vehicle and accessible for actuation by an occupant enclosed in the trunk for actuating at least one of (a) the electronic latch to release the lid and (b) one or more of the lights.
- 16. An assembly comprising:
- 19. An assembly comprising:
- 26. In a vehicle having a trunk and an electronic latch movable between a first condition to define a closed condition of the trunk and a second conditon to define an open condition of the trunk, apparatus comprising a switch mounted to the trunk, the electronic latch movable between the first and second conditions in response to acutation of the switch from within the trunk.
- 29. In a vehicle having external lights and a trunk movable between an open condition and a closed condition, apparatus comprising a switch mounted to the vehicle, one or more of the external lights movable into an energized condition in response to actuation of the switch from within the trunk, the one or more of the external lights observable from outside the trunk in the closed condition.
- 33. In a vehicle including external lights and trunk having a lid and an electronic latch movable between a first condition for engaging the lid to define a closed condition of the trunk and a second condition for releasing the lid to define an open condition of the trunk, apparatus comprising a switch mounted to the vehicle, one or more of (a) the electronic latch movable between the first and second conditions in response to actuation of the switch from within the trunk, and (b) one or more of the external lights movable into an energized condition in response to acutation of the switch from within the trunk.
- 37. In a vehicle including a trunk that can be opened and closed with an electronic latch, a device comprising:
- 41. A device for unlocking a latch of a trunk of a vehicle to enable an individual locked in the trunk to escape confinement comprising:
- 45. A method for providing the excape of an individual locked in a trunk of a vehicle comprising the steps of:
Specification