Magnetic anti-theft lock system and method

• US 10,329,808 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Torres Platas, Virgilio, Duenas Marroquin, Pamela
• Primary Examiner(s): Skibinski, Tomi
• Application Number:
  US15/423,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20180223569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 307 91, 307 101, 307 102, 307 103, 359834
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• 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: E05B 65/00 Locks or fastenings for special use
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/02 for accident situations
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/54 Automatic securing or unlocking of bolts triggered by certain vehicle parameters, e.g. exceeding a speed threshold triggered by vehicle collision E05B77/12
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/08 using electromagnets or solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/64 Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/80 characterised by the power supply; Emergency power operation

Abstract

An anti-theft lock system for a motor vehicle includes a motor vehicle support surface, a component to be protected from theft and an electromagnetic locking feature securing the component to the motor vehicle support surface. An anti-theft mirror and a method of preventing theft of a frangible component from a motor vehicle are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An anti-theft lock system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a motor vehicle support surface;

a component to be protected from theft; and

an electromagnetic locking feature securing said component to said motor vehicle support surface, said electromagnetic locking feature including an electromagnet fixed to said motor vehicle support surface, a ferromagnetic target fixed to said component and a controller configured to activate said electromagnet in response to an ignition switch of said motor vehicle being switched off.

2. The anti-theft lock system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to activate said electromagnet in response to locking of doors of said motor vehicle.

3. The anti-theft lock system of claim 2, wherein said component is frangible and will break if removed while said electromagnet is activated.

4. An anti-theft mirror, comprising:

a mirror housing;

a mirror body held in said mirror housing; and

an electromagnetic locking feature securing said mirror body to said mirror housing, said electromagnetic locking feature including an electromagnet fixed to said mirror housing, a ferromagnetic target fixed to said mirror body and a controller configured to activate said electromagnet in response to an ignition switch being switched off.

5. The anti-theft mirror of claim 4, wherein said controller is further configured to activate said electromagnet in response to locking of doors.

6. The anti-theft mirror of claim 5, further including a mirror frame for supporting said mirror body.

7. The anti-theft mirror of claim 6, wherein said mirror frame includes an inner margin defining an aperture, said electromagnet extending into said aperture and in contact with said ferromagnetic target.

8. The anti-theft mirror of claim 7, wherein said ferromagnetic target is integrated into said mirror body.

9. A method of preventing theft of a frangible component from a motor vehicle, comprising:

providing an electromagnetic locking feature to secure said frangible component to a motor vehicle support surface;

securing said frangible component with sufficient electromagnetic force to cause said frangible component to break if removed from said motor vehicle support surface while said electromagnetic locking feature is activated;

fixing an electromagnet to said motor vehicle support surface;

fixing a ferromagnetic target to said frangible component; and

configuring a controller of said electromagnetic locking feature to activate said electromagnet when an ignition switch of said motor vehicle is switched off.

10. The method of claim 9, including configuring said controller to activate said electromagnet in response to locking of doors of said motor vehicle when said ignition switch is switched off.

11. The method of claim 10, including configuring said controller to deactivate said electromagnet in response to unlocking of said doors of said motor vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, including configuring said controller to deactivate said electromagnet in response to a power source of said motor vehicle falling below a predetermined voltage level.

13. The method of claim 10, including selecting said frangible component from a group of components consisting of a mirror body, a tail lamp, a fog lamp, a logo, a hood ornament and a trim panel.