Anti-lockout system

• US 5,438,312 A
• Filed: 04/19/1994
• Issued: 08/01/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Lewis
• Original Assignee: James Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/229,750
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 340/457, 340/539, 340/457.1, 340/542, 340/522, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 70/57, 70/262, 70/263, 70/264, 70/DIG. 49
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/625 Operation and control

Abstract

An electronic system for preventing keys from being locked inside a vehicle. An ignition or door key houses a wireless transmitter which can send a signal to lock or unlock the vehicle doors. As a driver approaches a locked car, the unlock button on the transmitter is pressed, thereby unlocking the doors. Upon exiting the vehicle, a driver may inadvertently lock himself out of the vehicle if the doors are manually locked when the door key is inadvertently left somewhere inside the car. To prevent lock-out, an oscillating unlock signal is automatically sent from the transmitter to the electronic door locks. Simultaneously an alarm sounds to alert the driver that the keys are still in the car. The driver returns to the vehicle, opens the doors which have been automatically unlocked, and retrieves the keys. Upon retrieval of the keys, the driver again exits the vehicle, locks the doors manually or electronically, and presses the lock button to stop the alarm and end the transmission of the oscillating unlock signal.

Claims

1. A method for preventing keys from being locked in a vehicle comprising:

transmitting a first lock signal;

transmitting a first oscillating unlock signal;

receiving the first lock signal and outputting a second lock signal;

locking at least one door of a vehicle when the second lock signal is received;

receiving the first oscillating unlock signal and outputting a second oscillating unlock signal;

inhibiting the second oscillating unlock signal when a driver'"'"'s seat belt is buckled;

inhibiting the second oscillating unlock signal when at least one door of the vehicle is open;

sounding an audible warning when the second oscillating unlock signal is output;

unlocking at least one door of the vehicle when the second oscillating unlock signal is output;

whereby at least one door of a vehicle is unlocked and the audible warning is sounded when the seat belt is unbuckled and at least one door of the vehicle is closed.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the transmitted first oscillating unlock signal and first lock signal are of radio frequency.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the audible warning is sounded after a preset delay period.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the audible warning is a vehicle'"'"'s horn.

5. The method according to claim 1 in which the first lock signal is transmitted by depressing a lock button attached to a vehicle ignition key;

and

the first oscillating unlock signal is transmitted by depressing an unlock button attached to the vehicle ignition key.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the transmission of the first oscillating unlock signal is stopped by pressing the lock button attached to the vehicle ignition key.

7. The method according to claim 5 in which the first lock signal is transmitted by depressing a lock button integral with a vehicle ignition key head;

and

the first oscillating unlock signal is transmitted by depressing an unlock button integral with the vehicle ignition key head; and

the transmission of the first oscillating unlock signal is stopped by inserting the vehicle ignition key into a vehicle ignition.

8. A method for preventing keys from being locked in a vehicle comprising:

depressing a lock button attached to a vehicle ignition key when at least one door of a vehicle is to be locked;

depressing an unlock button attached to the vehicle ignition key when at least one door of a vehicle is to be unlocked;

when the unlock button is depressed, outputting a first oscillating unlock signal from an electronic circuit capable of outputting a first signal in response to an unlock signal and a second signal in response to a lock signal;

when the lock button is depressed, outputting a first lock signal from the electronic circuit capable of outputting a first signal in response to an unlock signal and a second signal in response to a lock signal;

outputting a second oscillating unlock signal from an oscillator connected to a reed switch when the first oscillating unlock signal is received;

transmitting the second oscillating unlock signal and the first lock signal with a transmitter wherein the oscillator is connected to the transmitter;

receiving the second oscillating unlock signal with a receiver when the second oscillating unlock signal is transmitted and receiving the first lock signal with a receiver when the first lock signal is transmitted;

outputting a third oscillating unlock signal when the second oscillating unlock signal is received and outputting a non-oscillating lock signal when the first lock signal is received;

inhibiting the third oscillating unlock signal when a driver'"'"'s seat belt is buckled, a driver'"'"'s seat belt switch being connected to the receiver and closed when the driver'"'"'s seat belt is buckled;

inhibiting the third oscillating unlock signal when at least one door of the vehicle is open by using a door ajar switch connected to the driver'"'"'s seat belt switch;

outputting a pulsed warning signal when the third oscillating unlock signal is received;

sounding an audible warning when the pulsed warning signal is received;

locking at least one door of the vehicle when the first lock signal is received;

unlocking at least one door of the vehicle when the third oscillating unlock signal is output;

opening the reed switch when the driver'"'"'s seat belt is buckled and the reed switch is in close proximity to a vehicle ignition by way of an electromagnet within an ignition switch of the vehicle connected to the driver'"'"'s seat belt switch;

whereby at least one door of the vehicle is unlocked and the audible warning is sounded when a driver unbuckles the driver'"'"'s seat belt and leaves the vehicle without depressing the lock button on the ignition key.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the transmitted second oscillating unlock signal and the first lock signal are of radio frequency.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the sounding of the audible alarm occurs after a preset delay period.

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the audible alarm is a vehicle'"'"'s horn.

12. The method according to claim 8 wherein the electronic circuit capable of outputting a first signal in response to a lock signal and a second signal in response to an unlock signal further comprises a latch, a set terminal of which is connected to the unlock button and a reset terminal is connected to the unlock button.

13. The method according to claim 8 wherein the non-oscillating lock signal further comprises a constant lock signal generated by a pulse generator.