Theft-deterrent ignition system

Claim 2

A theft-deterrent ignition system comprising: a plurality of pairs of electric switches for establishing a circuit code; a plurality of momentary contact switches; means interconnecting the switches of each pair of coding switches through one of said momentary contact switches; an ignition coil; a running relay; a power source; means connecting said ignition coil with said power source through said running relay; and means for energizing the operating coil of said running relay through two coded pairs of said coding switches and the two momentary contact switches interconnecting them.

Claim 3

The ignition system defined in claim 1 in which said coding switches, ignition coil and running relay are enclosed within a box locked to prevent access thereto.

Claim 4

The ignition system defined in claim 1 including: a lockout relay having normally closed contacts through which the operating coil of said running relay is energized; and means for energizing the operating coil of said lockout relay by the closing of a momentary contact switch other than those connected to the coded pairs of coding switches.

Claim 5

The ignition system defined in claim 1 including: said coding switches being of the single-pole, double-throw type; means interconnecting the movable contacts of each pair of coding switches through one of said momentary contact switches; means connecting one of the stationary contacts of the first of each pair of coding switches together; means connecting one of the stationary contacts of the second of each pair of coding switches together and to said power source; and means connecting the other stationary contact of the second of each pair of coding switches together and to the operating coil of said running relay, whereby movement of the movable contacts of a first pair of coding switches to engage said one stationary contact of the first switch and the other stationary contact of the second switch and movement of the movable contact of the first switch of a second pair of coding switches to engage said one stationary contact of said first switch establishes said first and second pairs as the coding switches whose momentary contact switches must be simultaneously closed to complete the circuit to the operating coil of the running switch.

Claim 6

The ignition system defined in claim 4 including: a lockout relay having an operating coil; normally closed contacts on said lockout relay through which the operating coil of said running relay is energized; and other stationary contacts on the first switch of each pair of coding switches connected together and to the energizing coil of said lockout relay, whereby closing of a momentary contact switch other than the coded ones energizes the operating coil of the lockout relay to open its normally closed contacts and prevent energization of the coil of said running relay.

Claim 7

The ignition system defined in claim 5 including: means providing a holding circuit for the operating coil of said lockout relay; and said holding circuit being opened to drop out the locking relay by opening the ignition circuit.

Claim 8

The ignition system defined in claim 2 including: a distributor; a conductor connecting said ignition coil to the points on said distributor; and a protective sheath between said locked box and said distributor preventing access to said conductor to inhibit the wiring into the ignition circuit of a substitute coil.

Claim 9

The ignition system defined in claim 1 including: means providing a holding circuit for the operating coil of said ruNning relay whereby said ignition coil remains energized when said momentary contact switches are released.

Claim 10

The ignition system defined in claim 3 in which said coding switches are each a single-pole, double-throw switch, and said momentary contact switches are pushbutton switches; means connecting the movable contacts of each pair of coding switches together through one of said pushbutton switches; means connecting together one of the stationary contacts of the first of each pair of coding switches; means connecting the second stationary contacts of the first of each pair of coding switches together and to the operating coil of the lockout relay; means connecting one of the stationary contacts of the second of each pair of coding switches together and to the operating coil of the running relay through normally closed contacts of the lockout relay; an ignition switch; and means connecting the second stationary contacts of the second of each pair of coding switches together and to the power source through said ignition switch.

Claim 11

The ignition system defined in claim 9 in which: said coding switches establish an ignition code for two pushbutton switches which must be simultaneously closed to complete the circuit to the operating coil of the running relay by moving both of the movable contacts of one pair of thereby coded coding switches to engage one of the stationary contacts of that pair and by moving only the movable contact of the first of the second pair of thereby coded coding switches to engage said one contact of said first switch of said second pair.

Claim 12

The ignition system defined in claim 10 in which closing of a momentary contact pushbutton switch other than those interconnecting the coded pairs of coding switches closes the circuit to the operating coil of said lockout relay to open the normally closed contacts thereof through which the operating coil of the running relay is fed; and means providing a holding circuit for the operating coil of said lockout relay to prevent energization thereafter of the operating coil of said running relay.

Claim 13

The ignition system defined in claim 7 including: said coding switches being of the single-pole, double-throw type; means interconnecting the movable contacts of each pair of coding switches through one of said momentary contact switches; means connecting one of the stationary contacts of the first of each pair of coding switches together; means connecting one of the stationary contacts of the second of each pair of coding switches together and to said power source; and means connecting the other stationary contact of the second of each pair of coding switches together and to the operating coil of said running relay, whereby movement of the movable contacts of a first pair of coding switches to engage said one stationary contact of the first switch and the other stationary contact of the second switch and movement of the movable contact of the first switch of a second pair of coding switches to engage said one stationary contact of said first switch establishes said first and second pairs of the coding switches whose momentary contact switches must be simultaneously closed to complete the circuit to the operating coil of the running switch.

Claim 14

The ignition system defined in claim 12 including: a lockout relay having an operating coil; normally closed contacts on said lockout relay through which the operating coil of said running relay is energized; and other stationary contacts on the first switch of each pair of coding switches connected together and to the energizing coil of said lockout relay, whereby closing of a momentary contact switch other than the coded ones energizes the operating coil of the lockout relay to open its normally closed contacts and prevent energization of the coil of said running relay.

Claim 15

The ignition system defined in claim 13 including: means providing a holding circuiT for the operating coil of said lockout relay; and said holding circuit being opened to drop out the locking relay by opening the ignition circuit.

Claim 16

The ignition system defined in claim 7 including: a lockout relay having normally closed contacts through which the operating coil of said running relay is energized; means for energizing the operating coil of said lockout relay by the closing of a momentary contact switch other than those connected to the coded pairs of coding switches; said coding switches are each a single-pole, double-throw switch, and said momentary contact switches are pushbutton switches; means connecting the movable contacts of each pair of coding switches together through one of said pushbutton switches; means connecting together one of the stationary contacts of the first of each pair of coding switches; means connecting the second stationary contacts of the first of each pair of coding switches together and to the operating coil of the lockout relay; means connecting one of the stationary contacts of the second of each pair of coding switches together and to the operating coil of the running relay through normally closed contacts of the lockout relay; an ignition switch; and means connecting the second stationary contacts of the second of each pair of coding switches together and to the power source through said ignition switch.

Claim 17

The ignition system defined in claim 15 in which: said coding switches establish an ignition code for two pushbutton switches which must be simultaneously closed to complete the circuit to the operating coil of the running relay by moving both of the movable contacts of one pair of thereby coded coding switches to engage one of the stationary contacts of that pair and by moving only the movable contact of the first of the second pair of thereby coded coding switches to engage said one contact of said first switch of said second pair.

Claim 18

The ignition system defined in claim 16 in which: closing of a momentary contact pushbutton switch other than those interconnecting the coded pairs of coding switches closes the circuit to the operating coil of said lockout relay to open the normally closed contacts thereof through which the operating coil of the running relay is fed; and means providing a holding circuit for the operating coil of said lockout relay to prevent energization thereafter of the operating coil of said running relay.