Lock switch and security system for motor vehicle electrical circuits

Claim 2

A lock switch system for a motor vehicle electrical circuit comprising a switch casing with a control panel, a plurality of switching units, each unit being mounted in said casing, at least one of said units having a control element on said control panel and switch contacts within said casing, said contacts including a movable contact operable by said control element and having a circuit enabling position and a plurality of circuit disabling positions, a grounded contact engageable with said movable contact whenever said movable contact is not in its circuit enabling position whereby said electrical circuit is grounded when any one or more of said movable contacts is in contact with its respective grounded contact.

Claim 3

A lock switch system as set forth in claim 1 further including a portion of said electrical circuit included in said switch casing, said movable contacts being electrically connected to said portion of said electrical circuit for grounding same when said movable contacts are in other positions than said circuit enabling position.

Claim 4

A lock switch system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said portion of said electrical circuit is discontinuous and at least one of said switching units is adapted for electrical completion of said portion when in the circuit enabling position.

Claim 5

A lock switch system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said portion of said electrical circuit and said grounded contact comprise a printed circuit board conductive pattern, said movable contacts of said switching units being adapted for sliding engagement with said conductive pattern.

Claim 6

A lock switch system for a motor vehicle electrical circuit comprising a switch casing with a face plate, a plurality of rotary switch units, each unit including a shaft mounted for free rotation in said casing and having an end portion extending through said face plate, a dial knob adapted for connection to said end portion, means for securing said dial knob to said end portion for angular adjustment to a plurality of operating positions relative to said shaFt, a movable contact carried by said shaft within said casing said contact being electrically connected to said circuit, stationary contact means within said casing cooperable with said movable contact, said contact means including a grounded contact engageable with said movable contact at a plurality of angular positions of said shaft, whereby said electrical circuit is grounded when any one or more of said shafts is positioned with its respective movable contact in contact with said respective grounded contact.

Claim 7

A lock switch system for a motor vehicle electrical circuit comprising a switch casing with a face plate, a plurality of rotary switch units, each unit including a shaft mounted for free rotation in said casing and having an end portion extending through said face plate, a dial knob adapted for connection to said end portion, means for securing said dial knob to said end portion for angular adjustment to a plurality of operating positions relative to said shaFt, a movable contact carried by said shaft within said casing said contact being electrically connected to said circuit, stationary contact means within said casing cooperable with said movable contact, said contact means including a grounded contact engageable with said movable contact at a plurality of angular positions of said shaft, whereby said electrical circuit is grounded when any one or more of said shafts is positioned with its respective movable contact in contact with said respective grounded contact.

Claim 8

A lock switch system as defined in claim 5 further including a circuit conductor between said lock switch casing and the distributor of the motor vehicle, said circuit conductor being surrounded by a grounded coaxial tubular conductor insulated from said circuit conductor by relatively thin displaceable material whereby if said circuit conductor and grounded tubular conductor are cut said grounded conductor will be squeezed into electrical contact with said circuit conductor.

Claim 9

A lock switch mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein the electrical conductors are located within flexible metal tubular conduit.