US3723677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ignition key alarm
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-01-05
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1990-01-05
Abstract
Abstract An auxiliary, momentary contact, electrical switch with normally open contacts is combined with a rotary ignition or motor starting switch of the type conventionally used in automobiles and other vehicles. The contacts of the auxiliary switch are closed by the ignition key either by inserting this key in the ignition switch or by turning the ignition switch from one of its on positions to its off position. The auxiliary switch forms part of an electrical circuit comprising an electrical storage battery, an interval timer, and a buzzer. The combination of the above elements works so that if the ignition key is left for more than a few seconds in the ignition switch while this ignition switch is in its off position the buzzer is turned on by the interval timer. This alarm reminds the operator of the vehicle to remove the key from the ignition switch. If the buzzer sounds and the key is not removed from the ignition switch within a predetermined time interval the interval timer shuts the buzzer off.
Inventors
- 👤 A Arias
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:36
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/01; B60R25/02; B60R25/021; H; H01; H01H; H01H27/00; H01H27/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
In an ignition or motor starting switch of the rotary, conventional type used in motorized vehicles, this ignition switch having a shell, and a cylinder rotatable inside this shell, and this cylinder also having a keyhole, the ignition switch being operated by inserting an ignition key in said keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position and then turning said cylinder with said key so as to thereby actuate the switching mechanism of the ignition switch, the improvement consisting of an opening or channel in said cylinder exposing said keyhole, a hole in said shell exposing said opening in said cylinder, and an auxiliary switch of the momentary, normally open contact type, this auxiliary switch being located in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to said shell, the actuator of the auxiliary switch passing through the hole in the shell, and ending inside the opening in the cylinder, the tip of this actuator intercepting the path of the ignition key, this key cammingly biasing said actuator so as to thereby actuate the auxiliary switch to its on position either when the ignition key is inserted in the keyhole while said ignition switch is in its off position or when the ignition switch is turned from an on position to its off position by means of said ignition key.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
In an ignition or motor starting switch of the rotary, conventional type used in motorized vehicles, this ignition switch having a shell, and a cylinder rotatable inside this shell, and this cylinder also having a keyhole, the ignition switch being operated by inserting an ignition key in said keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position and then turning said cylinder with said key so as to thereby actuate the switching mechanism of the ignition switch, the improvement consisting of an opening or channel in said cylinder exposing said keyhole, a hole in said shell exposing said opening in said cylinder, and an auxiliary switch of the momentary, normally open contact type, this auxiliary switch being located in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to said shell, the actuator of the auxiliary switch passing through the hole in the shell, and ending inside the opening in the cylinder, the tip of this actuator intercepting the path of the ignition key, this key cammingly biasing said actuator so as to thereby actuate the auxiliary switch to its on position either when the ignition key is inserted in the keyhole while said ignition switch is in its off position or when the ignition switch is turned from an on position to its off position by means of said ignition key.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 1 except that said auxiliary switch is a sensitive type switch or microswitch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
227 words
In an ignition or motor starting switch of the rotary, conventional type used in motorized vehicles, this ignition switch having a shell, and a cylinder rotatable inside said shell, and this cylinder also having a keyhole, the ignition switch being operated by inserting an ignition key in said keyhole while the ignition sWitch is in its off position and then turning said cylinder with said key so as to thereby actuate the switching mechanism of the ignition switch, the improvement consisting of an opening or channel in said cylinder exposing said keyhole, a hole in said shell exposing said opening in said cylinder, and an auxiliary sensitive switch of the momentary, normally open contact type, this auxiliary switch being located in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to said shell, this auxiliary switch having its actuator operated by a lever, this lever passing through the hole in the shell and ending inside the opening in the cylinder, the tip of the lever intercepting the path of the ignition key, this key cammingly biasing said lever so as to thereby actuate the auxiliary switch to its on position either when the ignition key is inserted in the keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position or when the ignition switch is turned fron an on position to its off position by means of said ignition key.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
227 words
In an ignition or motor starting switch of the rotary, conventional type used in motorized vehicles, this ignition switch having a shell, and a cylinder rotatable inside said shell, and this cylinder also having a keyhole, the ignition switch being operated by inserting an ignition key in said keyhole while the ignition sWitch is in its off position and then turning said cylinder with said key so as to thereby actuate the switching mechanism of the ignition switch, the improvement consisting of an opening or channel in said cylinder exposing said keyhole, a hole in said shell exposing said opening in said cylinder, and an auxiliary sensitive switch of the momentary, normally open contact type, this auxiliary switch being located in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to said shell, this auxiliary switch having its actuator operated by a lever, this lever passing through the hole in the shell and ending inside the opening in the cylinder, the tip of the lever intercepting the path of the ignition key, this key cammingly biasing said lever so as to thereby actuate the auxiliary switch to its on position either when the ignition key is inserted in the keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position or when the ignition switch is turned fron an on position to its off position by means of said ignition key.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
197 words
In an ignition or motor starting switch of the rotary, conventional type used in motorized vehicles, this ignition switch having a shell, and a cylinder rotatable inside said shell, and this cylinder also having a keyhole, the ignition switch being operated by inserting an ignition key in said keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position and then turning said cylinder with said key so as to thereby actuate the switching mechanism of the ignition switch, the improvement consisting of an auxiliary microswitch of the momentary, normally open contact type, this auxiliary switch being located in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to the shell of the ignition switch, this auxiliary switch having its actuator outside the ignition switch, the tip of said actuator intercepting the path of the shank of the ignition key, said shank of said ignition key cammingly biasing said actuator so as to thereby prompt said auxiliary switch to its on position either when the ignition key is inserted in said keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position or when the ignition switch is turned from an on position to its off position by means of said key.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
197 words
In an ignition or motor starting switch of the rotary, conventional type used in motorized vehicles, this ignition switch having a shell, and a cylinder rotatable inside said shell, and this cylinder also having a keyhole, the ignition switch being operated by inserting an ignition key in said keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position and then turning said cylinder with said key so as to thereby actuate the switching mechanism of the ignition switch, the improvement consisting of an auxiliary microswitch of the momentary, normally open contact type, this auxiliary switch being located in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to the shell of the ignition switch, this auxiliary switch having its actuator outside the ignition switch, the tip of said actuator intercepting the path of the shank of the ignition key, said shank of said ignition key cammingly biasing said actuator so as to thereby prompt said auxiliary switch to its on position either when the ignition key is inserted in said keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position or when the ignition switch is turned from an on position to its off position by means of said key.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
212 words
In an ignition or motor starting switch of the rotary, conventional type used in motorized vehicles, this ignition switch having a shell, and a cylinder rotatable inside said shell, and this cylinder also having a keyhole, the ignition switch being operated by inserting an ignition key in said keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position and then turning said cylinder with said key so as to thereby actuate the switching mechanism of the ignition switch, the improvement consisting of an auxiliary microswitch of the momentary, normally open contact type, this auxiliary switch being located in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to the shell of the ignition switch, this auxiliary switch having an actuator operated by a lever, said actuator and said lever being located outside the ignition switch, and the free end of said lever intercepting the path of the shank of the ignition key, the shank of this key cammingly biasing the end of the lever so as to thereby prompt said auxiliary switch to its on position either when the ignition key is inserted in said keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position or when the ignition switch is turned from an on position to its off position by means of said key.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
212 words
In an ignition or motor starting switch of the rotary, conventional type used in motorized vehicles, this ignition switch having a shell, and a cylinder rotatable inside said shell, and this cylinder also having a keyhole, the ignition switch being operated by inserting an ignition key in said keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position and then turning said cylinder with said key so as to thereby actuate the switching mechanism of the ignition switch, the improvement consisting of an auxiliary microswitch of the momentary, normally open contact type, this auxiliary switch being located in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to the shell of the ignition switch, this auxiliary switch having an actuator operated by a lever, said actuator and said lever being located outside the ignition switch, and the free end of said lever intercepting the path of the shank of the ignition key, the shank of this key cammingly biasing the end of the lever so as to thereby prompt said auxiliary switch to its on position either when the ignition key is inserted in said keyhole while the ignition switch is in its off position or when the ignition switch is turned from an on position to its off position by means of said key.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |