Anti-theft device for motor vehicles

Claim 1

In a motor vehicle ignition system including a voltage source, an ignition switch, spark plugs, a distributor, and conductive leads operatively connecting the same in a motor-starting circuit, a theft-deterrent security assembly obviating any need physical to remove from the vehicle any vehicle ignition system component thereof so as to prevent theft of the vehicle, said theft deterrent security assembly constituting a connection-scrambling device for interposition, electrically, between said spark plugs and said distributor to provide code-governed and code-dependent connector means constituting an effective impediment to any unauthorized starting and use of the vehicle, irrespective of ignition switch actuation, said connection-scrambling device comprising a first array and a second array of interrelated coded connectors, each array having the same number of functional terminal contacts for pairing, manually, in a one-to-one relationship, first electrical leads interconnecting each of said contacts of said first array with a corresponding electrical terminal of said distributor, second electrical leads interconnecting each of said contacts of said second array with a corresponding one of said spark plugs at an electrode thereof, contacting means for establishing electrical continuity between each of a given one of said coded connectors of said first array with each of a given one of said coded connectors of said second array, code designation and identification means to ensure that connections between connectors of said first array and connectors of said second array are made only in a predetermined, unique, one-to-one pattern, which pattern alone establishes an operative ignition circuit, all elements of said assembly remaining at all times in the vehicle.