US4064547A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle antitheft device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-04
•
Granted: 1977-12-20
•
Expires: 1996-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle anti-theft device includes a number of code input switches incorporated into the electrical system for the vehicle engine. The switches are controlled at the driver's station, for example, by being mounted on an automobile dashboard. Each of the switches is a multi-position switch having an alpha-numeric indicia indicator, to indicate the particular position of the switch. Starting the engine requires that the switches first be set to a predetermined code configuration in order to complete the electrical circuits necessary for starting the engine. Means also are provided to self-disable the electrical circuit when the engine is shut off to require that the switches be reset in a predetermined manner in order to restart the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Conrad J. Zagwyn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:34
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/01; B60R25/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A vehicle anti-theft device for enabling and disabling the starting and ignition circuits associated with a vehicle engine comprising: a relay-operated switch interposed in the starting circuit; a multi-position code input switch having an indicia display for each position of the switch, said switch having an input terminal connected to the battery and a plurality of output terminals; a primary of the output terminals being connected to the ignition circuit; said relay being connected to the battery through a self-locking gate constructed and arranged to be switched to a conductive configuration and to remain in said conductive configuration as long as current flows therethrough; said gate having an actuating input terminal connected to a different, secondary of the output terminals of said code input switch thereby requiring the code input switch to first be set to its secondary position to enable the starting circuit and then returned to its primary position to enable the ignition circuit; a second multi-position code input switch interposed in the ignition circuit and connected to be closed in only one position thereof; first impedance means interposed between the gate and the relay; and means connecting the primary output contact of the first input code switch with the relay, said means including a second impedance therein, said impedances being selected to require the additive effect of current flowing therefrom to the relay to initiate actuation of the relay.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
A vehicle anti-theft device for enabling and disabling the starting and ignition circuits associated with a vehicle engine comprising: a relay-operated switch interposed in the starting circuit; a multi-position code input switch having an indicia display for each position of the switch, said switch having an input terminal connected to the battery and a plurality of output terminals; a primary of the output terminals being connected to the ignition circuit; said relay being connected to the battery through a self-locking gate constructed and arranged to be switched to a conductive configuration and to remain in said conductive configuration as long as current flows therethrough; said gate having an actuating input terminal connected to a different, secondary of the output terminals of said code input switch thereby requiring the code input switch to first be set to its secondary position to enable the starting circuit and then returned to its primary position to enable the ignition circuit; a second multi-position code input switch interposed in the ignition circuit and connected to be closed in only one position thereof; first impedance means interposed between the gate and the relay; and means connecting the primary output contact of the first input code switch with the relay, said means including a second impedance therein, said impedances being selected to require the additive effect of current flowing therefrom to the relay to initiate actuation of the relay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
An anti-theft device as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a third multi-position code input switch interposed in the ignition circuit, all but one of the output terminals of said third switch being shorted together to ground thereby to short out the ignition except when said third switch is in a predetermined position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
234 words
A vehicle anti-theft device for enabling and disabling the starting and ignition systems associated with a vehicle engine comprising: a relay-operated switch interposed in the starting circuit; a multi-position code input switch having an indicia display for each position of the switch, said switch having an input terminal connected to the battery and a plurality of output terminals; a primary of the output terminals being connected to the ignition circuit; said relay being connected to the battery through a self-locking gate constructed and arranged to be switched to a conductive configuration and to remain in said conductive configuration as long as current flows therethrough; said gate having an actuating input terminal connected to a different, secondary of the output terminals of said code input switch thereby requiring the code input switch to first be set to its secondary position to enable the starting circuit and then returned to its primary position to enable the ignition circuit; a second multi-position code input switch interposed in the ignition circuit and connected to be closed in only one position thereof; a third multi-position code input switch interposed in the ignition circuit, all but one of the output terminals of said third switch being shorted together to ground thereby to short out the ignition except when said third switch is in a predetermined position; and a fourth multi-position code input switch interposed between the gate and the relay.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
234 words
A vehicle anti-theft device for enabling and disabling the starting and ignition systems associated with a vehicle engine comprising: a relay-operated switch interposed in the starting circuit; a multi-position code input switch having an indicia display for each position of the switch, said switch having an input terminal connected to the battery and a plurality of output terminals; a primary of the output terminals being connected to the ignition circuit; said relay being connected to the battery through a self-locking gate constructed and arranged to be switched to a conductive configuration and to remain in said conductive configuration as long as current flows therethrough; said gate having an actuating input terminal connected to a different, secondary of the output terminals of said code input switch thereby requiring the code input switch to first be set to its secondary position to enable the starting circuit and then returned to its primary position to enable the ignition circuit; a second multi-position code input switch interposed in the ignition circuit and connected to be closed in only one position thereof; a third multi-position code input switch interposed in the ignition circuit, all but one of the output terminals of said third switch being shorted together to ground thereby to short out the ignition except when said third switch is in a predetermined position; and a fourth multi-position code input switch interposed between the gate and the relay.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
263 words
A vehicle anti-theft device for enabling and disabling the starting and ignition circuits associated with a vehicle engine comprising: a relay-operated switch interposed in the starting circuit; a multi-position code input switch having an indicia display for each position of the switch, said switch having an input terminal connected to the battery and a plurality of output terminals; a primary of the output terminals being connected to the ignition circuit; said relay being connected to the battery through a self-locking gate constructed and arranged to be switched to a conductive configuration and to remain in said conductive configuration as long as current flows therethrough; said gate having an actuating input terminal connected to a different, secondary of the output terminals of said code input switch thereby requiring the code input switch to first be set to its secondary position to enable the starting circuit and then returned to its primary position to enable the ignition circuit; a second multiposition code input switch interposed in the ignition circuit, all but one of the output terminals of said third switch being shorted to ground thereby to disable the ignition circuit except when said third switch is in a predetermined position; first impedance means interposed between the gate and the relay; and means connecting the primary output contact including a second impedance therein, said impedances being selected to require the additive effect of current flowing therefrom to the relay to initiate actuation of the relay, thereby to require setting of the second code input switch to its predetermined position before operating said first code input switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
263 words
A vehicle anti-theft device for enabling and disabling the starting and ignition circuits associated with a vehicle engine comprising: a relay-operated switch interposed in the starting circuit; a multi-position code input switch having an indicia display for each position of the switch, said switch having an input terminal connected to the battery and a plurality of output terminals; a primary of the output terminals being connected to the ignition circuit; said relay being connected to the battery through a self-locking gate constructed and arranged to be switched to a conductive configuration and to remain in said conductive configuration as long as current flows therethrough; said gate having an actuating input terminal connected to a different, secondary of the output terminals of said code input switch thereby requiring the code input switch to first be set to its secondary position to enable the starting circuit and then returned to its primary position to enable the ignition circuit; a second multiposition code input switch interposed in the ignition circuit, all but one of the output terminals of said third switch being shorted to ground thereby to disable the ignition circuit except when said third switch is in a predetermined position; first impedance means interposed between the gate and the relay; and means connecting the primary output contact including a second impedance therein, said impedances being selected to require the additive effect of current flowing therefrom to the relay to initiate actuation of the relay, thereby to require setting of the second code input switch to its predetermined position before operating said first code input switch.
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) | 1980-12-19 | 1981-06-20 | 1981-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-19 | 1985-06-20 | 1985-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-19 | 1989-06-20 | 1989-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |