Anti-theft equipment

Claim 1

In a vehicle having an engine, a high current electrical power source having a positive pole, such as a vechile battery, and starter means for the engine; said starter means including a starter switch, a starter motor which is mechanically connectable to the flywheel of the engine and a solenoid means characterized as having a battery terminal normally connected directly to said positive pole and which when energized normally connects said power source to said starter motor and causes said starter motor to engage the flywheel: The improvement to prevent theft comprising control means inserted between said positive pole and said solenoid battery terminal, said control means including a normally open control circuit and key means for closing said circuit, said circuit being characterized in that when it is open no current flows from said positive pole to said solenoid battery terminal, said circuit being further characterized in that when it is closed by said key means actuation of said starter switch permits said positive pole to connect to said battery terminal of the solenoid means, thus energizing the solenoid to cause said starter motor to operate; said improvement being further characterized in that once said engine is started and said key means removed from said circuit thus opening the circuit, said engine will continue running, but once stopped cannot be re-started without re-closing of said open circuit by said key means, said improvement being additionally characterized in that while said circuit is open, movement of said solenoid means into engagement with said starter motor will not connect power to said starter motor.