US5554891A — Antitheft device for a vehicle

Claim 1

Independent Claim 203 words

An antitheft device for a vehicle having an engine ignition device and a power supply for said engine ignition device, comprising: an ignition switch including switching means for opening and closing a circuit connection between said engine ignition device and said power supply, said ignition switch also including locking means for mechanically inhibiting normal use of said vehicle, and sensor means for detecting an abnormality of at least one of said switching means and said locking means; and an antitheft unit having means for receiving an input signal, means for causing a first disablement condition in response to said input signal wherein at least a part of said engine ignition device is disabled, and means for causing a second disablement condition in response to the detection of said abnormality by said sensor means wherein at least a part of said engine ignition device is disabled, said second disablement condition being different than said first disablement condition, at least one part of said engine ignition device being incorporated into said antitheft unit and said antitheft unit being adapted to make the operation of said engine ignition device substantially impossible by controlling the function of said at least one part of the engine ignition device.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 203 words

An antitheft device for a vehicle having an engine ignition device and a power supply for said engine ignition device, comprising: an ignition switch including switching means for opening and closing a circuit connection between said engine ignition device and said power supply, said ignition switch also including locking means for mechanically inhibiting normal use of said vehicle, and sensor means for detecting an abnormality of at least one of said switching means and said locking means; and an antitheft unit having means for receiving an input signal, means for causing a first disablement condition in response to said input signal wherein at least a part of said engine ignition device is disabled, and means for causing a second disablement condition in response to the detection of said abnormality by said sensor means wherein at least a part of said engine ignition device is disabled, said second disablement condition being different than said first disablement condition, at least one part of said engine ignition device being incorporated into said antitheft unit and said antitheft unit being adapted to make the operation of said engine ignition device substantially impossible by controlling the function of said at least one part of the engine ignition device.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

The antitheft device according to claim 1, wherein said second disablement condition includes a physical change in a first circuit component of said antitheft unit which requires that said first circuit component be replaced before the functioning of said engine ignition device is capable of being restored.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The antitheft device according to claim 2, wherein said second disablement condition further requires the release of said first disablement condition before said second disablement condition can be released.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The antitheft device according to claim 2, wherein the physical change of said first circuit component is caused by an electric current which exceeds a predetermined level.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The antitheft device according to claim 4, wherein said first circuit component is a fuse.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The antitheft device according to claim 1, wherein said first disablement condition includes an electrical bypassing of a second circuit component by a third circuit component.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The antitheft device according to claim 6, wherein said second circuit component is a current controlling element, and said third circuit component includes a switching element connected across said current controlling element.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The antitheft device according to claim 7, wherein said engine ignition device is a capacitive discharge ignition device, and said current controlling element is a diode which is required to charge a condenser in said capacitive discharge ignition device.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The antitheft device according to claim 8, wherein said vehicle is a motorcycle and said locking means inhibits the steering of said motorcycle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

The antitheft device according to claim 7, wherein said engine ignition device is a transistor ignition circuit, and said current controlling element is a transistor required by said transistor ignition circuit to operate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 39 words

The antitheft device according to claim 1, wherein said sensor means senses said abnormality by utilizing a first sensor for detecting a destruction of said switching means, and a second sensor for detecting a removal of said locking means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

The antitheft device according to claim 1, wherein said antitheft unit includes a programmed microprocessor which forms part of both said means for causing a first disablement condition and said means for causing a second disablement condition.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The antitheft device according to claim 1, wherein said means for receiving an input signal is a keypad and said input signal is an identification code.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 175 words

An antitheft device for a vehicle having an engine ignition device and a power supply for said engine ignition device, comprising: an ignition switch including switching means for opening and closing a circuit connection between said engine ignition device and said power supply, said ignition switch also including locking means for mechanically inhibiting normal use of said vehicle, and sensor means for detecting an abnormality of at least one of said switching means and said locking means; and an antitheft unit having means for receiving an input signal, means for causing a first disablement condition in response to said input signal wherein at least a part of said engine ignition device is disabled, said first disablement condition includes electrical bypassing of a circuit component which is physically contained in said ignition switch and means for causing a second disablement condition in response to the detection of said abnormality by said sensor means wherein at least a part of said engine ignition device is disabled, said second disablement condition being different than said first disablement condition.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 175 words

An antitheft device for a vehicle having an engine ignition device and a power supply for said engine ignition device, comprising: an ignition switch including switching means for opening and closing a circuit connection between said engine ignition device and said power supply, said ignition switch also including locking means for mechanically inhibiting normal use of said vehicle, and sensor means for detecting an abnormality of at least one of said switching means and said locking means; and an antitheft unit having means for receiving an input signal, means for causing a first disablement condition in response to said input signal wherein at least a part of said engine ignition device is disabled, said first disablement condition includes electrical bypassing of a circuit component which is physically contained in said ignition switch and means for causing a second disablement condition in response to the detection of said abnormality by said sensor means wherein at least a part of said engine ignition device is disabled, said second disablement condition being different than said first disablement condition.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The antitheft device according to claim 14, wherein said circuit component is a diode which is physically contained in said ignition switch.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The antitheft device according to claim 14 wherein said abnormality includes a destruction of said switching means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The antitheft device according to claim 14, wherein said abnormality includes a removal of said locking means.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 171 words

A method of preventing undesired use of a vehicle having an engine ignition system, an ignition switch and an antitheft unit capable of receiving an input signal, comprising the steps of: providing both an electrical power connecting component and a mechanical lock for said ignition switch, said mechanical lock being capable of inhibiting normal use of said vehicle; incorporating at least one part of said engine ignition system into said antitheft unit; initiating a first disablement condition in response to an input signal in which at least a part of said engine ignition system is disabled by controlling the function of said at least one part of said engine ignition system which is incorporated into said antitheft device; and detecting an abnormality of at least one of said electrical power connecting component and said mechanical lock, and initiating a second disablement condition in response to said detection in which at least a part of said engine ignition system is disabled, said second disablement condition being different from said first disablement condition.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 171 words

A method of preventing undesired use of a vehicle having an engine ignition system, an ignition switch and an antitheft unit capable of receiving an input signal, comprising the steps of: providing both an electrical power connecting component and a mechanical lock for said ignition switch, said mechanical lock being capable of inhibiting normal use of said vehicle; incorporating at least one part of said engine ignition system into said antitheft unit; initiating a first disablement condition in response to an input signal in which at least a part of said engine ignition system is disabled by controlling the function of said at least one part of said engine ignition system which is incorporated into said antitheft device; and detecting an abnormality of at least one of said electrical power connecting component and said mechanical lock, and initiating a second disablement condition in response to said detection in which at least a part of said engine ignition system is disabled, said second disablement condition being different from said first disablement condition.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method according to claim 18, wherein said second disablement condition cannot be released until said first disablement condition is released.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method according to claim 19, wherein the release of said second disablement condition requires the replacement of a component which is responsive to an output signal from said antitheft unit.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method according to claim 20, wherein said first disablement condition bypasses said at least one part of said engine ignition system which is incorporated into said antitheft device which is a current controlling element associated with said engine ignition system.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of detecting an abnormality includes the step of detecting a removal of at least one of said electrical power connecting component and said mechanical lock.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of detecting an abnormality includes the step of detecting a destruction of at least one of said electrical power connecting component and said mechanical lock.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 153 words

A method of preventing undesired use of a vehicle having an engine ignition system, an ignition switch and a controller capable of receiving an input signal, comprising the steps of: providing both an electrical power connecting component and a mechanical lock for said ignition switch, said mechanical lock being capable of inhibiting normal use of said vehicle; initiating a first disablement condition in response to an input signal in which at least a part of said engine ignition system is disabled by bypassing a current controlling element associated with said engine ignition system which is contained in said ignition switch; and detecting an abnormality of at least one of said electrical power connecting component and said mechanical lock, and initiating a second disablement condition in response to said detection in which at least a part of said engine ignition system is disabled said second disablement condition being different from said first disablement condition.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 153 words

A method of preventing undesired use of a vehicle having an engine ignition system, an ignition switch and a controller capable of receiving an input signal, comprising the steps of: providing both an electrical power connecting component and a mechanical lock for said ignition switch, said mechanical lock being capable of inhibiting normal use of said vehicle; initiating a first disablement condition in response to an input signal in which at least a part of said engine ignition system is disabled by bypassing a current controlling element associated with said engine ignition system which is contained in said ignition switch; and detecting an abnormality of at least one of said electrical power connecting component and said mechanical lock, and initiating a second disablement condition in response to said detection in which at least a part of said engine ignition system is disabled said second disablement condition being different from said first disablement condition.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of detecting an abnormality includes the step of detecting a removal of at least one of said electrical power connecting component and said mechanical lock.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of detecting an abnormality includes the step of detecting a destruction of at least one of said electrical power connecting component and said mechanical lock.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-09-10	2000-03-11	2000-09-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-09-10	2004-03-11	2004-09-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-09-10	2008-03-11	2008-09-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Antitheft device for a vehicle

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