Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
  • B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
  • B60R25/02—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism
  • B60R25/021—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch
  • B60R25/0215—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch using electric means, e.g. electric motors or solenoids
  • B60R25/02153—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the steering mechanism restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch using electric means, e.g. electric motors or solenoids comprising a locking member radially and linearly moved towards the steering column

Definitions

• This invention relates to security devices and has particular though not exclusive application to such devices for preventing the theft of motor vehicles.
• Wheel clamps are now available but these are extremely bulky and inconvenient, while there have been improvements in the steering locks fitted by the car manufacturers, but most of these can still be defeated by a serious thief.
• a security device comprising a rigid housing containing a component having inoperative and operative modes, said housing further containing a first electronic circuit associated with said component and operable to switch said component between its inoperative and operative modes, a receptor socket for location remotely from the housing and electronically interconnected with said first circuit, and a key incorporating a second electronic circuit and adapted for insertion into said receptor socket, the arrangement being such that, on insertion of the key into the receptor socket, coded signals are transmitted between the first and second circuits whereby, on reception by the first circuit of an approved signal from the second circuit, the component is switched from its inoperative mode to its operative mode.
• the security device is incorporated in the steering column of a vehicle.
• the security device comprises a rigid housing secured in the vehicle with the steering column thereof extending through said housing, a locking bolt contained within said housing and movable into and out of engagement with the steering column into a locking position and a release position to prevent and permit rotation of the steering column respectively, a first electronic circuit contained within said housing and operable to move the locking bolt between its locking position and its release position, a receptor socket preferably located on the steering column and electronically interconnected with said first electronic circuit, and a key for location in said receptor socket, said key incorporating a second electronic circuit whereby, on insertion of the key into the receptor socket, coded signals are transmitted between the first and second circuits, receipt by the first circuit of an approved signal from the second circuit resulting in movement of the locking bolt from its locking position to its release position.
• the locking bolt is resiliently urged towards its locking position, the housing including an electric motor which, on receipt of the approved signal by the first electronic circuit, is actuated by said first electronic circuit to drive the locking bolt into its release position.
• the security device includes a source of power connected to the first electronic circuit and to the the receptor socket, insertion of the key into said socket completing the second electronic circuit in said key.
• the first electronic circuit is connected to one or more auxiliary pieces of equipment within the vehicle whereby, on reception of the approved signal from the second circuit, said auxiliary pieces of equipment are either actuated or made available for actuation.
• the housing comprises a steel casing bolted or otherwise secured to a bulkhead of the vehicle.
• Fig. 1 shows a security device according to the invention applied to the steering column of a motor vehicle
• Figs. 2a,2b and 2c are transverse sections through the housing and steering column of the device of Fig. 1 showing the locking bolt in its released position, its lock position prior to engagement with the associated recess in the steering column, and its engaged locking position respectively,
• Fig. 3 is an end view in the direction of arrow 'A' in Fig. 2a of the components within the housing, and
• Fig. 4 is a front view in the direction of arrow 'B' in Fig. 2a of the components within the housing. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• FIG. 1 of the drawings there is shown a conventional steering column assembly to which the security device of the invention has been fitted, the assembly including a rotatable column 2 to the upper end of which is secured a steering wheel 4.
• a rigid steel, box-like housing 6 is securely bolted or otherwise attached to a bulkhead of the vehicle with the steering column 2 extending through the housing 6, said column 2 incorporating a recess or slot 8 therein into and out of which can be moved a locking bolt 10 as will be detailed below.
• the housing 6 may be secured within the vehicle other than to a bulkhead, providing the attachment is secure and the steering column 2 extends therethrough.
• the locking bolt 10 is mounted within a carrier 12 contained within the housing 6, the bolt 10 being resiliently urged by a coiled compression spring 14 to a normal position in which the nose end of the bolt 10 projects from the carrier 12 as seen in Fig. 2a.
• the carrier 12 can be driven towards and away from the steering column 2 in the direction of arrow 'M' in Fig. 2a by means of a servo-assisted electric motor 16 also contained within the housing 2.
• the motor 14 drives a rotatable gear wheel 18 which engages with a corresponding rack 20 on the carrier 12 whereby appropriate controlled rotary movement of the gear wheel 18 is translated into linear movement of the carrier 12.
• Fig. 2a shows the steering colum 2 in its unlocked condition permitting rotation thereof, the carrier 12 being in its fully displaced position remote from the steering columm whereby the nose end of the bolt 10 is displaced from the slot 8 in the steering column.
• Fig. 2b shows the carrier member 12 having been driven by the motor 16 into an operative position adjacent the steering column with the bolt 10 engaging the outer surface of the column 2 and with the spring 14 compressed.
• Unlocking of the steering column 2 is achieved by appropriate powering of the motor 16 to withdraw the carrier 12 and the bolt 10 from the position shown in Fig. 2c to that shown in Fig. 2a.
• This control of the motor 16 is achieved using the following system.
• an integrated electronic control circuit in the form of a master microchip, a power lead from the vehicle battery feeding said circuit.
• the housing 6 effectively comprises a security safe whereby access to any of the components within the housing 6 is prevented.
• a receptor socket 22 electronically interconnected with the control circuit in the housing 6 either by hard-wiring or otherwise.
• the system further includes an intelligent electronic key 24 for location within the receptor socket 22, the key incorporating an integrated circuit in the form of a single microchip adapted to transmit a predetermined coded signal.
• the key includes a cylindrical plug portion 26 and the socket 22 is of hollow cylindrical shape to receive said plug portion 26 in the manner of a phono plug and socket combination.
• the electronic key may be of, for example, credit card shape and the socket of corresponding slit shape, while other electronic information carriers may be used.
• the master microchip in said control circuit is programmed to recognise a particular coded signal so that, when mutual recognition between the circuits of the key 24 and the housing 6 occurs, the circuit within the housing 6 actuates associated electrical equipment, in this case the servo-assisted electric motor 16 whereby the bolt 10 is withdrawn from -its locking position of Fig. 2c to its unlocked position of Fig. 2a.
• the control circuit within the housing 6 may also be connected to auxiliary equipment indicated by the boxes 'X' and 'Y' in Fig. 1, such as vehicle stereo equipment, the engine management system of the vehicle, a car telephone or other internal communication equipment, a lockable valuables compartment, supplementary burglar alarms and the like. All such auxiliary equipment would be provided with a slave microchip programmed with the same code as the key 24. Thus, on receipt of the approved signal by the control circuit within the housing 6 from the key 24, the auxiliary equipment will either be actuated or made available for actuation.
• the location of the steering column locking mechanism within a rigid housing or safe to which access is desired prevents any direct tampering with the locking mechanism itself, while movement of the locking mechanism is totally under electronic control and requires the use of an intelligent, specifically-coded key.
• the circuitry of the security device of the invention is so arranged that, on insertion of the key 24 into the receptor socket 22, the circuitry compares the codes of the signals being transmitted and, if the correct key is being used, the locking mechanism is released and the auxiliary equipment is operated.
• an overload protection circuit is actuated to prevent damage to the motor 16, the circuitry being such as to keep attempting to unlock the mechanism every second or so until the friction is reduced to an acceptable level.
• the circuitry includes a lockout function such that, if a potential thief inserted a key 24 into the receptor socket 22 and connected the key to a computer with a view to breaking the code by running a series of different combinations to the key, the circuitry would lockout for a predetermined time, typically 5 to 10 seconds, between each combination. This would hinder the potential thief sufficiently to make an attempt to break the code futile.
• the circuitry is preferably designed such that, in the event of a malfunction, the locking mechanism would remain disengaged from the steering column as long as the key was inserted in the socket.
• the key 24 is preferably self-supporting, in that there are no batteries in it to go flat, power for the circuitry thereih being obtained from contacts within the socket 22, the key may incoporate a battery.
• the vehicle may incorporate an auxiliary alarm including sensors within the vehicle to determine the presence of an intruder, and a siren for sounding on intrusion.
• the alarm would be interconnected with the circuitry within the housing 6 in such a manner that, on entering the vehicle, the intruder would activate the sensors which would send a signal to the circuitry within the housing 6.
• This circuitry would immediately send a signal to the siren, and, if, within a given period of say 5 seconds, the correct coded key 24 is not inserted into the socket 22, the siren would sound.
• the siren would be a totally self-contained unit with its own power source and fitted under the dash or any other inaccessible place.
• the invention has numerous other applications where a component or equipment within a rigid housing is to be moved between two different modes or conditions.
• the security device can be installed extremely quickly and at relatively low cost whilst at the same time providing a virtually thief-proof system.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
• Bidet-Like Cleaning Device And Other Flush Toilet Accessories (AREA)
• Alarm Systems (AREA)
• Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10691678

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (9)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1991
  • 1991-03-15 GB GB9105578A patent/GB9105578D0/en active Pending
• 1992
  • 1992-03-12 AU AU13725/92A patent/AU1372592A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-03-12 WO PCT/GB1992/000439 patent/WO1992016395A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1992-03-12 EP EP19920906530 patent/EP0575427A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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