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US 3,938,613 AGranted
Motor kill switch with operator attached tether
AssigneeRobert A. Gordon
InventorEldridge W. Raborn
Life of this patent
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AssigneeRobert A. Gordon
InventorEldridge W. Raborn
Estimating the term…
An elongated body is provided with structure at one end for oscillatably supporting an ignition switch key therefrom with the axis of oscillation of the key extending transversely of the elongated body and extending normal to the panel-like key blank through the end thereof remote from the blade portion of the key. The other end of the body includes an endwise outwardly opening recess in which an anchor element is telescopingly seated and frictionally retained. The anchor element is frictionally retained within the recess against outward displacement therefrom and one end of an elongated flexible tension member is anchored to the anchor element. In addition, a guide member is provided for mounting in predetermined position relative to an associated ignition switch and is operable to slidably and guidingly engage an intermediate portion of the tension member. The other end of the tension member remote from the anchor element includes an anchor member for attachment to the driver of a vehicle incorporating the aforementioned ignition switch. The guide member is positioned in relation to the ignition switch whereby a pull on the end of the tension member to be anchored to the vehicle driver will effect a lateral pull on the corresponding end of the body to rotate the ignition key (and thus the oscillatable tumbler barrel of the ignition switch) to the off position in which off position the elongated body is disposed in a substantially straight line path extending between the ignition key and the guide member. A further pull on the end of the tension member to be attached to the vehicle driver results in the anchor element being pulled from seated engagement within the aforementioned recess to thereby disconnect the tension member from the elongated body and key so as to prevent damage either to the elongated body, the key or the associated tumbler barrel as a result of a sharp pull on the tension member.
In combination a vehicle having a dashboard panel of the type including an outer surface opposing a location on the vehicle to be occupied by the operator of the vehicle, an ignition switch mounted on said panel, said ignition switch being of the type including a lock barrel opening outwardly of said surface and oscillatable about a predetermined axis disposed generally normal to said surface, an elongated key including a blade end portion and an opposite end portion, said blade portion being removably insertable within said barrel to release the latter for oscillation between predetermined off and on positions thereof angularly displaced less than 180.degree. relative to each other, an ignition switch cut-off safety device for angularly displacing the key and thus the barrel from its on position toward its off position, said safety device including an elongated body secured at one end to said opposite end portion of said key with said body extending transversely of the longitudinal extent of said key, a guide eye mounted on said panel in spaced relation relative to said switch, outwardly from said surface and on a path extending across said panel away from said switch in the direction in which the other end of said body extends when said lock barrel is in said off position, an elongated flexible tether member, first anchor means anchoring one end of said tether member to said other end of said body, second anchor means on the other end of said tether member for attachment to the operator of an associated vehicle, the midportion of said tether member being guidingly engaged through said guide eye for lengthwise shifting of said tether member relative to said guide eye, said first anchor means comprising an anchor member mounted on said one end of said tether member, said anchor member and said other end of said body including coacting means supporting said anchor means from said body for separation therefrom in response to a thrust in excess of a predetermined value being applied to said anchor member in a direction extending endwise outwardly of said other end of said body, said anchor member being of a size to pass freely through said guide eye.
In combination with a panel having an ignition switch mounted therefrom with said ignition switch being of the type including a lock barrel oscillatable about a predetermined axis and an elongated key including a blade end portion and an opposite end portion, said blade portion being removably insertable within said barrel to release the latter for oscillation between predetermined off and on positions thereof angularly displaced less than 180.degree. relative to each other, an ignition switch cut-off safety device for angularly displacing the key and thus the barrel from its on position toward its off position, said safety device including an elongated body secured at one end to said opposite end portion of said key with said body extending transversely of the longitudinal extent of said key, guide structure mounted on said panel in spaced relation relative to said switch and on a path extending across said panel away from said switch in the direction in which the other end of said body extends when said lock barrel is in said off position, an elongated flexible tether member, first anchor means anchoring one end of said tether member to said other end of said body, second anchor means on the other end of said tether member for attachment to the operator of an associated vehicle, the mid portion of said tether member being guidingly engaged with said guide structure for lengthwise shifting of said tether member relative to said guide, said other end of said body defining an endwise outwardly opening recess, said second anchor means including an anchor element carried by said one end of said tether member releasably frictionally received in said recess, said recess being elongated, extending longitudinally of said body and generally cylindrical in configuration, said anchor element comprising a cylindrical member having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough, the end of said bore opening into said recess including an enlarged counterbore, said one end of said tether member being snugly received through said bore and including an enlargement thereon seated in said counterbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.