US 4,233,642 A · Safety interlock system

Abstract

A safety interlock system for automotive vehicles and like devices which have an electrically operable component forming part of the engine of said vehicle or like device. The safety interlock system comprises a plurality of latches in the form of integrated circuits which can only be operated in preestablished sequence with a preestablished code of indicia. When the latches are opened pursuant to the preestablished code with inputs in proper sequence from a plurality of manually operable input switches, the interlock system will be enabled, thereby permitting operation of the electrically operable component and hence said engine. Suitable forms of system time delays and system override devices are provided to enable operation of said engine by others for preestablished time delay periods and under controlled delay conditions. The interlock system of the present invention also includes a unique control system for operating locks such as hood locks and controlling the same, along with the control to the engine. In addition, a unique alarm circuit is also incorporated in the safety interlock system, such that an alarm can be generated when unauthorized opening of any portion of the vehicle occurs.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A safety interlock system to prevent theft or unauthorized removal of a vehicle having an engine system for powering said vehicle with an electrical component forming part of the engine system, said interlock system comprising:

(a) a plurality of manually operable switch elements, each representing a separate indicium of a code for energizing said interlock system to enable operation of said vehicle when a plurality of said switch elements have been actuated in proper sequence to conform to the preestablished sequence of indicia of said code,
(b) means operatively associated with said switch elements to generate an electrical signal in response to actuation of said switch elements,
(c) a plurality of electronic latches, each of said latches being connected in operative relation to certain of said switch elements and in such arrangement that said latches are switched to a proper state to generate an enabling signal in response to said electrical signals only when said switch elements are operated in proper sequence to conform to the preestablished sequence of indicia of said code,
(d) a solid state circuit component associated with the electrical component and being connected to the output of said latches, and being operable in response to said enabling signal to thereby permit operation of said electrical component, and
(e) a locking circuit operatively connected to the output of said latches and operating in conjunction with an electrically operable lock release mechanism located to permit locking and opening of an access means to a compartment of said vehicle, said locking circuit generating a signal to actuate said lock release mechanism and permit opening of said access means when an enabling signal is generated and to prevent opening of said access means when said enabling signal is not generated.

2 more elements

A safety interlock system to prevent theft or unauthorized removal of a vehicle having an engine system for powering said vehicle with electrical component forming part of the engine system, said interlock system comprising:

(a) a plurality of manually operable switch elements, each representing a separate indicium of a code for energizing said interlock system to enable operation of said vehicle when a plurality of said switch elements have been actuated in proper sequence to conform to the preestablished sequence of indicia of said code,
(b) means operatively associated with said switch elements to generate an electrical signal in response to actuation of said switch elements,
(c) a plurality of gating elements, each of said gating elements being connected in operative relation to certain of said switch elements and in such arrangement that said gating elements are switched to a proper state to generate an enabling signal in response to said electrical signals only when said switch elements are operated in proper sequence to conform to the preestablished sequence of indicia of said code and thereby permit operation of said electrical component,
(d) a solid state circuit component associated with the electrical component and being connected to the output of said latches, and being operable in response to said enabling signal to thereby permit operation of said electrical component, and
(e) a system override switch operatively connected to said switch elements and having a first position where the interlock system is operatively connected to a direct current source of electrical power to operate said electrical component, said override switch having a second position where said interlock system is operatively connected to said gating elements to hold said gating elements in a proper state for a predetermined time period so the switch elements may be operated in proper sequence during said predetermined time period.

2 more elements

(a) a plurality of manually operable switch elements, each representing a separate indicium of a code for energizing said interlock system to enable operation of said vehicle when a plurality of said switch elements have been actuated in proper sequence to conform to the preestablished sequence of indicia of said code,
(b) means operatively associated with said switch elements to generate an electrical signal in response to actuation of said switch elements,
(c) a plurality of electronic latches, each of said latches being connected in operative relation to certain of said switch elements and in such arrangement that said latches are switched to a proper state to generate an enabling signal in response to said electrical signals only when said switch elements are operated in proper sequence to conform to the preestablished sequence of indicia of said code,
(d) a solid state circuit component associated with the electrical component and being connected to the output of said latches, and being operable in response to said enabling signal to thereby permit operation of said electrical component, and
(e) an alarm circuit operatively connected to the output of said latches, said alarm circuit comprising:
(1) means for generating pulses at a periodic preselected rate,
(2) a timing means,
(3) a first solid state circuit active element operatively connected to the means for generating pulses to be pulsed thereby and also being operatively connected to said timing means,
(4) and a second solid state circuit active element operatively connected to said first circuit active element and to the output of said electronic latches and being capable of biasing said first circuit active element to enable generation of an alarm signal after a predetermined time delay established by said timing means if the enabling signal has not been generated and unauthorized tampering of the vehicle results.

6 more elements

A method of using a safety interlock system to prevent theft or unauthorized removal of a vehicle having an engine system provided with an electrical component forming part of the engine system, said method comprising:

(a) manually actuating a plurality of switch elements with each representing a separate indicium of a code for energizing the interlock system to enable operation of said vehicle when a plurality of said switch elements have been actuated in proper sequence to conform to the pre-established sequence of indicia of said code,
(b) generating an electrical signal in response to actuation of said switch elements,
(c) switching a plurality of latches to a proper state in response to said electrical signals only when said switch elements are operated in proper sequence to conform to the pre-established sequence of indicia of said code, and with each of said latches being connected in operative relation to certain of said switch elements and in such arrangement that said latches are switched to the proper state when the switches are actuated in proper sequence,
(d) generating an enabling signal when each of said switches is actuated in the proper sequence,
(e) permitting operating of said electrical component in response to said enabling signal from the output of said latches, and
(f) generating a lock release signal when each of said switch elements are actuated in proper sequence and said enabling signal has been generated to permit opening of an electrically operable lock release mechanism, said lock release mechanism permitting opening of an access means to said vehicle, when said lock release signal has been generated.

3 more elements

(a) manually actuating a plurality of switch elements with each representing a separate indicium of a code for energizing the interlock system to enable operation of said vehicle when a plurality of said switch elements have been actuated in proper sequence to conform to the pre-established sequence of indicia of said code,
(b) generating an electrical signal in response to actuation of said switch elements,
(c) switching a plurality of latches to a proper state in response to said electrical signals only when said switch elements are operated in proper sequence to conform to the pre-established sequence of indicia of said code, and with each of said latches being connected in operative relation to certain of said switch elements and in such arrangement that said latches are switched to the proper state when the switches are actuated in proper sequence,
(d) generating an enabling signal when each of said switches is actuated in the proper sequence,
(e) permitting operation of said electrical component in response to said enabling signal from the output of said latches,
(f) generating pulses at a periodic preselected rate,
(g) generating an alarm initiating signal after a predetermined time delay established by a timing means,
(h) actuating a solid state circuit active element by said alarm initiating signal to generate an alarm signal after said predetermined time delay if the enabling signal has not been generated and unauthorized tampering of the vehicle results.

5 more elements

A method of using a safety interlock system to prevent theft or unauthorized removal of a vehicle having an engine system with an electrical component forming part of the engine system, said interlock system comprising:

(a) manually actuating a plurality of switch elements with each representing a separate indicium of a code for energizing the interlock system to enable operation of said vehicle when a plurality of said switch elements have been actuated in proper sequence to conform to the pre-established sequence of indicia of said code,
(b) generating an electrical signal in response to actuation of said switch elements,
(c) switching a plurality of gating elements to a proper state in response to said electrical signals only when said switch elements are operated in proper sequence to conform to the pre-established sequence of indicia of said code and with each of said gating elements being connected in operative relation to certain of said switch elements and in such arrangement that said gating elements are switched to the proper state when the switches are actuated in proper sequence, to thereby permit operation of said electrical component,
(d) actuating a system override switch operating connected to said switch elements and having a first position, said interlock system being operatively connected to a direct current source of electrical power to operate said electrical component upon shifting said override switch to said first position, said override switch having a second position where said interlock system is operatively connected to said gating elements to hold said gating elements in a proper state for a predetermined time period so that the switch elements may be operated in proper sequence during said predetermined time delay period upon shifting said override switch to said second position,
(e) generating a lock release signal when each of said switch elements are actuated in the proper sequence and said enabling signal has been generated to permit opening of an electrically operable lock release mechanism, said lock release mechanism permitting opening of an access means to said vehicle when said lock release signal has been generated, and
(f) generating an alarm signal and actuating an alarm after a predetermined time interval if said enabling signal has not been generated and one attempts to start said vehicle.

3 more elements

An alarm circuit usable in conjunction with a safety interlock system to prevent theft or unauthorized removal of a vehicle, said alarm circuit comprising:

(1) means for generating pulses at a periodic preselected rate,
(2) a timing means,
(3) a first solid state circuit active element operatively connected to the means for generating pulses to be pulsed thereby and also being operatively connected to said timing means,
(4) and a second solid state circuit active element operatively connected to said first circuit active element and being capable of biasing said first circuit active element to enable generation of an alarm signal after a predetermined time delay established by said timing means if unauthorized tampering of the vehicle results.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Safety interlock system

Life of this patent

Safety interlock system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims41