Patent ID: 6508088
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: B60R,Y10T

Abstract:
A motor vehicle antitheft system comprising an antitheft mechanism comprising a housing in which a member for manually controlling the starting of the vehicle engine and the locking of the vehicle steering columnis mounted so that it can move axially between a pulled back position in which it locks the steering column and a pushed forward position in which it unlocks the steering column, is mounted so that it can rotate between at least one angular position of rest and one angular position of use in which it cannot be pulled axially back, is connected in terms of rotation to a rotary output member forming a cam which is capable of collaborating with a control finger carried by a latch bolt to control the movements of the latter which is mounted to slide with respect to the housing between a deployed antitheft position toward which it is elastically urged and in which it projects through an opening of the housing to immobilize in terms of rotation one member of the steering column when the manual control member is in the angular position of rest and in the pulled back locked position, and a pushed-in position retracted inside the housing, and is connected in terms of rotation to a switch/interrupter assembly, which system comprises a unit for identifying an authorized user of the vehicle, which, after an interrogation and identification step, emits an encoded antitheft signal, and wherein the antitheft mechanism comprises: a motorized electromagnetic member for immobilizing the manual control member in terms of rotation with respect to the housing, the release of which is controlled when an encoded antitheft signal is supplied by the identification unit to an electronic circuit that controls the immobilizing member; and a switch which triggers an interrogation and identification step, which is carried by the housing and is triggered by the manual control member.