SECURITY SYSTEM

Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft system including a gear shift lock (10) bolted to a vehicle chassis and having an axially displaceable locking shaft (40, 70) associated therewith which is automatically retractable out of locking engagement with a gear shift element (12) in response to key (20) actuation of the gear shift lock.

Description: SECURITY SYSTEM FIELD OF THΞ INVENTION The present invention relates to vehicle theft prevention apparatus ge'nerally. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Since the development of the automobile, motor vehicle theft has been an increasingly serious phenome¬ non. Various types of theft prevention systems have been proposed and commercialized, including audio alarms, vehicle electrical system interlocks and mechanical locks, preventing unauthorized operation of vehicle controls, such as the steering wheel, gear shift and brakes. A gear shift lock manufactured and sold world¬ wide under U.S. Patent 4,693,099 and under the registered trademark MUL-T-LOCK by the applicant/assignee of the present invention has enjoyed significant commercial success. U.S. Patent Applications 07/787,902, 07/932,661, 08/175,111 and 08/240,184 of the applicant/assignee, the disclosures of which are incorpo¬ rated by reference herein, describe further improvements of this gear shift lock, including, inter alia operation of an ancillary anti-theft system, such as' an alarm, by locking of the gear shift lock. It is seif-eviden that locks only provide security when they are used. Often, drivers leaving their car in a hurry do not take the time to lock the g « 5ar shift lock, defeating the entire purpose of the anti-theft system. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved vehicle anti-theft system. There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a vehicle anti-theft system including a gear shift lock bolted to a vehicle chassis and having an axially displaceable lock¬ ing shaft associated therewith which is automatically retractable out of locking engagement with a gear shift element in response to key actuation of the gear shift lock. There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a vehicle anti-theft system including a gear shift lock mounted to a vehicle chassis and having an axially displaceable locking shaft associated therewith which is automatically retractable out of locking engagement with a gear shift element in response to key actuation of the gear shift lock, the gear shift lock being mounted onto the vehicle chassis by means of a mounting bracket, an apertured locking bracket having an aperture through which the locking shaft extends and a second aperture through which extends a locking pin which is lockmgly engaged by the gear shift lock. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking shaft is automatically displaceable into locking engagement with a gear shift element. Preferably, the gear shift lock is bolted to the chassis at a location which is normally out of view from the interior of the vehicle. Preferably, all or most of the gear shift lock and the shaft is normally hidden from view from the interior of the vehicle. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention axial displacement of the locking shaft in at least one direction is provided by an elec¬ tric motor, which may be responsive to manual or automat¬ ic inputs. Further in accordance with a preferred embodi¬ ment of the present invention, the gear shift lock is operatively associated with an auxiliary vehicle anti- theft system. Preferably, the auxiliary vehicle anti-theft subsystem is actuated at least partially upon locking of the gear shift lock and also at least partially operated by the same key used to unlock the gear shift lock. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, both the gear shift lock and the auxiliary vehicle anti-theft subsystem are actuatable without the use of a key and both require use of the key for deactuation. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the vehicle anti-theft system also comprises logic circuitry which automatically actuates the auxiliary vehicle anti-theft subsystem in response to sensing that the vehicle is unoccupied. The logic circuitry may be incorporated in the vehicle computer or be ancillary thereto. Preferably the logic circuitry distinguishes between a sensed vehicle unoccupied condition when the locking shaft is locked in the lock body and when it is not. For example, automatic actuation may occur more quickly when the locking shaft is locked in the lock body and less quickly when the locking shaft is not locked in the lock body. Sensing of a vehicle unoccupied condition may be achieved by the use of one or more of the following sensors: a weight sensor in the drivers' seat, a vibra¬ tion sensor, a volume sensor and an acoustic sensor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed de¬ scription, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is partially pictorial, partially block diagram illustration of a vehicle anti-theft system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of an automobile having installed therein a key-operated gear shift lock, forming part of the system of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a simplified partially cut away illustration of the apparatus of Fig. 2; Fig. 4A is a simplified illustration of part of the lock apparatus of Fig. 3, taken along lines IV - IV in Fig. 3 in locking engagement with a gear shift ele¬ ment; Fig. 4B is a simplified illustration of part of the lock apparatus of Fig. 3, taken along lines IV - IV in Fig. 3 in an unlocked arrangement; Figs. 5A and 5B are respective sectional illus¬ trations taken along the lines V - V in respective Figs. 4A and 4B; Fig. 6A is a simplified illustration of a motor driven gear shift lock constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a locking orientation; Fig. 6B is a simplified illustration of a motor driven gear shift lock constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked orientation; Figs. 7A and 7B are respective sectional illus¬ trations taken along the lines VII - VII in respective Figs. 6A and 6B; and Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the vehicle anti-theft system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which illus¬ trates a vehicle anti-theft system constructed and opera¬ tive in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle anti-theft system com¬ prises a key-operated gear shift lock 10, which is opera¬ tive to lock the gear shift of a vehicle 12 in a position preventing normal operation of the vehicle. Preferably, the gear shift lock 10 is bolted to a vehicle chassis and mainly located out of view of the vehicle occupants, as illustrated and described hereinbelow. An auxiliary anti-theft subsystem, indicated generally by reference numeral 13, may include one or more subsystems preferably interconnected to a vehicle computer 14. These subsystems may include an audio alarm 16, a vehicle electrical system interlock lέ, a visual alarm (not shown) , a remote alarm (not shown) to a central monitoring system or any combination of the foregoing. The auxiliary anti-theft system is preferably operated by a user at least partially by the same key 20 used to unlock the gear shift lock 10. Apparatus is preferably provided for preventing unauthorized bypassing of elements of the anti-theft system and preferably includes logic circuitry for iden¬ tification of electrical communication signals between the various elements, so as to confirm their authentici¬ ty. Conventional digital coding of the signals may be employed for this purpose. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gear shift lock is locked, and the auxiliary vehicle anti-theft subsystem is actuated by physical locking of the gear shift lock, which need not necessarily involve use of the key 20. Alternatively, the auxiliary vehicle anti-theft subsystem may be actuated automatically in response to the absence of persons within the vehicle for a predetermined amount of time or in response to any other suitable criteria. Automatic activation of the auxiliary vehicle anti-theft system may be initiated by the presence or absence of an electrical signal from the vehicle ignition lock 22 or by a driver weight sensor 24 located in the driver's seat, or a volume, vibration or audio sensor 26, located on the interior of the vehicle. It is a particular feature of the present invention that deactivation of both the gear shift lock and the auxiliary vehicle anti-theft subsystem requires use of the key 20. Reference is now made additionally to Figs. 2 - 5B, which illustrate a gear shift lock and key controller constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen generally in Figs. 2 and 3, a lock body 30 is mounted on a mounting bracket 32, which is, in turn, bolted onto the vehicle chassis 34 by bolts 35 and associated shear nuts which cannot readily be removed. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock body 30 and the mounting bracket 32 are disposed entirely inside a console 36 and out of sight of the occupants of the vehicle. As seen even more clearly in Figs. 4A - 5B, lockably associated with lock body 30 for axial displace¬ ment relative thereto is a locking shaft 40. Locking shaft 40 is preferably formed with a notch 42, which is arranged to be lockingly engaged by a locking element 44 which is selectably positioned by operation of a lock cylinder 47, disposed in lock body 30. A spring 48 is preferably provided for positioning the locking shaft 40 in a retracted orientation, when it is not retained in locking engagement by locking element 44. It is a particular feature of the present invention that the lock body 30 is mounted onto mounting bracket 32 not only by bolts 46, but also by means of a locking pin 50 which is lockingly engaged in lock body by a locking element 52 which is also positioned by lock cylinder 47. It may be appreciated that notwithstanding removal of bolts 46, the lock body 30 cannot be removed from bracket 32 as long as both locking shaft 40 and locking pin 50 are lockingly engaged by respective lock¬ ing elements 44 and 52. Additionally protection against removal of locking pm 50 is provided by a retaining pin 57 which engages a notch 59 in locking pin 50. Reference is now made additionally to Figs. 6A - 7B, which illustrate an electrically driven gear shift lock and key controller constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As in the embodiment described hereinabove in connection with Figs. 2 - 5B, a lock body 60 is mounted on a mounting bracket 62, which is, in turn, bolted onto the vehicle chassis 64 by bolts 65. Lockably associated with lock body 60 for axial displacement relative thereto is a locking shaft 70. Locking shaft 70 is preferably formed with a notch 72, which is arranged to be lockingly engaged by a locking element 74 which is selectably positioned by operation of a lock cylinder 77, disposed An electrically operated drive, such as a motor 80 is operative to provide selective linear displacement of locking shaft 70 at least into and possibly also out of locking engagement with locking element 74. In the illustrated embodiment, motor 80 is provided with a gear 82 mounted on an output shaft 84 thereof. Gear 82 engages threading 86 formed on a side of locking shaft 70. Alternatively any other electric or automati¬ cally controllable drive may be employed instead of motor 80, such as, for example, an electromagnetic actuator, linear motor or fluidic driver. A spring 88 may be provided for positioning the locking shaft 70 in a re- tracted orientation, when it is not retained in locking engagement by locking element 74. A sensor 90, such as a microswitch, may be provided for sensing locking engagement of the locking shaft 70 with the lock, and more particularly with lock¬ ing element 74. It will be appreciated that the provision of an electrically controllable drive for effectively locking the gear shift lock enables the gear shift lock to be automatically locked, without driver intervention and notwithstanding driver inaction. The automatic locking is preferably based on predetermined criteria, such a sensed vehicle unoccupied condition. The electrically controllable driver or other automatically controllable drive may also be operative to automatically lock the gear shift lock in response to removal of an ignition key from the ignition, turning off the ignition or any other ignition related action, with or without a delay. As in the embodiment of Figs. 2 - 5B, it is a particular feature of the present invention that the lock body 60 is mounted onto mounting bracket 62 not only by bolts 76, but also by means of a locking pin 91 which is lockingly engaged in lock body by a locking element 92 which is also positioned by lock cylinder 77. It may be appreciated that notwithstanding removal of bolts 76, the lock body 60 cannot be removed from bracket 62 as long as both locking shaft 70 and locking pin 91 are lockingly engaged by respective locking elements 74 and 92. Additionally protection against removal of locking pin 91 is provided by a retaining pin 93 which engages a notch 95 in locking pin 91. Reference is now made to Fig. 8, which is a flow chart illustration of the automatic operation of the vehicle anti-theft system of Figs. 6A - 7B in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Actuation of the system is preferably automat¬ ic, m response to the sensed unoccupied condition of the vehicle, as indicated, for example by sensors 24 and 26 (Fig. 1). If the locking shaft 70 is locked, as sensed by microswitch 90, the system is actuated after a relatively short delay, such as 10 seconds. If the locking shaft 70 is not locked, as indicated by microswitch 90, the system is actuated after a relatively long delay, such as 5 minutes, and motor 80 is actuated to displace the lock¬ ing shaft 70 so that it becomes locked by locking element 74. The difference in the delay to automatic actua¬ tion is to permit a user to leave the vehicle for a very short time without actuation of the system. Preferably automatic actuation does not occur unless the gear shift is in a non-forward drive position such as park or reverse. This is to ensure that the gear shift lock is not inadvertently actuated while the vehicle is motion. Existing microswitches associated with the gear shift mechanism in conventional vehicles may be employed to effect this feature. Upon automatic actuation of the system, the vehicle windows are automatically closed and the doors and windows are automatically locked. The vehicle is preferably immobilized by interlock apparatus 18. Various theft indication responsive sensors and warning indica¬ tors described above may also be actuated. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, deactivation of the vehicle theft system requires at least insertion and preferably rotation of key 20. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A vehicle anti-theft system comprising: a gear shift lock bolted to a vehicle chassis and having an axially displaceable locking shaft associ¬ ated therewith which is automatically retractable out of locking engagement with a gear shift element in response to key actuation of the gear shift lock. 2. A vehicle anti-theft system comprising a gear shift lock mounted to a vehicle chassis and having an axially displaceable locking shaft associated therewith which is automatically retractable out of locking engage¬ ment with a gear shift element in response to key actua¬ tion of the gear shift lock, the gear shift lock being mounted onto the vehicle chassis by means of a mounting bracket, an apertured locking bracket having an aperture through which the locking shaft extends and a second aperture through which extends a locking pin which is lockingly engaged by the gear shift lock. 3. Apparatus according to either of the preceding claims and wherein said locking shaft is automatically displaceable into locking engagement with a gear shift element. 4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said gear shift lock is bolted to the chassis at a location which is normally out of view from the interior of the vehicle. 5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein at least most of the gear shift lock and the shaft is normally hidden from view from the interior of the vehicle. 6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and also comprising an automatically operable driver providing axial displacement of the locking shaft in at least one direction, responsive to manual or auto¬ matic inputs. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 and wherein said automatically operable driver is an electric motor. 8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said gear shift lock is operatively associated with an auxiliary vehicle anti-theft system. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 and wherein said auxiliary vehicle anti-theft subsystem is actuated at least partially upon locking of the gear shift lock and also at least partially operated by the same key used to unlock the gear shift lock. 10. Apparatus according to either of claims 9 and 10 and wherein both the gear shift lock and the auxiliary vehicle anti-theft subsystem are actuatable without the use of a key and both require use of the key for deactua- tion. 11. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 - 10 and wherein said vehicle anti-theft system also comprises logic circuitry which automatically actuates the auxil¬ iary vehicle anti-theft subsystem in response to sensing that the vehicle is unoccupied. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 and wherein the logic circuitry is incorporated in a vehicle computer. 13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12 and wherein the logic circuitry distinguishes between a sensed vehicle unoccupied condition when the locking shaft is locked in the lock body and when it is not. 14. Apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein automatic actuation may occur more quickly when the locking shaft is locked in the lock body and less quickly when the locking shaft is not locked in the lock body. 15. Apparatus according to any of claims 11 - 14 and wherein sensing of a vehicle unoccupied condition is achieved by the use at least one of the following sen¬ sors: a weight sensor in the drivers' seat, a vibration sensor, a volume sensor and an acoustic sensor.

Inventors: ALMOSNINO RAMI, MARKBREIT DANI, ALMOSNINO, RAMI, MARKBREIT, DANI
Applicants: ALMOSNINO RAMI, INT MUL T LOCK BV, MARKBREIT DANI, ALMOSNINO, RAMI, INTERNATIONAL MUL-T-LOCK B.V., MARKBREIT, DANI
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B60R25
IPC codes: B60R25