Abstract:
A system for securing a key in a vehicle is provided. The system comprises: a cable for connecting to a vehicular component, wherein the cable comprises a first end and a second end; a lock for locking the first end of the cable and the second end of the cable; a key holder for holding a key, wherein the key holder comprises a connector for connecting to the cable; and an alarm system connector for connecting the cable to a vehicular alarm system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to vehicle security, and more particularly, to a system for securing a key in a vehicle for use at an automobile dealership. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Automobile dealerships typically have tens or hundreds of vehicles in inventory at any given time. Vehicles within the inventory are constantly being test driven by potential customers or relocated by dealership staff. In order to have a vehicle test driven or moved to another location at the dealership, a salesperson or another employee of the dealership must have access to the key for the vehicle they desire to move. This is typically accomplished by storing a set of keys in a secure location at the dealership. This, however, can be somewhat cumbersome, in that time is consumed when searching for the vehicle&#39;s key and logging the removal or return of the key. In addition, this process can lead to keys being misplaced or lost thus creating further time-consuming obstacles. 
     It is understood that a vehicle&#39;s key can simply be placed in the vehicle and then the vehicle can be locked using its pre-loaded security system. Although this may seem convenient, the failure to lock the vehicle after use, with an un-secured key therein is a vulnerability of such a system. This may occur, for example, when a shared controller for use with a pre-loaded security system accidentally disarms a vehicle&#39;s pre-loaded security system. Thus, a thief may gain unabated access to the vehicle. In addition, the knowledge that vehicles are in a dealership lot with unsecured keys therein may be too tempting for a potential thief to resist. 
     The shared controller, which is capable of controlling most of the pre-loaded security systems in a dealership lot, has yet another vulnerability in that it may be copied or stolen by a thief. Thus, enabling a thief with access to almost any vehicle on the dealership lot. Therefore, a need exists for a system for securing a key in a vehicle for use at an automobile dealership. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other problems encountered in the known teachings by providing a system for securing a key in a vehicle. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for securing a key in a vehicle, comprises: a cable for connecting to a vehicular component, wherein the cable comprises a first end and a second end; a lock for locking the first end of the cable and the second end of the cable; a key holder for holding a key, wherein the key holder comprises a connector for connecting to the cable; and an alarm system connector for connecting the cable to a vehicular alarm system. 
     The cable further comprises a sensor for sensing continuity of the cable. The sensor may be a sensing wire or a radio frequency (RF) sensor. The vehicular alarm system is triggered when discontinuity of the cable is sensed by the sensor. The lock is one of a barrel lock, a padlock, and a combination lock. A first portion of the lock is connected to the first end of the cable and a second portion of the lock is connected to the second end of the cable. 
     The key holder further comprises a sensor for triggering the vehicular alarm system. The sensor may be a switch or an RF transmitter. The alarm system connector triggers the vehicular alarm system when it is disengaged from one of the cable and the vehicular alarm system. 
     The system further comprises: a remote control device for transmitting one of an arming signal and a disarming signal to the vehicular alarm system, and an alarm controller for performing one of an arming and a disarming of a vehicular security system in response to the remote control device and for initiating an alarm indication in response to a triggering signal from one of the sensor, the cable, the key holder, and the alarm system connector. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a system for securing a key in a vehicle, comprises: a cable for attaching to a vehicular component, wherein the cable comprises a first end and a second end; a fastening means for fastening the first end of the cable and the second end of the cable, wherein the fastening means comprises a transmitter for transmitting a triggering signal to a vehicular security system; and a key for slidably attaching to the cable, where the key comprises an opening for passing the cable through the opening. 
     The cable further comprises a sensor for sensing continuity of the cable. When the sensor senses discontinuity in the cable the sensor transmits a signal to the transmitter, wherein upon receipt of the signal the transmitter transmits the triggering signal to the vehicle security system. The transmitter is an RF transmitter. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a system for securely providing a key in a vehicle, comprises: a housing comprising: a retractable cable for attaching to a vehicular component, wherein the retractable cable comprises an extendible end and a secure end; and a transmitter for transmitting a triggering signal to a vehicle security system; and a key holder for holding a key, wherein the key holder comprises an opening for slidably connecting to the cable. 
     The housing further comprises: a switch for performing one of releasing and retracting the retractable cable; and a securing portion for securing the extendible end of the cable to the housing. The system further comprises: a sensor for sensing motion within a vehicle, wherein when the sensor senses unauthorized motion in the vehicle, the sensor transmits the triggering signal to the vehicular security system. 
     The foregoing features are of representative embodiments and are presented to assist in understanding the invention. It should be understood that they are not intended to be considered limitations on the invention as defined by the claims, or limitations on equivalents to the claims. Therefore, this summary of features should not be considered dispositive in determining equivalents. Additional features of the invention will become apparent in the following description, from the drawings and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system for securing a key in a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a key holder of  FIG. 1  in an open position; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates the key holder of  FIG. 1  in a closed position; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an inner view of a cable of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a system for securing a key in a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system for securing a key in a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an inner compartment  100  of a vehicle includes, inter alia, a dashboard  105 , a steering wheel  110 , and a steering column  115 . The system for securing a key in a vehicle includes a cable  120 , a lock  125 , a key holder  130 , and an alarm system connector  135 . 
     The cable  120  includes an inner conduit (not shown) that supports a sensing wire and/or sensing means (not shown) that may be connected to a vehicle&#39;s alarm system. The cable  120  is connected to the lock  125  at one and/or both of its ends. The lock  125  is used to secure both ends of the cable  120  so that the cable  120  may be secured around the steering column  115 , the steering wheel  110 , or any other suitable vehicular component. It is to be understood that the lock  125  may be a fastening device such as a barrel lock, a padlock, a combination lock, etc. It is to be further understood that the lock  125  can be opened by, for example, a master key. 
     The key holder  130  is used to hold a key  140  and includes an opening  145  for connecting the key holder  130  to the cable  120 . The key holder  130  is connected to the cable  120  by placing an open end of the cable  120  through the opening  145 , and the key holder  130  is secured to the cable  120  by locking both ends of the cable  120  together with the lock  125 . It is to be understood that the key holder  130  is configured such that may enclose a portion of the key  140  such that if a thief were to gain access to the vehicle he could not utilize the key  140  to start the vehicle. 
     The alarm system connector  135  is connected to the cable  120  at one end via a snap-on and/or plug-in type connector  150 , and a vehicle&#39;s alarm system at another end via a snap-on and/or plug-in type connector  155 . The alarm system connector  135  is connected to the vehicle&#39;s alarm system at an alarm system interface  160 , which provides a wired and/or wireless connection  165  to an alarm system controller  170 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cable  120  is connected to the steering column  115  of the vehicle and both of its ends are locked together by the lock  125 . It is to be understood that the cable&#39;s  120  length is such that it cannot be removed (once secured to the steering column  115 ) by sliding it over the steering wheel  110 . In addition, the cable&#39;s  120  length can be adjusted such that a thief could not maneuver the cable  120  when it secured to, for example, steering column  115  and insert the key  140  into the vehicle&#39;s ignition. The cable  120 , which includes the vehicle&#39;s key  140  attached to the key holder  130 , is connected to the vehicle&#39;s alarm system controller  170  via the alarm system connector  135 . The vehicle&#39;s alarm system is armed, by transmitting, for example, an arming signal from a remote control device  175  to a radio frequency (RF) transceiver (not shown) of the vehicle&#39;s alarm system. 
     After arming the vehicle&#39;s alarm system, the vehicle is protected from potential thieves. Thus, for example, if a thief were to attempt to enter the vehicle without the proper access means, the vehicle&#39;s alarm system would sound a horn and/or flash lights of the vehicle in an effort to cause the thief to give up his attempt to rob the vehicle. This is accomplished when a vehicle security sensor (not shown) of the vehicle&#39;s alarm system senses the thief s action, sends a signal to the alarm controller  170 , and the alarm controller  170  commands an alarm indicator (not shown) of the vehicle&#39;s alarm system to sound a horn and/or flash lights. 
     According to the present invention, employees of an automobile dealership possessing the means to disarm the vehicle&#39;s alarm system such as the remote control device  175  can disarm the vehicle&#39;s alarm system by transmitting a disarm signal to the vehicle. Once the vehicle&#39;s alarm system is disarmed, dealership personnel can enter the vehicle, unlock the lock  125 , using for example, a master key, remove the key holder  130  and/or key  140  from the cable  120 , and proceed to start the vehicle so they can take a customer for a test drive or to move the vehicle to another location in the lot, etc. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the remote control device  175  can be programmed to have a variety of modes and/or functions such as, a dealer mode and a consumer mode. The dealer mode may provide a passive arming function and a test drive function. The consumer mode may provide at least one of a remote security function, a keyless entry function, a security upgrade to the keyless entry function, a remote car start function, and a remote car start upgrade to the keyless entry function. The remote control device  175  can then be used to program the vehicle&#39;s alarm system to operate in the dealer mode and/or consumer mode by transmitting the appropriate signals to the alarm system controller  170 . 
     For example, the remote control device  175  can program the alarm system controller  170  to employ the dealer mode. Thus, when the vehicle security system is in the dealer mode and the security system is disarmed, the alarm indicator will sound the vehicle&#39;s horn if the cable  120  is cut or the key  140  is disturbed or forcibly removed from the key holder  130  and/or the cable  120 . Similarly, when the vehicle security system is in the dealer mode and the security system is disarmed, the alarm system controller  170  may also be programmed to sound the vehicle&#39;s horn if the cable  120  is cut or the key  140  is disturbed or forcibly removed from the key holder  130  and/or the cable  120 . 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates the key holder  130  of  FIG. 1  in an open position. As shown in the  FIG. 2A , the key holder  130  includes a top portion  210  and a bottom portion  220 . The top portion  210  and the bottom portion  220  each include an opening  230 ,  240 . The key holder  130  includes a swivel post  250  connected to the top portion  210  for allowing the top portion  210  and the bottom portion  220  to slide open and clasp the key  140 . In addition, the swivel post  250  allows the openings  230 ,  240  to align with each other and thus form a single opening  145  (as shown in  FIG. 2B ) so that the key holder  130  can be connected to the cable  120 . The key holder  130 .further includes a key post  260  connected to the bottom portion  220  for allowing the key  140  to be connected thereto. The key holder  130  also includes a sensor  270  such as a contact tilt switch for transmitting a triggering signal to the vehicle&#39;s alarm system when, for example, the key  140  is disturbed or forcibly removed from the key holder  130  and/or the cable  120 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an inner view of the cable  120  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cable  120  includes an inner conduit  310  and a sensing wire  320 . The sensing wire  320  is used to sense a continuity and a discontinuity of the cable  120 . For example, if the cable  120  is cut by a thief, the sensing wire  320  will send a triggering signal (as it is cut) via the alarm system connector  135  to the vehicle&#39;s alarm system. The vehicle&#39;s alarm system will then sound a horn and/or flash lights of the vehicle in an attempt to ward off the thief. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a system for securing a key in a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a housing  405  includes a cable  410 , a button and/or slidable switch  415 , and a lock  420 . The cable  410  is a retractable cable capable of being adjusted to a desired length. The cable  410  may be removed from the housing  405  by depressing or sliding the button or slidable switch  415  and pulling the cable  410  from the housing  405  until a desired amount of cable  410  has been extended from the housing  405 . The cable  410  is retracted back into the housing  405  similar to that of a retractable tape measure by again depressing or sliding the button or slidable switch  415 . 
     Once extended from the housing  405 , the cable  410  may be secured to or around a vehicular component such as a steering wheel, by inserting an extended end  430  of the cable  410  into the lock  420 , thus securing the extended end  430  of cable  410  to the housing  405 . Prior to inserting the extended end  430  of the cable  410  into the lock  420 , a key  435  may be slidably connected to the cable  410 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the housing  405  also includes a transmitter  425 . The transmitter  425  may be, for example, a radio frequency (RF), infrared, etc., type transmitter capable of communicating with an alarm controller  440  of a vehicular alarm system and an external remote control device  445 . Further, the transmitter  425  is capable of communicating with an internal sensor (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the cable  410 . Thus, for example, if the alarm controller  440  is armed and the cable  410  is tampered with and/or severed (as indicated by the cable&#39;s internal sensor or a motion sensor located in the vehicle) the transmitter  425  would then send a wireless signal to an RF receiver of the alarm controller  440  to initiate an alarm sequence. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the key holder can be connected to and disconnected from the cable using a locking mechanism such as a locking hook and/or clamp connected to the key holder. In addition, a locking mechanism, for example, a padlock, can be attached to the cable allowing the key holder to be quickly connected or disconnected. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the cable can include a non-removable alarm system connector. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cable can have looped ends for allowing a swivel arm of a conventional padlock to pass through the ends of the cable prior to locking the padlock. Further, the cable can be constructed to have a vinyl and/or a Teflon coating, etc. The cable can also be one of a filament, rope, strand, string, thread, wire, etc. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the cable can include an inner compartment for storing a motion sensor that can be used to send a triggering signal to the vehicle&#39;s alarm system if the cable is disturbed and/or severed. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the lock or housing can also include a motion sensor capable of, for example, detecting unauthorized movement within the vehicle. The motion sensor can be, for example, a capacitive touch sensor, etc. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the RF transmitter and/or transceiver located in either the cable, lock, or housing can be utilized to transmit, for example, a status signal to a computerized security panel at a vehicle dealership. For example, the status signal could be related to the number of times the key has been removed from the cable or whether the key has been properly re-connected to the cable and the cable re-connected to a vehicular component after use. This can be accomplished by using an indicating means, such as an audible indicator, light emitting diode (LED), or an RF transmitter in the cable, lock or housing to provide an audible indication or a signal indicating the status of the vehicle. In addition, the dealership&#39;s security panel can be networked with a central monitoring cite to monitor the status of vehicles in the dealership lot that have the system of the present invention located therein. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the RF transmitter and/or transceiver can be used to allow systems for securing a key in a vehicle to communicate with each other thus forming a network, which can be used, for example, to transmit data to the dealership&#39;s security panel and/or central monitoring cite. 
     It is to be understood that the system for securing a key according to the present invention can be connected to an exterior vehicular component such as a wheel and/or a door handle, etc. It is to be further understood that the system for securing a key according to the present invention can be connected to an interior vehicular component such as an inner door handle, a connecting means in a glove, door and/or overhead storage compartment, and a connecting means located in a center console. 
     It should also be understood that the above description is only representative of illustrative embodiments. For the convenience of the reader, the above description has focused on a representative sample of possible embodiments, a sample that is illustrative of the principles of the invention. The description has not attempted to exhaustively enumerate all possible variations. That alternative embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of the invention, or that further undescribed alternatives may be available for a portion, is not to be considered a disclaimer of those alternate embodiments. Other applications and embodiments can be straightforwardly implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended, that the invention not be limited to the specifically described embodiments, because numerous permutations and combinations of the above and implementations involving non-inventive substitutions for the above can be created, but the invention is to be defined in accordance with the claims that follow. It can be appreciated that many of those undescribed embodiments are within the literal scope of the following claims, and that others are equivalent.