Abstract:
A column shroud for covering a steering column including a shroud body. The shroud body has first and second portions connectable to one another about a steering column. The shroud body defines an opening in the first portion. An ignition receptor is accessible through the opening for receiving a pass key. The column shroud also includes a coil bobbin fixed to the shroud body adjacent to the opening. In the event of an attempted theft of the vehicle, the coil bobbin would be removed from the column in the event the shroud body is removed and the vehicle would be disabled.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an ignition system for a vehicle and more particularly to an ignition system including a sensor for verifying the presence of a particular pass key in an ignition receptor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vehicles include security systems to prevent unauthorized ignition of the vehicle engine. The most common type of security system is an ignition lock defining a slot to receive a key. The ignition lock will not turn unless the key is inserted in the slot and the vehicle will not start unless the ignition lock is turned. A more complicated security system includes a key recognition system in which the vehicle&#39;s key includes a transponder that communicates with a sensor in the vehicle. Each key is uniquely identifiable and unless the proper key is inserted in the ignition lock the vehicle will not start. Generally, the transponder associated with the key requires a magnetic field to communicate with the sensor and so a coil encircles the ignition lock to carry an electric current and generate a magnetic field. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES 
     The present invention provides a column shroud for covering a steering column including a shroud body. The shroud body has first and second portions connectable to one another about a steering column. Also, the shroud body defines an opening in the first portion. The column shroud also includes a coil bobbin fixed to the shroud body adjacent to the opening. In the event of an attempted theft of the vehicle, the coil bobbin would be removed from the column in the event the shroud body is removed and the vehicle would be disabled. 
     The present invention also provides an ignition assembly. The ignition assembly includes a shroud body having an opening. The shroud body of the ignition assembly can have one or more portions. The ignition assembly also includes an ignition receptor accessible through said opening for receiving a pass key. Also, a coil bobbin is fixed to the shroud body adjacent to the opening. 
     The present invention also provides a steering column assembly. The steering column assembly includes the ignition assembly set forth in greater detail above. The steering column assembly also includes a column member with an aperture. The opening of the shroud body is aligned with the aperture of the column member and the shroud body covers the column member. The ignition receptor is disposed in the aperture and is accessible through the opening for receiving a pass key. The coil bobbin fixed to the shroud body adjacent to the opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a shroud body according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the shroud and a coil bobbin fixedly connected to one another; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the shroud, the coil bobbin and a controller fixedly connected to one another; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a shroud body according to the second exemplary embodiment and a coil bobbin disposed in situ with respect to the shroud body; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the shroud body and a controller fixedly mounted to the shroud body; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the shroud body and a covering for the controller to form an electric connection; and 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic exploded view of a third exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a security system for a vehicle. The security system of the exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a key recognition system. Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the key recognition system includes a key  52  having a transponder for communicating with a sensor (not shown) disposed in the vehicle. The sensor can be disposed on the column, in the dash, or somewhere else in the vehicle. The transponder of the key  52  communicates with the sensor by being inserted in an ignition receptor  14  and by then being subjected to a magnetic field. The magnetic field is generated by directing an electric current around the key  52 . In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electric current is passed through a coil bobbin  22  that is fixed to a shroud body  18  that covers the ignition receptor  14 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIGS. 2–5 , the first exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a steering column assembly  10  having a column shroud  17  for covering the ignition receptor  14 . The ignition receptor  14  is supportably positioned in an aperture  16  defined by a steering column member  12 . The column shroud  17  includes the shroud body  18  that includes a first portion  36  and a second portion  38 . The first and second portions  36 ,  38  are connectable to one another about the steering column member  12 . The first portion defines an opening  20  that is aligned with the ignition receptor  14  when the shroud body  18  is covering the steering column member  12 . 
     The column shroud  17  also includes the coil bobbin  22  that is fixed to the shroud body  18  adjacent to the opening  20 . In alternative embodiments of the invention, the column shroud  17  could include a shroud body having a single portion or a shroud body having more than two portions. For example, if the ignition receptor were located in the dashboard, the shroud body  18  could be defined by a single portion. 
     At least one of the first and second portions  36 ,  42  include aligning posts to increase the likelihood that the opening  20  will be disposed adjacent to the ignition receptor  14  when the shroud body  18  covers the steering column. In the exemplary embodiment, the first portion  36  includes an inner surface  40  and a plurality of aligning posts  42 ,  42   a  extending from the inner surface  40 . The posts  42 ,  42   a  engage apertures (not shown) defined by the steering column member  12  when the shroud body  18  covers the steering column member  12 . 
     The first and second portions  36 ,  38  are connected to one another with a plurality of snap connectors  44 ,  44   a  and snap connector receives  46 ,  46   a . The snap connectors  44 ,  44   a  and the snap connector receivers  46 ,  46   a  cooperate with one another in a snap fit relation. Preferably, the snap fit is a permanent snap fit. The connectors  44 ,  44   a  and the receivers  46 ,  46   a  can be arranged such that all of the connectors  44 ,  44   a  are disposed on one of the portions  36 ,  38  or both receivers  46 ,  46   a  and connectors  44 ,  44   a  can be disposed on both of the portions  36 ,  38 . 
     The first portion  36  defines a second opening  48  and the second portion  38  defines a third opening  50 . The second and third openings  48 ,  50  are aligned with one another when the first and second portions  36 ,  38  are connected together. A portion of the steering column (not shown) extends through the openings  48 ,  50  when the shroud body  18  covers the steering column. 
     The first exemplary embodiment also includes an ignition assembly  13 . The ignition assembly  13  includes the shroud body  18 , the coil bobbin  22  that is fixed to the shroud body  18  adjacent to the opening  20 , and the ignition receptor  14 . The key  52  can access the ignition receptor  14  through the opening  20 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, the coil bobbin  22  and the shroud body  18  are connected to one another in snap-fit relation. The first portion  36  of the shroud body  18  defines a plurality of posts  24 ,  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  disposed around the opening  20 . The posts  24 ,  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  define snap connectors that engage snap receivers (not shown) in the coil bobbin  22 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , a controller  30  is engaged in snap-fit relation to the coil bobbin  22 . The coil bobbin  22  defines a snap connector  54  and the controller  30  defines a snap receiver  56 . The controller  30  selectively directs an electric current to a coil of the coil bobbin  22  to create a magnetic field and communicate with the transponder of the key  52  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The controller  30  can also include a sensor for receiving a signal from the transponder, as well as appropriate circuitry for disabling the vehicle&#39;s ignition system if the signal from the transponder is not received. In other words, the controller  30  can define an break in the vehicle&#39;s ignition circuit that is closed only when the appropriate key  52  is in the ignition receptor  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6–10 , a second exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a column shroud  117  having a shroud body  118  and a coil bobbin  122 . The shroud body  118  includes first and second portions  136 ,  138  connected to one another. The first portion  136  defines an inner surface  140  and aligning posts  142 ,  142   a  extend from the inner surface  140  for connecting to a steering column member  112 . The first and second portions  136 ,  138  include a plurality of snap connectors  144 ,  144   a  and snap connector receivers  146 ,  146   a  to engage one another. The first portion  136  defines an opening  120  and a second opening  148 . The second portion  138  defines a third opening  150 . The column shroud  117  can be part of an ignition assembly  113 . The ignition assembly  113  also includes an ignition receptor  114  disposed in an aperture  116  of a column member  112 . The column member  112  and the ignition assembly  113  form a steering column assembly  110 . A key  152  is insertable in the ignition receptor  114  to start the vehicle. The various components of the second exemplary embodiment of the invention set forth above operate similarly with respect to the corresponding components of the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. In other words, similar features of the invention have been numbered with a common two-digit reference numeral and have been differentiated by a third digit placed before the two common digits, such as key  52  and key  152 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 8 , in the second exemplary embodiment of the invention, the shroud body  118  is plastic and the coil bobbin  122  is disposed in situ with respect to the shroud body  118 . In other words, the coil bobbin  122  is disposed in a mold for forming the shroud body  118  and plastic is injected into the mold to cover the coil bobbin  122  and form the shroud body  118 . Alternatively, the coil bobbin  122  can be inserted into a mold for forming only the first portion  136  of the shroud body  118 , rather than a mold for forming both the first and second portions  136 ,  138 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a controller  130  is fixedly connected to the shroud body  118  and disposed in electric communication with coil bobbin  122 . The connector  130  can be connected to the shroud body  118  with a plurality of snap connectors  154 ,  154   a . A cover  62  covers the controller  130  and defines a wire harness connecting portion  64  for connecting to a plurality of wires associated with the vehicle ignition system. The cover  62  can be fixedly connected to the shroud body  118  with the snap connectors  154 ,  154   a.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a third exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a column shroud  217  having a shroud body  218  and a coil bobbin  222  connected to one another. The shroud body  218  includes first and second portions, such as portion  236 , connected to one another. The first portion  236  defines an inner surface  240  and aligning posts  242 ,  242   a  extend from the inner surface  240  for connecting to a steering column member  212 . The first portion  236  defines an opening  220  and a second opening  248 . The column shroud  217  can be part of an ignition assembly  213 . The ignition assembly  213  also includes an ignition receptor  214  disposed in an aperture  216  of a column member  212 . The column member  212  and the ignition assembly  213  form a steering column assembly  210 . A key is insertable in the ignition receptor  214  to start the vehicle. The various components of the third exemplary embodiment of the invention set forth above operate similarly with respect to the corresponding components of the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. In other words, similar features of the invention have been numbered with a common two-digit reference numeral and have been differentiated by a third digit placed before the two common digits, such as shroud body  18  and shroud body  218 . 
     The ignition assembly  213  includes a member  34  defining a plurality of posts  26 ,  26   a . The member  34  is electrically conductive. The member  34  can be connected to the shroud body  218  with adhesive or can be disposed in situ with respect to the shroud body  218 . The coil bobbin  222  includes a first terminal  28  defining an aperture and a second terminal  28   a  defining an aperture. The coil bobbin  222  is slidably received by the member  34  by inserting the post  26  in the terminal  28  and by inserting the post  26   a  in the terminal  28   a . A controller  230  is also slidably received by the member  34 . The controller  230  includes a first terminal  32  defining and aperture and a second terminal  32   a  defining an aperture. The controller  230  selectively directs a current through the coil bobbin  222  by directing a current through the post  26 ,  26   a . In operation, the coil bobbin  220  and the controller  230  are fixed to the shroud body  218  after being slidably engaged with the member  34 . For example, push nuts could be slidably received by the posts  26 ,  26   a  to substantially fix the positions of the controller  230  and the coil bobbin  222 . 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.