Patent ID: 7339774

Claim:
A cutoff circuit for disconnecting a battery powering a vehicle electrical system from said electrical system, the vehicle electrical system comprising an electrical input and an electrical ground, the battery comprising a first terminal electrically connected to said input and a second terminal electrically connected to said ground, the battery cutoff circuit comprising: (a) a shock detector mounted on said vehicle adapted to provide a command upon detection of a predetermined impact force having a magnitude in excess of 50 lbs on said vehicle, (b) a latching cutoff switch interposed between said battery first terminal and said vehicle electrical system wherein said cutoff switch comprises a control device for switching said latching cutoff switch from a first latched state wherein said latching cutoff switch connects said battery first terminal to said electrical input to a second latched state wherein said latching cutoff switch disconnects said battery first terminal from said electrical input upon receipt of said command from said shock detector; wherein: (a) selected portions of said vehicle electrical system are directly connected to said battery first terminal bypassing said cut off switch; and (b) the shock detector and said latching cutoff switch are both mounted adjacent said battery.