Electrical Lock For Ignition Systems

Abstract

An electrical lock for vehicular ignition systems having adapters that are irremovably interposed between a predetermined number of spark plug cable receptacles and their distributor contacts. The adapters being of two types, a normally open contact type and a normally closed contact type, the normally open contact-type adapter having a spring-loaded solenoid which is activated by an electric key closing an electric circuit to direct current to the solenoid to overcome the spring and close the adapter permitting current to flow from the ignition system battery through the distributor contacts through the spark plug cable to the individual spark plug of the vehicular engine for its operation. The normally closed contact-type adapter has a spring-loaded solenoid which permits electric current to flow from the battery, through the distributor contacts, through the spark plug cable, to the individual spark plug of the vehicular engine. The normally closed contact-type adapter is not effected by the electric key. In the event the electric circuit of the normally closed adapter is tampered with, to cause current to flow to its solenoid, it will activate it to overcome the spring and open the adapter thus preventing current from flowing to the spark plug.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to vehicular ignition systems and more particularly to an electric lock having adapters in combination with electrical circuits for providing a substantially tamper proof circuit system that will delay the theft of an automobile or other vehicles having the ignition systems by confusing the electrical circuit connection to prevent or disorganize any current that may be directed to the spark plugs.

Yearly, thousands of cars are stolen or used for a joyride by unauthorized individuals. The unauthorized use of these vehicles cause more accidents and are damaged more often than other cars, resulting in human and monetary loss.

Heretofore many devices have been proposed to prevent the theft or the unauthorized use of these vehicles, one such device used a relay which is operated to ground the lead connection of the ignition coil with the distributor of the vehicle when the ignition switch is operated to the on position by unauthorized persons. Other devices used some kind of burglar alarm mechanism to set off a signal when an unauthorized person tampered with the ignition system.

Furthermore, other devices were used wherein the sole theft prevention means comprised a switch in the ignition circuit which may be locked in a circuit open position.

Substantially all these devices were unsatisfactory because these systems required little effort or skill to circumvent them and start the vehicular or car engine. By simply attaching a jumper wire between appropriate points in the ignition circuit, exposed beneath the hood of the car, the car engine would be started.

The primary purpose of this invention therefore is to accept the fact that unauthorized person will tamper with the electrical circuit of the vehicular ignition system. That the unauthorized person will try to jump wires or connect wires or disconnect wires in the ignition system in his effort to start the engine.

In this invention by irremovably attaching adapters to four or more distributor spark plug cable receptacles, wherein each adapter has a female receptacle to receive the spark plug cable which was removed from the distributor cap and a male receptacle to be inserted in the distributor cap, the invention will in most cases stop or delay the starting of the engine. Each adapter will be equipped with four wires of which a selected two will allow a continuity of electric current to the spark plug cable. By using an electric key interposed between the ignition key and the adapters the system will be turned on to allow the current to flow through adapters to the spark plugs to start the engine.

Without the use of the electric key it world require the unauthorized user to jump wires which may otherwise should not have been connected. The jumping of these wires may cause the battery to be grounded out preventing the start of the engine. By this confusion of the adapter wires this invention will prevent or at least delay the car theft or the use of the car by unauthorized persons.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide for an electric lock for a vehicular ignition system which will confuse the ignition electrical circuit if any unauthorized persons tampers with said circuit.

Another object of this invention is to provide for an electric lock for a vehicular ignition system having adapters for irremovably connecting a spark plug cable receptacle to a distributor contact where the adapter is set beforehand to operate either in a normally open or in a normally closed position, and wherein the adapter includes an electric circuit which requires a knowledge of the combination of the circuit to enable the ignition system to function correctly.

Still another object of this invention is to provide for an electric lock for vehicular ignition systems for preventing theft of the vehicle, the lock having an adapter operable by electrical circuits which adapters are irremovably interposed between spark plug receptacles and distribution contacts, and which adapters are easily assembled in an existing vehicle and operable only by knowledge of the adapter's electrical circuit combination to start the vehicle's engine.

An additional object of this invention is to provide for an electrical lock for a car ignition system having an adapter irremovably interposed between a spark plug receptacle and a distributor contact, said adapter having an electrical circuit with four wires of which a selected two will allow a continuity of electric current to the spark plug and which lock further includes an electric key to activate the adapters electrical circuit to start the car's engine.

Other objects and many additional advantages will be more readily understood by those skilled in the art after a detailed consideration of the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical lock for vehicular ignition system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of one detailed arrangement of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, an electrical lock 10, for a vehicular ignition system having a distributor 11, comprises adapter means 12 and an adapter electrical circuit means 14 connected to an ignition switch 16 of the vehicular ignition system. The ignition switch 16 is in turn connected to a battery 18 which in turn is grounded by conductor 20 to ground 22. The battery 18 is connected through conductor 24 to terminal 26 of the ignition switch 16. As shown in solid line in FIG. 1, an ignition key 28 is in a position which connects ignition switch terminal 26 to ignition switch terminal 30.

In this position, electric current from the battery 18 is directed through conductor 24 to terminal 26 through the ignition key 28 to terminal 30 and then through a fuse 32 to a terminal 34 of an electrical receptacle 35 of the circuit means 14. When a key bar or card 36 of the electrical circuit means 14 is inserted within the receptacle 35 it will permit continuity from terminal 34 through a conductor 40 of the key card 36 to a terminal 44 of the receptacle 35. The electric current continuity, continues through a conductor 46 to electrical joint 48 wherein it is directed to predetermined adapters. In this case joint 48 connects adapters 50 and 52 through conductors 54 and 56, respectively.

When the card 36 is inserted within the receptacle 35 it will also connect a receptacle terminal 58 through card conductor 60 to receptacle terminal 64. In the other direction the terminal 58 is connected through conductor 66 to ground 68. Continuing in the first direction, when the card 36 is inserted in receptacle 35 it will permit continuity from terminal 58 through the conductor 60 of the key card 36 to the terminal 64 and through a conductor 70 to electrical joint 72. In turn the joint 72 is connected to adapters 50 and 52 through conductors 74 and 76, respectively.

The remainder of the conductors connected to the upper portion of receptacle 35, such as conductors 81, 82 and 83, which in turn are connected to terminals 84, 85 and 86, are confusional dummy conductors which are connected to the circuitry of the adapters, as hereinafter more fully described.

Another conductor 88, which is connected to terminal 90 of the receptacle 35, is grounded through a jack 92, to receptacle terminal 94 through conductor 96 to ground 68. Here again the jack 92 is in a closed position until the electric key 36 is inserted within the receptacle 35 to open the jack 92 and thus discontinue the electrical continuity between terminals 90 and 94. The conductor 88 in turn, is connected to any one or more adapters, at their positive terminals, as hereinafter more fully described. The jack 92 is kept in an open position by an insulated indentation 98 when the key 36 is inserted within the receptacle 35.

At the lower end of the receptacle 35 there are three additional terminals 101, 102 and 103. The terminals 101 and 102 are connected to adapters 50 and 52 through conductors 104 and 106, respectively. In detail, conductor 104 is connected to electrical joint 108 which in turn is connected to adapters 50 and 54 through conductors 110 and 112, respectively. The conductor 106 is connected to electrical joint 114 which in turn is connected to adapters 50 and 54 through conductor 116 and 118, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the distributor 11 is shown with eight distributor contacts connected to eight spark plug cables 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127 and 128. Four of the spark plug cables, 122, 123, 126 are connected to the distributor 11 by adapters 50, 52, 130 and 132. The other spark plug cables 121, 124, 125 and 128 are connected directly to the contacts of the distribution 11.

Referring to FIG. 2 a more detailed description of one possible combination of the electrical lock adapter connection system is shown. The electric lock 10 in this connection system includes one normally open contact-type adapter 52 and one normally closed contact-type adapter 130. It should be understood that any number of adapters can be used, limited only to the number of spark plug receptacles. The more adapters the more electrical connection combinations can be created.

The electrical circuit 14 of the FIG. 2 is the same as the electrical circuit 14 of FIG. 1 wherein the conductors 40 and 60 of the key 36 operably connect the terminals 34 and 44, and 58 and 64 of the receptacle 35, respectively. In addition, receptacle 35 includes a slot 142 which accepts, for alignment of the key 36 within the receptacle 35, an elongated rectangular portion 146 at the tip of the key 36. The only difference in this particular connection system is in the connections of the receptacles upper terminals 84, 85, 86 and 90 wherein they are connected to the normally open contact-type adapter 130. As shown in FIG. 2, the fuse 32, is connected to the battery 18, and terminals 101 and 102, are connected to positive terminals 150 and 152 of adapter 52 through the conductors 112 and 118, respectively. The terminal 44 of the receptacle 35 is connected to a positive terminal 154 of the adapter 52.

The terminal 64 of the receptacle 35, which is connected to ground 68 when the key 36 is inserted within the receptacle 35, is connected to a negative terminal 160 of the adapter 52 through the conductor 70.

As further shown in FIG. 2 the terminals 84, 85 and 86 of receptacle 35 are respectively connected to negative terminal 161, positive terminal 162 and positive terminal 163 of the adapter 130, by conductors 81, 82 and 83 respectively. The terminal 90 of jack 92 is connected through conductor 88 to positive terminal 164 of the adapter 130.

FIG. 2 also shows the method by which the adapters, such as adapters 52 and 130, are connected to the ignition system of the vehicle.

Adapter 52 includes an electrical male contact pin 170 which is irremovably locked within female receptacle 172 of the distributor 11. That is the contact pin 170 includes a one-way lock clip 174 which when inserted within the female receptacle 172 is locked in place and cannot be removed without breaking or destroying the distributor 11 or the adapter 52.

This, in effect, would destroy the electrical continuity of the adapter circuit which in turn, confuse the current flowing to the ignition system and prevent the starting of the engine. Further, adapter 52 includes receptacles 176 in which the spark plug cable 127 is received. The spark plug cable also has attached thereon a one-way lock clip 178 which when inserted within spark plug cable receptacle 176 of the adapter 52 is irremovably secured within the adapter 52.

The adapter 52 includes a solenoid 200 which is spring loaded in a normally open position by spring 202 bearing between adapter housing 204 and piston 206 of the solenoid 200. When the solenoid 200 is activated the piston 206 will move in a direction shown by arrow 214 to connect terminals 208 and 210. When the terminals 208 and 210 are connected electric current will be directed through the distributor receptacle 172, through the contact pin 170 to the contact 210, through piston 206 to contact 208, through spark plug receptacle 176, through the spark plug cable 127 to the spark plug (not shown).

Adapter 130 includes an electrical male contact pin 220 which is irremovably locked within female receptacles 222 of the distributor 11. That is the contact pin 220 includes a one-way lock clip 224 to permanently secure the pin 220 within receptacle 222 when the pin 220 is inserted therein. Here again the adapter 130 cannot be removed without destroying the adapter 130 and/or distributor 11. The spark plug cable 122 also has attached thereon a one-way clip 228 which when inserted within spark plug cable receptacle 226 it will be irremovably secured therein.

The adapter 130, being a normally closed contact adapter, includes a solenoid 230 which is spring loaded in a normally closed position by spring 232 bearing between adapter housing 234 and piston 236 of solenoid 230. When the solenoid 230 is activated the piston 236 will move in a direction shown by arrow 244 to connect terminals 238 and 240. When the terminals 238 and 240 are connected, electric current will be directed through the distribution receptacle 222, through the contact pin 220 to contact 240, through piston 236 to contact 238, through spark plug receptacle 226, through the spark plug cable 122 to the spark plug (not shown).

Therefore, through the medium of this invention, the starting of the engine by tampering with the ignition system by an unauthorized person would in most cases be deterred. This invention further, would substantially eliminate or at least delay the unauthorized person from starting said engine. The ignition system could not be jumped to start the engine without knowing the complex combinations of the adapter electrical lines presented to him. Each adapter will be equipped with the four wires of which a selected two shall allow a continuity from the distributor through the adapter to the spark plug. The more adapters used the more combinations will be available to the system. This will delay the theft of the car through the confusion of the adapter circuit and in turn prevent the ignition circuit from being suitably connected to the spark plugs of the engine thereby the unauthorized person shall be deterred from stealing or taking the car.

If the wires are cut it will probably create an open circuit to the spark plugs and thus will prevent the continuity of electric current thereto. If the wires are jumped it will probably cause a normally closed solenoid to open and prevent current from flowing to the spark plugs. In any event, any cutting or jumping without knowledge of the circuit may confuse the ignition system and thus prevent the starting of the car engine.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, if an unauthorized person opens jacks 92 in order to insert a plastic or a metal between the jack terminals, he will have accomplished nothing because this will in no way affect the system. The jack 92 is used as an additional means of deterring the actual operation of the system by confusing the circuitry. If on the other hand the unauthorized person will tamper with and jump a conductor it may cause a normally closed adapter to open or a normally open adapter to close or may ground out any current that should have been directed to the adapters. Further, if any conductors, such as conductors 112, 46, 82 or 83, are connected or jumped out as it may be usually perpetrated by an unauthorized person, there would be no effect to the system because these conductors are already connected to the adapter terminals, 150, 154, 162 and 163, respectively. There are various combinations that can be set by a car owner which must be known by any other party wishing to effect a continuity in the ignition system to start the engine.

While the present invention has been described in preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical lock for a vehicular ignition system including a battery, distributor contacts for receiving electrical current from said battery, and spark plug cables electrically connected to said distributor contacts for receiving the current from said distributor contacts and directing the current to spark plugs in starting the engine, the improvement comprising, adapter means interposed between one or more distributor contacts and spark plug cables, said adapter means including solenoid means operable for controlling the high current flow from the distributor contacts through the solenoid means to the spark plug cables, and a low-voltage electrical circuit means, said low-voltage circuit means operating said solenoid means to allow high current flow through said solenoid means, said low-voltage means including a plurality of low-voltage conductors connected to the battery in a predetermined combination that must be known to properly effect current flow through the adapter to provide a continuity in the ignition system whereby the high voltage of said ignition system is controlled by the low voltage of the system to start the engine.

2. An electrical lock for a vehicular ignition system including a battery, distributor contacts for receiving electrical current from said battery, and spark plug cables electrically connected to said distributor contacts for receiving the current from said distributor contacts and directing the current to spark plugs in starting the engine, the improvement comprising, adapter means interposed between one or more distributor contacts and spark plug cables, said adapter means controlling the current flowing from the distributor contacts to the spark plug cables, and an adapter electrical circuit means including a plurality of conductors connected to the battery in a predetermined combination that must be known to properly effect current flow through the adapter to provide a continuity in the ignition system to start the engine, wherein the spark plug cable, used with each adapter means, includes a one-way lock clip, and wherein said adapter means, interposed between a distributor contact and a spark plug cable, includes a female spark plug cable electrical contact receptacle and an opposed male electrical contact pin, said male pin having a one-way lock clip, and further wherein said distributor contact includes a female electrical contact receptacle, whereby when said adapter means is interposed between said distributor contact and said spark plug cable, the spark plug cable is irremovably secured within the adapter female spark plug cable receptacle and the adapter male contact pin is irremovably secured within the distributor female contact receptacle to thereby prevent the removal of said adapter means without destroying said adapter means and said electrical connections and in turn destroying the continuity in the ignition system.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said low-voltage electrical circuit means further includes an electrical receptacle having a plurality of spaced terminals therein, a predetermined number of said terminals connecting the battery and a predetermined member of said terminals connecting said low-voltage electrical means, and a coded electrical key for inserting in said receptacle and operably connecting said terminals for directing current from the battery to said low-voltage electrical means for operation of said low-voltage electrical means in completing the conductor combination.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said adapter means includes the adapter electrical circuit means which includes an electrical receptacle having a plurality of spaced terminals therein, a predetermined number of said terminals connecting the battery and a predetermined member of said terminals connecting said adapter means, and an electrical key for inserting in said receptacle and operably connecting said terminals for directing current from the battery to said adapter means for operation of said adapter means in completing the conductor combination, and wherein said adapter means further includes a normally open contact type adapter having a pair of spaced electrical terminals and a solenoid means operable by said electrical key when inserted in said adapter electrical circuit receptacle to activate it, said solenoid having a piston bridging said spaced electrical terminals and spring loaded in a normally open position, and operable by said electrical key when inserted in said adapter electrical circuit receptacle, to activate said solenoid and move said piston in a closed position closing said electrical terminals to effect current flow through said adapter to provide continuity in the ignition system in starting the engine.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein said adapter means includes a normally closed contact-type adapter having a pair spaced electrical terminals and a solenoid means reaching said spaced electrical terminals and spring loaded in a normally closed position bridging said electrical terminals to effect current flow through said adapter, said electric key operably effecting the continuity of the adapter when said key is inserted within the adapter electrical circuit receptacle.

6. The structure of claim 3 wherein said adapter means includes a normally open contact-type adapter having a pair of spaced electrical terminals and a solenoid means having a piston bridging said spaced electrical terminals said solenoid means having a piston bridging said space electrical terminals and spring loaded in a normally open position, and a normally closed contact-type adapter having a pair of spaced electrical terminals and a solenoid means having a piston bridging said spaced electrical terminals for normally directing current through said normally closed contact-type adapter, said adapter electrical circuit receptacle having a jack means and a plurality of conductors unaffected by the electrical key when inserted within said adapter electrical circuit receptacle whereby said receptacles acting as dummy contacts to disrupt the electrical continuity to the ignition when an unauthorized person tampers with the electrical system and in effect ground the terminals to cause electric current to flow through the normally closed contact-type adapter to activate the solenoid and open the contacts to discontinue the electrical current through the adapter to prevent the ignition system from starting the engine.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein each of said adapters includes four wires, two of which wires are effective to close the normally open contact-type adapter to permit electricity through the adapter and two of which may cause electric current to activate the solenoid of the normally closed contact-type adapter to open the circuit and in this respect confuse the electric circuitry in the event it is tampered by an unauthorized person not knowing the combination in the proper continuity of the electrical circuit.