U.S. patent number 3,660,624 [Application Number 05/010,917] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-02 for electrical key for ignition systems.
Invention is credited to George Bell.
United States Patent |
3,660,624 |
Bell |
May 2, 1972 |
ELECTRICAL KEY FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS
Abstract
An electrical key for vehicular ignition systems having ignition
system 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 that is activated by the electrical key and a
normally closed contact type not affected by the electrical key.
The electrical key including an electrical coded key element
working in conjunction with an electrical coded key adapter, when
the key element is inserted therein, to produce an electrical
continuity in the vehicular ignition system. The key adapter also
having wound-up means which will reject the key element when the
key is in the "off" position while when rotated in the "on"
position will be held in place to cause current to flow through the
coded electrical circuitries to the spring loaded solenoid of the
system adapters in starting the vehicular engine.
Inventors: |
Bell; George (Fort Lee,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
21748022 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/010,917 |
Filed: |
February 12, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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875334 |
Nov 8, 1969 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
200/43.05;
70/239; 200/43.08; 70/DIG.46; 70/388; 307/10.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H
27/10 (20130101); B60R 25/04 (20130101); B60R
25/22 (20130101); Y10T 70/5898 (20150401); Y10S
70/46 (20130101); Y10T 70/7763 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
25/04 (20060101); H01H 27/10 (20060101); H01H
27/00 (20060101); E05b 017/00 (); H01h
027/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;200/42,44,61.66
;340/52,64 ;307/1AT ;180/114 ;70/237,238,239,DIG.46,388 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schaefer; Robert K.
Assistant Examiner: Smith; William J.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of a prior application
titled Electrical Lock For Ignition Systems filed by the same
applicant of the present invention dated Nov. 8, 1969, Ser. No.
875,334.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electrical key for a vehicular engine ignition system
comprising lock means, and key means including the combination of
mechanical means for opening said lock means and electrically coded
circuitry means, said lock means includes mechanical tumblers, and
said key means includes an electrically coded key element having a
metallic key portion with bitting steps for cooperation with the
tumblers of said lock means and an insulated portion with an
electrically coded circuitry, and further said key means having a
key adapter with an electrically coded circuitry for cooperation
with the electrically coded circuitry of the insulated portion of
said key element, and further wherein said lock means includes a
key hole and said adapter includes receptacle means having a key
hole in line with the key hole of said lock means and said
electrically coded circuitry incorporated about said key hole for
receiving said key element therein for its coded electrical
circuitry cooperating therewith in producing continuity of the
ignition electrical circuitry in starting the engine, said
receptacle includes a plurality of spring loaded terminals for
effecting contact with the electrical coded continuity of said key
element in effecting continuity in the electrical vehicular system,
and wherein said receptacle further includes wound-up means having
a pair of spring loaded rollers forming the receptacle key hole
which winds up when said key element is inserted and operably
rejects said key element if the key element does not cooperate with
the tumblers of said lock means to turn it in the "on"
position.
2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said receptacle further
includes a pair of opposed springs inwardly forcing said rollers
for contacting said key element as it is inserted therein.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to vehicular ignition systems and
more particularly to an electric key 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 joy ride 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.
In addition, using an electrical key having a key element with an
electrical coded circuitry working in conjunction with an
electrical coded circuitry of a key adapter, when the key element
is inserted therein, to produce an electrical continuity in the
vehicular ignition system, the system will be turned on to allow
the current to flow through the system adapters to the spark plugs
to start the engine.
Without the use of the coded electrical key it would 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 thus
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
electrical key 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 electrical
key for a vehicular ignition system having adapters for irremovable
connecting a spark plug cable receptecle to a distributer contact
where the adapter is preselectively 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
electrical key for vehicular ignition systems for preventing theft
of the vehicle, the key 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 adapters electrical circuit combination to start
the vehicle engine.
An additional object of this invention is to provide for an
electrical key 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.
A further object of this invention is to provide for an electrical
key for a car ignition system having a key element with coded
electrical circuitry thereon which works in conjunction with coded
circuitry of key adapter supported on the vehicle's firewall in
front of the lock to unscramble a preselectively set electrical
circuitry and thereby allow a continuity of the electrical
circuitry to start the vehicle'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 side view, part of which is in section, showing an
electrical key for vehicular ignition systems having an electrical
coded key element and an electrical coded key adapter, in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the electrical key adapter of
the electrical key shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 are composite sectional views taken along line A--A, B--B
and C--C of FIG. 2; and,
FIG. 5 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of one detailed
coded arrangement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, there is shown an electrical key 10 for
a vehicular ignition system including an electrically coded key
element 11 having a metalic key portion 12 with a plurality of
bitting steps 13 along one edge and an insulated portion 14 with an
electrically coded circuitry 15 incorporated therein. The
electrical key 10 also includes an electrically coded key adapter
16 connected to an ignition lock section 17 with a standard
mechanical lock cylinder 18. The key adapter 16 and the lock 17 are
supported on a vehicular fire wall 19, as shown in FIG. 1.
The lock 17 includes the standard cylinder 18 having a plurality of
tumblers 20 supported therein which are contacted by the bitting
steps 13 of the key element 11 when inserted in an adapter key hole
21. Each of the tumblers 20 is operable by one bitting step 13 of
the metalic key portion 12 when rotated in the "on" position in the
usual manner of opening the lock.
As shown in FIG. 1, the key adapter 16 also includes an
electrically coded circuitry 22 which works in conjunction with the
electrical coded circuitry 15 of the coded key element 11 when the
key 11 is inserted within the key hole 21 and rotated in the "on"
position, as hereinafter more fully described.
Therefore, it should be understood that both the cooperation
between the electrically coded circuitry 15 and the electrically
coded circuitry 22, and the proper engagement of the bitting steps
13 and the tumblers 20 are needed to rotate the key element 11 on
the "on" position to produce an electrical continuity in the
vehicular ignitions system and thereby permit ignition to start the
vehicular engine.
As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the key adapter 16 has wound-up
means which includes a pair of spring loaded hollow wind-up rollers
23 and 24 which are wound-up when the key 11 is inserted in the
adapter key hole 21 formed by the two rollers 23 and 24.
The rollers 23 and 24 will wind-up when the key 11 is inserted but
will reject the key if the key is not turned and the operators hand
is removed. That is, if the bitting steps 13 of the key element 11
do not work in conjunction with the cylinders tumblers 20 to permit
rotation of the key 11, the key 11 will be rejected.
The wound-up means further includes a pair of opposed springs 25
and 26 inwardly force two pairs of opposed pins 27 about which the
two rollers 23 and 24 are rotatably supported. On the upper pins
27, as viewed in FIG. 3, are anchored one end of a pair of springs
28 and 29. The springs 28 and 29 are anchored at their other ends
on brackets 30 and 31 on the inside diametrical surface of the
rollers 23 and 24.
Therefore, the two springs 25 and 26 tend to make the key hole 21
smaller, inwardly forcing the rollers 23 and 24 toward the vertical
center line of the wound-up means and towards the key 11 when it is
inserted therein and the two springs 28 and 29 tend to push the key
outwardly as it is inserted within the key hole 21. These two
spring actions cause the rejection of the key 11, if not turned on
the "on" position. That is, when the key element 11 is inserted
within the adapter 16 the springs 28 and 29 will wind up and cause
an outward force, unless the key 11 can be rotated in cooperation
with the tumblers 20 and the key bitting steps 13 of the metalic
key position of the key 11. Therefore, in order for the key element
11 to work within the lock 17 and adapter 16 it has to cooperate
both with the tumbler system as well as with the coded electrical
system.
When the key 11 is then rotated in the "on" position it will be
locked in place to cause current to flow through the coded
electrical circuitries 15 and 22, to the spring loaded solenoids of
the system adapters in starting the vehicular engine.
Referring in addition, to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the key
adapter 16 is shown including a segmented twelve point rotary
contact switch 32 having a stationary insulated section disk 33
with twelve resilient electrical contact terminals 301, 302, 303,
304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311 and 312 and a rotary
insulated section disk 33A with 12 electrical terminals 321, 322,
345, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, and 332 connected to a plurality
of center spring loaded terminals 100 of a receptacle 35 by
conductors 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351
and 352.
The stationary disk 33 is attached to the fire wall 19, as shown in
FIG. 1, while the rotary disk 33A is integral to the rotating part
of the adapter 16 as shown in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 4, the adapter 16 includes the receptacle 35 which
is substantially the same as the receptacle 35 of the copending
application filed by the same applicant of this invention as
hereinbefore outlined.
Therefore when the key element 11 is inserted within the key
adapter 16 and rotated to the "on" position terminals 301 to 312
will be in contact with terminals 321 to 332, respectively.
In this position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the key element 11 is
in the "on" position which permits electric current from a battery
36 which is connected through conductor 37 to ground 68, to be
directed through a fuse 38 and conductor 39 to the terminal 310 of
the stationary disk 33.
When the key element 11 is inserted within the receptacle 35 it
will permit current from terminal 310 contacting terminal 330 of
the rotary disk 33A;through conductor 350 to spring loaded terminal
34 of the receptacle 35, through a conductor 40 of the key element
11 to spring loaded terminal 44 of the receptacle 35. The electric
current continues through conductor 341 to another terminal 321 of
the disk 33A wherein it contacts terminal 301of the disk 33 and
from which it is directed through conductor 46 to system adapter
52.
Therefore, when the key element 11 is still within the receptacle
35 it will also connect a receptacle terminal 58 through key
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 key 11 is inserted in
receptacle 35 it will permit continuity from terminal 58 through
the conductor 60 of the key 11 to the terminal 64 and through
conductor 342, past contacts 322 and 302 and conductor 70 to the
adapter 52.
The remainder of the conductors connected to the right side portion
as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5 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 the closed position until the electric key element 11 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 portion 98
when the key 11 is inserted within the receptacle 35.
Referring to FIG. 5 a more detailed description of one possible
combination of the electrical key connection system is shown. The
electric key 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 of the FIG. 5 of this invention is the same
as the electrical circuit of FIG. 2 of the invention described in
the copending application referred herein wherein the conductors 40
and 60 of the key element 11 are the same as conductors 40 and 60
of the key 36 and which operably connect the terminals 34 and 44,
and 58 and 64 of the receptacle 35, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 5, the fuse 38, is connected to the battery 36,
and terminals 101 and 102, are connected to positive terminals 150
and 152 of adapter 52 through 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 11 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. 5 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
is connected through conductor 88 to positive terminal 164 of the
adapter 130.
FIG. 5 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
irremovable locked within female receptacle 172 of a vehicle
distributor 360. 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 vehicle distributor 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
361. 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. The
spark plug cable 122 also has attached thereon a one way clip 228
which when inserted within spark plug cable receptacal 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 disconnect terminals
238 and 240 which would prevent current flowing to the spark plug
and thus prevent starting of the engine. It should be noted
therefore, that 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. 4, 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 close
adapter to open or a normally open adapter to close or may ground
out any current that should have been directed to the adapters.
Furthermore, 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 not 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.
In addition, to the electrical combinations which must be known to
effect electrical continuity the person wishing to effect
continuity must be provided with the proper electrical key element
which has a coded electrical circuitry to work in conjunction with
the coded circuitry of the key adapter to unscramble a
preselectively set electrical circuitry to permit continuity of the
electrical circuitry to start the vehicles engine. Even further
than this electrical combination there is an additional mechanical
combination that has to be provided on the key element.
Therefore, the starting of this vehicular engine without the
electrical key becomes virtually impossible because it depends upon
two entirely separate locking means which are further complicated
by the false or dummy wiring.
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.
* * * * *