Claims
- 1. An anti-theft system for motor vehicles, comprising:
at least one inhibitor in a disc rotor of at least one wheel of a motor vehicle; at least one locking member that can be inserted into at least one inhibitor to prevent at least one wheel from turning; and at least one solenoid that, when energized, causes at least one locking member to be inserted into at least one inhibitor, and when de-energized, causes at least one locking member to be withdrawn from at least one inhibitor.
- 2. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the inhibitors in at least one of the disc rotors is an arcuate recess.
- 3. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 2, wherein there are a plurality of the inhibitors in at least one of the disc rotors, and the inhibitors are an equal distance from the center of the wheel.
- 4. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 3, wherein the inhibitors in at least one of the disc rotors are arranged in a circular pattern around a center of the wheel.
- 5. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 4, wherein the inhibitors in at least one of the disc rotors are separated by obstructions.
- 6. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 5, wherein there are four obstructions arranged at right angles.
- 7. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 6, wherein at least one solenoid is energized when an activation code is entered.
- 8. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 7, wherein at least one solenoid is de-energized when a deactivation code is entered.
- 9. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 8, wherein the activation code and the deactivation code are entered using a keypad.
- 10. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 9, wherein at least one locking member is cylindrical.
- 11. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 10, including:
means for locking at least one brake of the vehicle when the activation code is entered; and means for releasing at least one brake when the deactivation code is entered.
- 12. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 11, wherein at least one brake is locked by preventing release of a cable attached to a lever controlling the brake.
- 13. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 12, wherein:
when the activation code is entered, an additional solenoid is energized that causes a clamp to engage a cable inhibitor that prevents release of the cable and the lever; and when the deactivation code is entered, the additional solenoid is de-energized, causing the clamp to disengage the cable inhibitor, and allowing release of the cable and the lever.
- 14. The anti-theft system for motor vehicles according to claim 13, wherein the motor vehicle is an automobile.
- 15. A method of preventing theft of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:
entering an activation coded key in an ignition; energizing at least one solenoid; movement of a locking member by the solenoid; engagement of the locking member with an inhibitor in a disc rotor of a wheel of a motor vehicle.
- 16. A method of preventing theft of a motor vehicle according to claim 15, including the additional steps of:
engaging a brake by movement of a cable controlled by a lever; energizing an additional solenoid; movement of a clamp by the additional solenoid; and engagement of an inhibitor on the cable by the clamp to prevent movement of the cable and release of the brake.
- 17. A method of preventing theft of a motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of Ser. No. 09/480,106, filed on Jan. 10, 2000, based on Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/117,022, filed Jan. 25, 1999.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60117022 |
Jan 1999 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09480106 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Child |
10119886 |
Apr 2002 |
US |