Patent Application
20180118162
The disclosure relates to anti-theft devices and more particularly pertains to a new anti-theft device for deterring vehicle theft.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that is coupled to a sidewall of the vehicle. A first power module and an actuator are coupled to the housing and are positioned in an internal space defined by the housing. The actuator is operationally coupled to the first power module. A brake pedal, which is operationally coupled to a braking system of the vehicle, is pivotally coupled to the sidewall of the vehicle proximate to the housing. A first coupler is coupled to the actuator and extends from an opening in the housing. A second coupler, which is complementary to the first coupler, is coupled to the brake pedal. The actuator is positioned to motivate the first coupler to reversibly and selectively couple to the second coupler when the brake pedal is depressed. The braking system of the vehicle is engageable to reduce the risk of theft.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A first power module 16 and an actuator 18 are coupled to the housing 12 and are positioned in the internal space 14. The actuator 18 is operationally coupled to the first power module 16. In one embodiment, the first power module 16 comprises wiring 20 that is coupled to a battery of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the actuator 18 comprises a solenoid 22.
A brake pedal 24 is pivotally coupled to the sidewall of the vehicle proximate to the housing 12. The brake pedal 24 is operationally coupled to a braking system of the vehicle. The brake pedal 24 is depressible to engage the braking system. In one embodiment, the brake pedal 24 is positioned proximate to a left side 26 of the housing 12.
A first coupler 28 is coupled to the actuator 18 and extends from an opening 30 that is positioned in the housing 12. In one embodiment, the first coupler 28 comprises a bar 32 that is pivotally coupled to and extends from a piston 34 of the solenoid 22. In one embodiment, the bar 32 is L-shaped. In another embodiment, the bar 32 is arcuate proximate to the piston 34.
A pair of brackets 36 is coupled to the sidewall. Each bracket 36 is positioned on a respective opposing side 38 of the brake pedal 24. Each bracket 36 is rotationally coupled to the bar 32. The bar 32 is rotatable within the brackets 36 as the piston 34 is extended from and retracted into the solenoid 22. A tab 40 is coupled to and extends from the bar 32. The tab 40 is positioned substantially equally distant from the brackets 36, such that the tab 40 is vertically aligned with the brake pedal 24.
A second coupler 42 is coupled to the brake pedal 24. The second coupler 42 is complementary to the first coupler 28. The first coupler 28 is positioned on the actuator 18 such that the actuator 18 is positioned to motivate the first coupler 28 to reversibly and selectively couple to the second coupler 42 when the brake pedal 24 is depressed. The brake pedal 24 is lockable and the braking system of the vehicle is engageable to reduce the risk of theft. In one embodiment, the second coupler 42 comprises a slot 44 that is positioned in an end 46 of the brake pedal 24. The slot 44 is complementary to the tab 40. The slot 44 is positioned in the brake pedal 24 such that the slot 44 is positioned to couple to the tab 40 as the bar 32 is rotated by the piston 34.
A controller 48 is coupled to the first housing 12 and is positioned in the internal space 14. The controller 48 is operationally coupled to the actuator 18 and the first power module 16. The controller 48 is positioned to compel the actuator 18 to motivate the first coupler 28 to couple to the second coupler 42 when the brake pedal 24 is depressed. The brake pedal 24 is locked and the braking system of the vehicle remains engaged to reduce the risk of theft. In one embodiment, the controller 48 comprises a receiver 50 and a first computer processing unit 52.
A remote 54 is operationally coupled to the controller 48. The remote 54 is positioned to compel the controller 48 to motivate the solenoid 22 to decouple the first coupler 28 from the second coupler 42 such that the brake pedal 24 is unlocked and the braking system of the vehicle is disengaged. The remote 54 comprises a shell 56 that defines an interior space 58. In one embodiment, the shell 56 comprises a key 60 for the vehicle. The key 60 requires that the brake pedal 24 be depressed for removal of the key 60 from an ignition switch of the vehicle.
A second power module 62 is coupled to the shell 56 and is positioned in the interior space 58. In one embodiment, the second power module 62 comprises at least one battery 72. A second computer processing unit 64 and a transmitter 66 are coupled to the shell 56 and are positioned in the interior space 58. The second computer processing unit 64 is operationally coupled to the second power module 62. The transmitter 66 is operationally coupled to the second computer processing unit 64. The transmitter 66 is wirelessly coupled to the receiver 50.
A key pad 68 is positioned on an exterior 70 of the shell 56. The key pad 68 is operationally coupled to the second computer processing unit 64. The key pad 68 is positioned for entry of a code that will enable the second computer processing unit 64 to compel the transmitter 66 to signal the controller 48 to compel the solenoid 22 to decouple the first coupler 28 from the second coupler 42 so that the braking system is disengaged.
In use the controller 48 is positioned to compel the actuator 18 to motivate the first coupler 28 to couple to the second coupler 42 when the brake pedal 24 is depressed. The brake pedal 24 is locked and the braking system of the vehicle remains engaged to reduce the risk of theft. The remote 54 is positioned to compel the controller 48 to motivate the solenoid 22 to decouple the first coupler 28 from the second coupler 42 such that the brake pedal 24 is unlocked and the braking system of the vehicle is disengaged. The key pad 68 is positioned for entry of a code that will enable the second computer processing unit 64 to compel the transmitter 66 to signal the controller 48 to compel the solenoid 22 to decouple the first coupler 28 from the second coupler 42 so that the braking system is disengaged.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
