GB2222204A

GB2222204A - Vehicle bonnet/hood locking device

Info

Publication number: GB2222204A
Application number: GB8918992A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Yahas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-08-22
Filing date: 1989-08-21
Publication date: 1990-02-28
Also published as: IT8967712A0; GB8918992D0; IT1232524B; ZA896357B; FR2635493A1; IL87512A0; ES2016197A6

Abstract

The present invention consists in a device for the protection of the cable operated latch means of the engine compartment hood consisting of a base (1) on which are mounted a movable plate (2) to be connected to the cable (6) of the latch means; locking means (g) for said movable plate; a solenoid (10), a transistor (11) e.g. a darlington, and a decoder (12); the decoder being actuated by a code to be sent by an external encoder; the locking means (9) being opened by said code sent from the decoder via the transistor and the solenoid. The device may comprise means (14) to be connected to an external electric source, which means are optionally connected via a lock to the solenoid. The decoder is optionally connected to alarm means. The locking detent (9) is spring biased into a formation in the plate (2), thus preventing operation of the release cable (6), and is withdrawn by the solenoid when the correct code is transmitted. <IMAGE>

Description

Locking Means The present invention relates to a device for the protection of the locking means of the engine compartment hood (herein after "locking means") of a car.

In most cars the hood is closed from the outside. It can be opened either easily from the inside cabin or from the outside by a breaking operation or the like.

The locking means of the hood are opened in most cars by pulling a cable being connected to the locking means by a handle located besides the driver. Said cable is advantageously located within a flexible guiding pipe. It is readily understood that the moment somebody has access to the cabin of the car, even if unauthorised, the hood can be opened without any difficulty. Such unauthorised person can then tamper the engine, alarm means, if present, etc.

This is, as is readily understood, very undesirable.

It has therefore been desirable to design a device for the protection of said locking means from the inside of the car. Said device should be easy to manufacture and to mount on the car, be relatively cheap and give a substantially safe protection to said locking means.

The present invention thus consists in a device for the protection of locking means (herein defined) consisting of a base on which are mounted a movable plate to be connected to the cable of the locking means; securing means for said movable plate; a solenoid, a transistor and a decoder; the decoder being actuated by a code to be sent by an external encoder; the securing means being opened by said code sent from the decoder via the transistor and solenoid.

The transistor is preferably a darlington.

The electrical current which actuates the device is usually supplied by the battery of the car. However, sometimes there is no current available, i.e. the battery is empty, there is a short-circuit of the electrical system, the decoder is burnt, etc. In these case the device cannot be operated.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention there are provided means to be connected to an external electrical source. Said means may, for example, via a lock forward electricity directly to the solenoid and thus enable the opening of the protective device. Said external electrical source may be a battery, a generator, an accumulator, etc.

The encoder may be connected by way of an adaptor located inside the cabin and be connected to the switch. It is actuated by the key opening the switch. The adaptor is connected by a cable to the decoder. However, the decoder may operate also by any other suitable means, e.g. by way of a remote control. Naturally, the moment the encoder does not send the correct code the decoder will not react and the device will not give access to the locking means of the engine compartment.

The decoder may, if desired, be connected to alarm means which will be actuated if the wrong code is being sent.

The securing means may vary to a large extent.

Suitable means are described hereinafter.

The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings without being limited by them. In these drawings: Fig. 1 shows a device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a device according to Fig.l comprising means to be connected to an external electrical source; Fig. 3 shows a device according to Fig.2 being mounted on the car and connected to the cable of the locking means; and Fig. 4 shows a circuit diagram of the decoder.

The device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises base plate 1 on which is mounted plate 2. Plate 2 can move within pins 3. (Said pins 3 may be replaced by a plastic channel 1).

Parts 4 of plate 2 hold with the aid of screws 5, cable 6 located within flexible guiding pipe 7. (Cable 6 and pipe 7 are parts of the conventional means).

Spring 8 holds securing pin 9 which is guided by solenoid 10 which in turn is connected via transistor 11 to decoder 12.

The encoder is not illustrated but operates as explained above.

The moment the correct code is sent by the encoder via decoder 12, transistor 11 to solenoid 10, said solenoid 10 draws pin 9 and spring 8, thus enabling plate 3 to move and by way of cable 6 to pull locking means 13.

The device illustrated in Fig. 2 (being part of that illustrated in Fig.3) comprises means 14 for supply of external electricity. Said means are mounted on wall 15 separating the cabin from the engine compartment. Said external electricity is supplied via lock 16 directly to solenoid 10.

The diagram shown in Fig.4 illustrates the electrical parts of decoder 12 and transistor 11 as located in the electrical circuit.

Claims

1. A device for the protection of locking means (as herein defined) consisting of a base on which are mounted a movable plate to be connected to the cable of the locking means; securing means for said movable plate; a solenoid, a transistor and a decoder; the decoder being actuated by a code to be sent by an external encoder; the securing means being opened by said code sent from the decoder via the transistor and the solenoid.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the transistor is a darlington.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, which comprises means to be connected to an external electric source.

4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein said means are connected via a lock to the solenoid.

5. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the decoder is connected to alarm means.

6. A device for the protection of opening means (as herein defined), substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.