GB2274678A - Vehicle anti-theft wiring plug and socket - Google Patents

Abstract

A plurality of electrical circuits of the vehicle are connected through the socket 10, the circuits being completed only on insertion of the plug 26. The socket 10 has a plurality of unidentified connection points 16, a pair of which must be interconnected to complete each circuit. The plug 26 has a pin 30 for connection with each connection point 16, pairs of pins 30 being interconnected within the plug 26 by wires 40. <IMAGE>

Description

INHIBITION OF VEHICLE THEFT The present invention relates to the inhibition of vehicle theft.

The incidence of unauthorised taking of unattended vehicles is increasing and there is, therefore, a demand for systems which increase the security of vehicles. It is desirable that such systems should immobilise the vehicle or render its operation practically impossible while it is unattended. It is also important that an authorised person can start and use the vehicle with a minimum of inconvenience because if a security system is difficult to use it is inevitable that it will often be left inactivated, for instance when the vehicle is left unattended for a short period.

In one of its aspects, the present invention provides a vehicle security system in which a by-pass device is included in the electrical circuitry of the vehicle to enable a plurality of selected circuits passing through the device to be readily broken and re-connected, the by-pass device comprising a terminal unit having a plurality of pairs of connection points to which and from which the selected circuits lead, and a readily-removable coupling unit which is engageable with the terminal unit and comprises a plurality of connecting means to effect respective coupling of the connection points in the required pairings to complete the circuits through the device, the connection points being isolated from one another at the terminal unit in the absence of the coupling unit, and the terminal unit bearing no indication of which connection points have to be interconnected to complete the circuits.

The selected electrical circuits are chosen as being crucial to operation of the vehicle, such as electrical feed to the coil, the distributor, the starter motor relay, the fuel pump, the fuel injectors, etc., such that until the circuits are completed the vehicle will not operate.

Preferably at least four, and more preferably five or more, circuits are completed through the by-pass device. This ensures that there is a large number of combinations of possible interconnections which must be tried by a thief in an attempt to complete the circuits manually (e.g. by insertion of wires into the terminal unit) in the absence of the coupling unit.

In a preferred embodiment the by-pass device is a multi-pin plug and socket arrangement. The terminal unit is in the form of a socket (or plug) fixed to a convenient part of the vehicle structure, preferably on the dashboard or adjacent the ignition keyswitch for ease of access. In this embodiment the coupling unit is preferably a self-contained unitary block in the form of a plug (or socket) which can be easily removed from the terminal unit and carried by the vehicle operator in a pocket or handbag.

In the embodiment described in the preceding paragraph, the plug and socket are preferably of a design not in common use as a deterrent to unauthorised attempts to devise coupling units.

The electrical function of the connection points of a terminal unit is preferably not predetermined, so that it can be varied between one wiring system and another. Furthermore, the arrangement of the pairings of connection points can be varied, from one system to another, the layouts of the interconnections within the coupling units being varied correspondingly. In this way, a coupling unit provided for the terminal unit of one wiring system embodying the invention will not necessarily work with another. It is to be preferred that every matched pair of terminal and coupling units is given an identifying code number known to the vehicle owner, by reference to which the manufacturer can supply a suitable replacement coupling unit should the original be lost or damaged.

There is also a demand from owners of existing vehicles for means by which their vehicle can be modified to incorporate additional security features.

To this end, the present invention provides, in another of its aspects, a kit of parts for converting a vehicle wiring system comprising a terminal unit and a corresponding coupling unit, the terminal unit having a plurality of pairs of connection points and the coupling unit having connecting means corresponding to each pair of connection points and being releasably electrically connectable therewith, indications being provided on the terminal unit to enable the pairs of connection. points to be identified, in order to enable installation of the kit, and the indicators being removable following installation.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure la is a part cut-away view of a coupling unit in the form of a plug; and Figure ib shows a terminal unit in the form of a socket.

A by-pass device comprises a socket 10 constituting a terminal unit for use in an embodiment of the invention. The socket 10 comprises a cylindrical body portion 12 having a mounting flange 14 around it at an open front end. The socket is adapted for mounting in a panel such as a car dashboard with its mounting flange 14 on an outer surface of the panel, accessible by the vehicle operator, and its body portion 12 projecting through an aperture to the rear of the panel.

A front end of the body portion 12 present ten identical connection points 16 towards the vehicle operator. At each connection point 16 there is an axially-extending hole into which a thin conducting element can be inserted for electrical connection to a terminal (not shown) located therein, all the connection points being isolated from one another within the unit.

A pair of concentric annular recesses 18, 20 on the body portion 12 are arranged to receive corresponding annular projections on the plug 26 (to be described below) which is to be inserted into the socket. An inner one of the recesses 20 is provided with an axially-extending bar forming a key 22 which passes into a corresponding keyway in the plug to ensure that the plug can be inserted in only one orientation. Eight of the connection points 16 are arranged in a ring in an annular portion of the body - portion standing between the two recesses 18, 20 and the other two are positioned in a central stem of the body portion 12.

A wire 23 is connected to the terminal of each connection point and these wires 23 emerge from the rear of the body portion 12 to be connected into the vehicle wiring system as will be described below. All of the wires are identically coloured to prevent identification of their function.

The plug 26, which constitutes a coupling unit of the by-pass device, has a body 28 in which ten forwardly-projecting metal pins 30 are mounted in an array corresponding to the connection points 16 in the socket. When the plug 28 is inserted into the socket 10, concentric tubular projections 32, 34 of the plug body 28 enter the concentric recesses 18, 20 in the socket 10, and the pins 30 engage the connection points 16 to make electrical contact with the terminals therein. A slot 36 extends into the inner projection 34 to receive the key 22 of the socket.

The pins 30 are secured in a transverse web of the body 28 and also project rearwardly into a chamber 38 within the body 28. Near their rear ends (i.e. within the chamber) each pin 30 has a transverse through-hole into which a wire 40 can be inserted. A longitudinal, internally-threaded bore extends from the end of the pin axially to intersect with the transverse hole. A screw is inserted into the bore to clamp the wire 40 in place in the transverse hole.

Each pin 30 is so connected to one other pin 30 by a length of wire 40, the ends of each wire being clamped in place in the transverse hole as described above. Pairs of pins 30 are thus electrically connected to one another to form connecting means for coupling predetermined pairs of connection points of the socket.

Following connection of the wires 40, the chamber 38 is filled with a hard-setting resin to prevent accidental or intentional interference with the wiring and to secure the pins in place. A cap 42 is finally fitted over the chamber and bonded into place to give the plug 26 a finished appearance.

The interconnection of the pins 30 can be varied between units, to minimise the likelihood that a plug adapted for one wiring system will operate with another.

To facilitate connection within the wiring system, the wires 23 are fitted before installation with numbered tags, pairs of wires which become electrically connected when the plug 26 is inserted into the socket 10 being give the same number. The tags are removable to render the wires 23 unidentifiable after connection. The terminal unit bears no indication as to which connection points have to be interconnected, once the tags have been removed.

The connection of the plug and socket into a vehicle wiring system will now be described.

A circuit within the wiring system is selected as being crucial to the operation of the vehicle; for example, the low-tension ignition circuit may be chosen. At a suitable point at which to interrupt the circuit (e.g. between the coil and the distributor) a section of related wire within the wiring loom is exposed.

To make the connection to the socket, the wire is then cut. The cut ends are then spliced to intermediary wires which are in turn spliced to a pair of identically-numbered wires 23 extending from the socket 10. Once these connections have been made, the wiring loom is re-taped to cover the splices.

The whole procedure is then repeated for four further essential circuits, identically-coloured intermediary wires being used for each circuit.

Once all connections are made the numbered tags are removed from the wires 23 and all of the intermediary wires are, as far as possible, taped together to form a loom to give the appearance of their being an integral part of the vehicle wiring system.

Insertion of the plug 26 into the socket 10 then completes the selected circuits so allowing the vehicle to operate. However, in the absence of the plug, or if a plug with an incorrect arrangement of wires 34 is inserted, the circuits will not be completed and the vehicle will not operate.

Further to frustrate illicit attempts to devise coupling units which might successfully co-operate with installed terminal units, the by-pass devices may be manufactured in a range of shapes, sizes and configurations.

Claims (13)

1. A vehicle security system in which a by-pass device is included in the electrical circuitry of the vehicle to enable a plurality of selected circuits passing through the device to be readily broken and re-connected, the by-pass device comprising a terminal unit having a plurality of pairs of connection points to which and from which the selected circuits lead, and a readily-removable coupling unit which is engageable with the terminal unit and comprises a plurality of connecting means to effect respective coupling of the connection points in the required pairings to complete the circuits through the device, the connection points being isolated from one another at the terminal unit in the absence of the coupling unit, and the terminal unit bearing no indication of which connection points have to be interconnected to complete the circuits.

2. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 in which the circuits are selected from a group including the electrical feed to the coil, the distributor, the starter motor relay, the fuel pump, and the fuel injectors.

3. A vehicle security system according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which four or five circuits pass through the by-pass device.

4. A vehicle security system according to any preceding claim in which the by-pass device comprises a multi-pin plug and socket.

5. A vehicle security system according to claim 4 in which the terminal unit comprises a socket or plug fixed to the vehicle dashboard adjacent the ignition keyswitch.

6. A vehicle security system according to claim 5 in which the coupling unit comprises a unitary block including a plug or socket which may be easily removed from the terminal unit and carried by a vehicle operator.

7. A vehicle security system according to claim 6 in which the plug and socket are of a design not in common use.

8. A vehicle security system according to any preceding claim in which the electrical function of the connection points of the terminal unit is not predetermined, and can be varied between one wiring system and another.

9. A vehicle security system according to any preceding claim in which the arrangement of pairings of connection points may be varied from one wiring system to another, the layout of connection within each coupling unit being varied correspondingly.

10. A vehicle security system according to claim 9 in which every matched pair of terminal and coupling units is given an identifying code number known to the vehicle owner, by reference to which the manufacturer can supply a suitable replacement coupling unit should the original be lost or damaged.

11. A kit of parts for converting a vehicle wiring system comprising a terminal unit and a corresponding coupling unit, the terminal unit having a plurality of pairs of connection points and the coupling unit having connecting means corresponding to each pair of connection points and being releasably electrically connectable therewith, indications being provided on the terminal unit to enable the pairs of connection points to be identified, in order to enable installation of the kit, and the indicators being removable following installation.

12. A vehicle security system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A kit of parts for converting a vehicle wiring system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.