GB2422940A

GB2422940A - Tamper proof anti-theft detection for a vehicle's roadwheels

Info

Publication number: GB2422940A
Application number: GB0502525A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Staley Cyril
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-08
Filing date: 2005-02-08
Publication date: 2006-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-08
Also published as: GB0502525D0; GB2422940B

Abstract

A pressure sensor switch 6 fitted at the top of a hollow piston rod being part of a shock absorber 4 in order to detect internal hydraulic oil pressure changes during the unit's extension or compression and electrically connected into a vehicle's electronic alarm system as an extension of a vehicle's anti-theft electronic monitoring sensor loop in order that horn and hazard light theft indicators may be activated whenever a protected roadwheel is being illicitly removed whilst the vehicle is parked and locked with its anti-theft alarm system set on alert mode. An insecure wheel indicator of attempted roadwheel tampering may be included in order to prevent a subsequent driver from driving a dangerous vehicle that has loosened or missing wheel nuts. All parts of this system being inaccessible to thieves would therefore present tamper proof protection that thieves may find they are unable to overcome. In a further embodiment the illicit raising of a wheel can be detected by laser or sonic sensors located in the boot and bonnet compartments of the vehicle. Alternatively a magnetic proximity switch can be fitted to detect excessive displacement of the vehicle suspension.

Description

Description.

Tamper Proof Anti - Theft Protection for a Vehicle's Roadwheel/s.

This invention relates to a means olactivating a parked vehicle's existing electronic anti-theft alarm system should thieves attempt to remove one or more roadwheels from a locked, parked and alarmed vehicle.

Presently, vehicle anti-theft alarm systems do not guard against the theft of roadwheels without the entire vehicle being stolen. Also should a thief be interrupted after loosening or removing wheel nuts a driver and others may subsequently suffer seriou.s injuiy and property damage due to a wheel detaching while in motion. At high speed this could be lethal.

To include roadwheel protection, the present invention preferably proposes a means of sensing a change in the hydraulic internal oil pressuse of a vehicle's shock absorber/s as these units extend or compress whenever a roadwheel is illicitly lifted from the ground by jacking either the body shell or suspension assembly in order to remove a roadwheel/s.

By these means a trigger signal may activate the vehicle's horns and/or hazard lights whenever an unlawful attempt is made to steal a roadwheel/s from a parked, locked, vehicle whose anti-theft system has been set in its alert mode. The location of the pressure sensor switches and their wiring being totally contained within the vehicle's secure, already anti- theft protected compartments, e.g. bonnet and boot, provides for this system to be tamper proof: The pressure sensor switches 6 may be fitted to shock absorber/s without hindering the normal operation of the vehicle and will be in-effective during driving.

A visual/audible insecure wheel indicator may be additionally incorporated in order to warn a subsequent driver that the roadwheel/s may have been tampered with and that driving may be dangerous. The indicator is to remain in its warning status until cancelled and reset by an intending driver.

Alternatively a vehicle's roadwheel/s may be protected by fitting laser or sonic sensor/s within the bonnet and boot compartments such that they may detect any change, (that is not of short duration), in the distance to the ground or any members of the vehicle's Suspension assemblies should a vehicle be illicitly raised in order to steal a roadwheel or the entire vehicle by means of a tow truck or hoist.

A further method ofroadwheel/s protection may also be achieved by the use of none-contacting magnetic proximity switch/es fitted to detect the displacement of suspension member/s or roadwheel/s to operate the vehicle's existing anti-theft alarm system when a vehicle is raised to illicitly steal a roadwheel/s from a locked, parked and alarnied vehicle.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a pressure sensor switch 6 fitted to the top end of a hollow piston rod being part of a shock absorber 4 which is part of a typical suspension assembly 3 that supports a vehicle's body 5 from a rear roadwhcel 1. The pressure sensor switch 6 has electrical wiring 7 connected to the vehicle's monitoring sensor loop within its electronic anti-theft system.

Figure 2 shows a pressure sensor switch 6 as in figure 1 but protecting a roadwheel I being part of a typical front suspension assembly 2.

Figure 3 shows a pressure sensor switch 6 fitted at the top end of a hollow piston rod 8 being part of a shock absorber 4 such that it may detect changes of hydraulic oil pressure within the unit.

Figure 4 shows four pressure sensor switches 6 (may he any required number) shown schematically as an extension to a vehicle's electronic anti-theft monitoring sensor loop thus providing additional automatic anti-thefT points in order to extend protection to roadwhcels 1.

Figure 5 shows an alternative sensing method in which the outline of a vehicle having either laser 9 or sonic 10 sensors located in the boot and lx)nnet compartments (or any other location) to detect a none-permissible increase in the distance from the body shell 5 to the ground.

Figure 6 shows a further alternative sensing method in which a nonecontacting magnetic proximity sensor switch 11 located such that it may detect none-permissible movement in the position of the vehicle's rear suspension members 3.

Figure 7 shows another alternative sensing method in which a proximity sensor switch I 1 located as in figure 6 but protecting a vehicle's front suspension members 2.

in figures 1,2 and 3 a dual acting pressure sensor switch 6 is shovn fitted at the top of a hollow piston rod 8 being part of a shock absorber 4 whereby it may detect temporaiy increases or decreases within its internal hydraulic oil pressure reservoirs caused by either extension or compression of the unit whenever a roadwhecl 1 is raised from the ground when the vehicle is parked, locked and anti- theft alarmed.

As shown in figure 4 an electrical signal derived from a sensor/s 6, 9, 10 or 11, may be transmitted to the vehicle's electronic anti-theft alann system by connecting it to the circuit's monitoring sensor loop to which any number of additional sensors may be wired. The pressure sensor switches 4 would remain electrically inactive during normal driving and only become operative and thereby attain standby status once the vehicle is parked and had its alarm system set on anti-theft alert. Should a thief then attempt to steal a roadwheel 1 without taking the vehicle, the audio/visual warning system would be activated, thus creating a deten-ent against continuation of the theft. Any number of roadwhecls 1 may be protected in this way as would theft involving lifting the vehicle either partially by tow truck or entirely for total removal by hoist.

Tn figure 5 an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in which the means of sensing illicit raising of a roadwheel I is provided by means of either laser 9 or sonic 10 sensors located within the boot and bonnet compartments (or any other location) such that they would activate the vehicle's anti- theft alarm system when the distance to the ground is increased due to illicit lifting of a roadwheel I. in figure 6 a ftirther alternative enibodiment of the invention is shown in which the means of sensing illicit raising of a roadwlieel I is provided by means of a nonecontacting magnetic proximity switch 11 fitted to detect excessive displacement of a vehicle's rear suspension a&sembly 3.

In figure 7 protection is shown as in figure 6 but in respect of a roadwheel I being part of a front suspension assembly 2. c

Claims

1 / 1 claim a pressure sensor fitted to a shock absorber being

electrically connected to a vehicle!s electronic anti-theft alarm system.

2' 1 claim a laser sensor lined to a vehicle being electrically connected to a vehicles electronic anti-theft alarm system.

3/ 1 claim a sonic sensor fitted to a vdiicle being electrically connectedlo a vehicle!s electronic anti-theft alarm system.

4/ 1 claim a pxiniity sensor fitted to a vehicle being electrically connected to a vehicle's electronic anti- theft alarm system.

5/ 1 claim the inclusion of multiple sensors as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 fitted to protect more than one roadwheej of a vehicle. 6/

vehicle's eiectmnic anti-theft alann system.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1/ 1 claim a pressure sensor fitted to a shock absorber being electrically connected to a vehicle's electronic anti-theft alarm system.