GB2467720A

GB2467720A - Motor vehicle having a carrier system and theft alert system

Info

Publication number: GB2467720A
Application number: GB1010442A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Armin Barth
Original assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Current assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority date: 2007-12-21
Filing date: 2008-11-12
Publication date: 2010-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-12
Also published as: CN101903209A; GB2467720B; GB201010442D0; WO2009083068A1; DE102007062252A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a carrier system (2) fixed on the exterior of the motor vehicle for at least one object, and a theft alert system for monitoring the object mounted on the carrier system (2). The theft alert system comprises a contact device, particularly a microswitch (10), disposed between the object and the carrier system (2).

Description

A motor vehicle with a carrier system and an anti-theft alarm system

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a motor vehicle, com-prising a carrier system for at least one object attached to the outside of the motor vehicle and an anti-theft alarm system for monitoring the object held in the carri-er system.

Bicycles and other bulky objects are trans-ported with additional carrier systems, e.g. in the form of roof racks or rear luggage carriers, which can be fas- tened in a detachable manner in the region of the tail-gate or a boot lid to a body of a motor vehicle. In order to secure these objects in the parked state of the motor vehicle, it is known to provide the carrier systems them-selves with locks in order to avoid the release of the roof rack from a roof railing of the motor vehicle by un-authorized persons. On the other hand, lockable fixing devices for bicycles and skis can be provided on the car-rier system itself which can only be opened and closed with a key by an authorized person.

DE 103 52 644 B4 discloses a carrier system that has been integrated in a rear end of a motor ve-hicle, which system is retracted completely into the rear end when not in use, so that it does not cause any addi-tional air resistance and will not get dirty.

It is common practice especially in the case of high-quality motor vehicles to provide these with an an-ti-theft alarm system which can be arranged in the form of an ultrasonic or infrared sensor, with which an inte-nor space of the motor vehicle is monitored. Should a burglar smash a window of the motor vehicle and enter the interior of the same without previously unlocking a door or flap in a proper manner, the anti-theft alarm system will conclude unauthorized entering and will emit an opt-ical and/or acoustic alarm signal.

CA 1 217 543 Al shows an anti-theft alarm de- vice in which a bicycle can be fastened by means of a ca- ble to a carrier system. When the cable is severed or ma-nipulated in any other manner, its electric conductivity changes. This is determined by a respective sensor and it is concluded that a theft or damage to the cable has oc-curred and a warning signal is thus emitted.

FR 2 623 454 Al further shows an anti-theft alarm system, with several electric contacts being pro- vided on a roof rack of a motor vehicle which are con-nected via electric leads with a control device. When an electric contact is interrupted, a removal of the roof rack is concluded and a respective warning signal is emitted.

The known carrier systems with an anti-theft alarm system are disadvantageous in the respect that it is always necessary to have a complex system of electric contacts with a plurality of additional electric lines, leading to a considerable constructional effort.

It is the object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle of the kind mentioned above, in which an anti-theft alarm system for an object transported by the carrier system is realized in a simple way.

This object is achieved by the invention in such a way that the anti-theft alarm system comprises a contact device arranged between the object and the carri-er system, especially a rnicroswitch.

In such a motor vehicle or carrier system, the contact device arranged as a microswitch for example is associated with the former, which switch is actuated for example by placing a bicycle on a support rail or placing an object on the carrier system. When the motor vehicle is locked subsequently, a control device which is asso-ciated with the anti-theft alarm system for example can conclude that it is intended to steal the object when it is lifted from the carrier system without prior activa- tion of the ignition or a deactivation of a central lock-ing system and the switching state of the microswitch thus changes. For example, a receptacle for holding a pedal crank of a bicycle can be equipped with such a mi-croswitch. The microswitch can be arranged in any way whatsoever.

It is understood that not only carrier systems integrated or rectractable in the motor vehicle are com- prised within the scope of the invention, but also sepa-rate carrier systems such as roof racks or rear-mounted carriers for luggage, bicycles or the like. In this case it is necessary to produce an additional electric connec-tion between the microswitch and a central databus of the motor vehicle. This connection can also be provided dur- ing manufacturing in the case of integrated carrier sys-tems. Any sensors, e.g. so-called reed contacts, can be used as contact devices in addition to a microswitch.

Especially bicycles or motorbikes are lashed with straps on carrier systems in order to prevent slip-ping during travel with the motor vehicle. The straps are tensioned and locked with known strap buckles. The straps and buckles are preferably associated with a strap sensor which monitors the correct seat and locked state of the strap. When a strap is released despite deactivated igni-tion, this is determined electrically and it is concluded that the tightly lashed object is to be removed in an un-authorized manner. A respective warning signal will be emitted subsequently. Such strap sensors can be arranged for example as an electrically conductive resistance wire which is integrated in the strap. When the strap is se-vered, this can be registered in a simple way through a change in the resistance.

The anti-theft alarm system further preferably comprises a weight sensor attached between the carrier system and the Object. If either the complete object or only parts thereof such as a handlebar or a saddle of a bicycle is removed, this results in a reduction of the total weight, which is registered via the weight sensor, which preferably comprises a piezo-crystal.

Similarly, the anti-theft warning system can also comprise a strain gauge which is connected with the carrier system and/or the object and with which the shak-ing or manipulation of the carrier system or the object to be monitored can be detected. Such a strain gauge can be arranged on a main carrier which carries the main load of the carrier system and the erected object. If there is an even only slight twisting of the structure of the car- rier system by external manipulation, this will be deter--mined and a respective warning signal will be emitted.

In a further development, the anti-theft alarm system comprises a tilt sensor integrated in the carrier system in order to determine manipulations in a simple way. The tilt sensor detects a change in position of the carrier system and emits a respective signal to the anti-theft alarm system.

Finally, the anti-theft alarm system can com-prise an ultrasonic and/or infrared sensor which, in its capacity as a motion detector, monitors the area above the carrier system in which the parked object is arranged whether a person is present in an unauthorized manner in this area or is manipulating the same. In order to pre- vent a response of the anti-theft alarm system that corn-mences too early, e.g. when a person runs closely past the object, the warning signal can be activated only from a preferably adjustable dwell time, e.g. five seconds.

In order to prevent unauthorized access, an ac-tivation, i.e. the arming, of the anti-theft alarm system is indicated optically and/or acoustically. For this pur- pose, one or several light-emitting diodes can be ar-ranged in the interior of the motor vehicle or on the carrier system itself, which will illuminate upon activa- tion of the anti-theft alarm system in order to thus sig-nalize the electronic monitoring. Similarly, beeps or the like can be emitted. All other types of visual and/or acoustic warning notifications are principally possible.

For the improved protection of the object held on the carrier system, an alarm notification can be out-put by the anti-theft alarm system when unauthorized access is determined. This can occur in the form of the conventional visual and/or acoustic warning signals in order to prevent the attempt of theft right from the be-ginning. Similarly, a respective notification can be made in a preferably wireless manner to the police authorities or via a mobile phone network to a central point or the user, so that the respective measures for preventing a theft can be initiated in time.

It is understood that the features as mentioned above and as will be explained below can be used not only in the respectively stated combination but also in other combinations. The scope of the invention is defined only by the claims.

The invention is now explained below by refer-ence to an embodiment shown in the drawing which shows the rear of a motor vehicle with a carrier system for an object.

The rear of the motor vehicle 1 comprises an integrated carrier system 2 which can be retracted into the rear completely in the region of a bumper 9 when not in use in order to thus avoid being damaged or soiled and avoiding air resistance. Such a carrier system 2 can also be arranged to be principally detachable, e.g. as a tail-gate carrier or roof rack.

A bicycle 3 is placed on the carrier system 2 as an object and is fastened in a detachable manner with different locking devices 4 on the wheels, a seat post or another suitable location. These locking devices 4 are arranged in the form of straps 5 with which the bicycle 3 is tightly lashed to a support rail 12 of the carrier system 2. Sensors are associated with the straps 5 which monitor the correct closure of a buckle and the function-al state of the strap 5. If either the strap 5 is damaged or the buckle is broken, this can be determined by the associated sensors and an alarm signal can be output in a visual and/or acoustic manner via an associated anti-theft alarm system. A notification can principally also be sent to a user of the motor vehicle, the police or any other central point.

Furthermore, a microswitch 10 which is coupled with the anti-theft alarm system is associated with the carrier system 2, which microswitch is embedded in an upright positioned locking rail 11 of the carrier system 2 for a pedal crank 6 of the bicycle 3 and determines the correct insertion of the pedal crank 6 in the locking rail. The anti-theft alarm system also emits an alarm signal in the case of an unauthorized removal of the ped-al crank 6 from the locking rail 11.

Furthermore, the anti-theft alarm system can also be coupled with a strain gauge 7 which is arranged on a main carrier 8 of the carrier system 2 in order to determine shaking, manipulation or lifting of the bicycle 3 by twisting of the main carrier 8.

Similarly, the region above the carrier system 2 can also be monitored with motion detectors on the ba- sis of ultrasonic sound and/or infrared in order to indi-cate an undesirable access to the bicycle 3. Similarly, the carrier system 2 can be associated with a weight sen- sor in brder to detect the unauthorized removal of a sad-dle or handlebar.

List of reference numerals 1. Motor vehicle 2. Carrier system 3. Bicycle 4. Locking device 5. Strap 6. Pedal crank 7. Strain gauge 8. Main carrier 9. Bumper 10. Microswitch 11. Locking rail 12. Support rail