IL102692A - Automobile hood security system - Google Patents

Description

HOOD SECURITY SYSTEM HOOD SECURITY SYSTEM FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to anti-theft systems for automobiles and, more particularly, to systems for preventing unauthorized persons from gaining access to the engine compartment of the car for the purpose of disabling any anti-theft devices which might be found therein.

The theft of automobile is, unfortunately, quite common. A multitude of methods have been devised in an attempt to prevent such thefts. Some of these systems cause a siren and/or car horn to go off, and/or cause lights to blink, and the like, upon the detection of an unauthorized attempt to enter and/or operate the car. More sophisticated systems feature mechanisms which provide for the disabling of the car and prevent the car from being turned on and operated if anyone but an authorized person attempts to start the car.

Many of the more effective systems rely on sensors located in the passenger compartment and a central controller mechanism which is housed in space available under the hood of the car. This location under the hood is chosen for at least three reasons. First, the engine compartment typically has some extra space where such a devices may be mounted. Space in the passenger compartment is, by contrast, scarce and highly valuable. Second, the location of the mechanism under the hood serves to deter or prevent theft, at least in the case of relatively amateur burglars, by hiding the mechanism from the view of the burglar. Third, and most important, in most modern cars the hood may only be opened after a hood release lever, which is located inside the passenger compartment, is activated. Placing the mechanisms under the hood thus prevents a would-be car thief from first disabling the security mechanisms from the outside and then entering the vehicle. Rather, it forces the would-be thief to first enter the passenger compartment, where his unauthorized presence may be detected by various sensors, and only then to release the hood for the purpose of tampering with, and disabling, the central mechanism deactivation of the anti-theft system.

Unfortunately, placement of the central mechanism under the hood is largely ineffective against the increasingly sophisticated car thief who knows that once he has gained entry into the passenger compartment, he must quickly operate the trunk release lever, open the hood and deactivate the central mechanism located in the engine compartment. The thief then jumps back in the driver's seat, turns on the car and drives away. The entire operation may take only a few seconds — usually not long enough for anyone to react to any burglar alarms which the burglar may have set off upon first entering the vehicle.

There is thus a widely recognized need to fortify a variety of automobile anti-theft systems by providing a means for securing the hood so that the hood may not be opened by an unauthorized person even if that person has managed to gain access to the passenger compartment.

It would be desirable and highly advantageous to have a hood security system which will enable an authorized car user to lock the hood in such a way that no one but himself or another authorized person will be able to release the hood and open it, even from inside the passenger compartment .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a system for preventing the unauthorized release of an automobile hood, for use in conjunction with a hood latch plate, comprising: (a) a connector attached at one of its ends to the hood latch plate so that pulling the hood latch plate so as to release the hood causes the connector to advance to its first position, whereas when the hood latch plate is not pulled so as to release the hood, the connector is in its second position; and (b) a means for fixing the connector in its second position whereby the connector prevents the hood latch plate from being released.

According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the connector is a cable, preferably a coaxial cable.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments, the system includes a slotted plunger, which may be actuated by a motor, for immobilizing the cable in its locked position to prevent release of the hood. The system is preferably located under the hood and may further include a controller and an alarm system.

The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations by providing a system for locking the hood of a car and preventing unauthorized persons from unlocking the hood even when they have gained access to the passenger compartment of the automobile. Locating various security systems under the hood of the car thus significantly enhances the security of the car against theft and unauthorized use by effectively removing from the thief or unauthorized user the possibility of tampering with or disabling the safety mechanism.

The present invention discloses a novel system wherein the hood latch plate is attached to a cable which, at its other end, is connected to the automobile through a spring. When the system is not actuated, release of the hood is accomplished in the conventional manner, namely, by pulling a hood release lever located inside the passenger compartment, which in turn pulls a hood latch plate and releases the hood.

The system includes a mechanism that, when desired, serves to immobilize the cable so that attempts to release the hood latch plate by pulling the hood release lever are be unsuccessful.

To use the system, the driver would, before leaving the car, activate the system in some convenient manner, thereby immobilizing the cable and preventing unauthorized persons from releasing the hood and gaining access to any security systems, including the system according to the present invention, which might be located under the hood.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a top view of an automobile incorporating a system according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of an automobile showing a hood latch of a conventional hood locking mechanism; FIG. 2a is a close-up view of one portion of the hood latch mechanism of Figure 2; FIG. 3 is a close-up top view of a conventional hood locking mechanism as it might be used in conjunction with a system according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a plan view of a system according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the system shown in Figure 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is of a system for preventing unauthorized persons from opening the hood of an automobile, thereby denying them access to any security mechanisms which might be housed under the hood.

The principles and operation of a system according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawing, Figures 1-5 illustrate various aspects of a system according to the present invention. Figure 1 shows the overall system as it might be implemented in an automobile 10. Automobile 10 typically features a conventional hood locking system which typically includes a hood release lever 12 located inside the passenger compartment. Hood release lever 12 is connected via a hood release cable 14 to a hood latch plate 16.

The operation of hood latch plate 16 can be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 shows a portion of the hood locking system, namely, a hood latch 18. Hood latch 18 typically includes a shaft 20 and a head 22. Shaft 20 is mounted to the hood 23 of automobile 10. A spring 24 is wound around shaft 20 and is attached to a spring plate 26.

Pivotally mounted onto automobile 10, in a location so as to accept hood latch 18, is hood latch plate 16. Hood latch plate 16 is connected to a mounting plate 28 through a pivot 30 which allows hood latch plate 16 to rotate a few degrees in one sense or the other. Connected to hood latch plate 16 is hood release cable 14 which is capable of pulling hood latch plate 16 in one sense. Hood latch plate 16 is biased, for example, by use of a biasing spring 32, so as to tend to rotate in a sense opposite that through which hood release cable 14 operates. Also connected to hood latch plate 16, but not part of a conventional system, is a hood locking cable 34. Hood locking cable 34 is connected in the same sense as biasing spring 32 and in opposite the sense of hood release cable 14. The function and operation of hood locking cable 34 will be discussed below.

In normal operation of a conventional hood locking mechanism such as that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, closing of hood 23 causes head 22 of hood latch 18 to rotate hood latch plate 16 counterclockwise, against the biasing force of biasing spring 32, sufficiently to allow head 22 to move past hood latch plate 16. As soon as head 22 has moved past hood latch plate 16, hood latch plate 16 rotates clockwise about pivot 30 and rests against shaft 20, thereby preventing head 22 from moving back past hood latch plate 16, thereby locking hood 23.

Typically, in closing hood 23, hood latch plate 16 causes spring plate 26 to move upward, thereby compressing spring 24. When hood 23 is released, spring 24 expands, thereby pushing hood 23 slightly upwards to move head 22 past hood latch plate 16 and to aid the operator in grabbing hood 23 and raising it to its fully opened position .

To release hood 23, the operator must pull hood release lever 12 which displaces hood release cable 14, and which, in turn, rotates hood latch plate 16 slightly counterclockwise, allowing spring 24 to push hood 23 upwards, in the process moving head 22 past hood latch plate 16.

/ This completes the description of a typical conventional hood locking system found, except for hood ' locking cable 34 which is part of a system according to the 5 present invention, as standard equipment on most As can be seen, access to the area under the hood can be gained by anyone who has access to the passenger compartment. A system according to the present invention is designed to prevent access to the area under 0 the hood even in the event that an unauthorized person has managed to enter the passenger compartment. The components of such a system are described below with special reference to Figures 1 , 4 and 5.

The major components of a system according to the 5 present invention are shown schematically in Figure 1 which gives an overall view of the system. It is to be noted that the system is self-protecting in that the various components are preferably located under the hood so as to prevent tampering with the mechanisms by unauthorized 0 persons.

A system according to the present invention includes a connector, which is preferably a hood locking cable 34, attached at one end to hood latch plate 16 as discussed above. Hood locking cable 34 is normally found in one of 5 two positions, except for intermediate positions achieved momentarily during rotation of hood latch plate 16 in going from one position to the other. Following rotation of hood latch plate 16 so as to release hood 23 hood locking cable 34 is in its first position, whereas when hood latch plate 1 6 is allowed to resume its normal position resting against shaft 20 of hood latch 1 8 , hood locking cable 34 is in its second position.

Hood locking cable 34 is attached to automobile 1 0 , preferably through a main mounting plate 38 which is preferably connected to automobile 1 0 in the space under hood 23 . Main mounting plate 38 may be bolted to automobile 1 0 using main mounting plate bolts 39 . Hood locking cable 34 is be connected to main mounting plate 38 through a locking cable spring 40 which connects between a bolt 42 bolted into main mounting plate 38 and a locking cable connector 44 which is connected to hood locking cable 34 , typically through a connector bolt 46 .

Locking cable spring 40 makes it possible for hood locking cable 34 , when not immobilized as will be discussed below, to move freely through the distance required whenever hood latch plate 1 6 is rotated to allow head 22 of hood latch 1 8 to move past hood latch plate 1 6. Thus, until hood locking cable 34 is immobilized, the entire system operates exactly as would a conventional hood locking system, as described above.

To lock hood 23 in such a way that only authorized persons are able to open the hood, a system according to the. present invention features means for fixing or immobilizing hood locking cable 34 in its second position so as to prevent hood latch plate 1 6 from rotating sufficiently to release hood latch 1 8 .

J Means for fixing or immobilized hood locking cable 34 / may be any convenient mechanism. One illustrative mechanism is shown in Figures 4 and 5. Here, hood locking cable 34 includes a feature 47, which may be bolted onto hood locking cable 34, which has a transverse dimension which is significantly larger that the diameter of hood locking cable 34.

Oriented perpendicular to hood locking cable 34 is a plunger 48 which is capable of being displaced some suitable distance perpendicular to hood locking cable 34. Displacement may be accomplished by any convenient means, such as by use of a motor 49, which may be connected to main mounting plate 38 by, for example, motor mounting bolts 51. Preferably, plunger 48 includes at its surface nearest hood locking cable 34 a slot 50 which is sufficiently wide to accommodate within it hood locking cable 34 but which is not sufficiently wide to allow feature 47 to pass through.

Hood locking cable 34 is shown in Figures 4 and 5 in 0 its second position, i.e., in its position whenever hood latch plate 16 is in the hood locking position. To secure hood 23 against opening by unauthorized persons, plunger 48 is made, using motor 49, to move forward toward hood locking cable 34 sufficiently so that hood locking cable 34 5 is located in slot 50. In this condition, hood 23 cannot be opened by pulling hood release lever 12 as can be seen most clearly with reference to Figure 3.

An unauthorized person who has gained entry to the passenger compartment may attempt to open hood 23 by pulling hood release lever 12. This would normally displace hood release cable 14, which would rotate hood latch plate 16 and release hood 23. However, whenever a system according to the present invention is activated, hood locking cable 34 is fixed and will not allow hood release cable 14 to be displaced so as to rotate hood latch plate 16 enough to release hood 23.

Preferably, that portion of hood locking cable 34 which is beyond the general area of the means for fixing hood locking cable 34 is enclosed in, and is slidable with respect to, a protective cover 52. The result is a coaxial cable with a protective cover 52 which is immobile and an inner hood locking cable 34 which is slidable relative to protective cover 52. Protective cover 52 may be conveniently connected to suitable anchoring points of automobile 10, for example, with the aid of suitable anchors 54, so as to prevent any interference of protective cover 52 with the operation of any other system of automobile 10.

The actuation of a system according to the present invention may be effected by any suitable means, including, but not limited to, a special key located in the passenger compartment or a keypad with a secret code. Alternatively or additionally, actuation mechanisms may include automatic activation of the system a timed interval after the car is turned off or locked.

A system according to the present invention may include a controller mechanism 56 for controlling and supervising the system operation and providing for interfacing between a system according to the present invention and any other systems which may be present, including, but not limited to, an alarm system 58.

While the invention has been described with respect to one basic preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

Claims (10)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A system for preventing the unauthorized release of an automobile hood, for use in conjunction with a hood latch plate, comprising: (a) a connector attached at one of its ends to the hood latch plate so that pulling the hood latch plate so as to release the hood causes said connector to advance to its first position, whereas when the hood latch plate is not pulled so as to release the hood, said connector is in its second position; and (b) a means for fixing said connector in its second position whereby said connector prevents the hood latch plate from being released.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said connector is a cable.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said connector coaxial cable.

4. A system as in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the other end of said connector is connected to the automobile through a spring and wherein said means for fixing said connector includes a plunger which alternately fixes and releases said connector. 102692/2

5. A system as in claim 4 wherein said plunger is actuated by a motor.

6. A system as in claim 4 wherein said plunger includes a slot sufficiently wide to accommodate said connector.

7. A system as in claim 6 wherein attached to said connector is a feature which is wider than said slot.

8. A system as in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein said connector and said means for fixing said connector are located under the hood of the automobile.

9. A system as in any of claims 1 to 8 further comprising means for controlling the operation of the system.

10. A system as in any of claims 1 to 9 further comprising an alarm syst 64733 Tel Aviv