Vehicle security system

Claim 2

A security system to enable a person automatically to lock and to unlock the locking mechanism on the door of a vehicle without using his hands to operate the mechanism, said security system comprising a radio receiver on the vehicle responsive to an RF signal exceeding a predetermined value to provide a control signal at the output of the receiver, actuator means electrically coupled to the output of said receiver and mechanically coupled to the latch, said actuator means having a first condition for unlocking the locking mechanism and having a second condition for locking the locking mechanism, said actuator means being operated by the control signal into its first condition substantially for the period during which the control signal is present, and being operated in the absence of the control signal into its second condition substantially for the period during which the control signal is absent, and a portable radio transmitter for wearing by the person and being operative to provide an RF signal which exceeds said predetermined value when the transmitter is within a predetermined distance from said receiver, said transmitter being energized to provide the RF signal continuously without further use of the person''s hands until said transmitter is later deenergized to terminate the RF signal, whereby the locking mechanism will be unlocked automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is within said predetermined distance and will be locked automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is beyond said predetermined distance.

Claim 3

The security system set forth in claim 1, wherein said RF signal is a modulated carrier wave, said receiver includes means to detect the modulation components in the carrier wave.

Claim 4

The security system set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes at least one solenoid winding coupled to the output of said receiver and at least one plunger coupled to the latch, said solenoid winding being energized by the control signal to cause the plunger to move the latch from one position thereof to the other position thereof.

Claim 5

The security system set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensitivity of said receiver and the power output of said transmitter are selected to enable said predetermined distance to be on the order of about ten feet.

Claim 6

A security system to enable a person automatically to move the latch on the door of a vehicle between locked and unlocked positions without using his hands to operate the latch, said security system comprising a radio receiver on the vehicle responsive to an RF signal exceeding a predetermined value to provide a control signal at the output of the receiver, actuator means including a solenoid winding coupled to the output of said receiver and a plunger coupled to the latch, said solenoid winding being energized by the control signal to cause said plunger to move the latch from one of its positions to the other of its positions substantially for the period during which the control signal is present, circuit means electrically coupled to said solenoid winding and being mounted adjacent to the latch and arranged to be engaged thereby after movement thereof to said other position for de-energizing said solenoid winding substantially for the period during which the control signal is absent, and a portable radio transmitter for wearing by the person and being operative to provide an RF signal which exceeds said predetermined value when the transmitter is within a predetermined distance from said receiver, said transmItter being energized to provide the RF signal continuously without further use of the person''s hands until said transmitter is later de-energized to terminate the RF signal, whereby the latch will be in its unlocked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is within said predetermined distance and will be in its locked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is beyond said predetermined distance.

Claim 7

A security system to enable a person automatically to move the latch on the door of a vehicle between locked and unlocked positions without using his hands to operate the latch, said security system comprising a radio receiver on the vehicle responsive to an RF signal exceeding a predetermined value to provide a control signal at the output of the receiver, actuator means including a solenoid winding coupled to the output of said receiver and a plunger coupled to the latch, said solenoid winding being energized by the control signal to cause said plunger to move the latch from one of its positions to the other of its positions substantially for the period during which the control signal is present, circuit means electrically coupled to said solenoid winding and being mounted adjacent to the latch and arranged to be engaged thereby after movement thereof to said other position for de-energizing said solenoid winding substantially for the period during which the control signal is absent, and a portable radio transmitter for wearing by the person and being operative to provide an RF signal which exceeds said predetermined value when the transmitter is within a predetermined distance from said receiver, said transmItter being energized to provide the RF signal continuously without further use of the person''s hands until said transmitter is later de-energized to terminate the RF signal, whereby the latch will be in its unlocked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is within said predetermined distance and will be in its locked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is beyond said predetermined distance.

Claim 8

The security system set forth in claim 5, and further comprising keeper structure disposed adjacent to the latch and arranged to be engaged thereby upon moving to said other position thereof, thereby to retain the latch in said other position thereof after said circuit means has de-energized said solenoid winding.

Claim 9

The security system set forth in claim 5, wherein said circuit means includes a switch having at least one fixed contact and a movable contact, said movable contact being positioned to be engaged by the latch and carried into engagement with said fixed contact.

Claim 10

The security system set forth in claim 5, wherein said circuit means is a switch connected in series with said solenoid winding, said switch being in the closed condition thereof when said solenoid winding is being energized and being opened after movement of the latch to said other position thereof for de-energizing said solenoid winding.

Claim 11

A security system to enable a person automatically to move the latch on the door of a vehicle between locked and unlocked positions without using his hands to operate the latch, said security system comprising a radio receiver on the vehicle responsive to an RF signal exceeding a predetermined value to provide a control signal at the output of the receiver, actuating means including first and second solenoid windings coupled to the output of said receiver and first and second plungers respectively associated with said solenoid windings, said first plunger being coupled to the latch and being arranged for moving the latch to the unlocked position thereof, said second plunger being coupled to the latch and being arranged for moving the latch to the locked position thereof, said first solenoid winding being energized by the control signal to operate said first plunger to move the latch to the unlocked position thereof substantially for the period during which the control signal is present, first circuit means electrically coupled to said first solenoid winding and being mounted adjacent to the latch and arranged to be engaged thereby after movement thereof to its unlocked position for de-energizing said first solenoid winding, said second solenoid winding being energized in the absence of the control signal to operate said second plunger to move the latch to the locked position thereof substantially for the period during which the control signal is absent, second circuit means electrically coupled to said second solenoid winding and being mounted adjacent to the latch and arranged to be engaged thereby after movement thereof to its locked position for de-energizing said second solenoid winding and a portable radio transmitter for wearing by the person and being operative to provide an RF signal which exceeds said predetermined value when the transmitter is within a predetermined distance from said receiver, said transmitter being energized to provide the RF signal continuously without further use of the person''s hands until said transmitter is later de-energized to terminate the RF signal, whereby the latch will be in its unlocked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is within said predetermined distance and will be in its locked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is beyond said predetermined distance.

Claim 12

A security system to enable a person automatically to move the latch on the door of a vehicle between locked and unlocked positions without using his hands to operate the latch, said security system comprising a radio receiver on the vehicle responsive to an RF signal exceeding a predetermined value to provide a control signal at the output of the receiver, actuating means including first and second solenoid windings coupled to the output of said receiver and first and second plungers respectively associated with said solenoid windings, said first plunger being coupled to the latch and being arranged for moving the latch to the unlocked position thereof, said second plunger being coupled to the latch and being arranged for moving the latch to the locked position thereof, said first solenoid winding being energized by the control signal to operate said first plunger to move the latch to the unlocked position thereof substantially for the period during which the control signal is present, first circuit means electrically coupled to said first solenoid winding and being mounted adjacent to the latch and arranged to be engaged thereby after movement thereof to its unlocked position for de-energizing said first solenoid winding, said second solenoid winding being energized in the absence of the control signal to operate said second plunger to move the latch to the locked position thereof substantially for the period during which the control signal is absent, second circuit means electrically coupled to said second solenoid winding and being mounted adjacent to the latch and arranged to be engaged thereby after movement thereof to its locked position for de-energizing said second solenoid winding and a portable radio transmitter for wearing by the person and being operative to provide an RF signal which exceeds said predetermined value when the transmitter is within a predetermined distance from said receiver, said transmitter being energized to provide the RF signal continuously without further use of the person''s hands until said transmitter is later de-energized to terminate the RF signal, whereby the latch will be in its unlocked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is within said predetermined distance and will be in its locked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is beyond said predetermined distance.

Claim 13

The security system set forth in claim 9, wherein said first plunger is arranged to pull the latch into the unlocked position thereof and said plunger is arraNged to pull the latch into the locked position thereof.

Claim 14

The security system set forth in claim 9, and further comprising keeper structure disposed adjacent to the latch and having first and second portions, said first portion being arranged to hold the latch in the unlocked position thereof after said first solenoid winding has been energized and then de-energized, said second portion being arranged to hold the latch in the locked position thereof after said second solenoid winding has been energized and then de-energized.

Claim 15

The security system set forth in claim 9, wherein each of said circuit means includes a normally closed switch arranged to be opened upon engagement thereof by the latch.

Claim 16

A security system to enable a person automatically to lock and to unlock the door of a vehicle without using his hands, said security system comprising a keeper on the vehicle, a latch pivotally mounted on the vehicle and pivotable between a locked position for engaging said keeper and an unlocked position disengaged from said keeper, a radio receiver on the vehicle responsive to an RF signal exceeding a predetermined value to provide a control signal at the output of the receiver, actuator means including a solenoid winding coupled to the output of said receiver and a plunger coupled to said latch, said solenoid winding being energized by the control signal to cause said plunger to pivot said latch to the unlocked position thereof substantially for the period during which the control signal is present, said solenoid winding being de-energized by the absence of the control signal to cause said plunger to pivot said latch to the locked position thereof substantially for the period during which the control signal is absent, and a portable radio transmitter for wearing by the person and being operative to provide an RF signal which exceeds said predetermined value when the transmitter is within a predetermined distance from said receiver, said transmitter being energized to provide the RF signal continuously without further use of the person''s hands until said transmitter is later de-energized to terminate the RF signal, whereby said latch will be in its unlocked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is within said predetermined distance and will be in its locked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is beyond said predetermined distance.

Claim 17

A security system to enable a person automatically to lock and to unlock the door of a vehicle without using his hands, said security system comprising a keeper on the vehicle, a latch pivotally mounted on the vehicle and pivotable between a locked position for engaging said keeper and an unlocked position disengaged from said keeper, a radio receiver on the vehicle responsive to an RF signal exceeding a predetermined value to provide a control signal at the output of the receiver, actuator means including a solenoid winding coupled to the output of said receiver and a plunger coupled to said latch, said solenoid winding being energized by the control signal to cause said plunger to pivot said latch to the unlocked position thereof substantially for the period during which the control signal is present, said solenoid winding being de-energized by the absence of the control signal to cause said plunger to pivot said latch to the locked position thereof substantially for the period during which the control signal is absent, and a portable radio transmitter for wearing by the person and being operative to provide an RF signal which exceeds said predetermined value when the transmitter is within a predetermined distance from said receiver, said transmitter being energized to provide the RF signal continuously without further use of the person''s hands until said transmitter is later de-energized to terminate the RF signal, whereby said latch will be in its unlocked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is within said predetermined distance and will be in its locked position automatically without the person having to use his hands when the person is beyond said predetermined distance.

Claim 18

The security system set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuator means is operated from said first condition to said second condition at the termination of the control signal.