The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 16, 2025
Filed:
May. 05, 2023
Intermotive, Inc., Auburn, CA (US);
Dan C. Mower, Grass Valley, CA (US);
Gregory E. Schafer, Reno, NV (US);
Kenneth Nguyen, Elk Grove, CA (US);
Bryan M. Elzy, Sparta, TN (US);
InterMotive, Inc., Auburn, CA (US);
Abstract
An electrically conductive circuit has a distal end coupled to a catalytic converter of a vehicle. A sensor such as a voltage divider is coupled to a proximal end of this conductive circuit. The voltage divider senses when a resistance associated with the conductive circuit is altered, indicative of catalytic converter tampering. An alarm signal can then be sent to the vehicle horn or otherwise beneficially outputted to warn of the tampering. The conductive circuit preferably includes a length of nichrome wire having a substantial resistance. Reliable electrical connection and tampering avoidance can be provided at the distal end of the nichrome wire by utilizing an electrically conductive washer at the distal tip, covering the nichrome wire with high temperature insulating tape, overlying the tape with a pipe clamp and encapsulating the washer, distal end of the nichrome wire, insulating tape and pipe clamp with a high temperature bonding adhesive.