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:
Feb. 27, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 02, 1994
Peter J Foster, Carlsbad, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A system for preventing theft and hijacking of a motor vehicle. The system comprises a fuel cut-off valve operative to prevent the flow of fuel to the vehicle engine. The fuel cut-off valve is in communication with the vehicle ignition such that activation of the vehicle ignition will cause the fuel cut-off valve to close, unless a vehicle run switch is actuated contemporaneous with or immediately after the vehicle ignition. The vehicle run switch is preferably concealed from view and/or coded and/or keyed to limit its accessibility to only authorized operators of the vehicle. Additionally, to prevent hijacking, the system incorporates a driver's heat sensor capable of sensing when a human body is seated in the driver's seat. When the sensor determines that the driver's body has been removed from the driver's seat for more than a minimum time period (e.g., 3 seconds) a controller/timer will begin timing a predetermined delay period. At the end of the delay period, the controller/timer will cause the fuel cut-off valve to stop the flow of fuel to the vehicle engine, thereby stalling the engine. The delay period is preferably long enough to allow the vehicle to be driven a safe distance away from the scene of the hijacking.