Apparatus for preventing confinement in a vehicle trunk

Abstract

The present invention is a device which installed in a vehicle that enables a vehicle trunk to be opened from the interior of the trunk and enables at least one of the tail lights to blink. The present invention can be retrofit to existing vehicles by connecting a prepared box and wiring harness to the vehicle power supply, trunk release solenoid, and taillights. The present invention has a ON/OFF switch which enables the circuit controlling the blinking of at least one tail light. A second switch activates the trunk release opening solenoid causing the trunk lock retract opening the trunk. The present invention is mounted in such a way as to be operable by an individual confined to the trunk and be concealed from the casual observer.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An anti-confinement device ( 10 ) installable on an inside surface of a vehicle trunk ( 28 A) of a vehicle ( 28 ) preventing a person from being locked therein, the anti-coafinement device ( 10 ) comprising: 
       A) a housing ( 12 );  
       B) a microchip ( 20 ) contained within the housing, the microchip ( 20 ) is electrically connected at one distal end to a left tail light electrical line ( 22 L) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle left tail light ( 28 L), the microchip ( 20 ) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a right tail light electrical line ( 22 R) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle right tail light ( 28 R), the microchip ( 20 ) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a trunk latch elecrical line ( 24 ) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to an electronic trunk latch ( 30 ), the microchip ( 20 ) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a positive electrical line ( 26 A) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a vehicle power means ( 28 B), the microchip ( 20 ) is further electrically connected at one distal end to a negative electrical line ( 26 B) which is electrically connected at an opposite distal end to a ground;  
       C) a first switch is electrically connected to the microchip ( 20 ), when the first switch is activated, a first electrical impulse is transmitted through the trunk latch elecrical line ( 24 ) opening the electronic trunk latch ( 30 ), a second electrical impulse is transmitted through the left tail light electrical line ( 22 L) and the right tail light electrical line ( 22 R) functioning to flash the vehicle left tail light ( 28 L) and the vehicle right tail light ( 28 R) indicating an emergency condition exists in the vehicle; and  
       a second switch is electrically connected between the positive electrical line ( 26 A) and a light ( 16 ), when the second switch is activated, the light ( 16 ) is turned ON.  
     
     
       2. The anti-confinement device ( 10 ) as described in claim  1 , wherein the second switch is a push button switch ( 14 ). 
     
     
       3. The anti-confinement device ( 10 ) as described in claim  1 , wherein the first switch is a toggle switch ( 18 ). 
     
     
       4. The anti-confinement device ( 10 ) as described in claim  1 , wherein the microchip ( 20 ) causes the vehicle left tail light ( 28 L) and vehicle right tail light ( 28 R) to blink a distress code. 
     
     
       5. The anti-confinement device ( 10 ) as described in claim  4 , wherein the distress code is SOS in Morse Code. 
     
     
       6. In a vehicle having external lights and a trunk movable between open and closed conditions, a device comprising a switch accessible for actuation by an occupant enclosed in the trunk for actuating one or more of the external lights, the one or more of the external lights observable from outside the trunk in the closed condition. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim  6 , wherein the switch is coupled electrically to one or more of the lights. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim  6 , wherein the switch comprises a toggle switch. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim  6 , further including a microchip for causing one of more of the lights to blink a distress code in response to actuation of the switch. 
     
     
       10. The device of claim  9 , wherein the microchip is coupled electrically to the switch. 
     
     
       11. The device of claim  9 , wherein the microchip is coupled electrically to one or more of the lights. 
     
     
       12. In vehicle having lights and an electronic latch for engaging a lid to enclose a trunk, a device comprising a switch mounted to the vehicle and accessible for actuation by an occupant enclosed in the trunk for actuating at least one of ( a )  the electronic latch to release the lid and  ( b )  one or more of the lights.   
     
     
       13. The device of claim  12 , wherein the switch is coupled electrically to the electronic latch. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim  12 , wherein the switch is coupled electrically to one or more of the lights. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim  12 , wherein the switch comprises a toggle switch. 
     
     
       16. An assembly comprising: 
       
         a vehicle trunk and an electronic latch movable between a first condition to define a closed condition of the vehicle trunk and a second condition to define an open condition of the vehicle trunk; and  
       
       
         a switch mounted to the trunk, the electronic latch movable between the first and second conditions in response to actuation of the switch from within the vehicle trunk. 
       
     
     
       17. The assembly of claim  16 , wherein the switch is coupled electrically to the electronic latch. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of claim  16 , wherein the switch comprises a toggle switch. 
     
     
       19. An assembly comprising: 
       
         a vehicle having external lights and a trunk movable between an open condition and a closed condition, one or more of the external lights movable between a first condition and a second condition for emitting a stimulus; and  
       
       
         a switch mounted to the vehicle, the one or more of the external lights movable between the first and second conditions in response to the actuation of the switch from within the trunk, the stimulus observable from outside the trunk in the closed condition. 
       
     
     
       20. The assembly of claim  19 , wherein the switch is coupled electrically to the one or more of the external lights. 
     
     
       21. The assembly of claim  19 , wherein the switch comprises a toggle switch. 
     
     
       22. The assembly of claim  19 , wherein the stimulus comprises a flashing stimulus. 
     
     
       23. The assembly of claim  22 , further including a microchip for causing the one of more of the external lights to emit the flashing stimulus in response to actuation of the switch. 
     
     
       24. The assembly of claim  23 , wherein the microchip is coupled electrically to the switch. 
     
     
       25. The assembly of claim  24 , wherein the microchip is coupled electrically to the one or more of the external lights. 
     
     
       26. In a vehicle having a trunk and an electronic latch movable between a first condition to define a closed condition of the trunk and a second conditon to define an open condition of the trunk, apparatus comprising a switch mounted to the trunk, the electronic latch movable between the first and second conditions in response to acutation of the switch from within the trunk. 
     
     
       27. Apparatus of claim  26 , wherein the switch is coupled electrically to the electronic latch. 
     
     
       28. Apparatus of claim  26 , wherein the switch comprises a toggle switch. 
     
     
       29. In a vehicle having external lights and a trunk movable between an open condition and a closed condition, apparatus comprising a switch mounted to the vehicle, one or more of the external lights movable into an energized condition in response to actuation of the switch from within the trunk, the one or more of the external lights observable from outside the trunk in the closed condition. 
     
     
       30. Apparatus of claim  29 , wherein the switch is coupled electrically to one or more of the external lights. 
     
     
       31. Apparatus of claim  29 , wherein the switch comprises a toggle switch. 
     
     
       32. Apparatus of claim  29 , wherein the energized condition comprises a blinking condition of the one of more of the external lights. 
     
     
       33. In a vehicle including external lights and trunk having a lid and an electronic latch movable between a first condition for engaging the lid to define a closed condition of the trunk and a second condition for releasing the lid to define an open condition of the trunk, apparatus comprising a switch mounted to the vehicle, one or more of ( a )  the electronic latch movable between the first and second conditions in response to actuation of the switch from within the trunk, and  ( b )  one or more of the external lights movable into an energized condition in response to acutation of the switch from within the trunk.   
     
     
       34. Apparatus of claim  33 , wherein the switch is coupled electrically to the electronic latch. 
     
     
       35. Apparatus of claim  33 , wherein the switch is coupled electrically to one or more of the external lights. 
     
     
       36. Apparatus of claim  33 , wherein the switch comprises a toggle switch. 
     
     
       37. In a vehicle including a trunk that can be opened and closed with an electronic latch, a device comprising: 
       
         an electronic latch release unit movable between a first position that permits the electronic latch to close the trunk and a second position that permits the electronic latch to open the trunk; and  
       
       
         to permit the trunk to be opened from within the trunk, an actuating unit mounted to the vehicle for causing the electronic latch release unit to assume the second position. 
       
     
     
       38. The device of claim  37 , wherein the actuating unit is coupled electrically to the release unit. 
     
     
       39. The device of claim  37 , wherein the actuating unit comprises a switch. 
     
     
       40. The device of claim  37 , wherein the actuating unit is electrically connected to at least one light of the vehicle for actuating the light. 
     
     
       41. A device for unlocking a latch of a trunk of a vehicle to enable an individual locked in the trunk to escape confinement comprising: 
       
         an electronic actuator for unlocking the latch; and  
       
       
         means mounted to the vehicle for actuating the electronic actuator from within the vehicle trunk. 
       
     
     
       42. The device of claim  41 , wherein the means is coupled electrically to the electronic actuator. 
     
     
       43. The device of claim  41 , wherein the means comprises a switch. 
     
     
       44. The device of claim  41 , wherein the means comprises a switch engagable by the individual to open the trunk lid. 
     
     
       45. A method for providing the excape of an individual locked in a trunk of a vehicle comprising the steps of: 
       
         providing the vehicle with an electronic latch;  
       
       
         mounting an actuating unit to the trunk; and  
       
       
         actuating the actuating unit from within the trunk to actuate the electronic latch. 
       
     
     
       46. The method of claim  45 , further comprising the step of electrically linking the electronic latch to the actuating unit. 
     
     
       47. The method of claim  45 , wherein the step of actuating the actuating unit from within the trunk further includes the step of actuating an electrical switch.