System to prevent drunken driving

[0001] The present invention relates to devices used to prohibit drunken driving, or more specifically, blood alcohol concentration detecting devices used to prohibit drunken driving.

[0002] The problem of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs continues to be a major issue in society even as penalties have continued to stiffen. Devices are sometimes installed on a car of a habitual offender as required by law to prevent them from driving when under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The present invention features a self-policing system for preventing oneself from drunk driving.

[0003] Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.

[0004] The present invention features a self-policing system for preventing oneself from drunk driving. In some embodiments, the system comprises a key for inserting into an ignition switch of an automobile for operation.

[0005] In some embodiments, the system comprises a base. In some embodiments, a base anterior end comprises a keyhole for receiving the key. In some embodiments, a barbed first key clamp operatively connected to a first solenoid is located in a base anterior cavity and biased via a first spring. In some embodiments, a barbed second key clamp operatively connected to a second solenoid is located in the base anterior cavity and biased via a second spring.

[0006] In some embodiments, a base posterior end comprises a breathing aperture located on a tip thereon. In some embodiments, a base posterior cavity comprises an alcohol sensor and a power supply each operative connected to a microprocessor located therein.

[0007] In some embodiments, a key is located in the anterior cavity via the keyhole and secured via the first spring biased barbed first key clamp interfacing with a key first side keycut and the second spring biased barbed second key clamp interfacing with a key second side keycut. In some embodiments, to release the key from the base anterior cavity, a user breathes into the breathing aperture. The alcohol sensor detects a blood alcohol content by volume in a breath of the user. If the blood alcohol content is below a blood alcohol content limit, the key is released via movement of the first solenoid and the second solenoid.

[0014] Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:

• • [0015] 100 Drunken driving prevention system
  • [0016] 110 Key
  • [0017] 111 Key first side keycut
  • [0018] 112 Key second side Keycut
  • [0019] 120 Base
  • [0020] 121 Base anterior end
  • [0021] 122 Base posterior end
  • [0022] 123 Base anterior cavity
  • [0023] 124 Base posterior cavity
  • [0024] 130 Keyhole
  • [0025] 140 First key clamp
  • [0026] 145 First solenoid
  • [0027] 146 First spring
  • [0028] 150 Second key clamp
  • [0029] 155 Second solenoid
  • [0030] 156 Second spring
  • [0031] 160 Breathing aperture
  • [0032] 170 Alcohol sensor
  • [0033] 160 Power supply
  • [0034] 190 Microprocessor
  • [0035] 200 Barb
  • [0036] 201 Barb anterior side
  • [0037] 202 Barb posterior side

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 1-6, the present invention features a self-policing drunken driving prevention system (100). In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a key (110) for inserting into an ignition switch of an automobile for operation.

[0039] In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a base (120) having a planar base anterior end (121), a conical base posterior end (122), a base anterior cavity (123) located within close to the base anterior end (121), and a base posterior cavity (124) located within close to the base posterior end (122).

[0040] In some embodiments, the base anterior end (121) comprises a keyhole (130) located thereon for receiving the key (110). In some embodiments, the keyhole (130) is fluidly connected to the base anterior cavity (123) in some embodiments, a barbed first key clamp (140) operatively connected to a first solenoid (145) is located in the base anterior cavity (123) and outwardly biased via a first spring (146). In some embodiments, a barbed second key clamp (150) operatively connected to a second solenoid (155) is located in the base anterior cavity (123) and outwardly biased via a second spring (156). In some embodiments, the first key clamp (140) and the second key clamp (150) are designed to fit many keys (110). In some embodiments, the first key clamp (140) and the second key clamp (150) are adapted to fit a single key (110).

[0041] In some embodiments, the base posterior end (122) comprises a breathing aperture (160) located on a tip thereon. In some embodiments, the breathing aperture (160) is fluidly connected to the base posterior cavity (124). In some embodiments, the base posterior cavity (124) comprises an alcohol sensor (170) and a power supply (180) each operatively connected to a microprocessor (190) located therein, in some embodiments, the microprocessor (190) is operatively connected to the first solenoid (145) and the second solenoid (155) in some embodiments, the microprocessor (190) and the power supply (180) are physically separated from the alcohol sensor (170) via a barrier.

[0042] In some embodiments, a key (110) is inserted into the base anterior cavity (123) via the keyhole (130). In some embodiments, the key (110) is secured via the first spring (146) biased barbed first key clamp (140) interfacing with a key first side keycut (111) and a second spring (156) biased barbed second key clamp (150) interfacing with a key second side keycut (112). In some embodiments, in a secured position the key (110) is held in the base anterior cavity (123), with the first key clamp (140) and the second key clamp (150) clamping the key. In some embodiments, the key (110) is inserted through the keyhole (130) and clicks past the barbs (200) on the first key clamp (140) and the second key clamp (150) until the key (110) is in position.

[0043] In some embodiments, to release the key (110) from the base anterior cavity (123) a user breathes into the breathing aperture (160) located in the base posterior cavity (124). In some embodiments, the alcohol sensor (170) detects a blood alcohol content by volume in a breath of the user. In some embodiments, if the blood alcohol content is below a blood alcohol content limit, the key (110) is released via retraction of the first solenoid (145) attached to the first key clamp (140) and the second solenoid (155) attached to the second key clamp (150) via the microprocessor (190)

[0044] In some embodiments, the blood alcohol content limit is 0.05 by volume or 0.05%. In some embodiments, the blood alcohol content limit is 0.08 by volume or 0.08%.

[0045] In some embodiments, the first key clamp (140) and the second key clamp (150) comprise barbs (200). In some embodiments, each barb (200) comprises a sloped barb anterior side (201) and a perpendicular barb posterior side (202) for slidably allowing entrance of the key (110) and for limiting exit of the key (110) unless the blood alcohol content is below the blood alcohol content limit.

[0046] In some embodiments, the key (110) is disposed in the base anterior cavity (123) via the keynote (130). In some embodiments, the key (110) is slid into position and secured via the first spring (146) biased barbed first key clamp (140) interfacing with a key first side keycut (111) and the second spring (156) biased barbed second key clamp (150) interfacing with a key second side keycut (112). In some embodiments, in a secured position the key (110) is held in the base anterior cavity (123), via the first key clamp (140) and the second key clamp (150) clamping the key.

[0047] In some embodiments, to release the key (110) from the base anterior cavity (123) a user breathes into the breathing aperture (160) disposed in the base posterior cavity (124). In some embodiments, the alcohol sensor (170) detects a blood alcohol content by volume in a breath of the user, in some embodiments, the microprocessor (ISO) analyzes the blood alcohol content with respect to a blood alcohol limit. In some embodiments, if the blood alcohol content is below the blood alcohol content limit, the microprocessor (190) sends a signal to the first solenoid (145) and the second solenoid (155) to retract for a period of time. In some embodiments, the period of time is one second. In some embodiments, the period of time is three seconds. In some embodiments, the period of time is five seconds or more

[0048] In some embodiments, upon retraction of the first solenoid (145), the first key clamp (140) slides away from the key first side keycut (111) of the key (110). In some embodiments, upon retraction of the second solenoid (155), the second key clamp (150) slides away from the key second side keycut (112). In some embodiments, the key (110) is able to be pulled from the keynote (130). In some embodiments, after a period of time, the first solenoid (145) and the second solenoid (155) release from a retracted position.

[0049] As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number.

[0050] The disclosures of the following U.S. Patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. D 540,209; U.S. Patent Pub. No 2008/0196963; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2005/0230175; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2005/0099310; U.S. Pat. No. 7,299,890; U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,335, U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,444; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,415.

[0051] Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0052] Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. Reference numbers recited in the claims are exemplary and for ease of review by the patent office only, and are not limiting in any way. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting of”, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting of” is met.

[0053] The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended m any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.