Abstract: A vehicle security system includes a vehicle security controller for operating at least one vehicle body position actuator to reposition the vehicle body responsive to at least one vehicle security sensor. The vehicle may include the vehicle wheels, the vehicle body, and at least one vehicle body position actuator connected therebetween. A respective vehicle body position actuator may be provided for each vehicle wheel, and the controller may operate the actuators in a predetermined pattern to reposition the vehicle body in a rocking motion. Rocking of the vehicle body is more readily noticed by persons adjacent the vehicle, and the rocking produces sweeping headlight beams that also more noticeable. If the thief were to enter the vehicle, the thief's actions would be impaired by the rocking of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle security system for cooperating with a communications network includes a plurality of communication nodes in which a given communication node may transmit an acknowledgment message to an adjacent wireless transceiver upon receipt of a message therefrom. The vehicle security system may include a wireless transceiver and a security controller at the vehicle. The security controller may transmit a message related to vehicle security via the wireless transceiver. The security controller may retransmit the message related to vehicle security if the wireless transceiver does not receive an acknowledgment message from an adjacent communication node. The security controller may not retransmit the message related to vehicle security if the wireless transceiver does receive an acknowledgment message from the adjacent communication node.

Abstract: A remote start control system may include an engine speed data bus reader at the vehicle for reading the engine speed signal on the vehicle data communications bus, and a remote start controller at the vehicle and connected to the engine speed data bus reader for operating the engine starter based upon a remote start transmitter and based upon the engine speed signal. In some embodiments, the engine speed signal may include a digital code, and the engine speed data bus reader reads the digital code and converts the digital code into a pulsed tachometer emulation signal for the remote start controller. In other embodiments, the engine speed data bus reader generates an output level based upon the digital code exceeding at least one threshold, such as an engine started or engine overspeed threshold. The remote start control system is readily interfaced to a vehicle having a data communications bus to thereby be able to operate using an engine speed signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a liquid includes a container containing a liquid, and a magnetic treatment device therefor. The magnetic treatment device may include an elastic band removably fastened around the container and urged thereagainst by elastic deformation of the elastic band, the elastic band being deformable to accommodate containers having different sizes. The magnetic treatment device may also include at least one permanent magnet carried by the elastic band for magnetically treating the liquid in the container. Alternately, the magnetic treatment device may include a band with a joint therein or a drawstring removably fastened around the container.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including at least one vehicle sensor may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device for sending vehicle position information to a user. Furthermore, the controller may cooperate with the wireless communications device to send an alarm indication alert to the user based upon the at least one vehicle sensor. Additionally, the controller may stop sending of further alarm indication alerts upon reaching a predetermined number thereof.

Abstract: A speed exceeded notification device is for a vehicle of a type including a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle device generating data related to vehicle speed on the vehicle data communications bus. The speed exceeded notification device may include a wireless communications device, and a controller to be coupled to the vehicle data communications bus. The controller may be for reading the data related to vehicle speed from the vehicle data communications bus, and determining when a vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold for a first time period. Based thereon, the controller may cooperate with the wireless communications device to send a remote vehicle speed exceeded notification.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller. The controller may cooperate with the vehicle position determining device and the wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a user based upon receiving an activation signal via a communications network. Furthermore, the controller may selectively cause the vehicle tracking unit to be in a low power mode to conserve power. Also, the controller may cooperate with the wireless communications device to intermittently awaken the vehicle tracking unit from the low power mode to poll the communications network to thereby determine whether the activation signal has been directed to the vehicle tracking unit.

Abstract: A multi-vehicle compatible tracking unit is for a vehicle including a vehicle data bus extending throughout the vehicle. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a multi-vehicle compatible controller for cooperating with the vehicle position determining device and the wireless communications device to send vehicle position information. The multi-vehicle compatible controller may be coupled to the vehicle data bus for communication thereover with at least one vehicle device using at least one corresponding vehicle device code from among a plurality thereof for different vehicles. A downloading interface may be included for permitting downloading of enabling data related to the at least one corresponding vehicle device code for use by the multi-vehicle compatible controller.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking unit preferably includes a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device. The controller preferably cooperates with the wireless communications device to generate a sequence of alert message notifications for the user, and for canceling any remaining alert message notification of the sequence based upon a cancellation command response from the user having already received the alert message notification.

Abstract: The remote start control system may include at least one vehicle device associated with starting an engine of the vehicle, a remote start transmitter, and a vehicle remote start controller connected to the data communications bus for communicating with the at least one vehicle device associated with starting the engine of the vehicle. The remote start controller may be responsive to signals from the remote start transmitter. The vehicle device associated with starting the engine of the vehicle may include at least one controller, such as the engine management controller or the transmission controller, for example. Alternately, or additionally, the at least one vehicle device associated with starting the engine of the vehicle may include at least one vehicle sensor. For example, the vehicle sensor may be one or more of a brake sensor, a transmission sensor, a hood sensor, or an engine speed sensor. The remote start system may also include features to provide compatibility with a number of different vehicles.

Abstract: A beverage treatment device may include a rack defining a beverage container holding positions for holding beverage containers in a generally horizontal orientation, and a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the rack for causing a magnetic field in the beverage container holding positions. The rack may define the beverage container holding positions in vertically stacked courses, such as having a decreasing number of beverage container holding positions from lower to higher courses. Adjacent ones of the vertically stacked courses may be nested. The rack may include a pair of spaced apart first and second frames, and a plurality of struts interconnecting the first and second frames. The first and second frames may each include a plurality of rings joined together at adjacent peripheral portions thereof. The first and second frames and the interconnecting struts may be formed from integrally molded plastic.

Abstract: A remote start control system for a vehicle including an engine, a transmission connected to the engine and a data communications bus carrying transmission position data related to a selected transmission position, may include a remote start transmitter and a vehicle remote start controller. The vehicle remote start controller may be connected to the data communications bus for starting the engine based upon the transmission position data carried by the data communications bus and signals from the remote start transmitter. Alternately, or additionally, the data communications bus may carry engine speed data, vehicle brake position data, or vehicle security data. Accordingly, the engine may be started responsive to the engine speed data, the vehicle brake position data, or the vehicle security data.

Abstract: A vehicle tracker may include a cellular transceiver at a vehicle for receiving an activation message from a cellular communications network. The activation message may include a common telephone number for a plurality of vehicle trackers and a unique identification number for the vehicle tracker. A vehicle position-determining device may be at the vehicle. A controller at the vehicle may cooperate with the cellular transceiver and the vehicle position-determining device to transmit vehicle location data if the unique identification number in the received activation message matches the unique identification number for the vehicle tracker. The vehicle tracker may be part of a vehicle tracking system in which a plurality of vehicles may each have a respective vehicle tracker. The vehicle tracking system may include a user operable device to generate the activation message.

Abstract: A tracking system includes a vehicle tracking unit for a vehicle of a type including an alarm indicator, and a monitoring station receiving the alarm indication alert from the vehicle tracking unit. The vehicle tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller connected to the wireless communications device and the vehicle position determining device. The controller may cooperate with the wireless communications device to send an alarm indication alert responsive to at least one of activation of the vehicle alarm indicator continuously for greater than a predetermined time and activation of the vehicle alarm indicator in a repetitive pattern. The controller may also include a dual polarity compatible output for a vehicle device, such as the vehicle alarm indicator.

Abstract: A vehicle security system for cooperating with a communications network includes a plurality of communication nodes in which a given communication node may transmit an acknowledgment message to an adjacent wireless transceiver upon receipt of a message therefrom. The vehicle security system may include a wireless transceiver and a security controller at the vehicle. The security controller may transmit a message related to vehicle security via the wireless transceiver. The security controller may retransmit the message related to vehicle security if the wireless transceiver does not receive an acknowledgment message from an adjacent communication node. The security controller may not retransmit the message related to vehicle security if the wireless transceiver does receive an acknowledgment message from the adjacent communication node.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking system for a vehicle may include a wireless transceiver that is switchable from a mute mode to an operational mode. The wireless transceiver when in the mute mode may receive signals from a communications network, but does not transmit signals to the communications network. The wireless transceiver when in the operational mode may receive and transmit signals with the communications network. A position-determining device at the vehicle may be for determining a geographic position thereof. A controller at the vehicle may be for switching the wireless transceiver from the mute mode to the operational mode based upon the vehicle position being outside a predetermined area. Alternately, The vehicle tracking system may include a switch at the vehicle, and the controller may switch the wireless transceiver from the mute mode to the operational mode based upon the switch.

Abstract: A vehicle remote start control system is for a vehicle including a vehicle engine, an electrical system, and a transponder reader. The transponder reader may enable the vehicle engine based upon wirelessly reading an authorized code from a transponder carried by a user and placed proximate the transponder reader. The system may include a remote start transmitter and a remote start controller at the vehicle. The remote start controller may include a transponder code bypass transmitter electrically connected to the vehicle electrical system for wirelessly transmitting the authorized code to the transponder reader responsive to the remote start transmitter to enable the vehicle engine.

Abstract: A vehicle window control system for a vehicle having a data communications bus may include at least one vehicle device associated with operating a window of the vehicle, a window operation transmitter, and a controller connected to the data communications bus for communicating with the at least one vehicle device associated with operating the window of the vehicle. The vehicle window controller may be responsive to signals from the window operation transmitter. A window piggyback controller may operate the windows based on signals on the data communications bus, such as door lock or door unlock signals.

Abstract: A vehicle control system is for a vehicle including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle device connected to the data communications bus. The vehicle control system includes a a true controller at the vehicle for controlling the vehicle device via a true command on the data communications bus. The true controller also controls the vehicle device via a respective counteracting command on the data communications bus based upon detecting a rogue controller attempt to control the at least one vehicle device via a rogue command on the data communications bus. The true controller may thus counteract a rogue controller attempt to start the engine, unlock vehicle doors, roll down windows, and/or disarm the vehicle security system, for example.