GB2242555A

GB2242555A - Anti-theft alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2242555A
Application number: GB9105664A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard Samuel Woolley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-17
Filing date: 1991-03-18
Publication date: 1991-10-02
Also published as: GB9105664D0; GB9006074D0

Abstract

An anti-theft alarm for attaching to moveable articles comprises a body 11 containing an audio alarm mechanism including a motion detector 12, an alarm 15 connected to be actuated by movement of the motion detector, and a switch 19 for turning the mechanism on and off. The device is attached to articles via a strap (not shown) which preferably cannot be cut and which is fed through slots 27 in the body and round an appropriate part of the article to be protected. The body may be formed in two parts which are held together by a resilient clip 26 which embraces the two parts and holds them together. <IMAGE>

Description

ANTI THEFT ALARM The present invention relates to an anti-theft alarm for attachment to removeable goods and equipment such as travellers baggage, brief cases, bicycles, camping equipment and the like.

Luggage is always vulnerable to theft. There are occasions whilst travelling when it would be convenient to leave bags and other luggage rather than have to take it everywhere with you. At the moment there is significant risk in doing this.

According to the present invention there is provided an anti-theft device for moveable articles comprising a body containing an audio alarm mechanism including a motion detector, an alarm connected to be actuated by movement of the motion detector, a switch for activating and de-activating the mechanism and means for attaching the device to the articles to be protected.

.The anti-theft device preferably comprises a body having at least two slots there through and a reinforced strap formed with a plurality of transverse ribs and adapted to thread through the slots with a close fit whereby the device can be attached to the article.

Advantageously the anti-theft device comprises a body formed from two mating housing parts held together by a plastics material resilient clip comprising a back portion connected at each side to respective front portions,the clip being snapped onto and off the body parts by bending the plastics material against its resilient bias.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is an expanded view of the components of an anti-theft device according to the present invention, Figures 2A,B and C are rear, side and front view respectively of a clip forming part of a second embodiment of the invention, and Figures 3A,B,and C are rear, side and front view respectively of the housing of the anti-theft device of the second embodiment.

The devices illustrated are battery operated electronic thief alarms which can be attached to luggage or other transportable articles such as musical instruments or camping equipment with a reinforced strap or other unbreakable attachment means. The user sets the alarm mechanism by means of an infra-red key similar to the remote control device of a television set or automobile. The infra-red key (not shown) is a separate item which may be kept on a key ring if desired. Once it has been set, the device is sensitive to movement and the alarm will sound if the baggage is disturbed or the alarm moved. The device acts as a visible deterrent to would be thieves.

The device comprises an injection moulded high impact polystyrene body 11 comprising upper and lower component parts. The body forms a housing containing an alarm mechanism including a motion detector 12 electrically connected via a control chip 13 on a printed circuit board 14 to an alarm in the form of a siren 15.

Also connected to the printed circuit board 14 via silicon chip 16 are battery terminals 17 between which one or more batteries 18 are fitted. A receiver 19, which may be of any appropriate type, is arranged to receive signals from a remote control device (not shown) such as an infra-red key, to activate and deactivate the alarm mechanism via the control chip 13.

When the mechanism is turned on so that the motion detector 12 is activated an indicator 20 electrically connected to the printed circuit board 14 lights up to indicate that the alarm is set. The body is apertured at 30 to receive the receiver 19 and at 31 to receive the indicator 20 so that the receiver and the indicator can be seen from the outside of the body.

The body may be apertured at intervals to provide sound holes allowing the sound of the alarm to penetrate the plastics material (as illustrated in Figure 3). In the illustration of Figure 3 the apertures 21 are shown only on the front of the body 11. However they could equally be on the back or edges if this is preferred. To protect the siren a weatherproof and dust proof cloth 22 is incorporated between the body apertures and the siren.

This cloth 22 then becomes visible through the apertures.

The two parts of the body fit together by means of a rim 23 on the upper part which fits outside a flange 24 on the lower part (as seen in Figure 1) .The battery or batteries may either be contained inside the body 11 or alternatively in a recess 25 outside the lower part of the body 11. The two parts of the body 11 are held together by a resilient heavy duty clip 26 for example moulded in high impact polystyrene. The clip 26 comprises a back part 26a which fits underneath the lower part of the body and two front parts 26b which can be bent outwardly to enable the clip to be levered over the body 11. The front parts then snap fast over the body so that the front parts lie over the upper part of the body, but not over the apertures.The clip 26 has the dual effect of protecting the device from accidental knocks and of making it difficult for a potential thief to remove the batteries from the recess 25 which is covered by the clip 26.

The plastics material of the clip may be spark eroded. A space may be left clear to be available for the application of a logo or other trade mark.

The device, which is circular in Figure 1 but may be any conveneint shape, for example hexagonal, as shown in Figures 3, is attached to hand baggage by means of a mechanism which is preferably not cuttable. A chain and padlock is one solution, but a preferred solution is the provision of a reinforced strap. One example of such a strap is a 2 cm wide strap moulded in neoprene and reinforced with KEVLAR (Trade Mark). The body is formed with a minimum of two, and preferably three slots 27 through which the strap is threaded. Figure 1 shows mating reinforcing flanges 28 on the upper part of the body and 29 on the lower part which strengthen the slots to form a reinforced passage for the strap.In the illustrated device it is planned that the strap should have a stop at one end, pass through the slot 27a then around a handle or strap of the baggage before passing first through slot 27b and then back again through slot 27c.As a preferred feature the strap would be formed with integral transverse ribs spaced along the length of the strap of a thickness approximately equal to the height of the slot 27 so that it takes longer to unthread the strap. While in practice this would not much inconvenience the user, it would be an additional deterrent for a thief as the alarm would be sounding whilst he was trying to remove the strap.

Optionally it would be possible to incorporate a time delay circuit within the body 11. This would have the effect of delaying the activating of the circuit for a predetermined period, such as 5 seconds, to prevent an accidental triggering of the siren causing a nuisance.

The second embodiment which is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 differs from the embodiment in Figure 1 mainly in the shape of the body, which is hexagonal. In all respects the operation of the device is as has already been described with reference to Figure 1 and all equivalent features have been given the same reference number in all Figures. Apart from the shape of the body and the clip, which is as illustrated, it will be seen that the body is rebated over the contact area of the clip so that when the clip is fitted the top of the clip and the outer surface of the body not covered by the clip are flush.

The clip will hereafter be described in greater detail. Figure 2A illustrates the rear view and it will be seen that the shape of the back of the clip is the same as the shape of the rebated section in the back of the body as illustrated in Figure 3A. At the ends the clip and body both taper to form a neat side. From the front view in Figure 2C it will be seen that on one side the clip top 26 overlaps the top of the body by more than one quarter of the width, whereas on the other side the overlap is merely enough to enable the clip to grip the body. In use the body will be fitted into the larger overlap side and the other side will be snapped up onto the ledge 32 (Figure 3C).

Claims

1. An anti-theft device for moveable articles comprising a body containing an audio alarm mechanism including a motion detector, an alarm connected to be actuated by movement of the motion detector, a switch for activating and de-activating the mechanism and means for attaching the device to the articles to be protected.

2. An anti-theft device according to claim 1 wherein the anti-theft device body has at least two slots therethrough and a reinforced strap formed with a plurality of transverse ribs and adapted to thread through the slots with a close fit whereby the device can be attached to the article.

3. An anti-theft device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the body comprises two mating parts embraced by a plastics material resilient clip comprising a back portion connected at each side to respective front portions,the clip being snapped onto and off the body parts by bending the plastics material against its resilient bias.

4. An anti-theft device according to claim 3 and including a battery compartment opening to the outside of the body but positioned to be covered by the clip.

5. An anti-theft device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the body is apertured to allow sound to be heard from the alarm mechanism.

6. An anti-theft device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the alarm mechanism includes an electronic control chip, a receiver for receiving a signal by means of which the chip is switched on and off, and an indicator to indicate when the chip is switched on.

7. An anti-theft device substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An anti-theft device substantially as herein illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings and described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings