Patent Application
20250201091
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The disclosure relates to theft alarm devices and more particularly pertains to a new theft alarm device for inhibiting the theft of a personal belonging. The device includes a locking unit which includes a first cable and a second cable each attached to a housing and a lock attached to the first cable. The second cable is releasably attachable to the lock for securing a personal belonging to an immovable structure. The device includes an alarm unit that is in remote communication with a personal electronic device and which is triggered to alert the personal electronic device when the first cable is forcibly removed from the lock.
The prior art relates to theft alarm devices including a variety of trailer lock devices that each attaches to a vehicle and broadcasts and alert signal when the vehicle is moved and a variety of electronic lock devices that each includes a housing and a member that attaches to the housing to form a closed loop and an alarm unit integrated into the housing that emits an alarm when the member is forcibly removed from the housing. In no instance does the prior art disclose an electronic lock that includes a housing and a first cable attached to the housing and a second cable attached to the housing and a lock attached to the first cable such that the second cable is attachable to the lock to form a closed loop and an alarm unit integrated into the housing which emits an alarm when the second cable is forcibly removed from the lock.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a personal electronic device in wireless communication with an extrinsic communication network. A locking unit is included which comprises a first cable and a second cable each attached to a housing and a lock attached to the first cable. The second cable is releasably attachable to the lock such that the locking unit forms a closed loop for securing a personal belonging to an immovable structure thereby protecting the personal belonging from theft. An alarm unit is integrated into the housing and the alarm unit is triggered when the second cable is forcibly removed from the lock to audibly alert an owner that the personal belonging is in danger of being stolen. The alarm unit is in remote communication with the personal electronic device to notify the owner of the potential theft when the owner is not near the alarm unit.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A locking unit 20 is provided which includes a first cable 22 and a second cable 24 that are each attached to a housing 26 and a lock 28 that is attached to the first cable 22. The second cable 24 is releasably attachable to the lock 28 such that the locking unit 20 forms a closed loop. In this way the locking unit 20 can be secured around a personal belonging 30 and an immovable structure 32 thereby protecting the personal belonging 30 from theft. The personal belonging 30 may comprise a kayak or a bicycle, for example, and the immovable structure 32 may be a cargo rack on a vehicle, for example. Additionally, the personal belonging 30 may be any valuable object that is commonly stored outdoors and the immovable structure 32 may be any object that is typically too heavy to be moved by an individual or that is permanently fixed in place.
The housing 26 has a top wall 34, a bottom wall 36 and a perimeter wall 38 extending between the top wall 34 and the bottom wall 36. The top wall 34 curves upwardly from the perimeter wall 38 such that the housing 26 has a dome shape. A first end 37 of the first cable 22 is attached to the perimeter wall 38 and the first cable 22 is flared adjacent to the first end 37 of the first cable 22. A first end 40 of the second cable 24 is attached to the perimeter wall 38 located on an opposite side of the perimeter wall 38 with respect to the first cable 22; the second cable 24 is flared adjacent to the first end 40 of the second cable 24. The lock 28 has an exterior wall 42 and a bottom wall 44 and a second end 46 of the first cable 22 is attached to the exterior wall 42. The lock 28 has a lock well 48 extending into the exterior wall 42 and the lock well 48 is positioned on an opposing side of the exterior wall 42 with respect to the second end 46 of the first cable 22. A second end 50 of the second cable 24 is insertable into the lock well 48 in the exterior wall 42 such that the first cable 22 and the second cable 24 forms a closed loop with the housing 26 and the lock 28.
The locking unit 20 includes a locking mechanism 52 that is disposed within the lock 28. The locking mechanism 52 normally is in a locking condition to releasably engage the second end 50 of the second cable 24 when the second end 50 of the second cable 24 is inserted into the lock well 48. In this way the second end 50 of the second cable 24 is attached to the lock 28. Conversely, the locking mechanism 52 is actuatable into an unlocking condition to disengage the second end 50 of the second cable 24 thereby facilitating the second end 50 of the second cable 24 to be removed from the lock well 48.
The locking mechanism 52 may comprise a magnetic lock that magnetically engages a contact that is disposed on the second end 50 of the second cable 24 or other type of device that grips the second cable 24 with sufficient force to inhibit the second cable 24 from being removed from the locking mechanism 52. The locking unit 20 includes a knob 54 extending away from the bottom wall 36 of the lock 28 thereby facilitating the knob 54 to be manipulated. The knob 54 is in mechanical communication with the locking mechanism 52 and the locking mechanism 52 is actuated into the unlocking condition when the knob 54 is rotated in a first direction. As is most clearly shown in
An alarm unit 56 is integrated into the housing 26 and the alarm unit 56 is in communication with the first cable 22. The alarm unit 56 is in communication with the second cable 24 when the second cable 24 is releasably attached to the lock 28. The alarm unit 56 is triggered to emit an audible alarm when the second cable 24 is forcibly removed from the lock 28. In this way the alarm unit 56 can audibly alert an owner 18 that the personal belonging 30 is in danger of being stolen. The alarm unit 56 is in remote communication with the personal electronic device 12 thereby facilitating the personal electronic device 12 to receive an alert from the alarm unit 56 when the alarm unit 56 is triggered to emit the audible alarm. In this way the personal electronic device 12 can notify the owner 18 of the potential theft when the owner 18 is not near the alarm unit 56.
A motion detector 57 is integrated into the top wall 34 of the housing 26 thereby facilitating the motion detector 57 to detect motion near the housing 26. The motion detector 57 may have an operational range which may range between approximately 1.0 meters and 3.0 meters. Additionally, the motion detector 57 may comprise an infra-red motion detector or other type of electronic motion detector that has an appropriate operational range. The alarm unit 56 is in communication with the motion detector 57 and the alarm unit 56 is triggered to emit the audible alarm when the motion detector 57 detects motion near the housing 26. Furthermore, the personal electronic device 12 receives the alert from the alarm unit 56 when the motion detector 57 detects motion. In this way the personal electronic device 12 can notify the owner 18 that an individual has approached the personal belonging 30 to facilitate the owner 18 to respond to a potential theft or act of vandalism.
The alarm unit 56 comprises a processor 58 that is positioned in the housing 26. The processor 58 receives a locking input, an unlocking input and an alarm input. Additionally, the locking mechanism 52 is electrically coupled to the processor 58 and the motion detector 57 is electrically coupled to the processor 58. The alarm unit 56 includes a first conductor 60 that is integrated into the first cable 22 and the first conductor 60 extends through the first end 37 of the first cable 22 into the housing 26 thereby facilitating the first conductor 60 to be electrically coupled to the processor 58. Additionally, the first conductor 60 is comprised of an electrically conductive material and the first conductor 60 is in electrical communication with the locking mechanism 52. The locking mechanism 52 has a force sensor 62 that detects when the first cable 22 is being tugged upon or is being exposed to excessive force that could potentially result from an attempted theft. The processor 58 receives the alarm input when the force sensor 62 senses force that is greater than a pre-determined allowable force. In this way the owner 18 can be notified that the locking unit 20 has potentially been tampered with so the owner 18 can verify that the personal belonging 30 is still secure. Additionally, the processor 58 receives the alarm input when the motion detector 57 detects motion thereby facilitating the owner 18 to be notified that an individual has moved within the sensitivity range of the motion detector 57 with the possible intention of performing a theft or an act of vandalism.
The alarm unit 56 includes a second conductor 64 that is integrated into the second cable 24. The second conductor 64 extends through the first end of the second cable 24 and into the housing 26 thereby facilitating the second conductor 64 to be electrically coupled to the processor 58. The second conductor 64 is in electrical communication with the locking mechanism 52 when the second end of the second cable 24 is engaged to the locking mechanism 52. Furthermore, the second conductor 64 forms a closed alarm circuit with the processor 58 and the first conductor 60 when the second end of the second cable 24 is engaged to the locking mechanism 52. The processor 58 receives the locking input when the closed alarm circuit is formed. The locking mechanism 52 is actuated into the unlocking condition when the processor 58 receives the unlocking input thereby facilitating the second end 50 of the second cable 24 to be removed from the lock well 48. Additionally, the processor 58 receives the alarm input when the closed alarm circuit is broken while the locking mechanism 52 is in the locking condition.
The alarm unit 56 includes a first transceiver 66 that is positioned in the housing 26 and the first transceiver 66 is electrically coupled to the processor 58. The first transceiver 66 is in wireless communication with the personal electronic device 12 and the first transceiver 66 receives operational commands from the control program 16 in the personal electronic device 12 which are subsequently communicated to the processor 58 for controlling operational parameters of the locking mechanism 52. Furthermore, the processor 58 receives the unlocking input when the first transceiver 66 receives an unlocking unit 20 command from the control program 16. The first transceiver 66 broadcasts an alert to the personal electronic device 12 when the processor 58 receives the alarm input. In this way the control program 16 in the personal electronic device 12 is facilitated to alert the owner 18 of the potential theft. The first transceiver 66 may comprise a radio frequency transceiver or the like and the first transceiver 66 may employ Bluetooth communication protocols.
The alarm unit 56 includes a second transceiver 68 that is positioned in the housing 26 and the second transceiver 68 is electrically coupled to the processor 58. The second transceiver 68 is in wireless communication with the extrinsic communication network 14 thereby facilitating the alarm unit 56 to communicate with the personal electronic device 12 when the alarm unit 56 is located beyond an effective range of the first transceiver 66. The second transceiver 68 receives operational commands from the control program 16 in the personal electronic device 12 which are subsequently communicated to the processor 58 for controlling operational parameters of the locking mechanism 52. The processor 58 receives the unlocking input when the second transceiver 68 receives an unlock command from the control program 16. The second transceiver 68 broadcasts an alert to the personal electronic device 12 when the processor 58 receives the alarm input. In this way the control program 16 in the personal electronic device 12 can alert the owner 18 of the potential theft. The second transceiver 68 may comprise a radio frequency transceiver or the like and the second transceiver 68 may employ a WPAN signal or the like to facilitate the second transceiver 68 to communicate with a public communication network.
The alarm unit 56 includes a third transceiver 70 that is positioned in the housing 26 and the third transceiver 70 is electrically coupled to the processor 58. The third transceiver 70 is in wireless communication with a global positioning system 72 thereby facilitating the third transceiver 70 to receive the physical location of the alarm unit 56 from the global positioning system 72. The third transceiver 70 is in wireless communication with the extrinsic communication network 14 to facilitate the owner 18 to track the location of the alarm unit 56 in the event of a theft. The third transceiver 70 may comprise a radio frequency transceiver or the like.
The alarm unit 56 includes a plurality of speakers 74 and each of the plurality of speakers 74 is integrated into the top wall 34 of the housing 26. Each of the plurality of speakers 74 emits an audible alarm outwardly from the top wall 34 when the plurality of speakers 74 is turned on. Each of the plurality of speakers 74 is electrically coupled to the processor 58 and each of the plurality of speakers 74 is turned on when the processor 58 receives the alarm input. Additionally, each of the speakers 74 may comprise an electronic speaker or the like and each of the speakers 74 includes a protective grill 76 that is integrated into the top wall 34 of the housing 26 to protect the speakers 74 from impact damage.
The alarm unit 56 includes a first light 78 that is integrated into the top wall 34 of the housing 26 and the first light 78 emits light outwardly from the top wall 34 thereby visually alerting the owner 18. The first light 78 is electrically coupled to the processor 58 and the first light 78 is turned on when the processor 58 receives the alarm input. Additionally, the first light 78 is centrally located on the top wall 34 and the first light 78 may comprise a light emitting diode or the like and the first light 78 emits light of a first color. A second light 80 is integrated into the top wall 34 of the housing 26 to emit light outwardly from the top wall 34 thereby visually alerting the owner 18. The second light 80 is continuous such that the second light 80 surrounds the first light 78. Additionally, the second light 80 is electrically coupled to the processor 58 and the second light 80 is turned on when the processor 58 receives the alarm input. The second light 80 may comprise a light emitting diode or the like and the second light 80 emits light of a second color. Furthermore, each of the first light 78 and the second light 80 can be actuated to either flash on and off or to be continuously on.
The alarm unit 56 includes a power supply 82 that is integrated into the housing 26 and the power supply 82 is electrically coupled to the processor 58. The power supply 82 comprises a rechargeable battery 84 that is positioned within the housing 26 and the rechargeable battery 84 is electrically coupled to the processor 58. The power supply 82 includes a charge port 86 that is recessed into the perimeter wall 38 of the housing 26 thereby facilitating the charge port 86 to insertably receive a charge cord 88. Additionally, the charge port 86 is electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery 84 for charging the rechargeable battery 84.
In an alternative embodiment 90 shown in
In an alternative embodiment 98 shown in
Continuing in the alternative embodiment 98, a pair of pins 116 each extends downwardly from the bottom wall 36 of the housing 26 associated with the locking unit 20. Each of the pins 116 has a stem 118 and a head 120 and the head 120 of each of the pins 116 is insertable through the rounded portion 108 of a respective one of the locking slots 106 in the top surface 102 of the mounting disk 100. The housing 26 is rotatable on the mounting disk 100 such that each of the pins 116 travels into the elongated portion 110 of the respective locking slot 106 for retaining the housing 26 on the mounting disk 100. In this way the object 114 can be tracked with the third transceiver 70 in the event that the object 114 is stolen.
In use, the first cable 22 and second cable 24 are wrapped around the personal belonging 30 and the immovable structure 32 and the second end 50 of the first cable 24 is inserted into the lock well 48 to lock 28 the personal belonging 30 to the immovable structure 32. In this way the personal belonging 30 is locked to the immovable structure 32. The personal electronic device 12 can either be synced with the first transceiver 66 or the personal electronic device 12 can communicate with the second transceiver 68 via the extrinsic communication network 14, depending on the owner's 18 preference. The control program 16 stored in the personal electronic device 12 facilitates the owner 18 to customize operational parameters of the locking unit 20, including but not being limited to, arming or disarming the alarm unit 56, adjusting the pre-determined allowable force that triggers the force sensor 62 in the locking mechanism 52 and choosing the color of light emitted by the first light 78 and the second light 80 and whether the first light 78 and second light 80 flash or remain illuminated. The speakers 74 emit the audible alarm and the first light 78 and the second light 80 are turned on and the personal electronic device 12 emits the alert when the first cable 22 is forcibly removed from the locking unit 20. In this way the owner 18 is notified that the personal belonging 30 has potentially been stolen.
Additionally, the control program 16 stored in the personal electronic device 12 facilitates the owner 18 to customize the function of the alarm unit 56 to operate in a warning condition when the alarm unit is triggered by the motion detector 57. The speakers 74 can be actuated to emit a series of brief audible alarms and each of the first light 78 and the second light 80 can be actuated to alternatively flash on and off when the alarm unit 56 operates in the warning condition. The control program 16 further facilitates the owner 18 to set the number of times the alarm unit 56 operates in the warning condition. For example, the speakers 74 might be actuated to repeatedly emit the series of brief audible alarms a selected number of times over a selected duration of time that is selected in the control program 16. Additionally, the control program 16 can customize the function of the alarm unit 56 to facilitate the speakers 74 and the first light 78 and the second light 80 to be actuated in the same manner as when alarm unit 56 is triggered by the force sensor 62 when the alarm unit 56 operates in the warning condition for a duration of time that exceeds to duration of time selected in the control program 16.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, device and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
