Personal item theft deterrent and reminder system
First Claim
1. A device for reducing incidence of theft or forgetful inadvertence of an item belonging to an individual, said device comprising:
- a) a cord functioning as a tether extending between the item belonging to the individual and the individual; and
b) a cord tensioning affecting device inserted between the individual and the item belonging to the individual which automatically affects the tension on the cord when a tensional force is imposed on the cord.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A personal item theft deterrent system which sets forth two individual embodiments and one of which relies upon a physical attachment of a personal item to an individual as, for example, through a cord or cable. The other of the embodiments relies upon a wireless and uncoupled alarm responsive system. In the embodiment using a physical attachment, a cord or cable is connected to the personal item and to the individual to whom the personal item belongs by a tether or cord and preferably a decorative cord. A tensioning device which places tension on the cord is incorporated with the cord so that the user can sense someone attempting to move the personal item. In the second embodiment, a transmitter is located in or on the personal item and sends a proximity signal to a receiver located at or with the owner of the person item. When the personal item is moved beyond a pre-selected distance away from the owner, the signal from the transmitter will become weaker and a circuit in a device in the proximity of the owner will cause the generation of an alarm signal.
21 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A device for reducing incidence of theft or forgetful inadvertence of an item belonging to an individual, said device comprising:
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a) a cord functioning as a tether extending between the item belonging to the individual and the individual; and
b) a cord tensioning affecting device inserted between the individual and the item belonging to the individual which automatically affects the tension on the cord when a tensional force is imposed on the cord. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device for reducing incidence of theft or forgetful inadvertence of an item belonging to an individual, said device comprising:
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a) transceiver means for enabling a wireless signal to extend between said item and said individual;
b) means for measuring a level of said wireless signal and determining if said level of said wireless signal represented a distance between said item and said individual which exceeded a certain predetermined distance; and
c) an alarm device initiating an alarm if said distance between the individual and the item exceeded the predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for reducing the incidence of theft or forgetful inadvertence of an item belonging to an individual, said method comprising:
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a) connecting a tether to an individual and to the item belonging to that individual; and
b) applying tension to that tether when the distance between the individual and the item belonging to that individual increases beyond a predetermined threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for reducing the incidence of theft or forgetful inadvertence of an item belonging to an individual, said method comprising:
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a) creating a wireless signal between the item and the individual;
b) measuring the level of that wireless signal periodically and determining if the level of that signal represents a distance between the item and the individual which exceeds a predetermined distance; and
c) generating an alarm if the distance between the individual and the item exceeded that predetermined distance.
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Specification