Cable lock for security system

• US 20060109115A1
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Watson, James B., Bradus, Robert, Schiff, David, Milburn, Lawrence E., Bressler, Peter W., Coleman, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,274,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.200
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/005 Chain-locks, cable-locks or padlocks with alarms

Abstract

A cable lock device includes a housing, a tampering subsystem, and a cable having a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to the housing and is electrically connected to the tampering subsystem and the second end is selectively attached to the housing. In addition, a switch is disposed within the housing and is electrically connected to the tampering subsystem. The switch is movable between an open state and a closed state to indicate when the second end is attached to the housing. The tampering subsystem includes control circuitry that monitors the position of the switch and the status of the cable to detect removal of the second end from the housing and/or severance of the cable. The control circuitry relays status information of the cable lock device to a control unit via a transmitter to alert a property owner of a security breach.

Claims

1. A cable lock device comprising:

a housing;

a cable having a first end fixedly attached to said housing, a second end which selectively attaches to said housing, and at least one wire disposed within said cable;

a switch disposed within said housing and configured to detect when the second end of said cable is attached to said housing; and

a tampering subsystem disposed within said housing, said tampering subsystem operable to detect whether said cable is cut at any point along its length;

wherein said at least one wire is electrically coupled to said tampering subsystem through only one end of said cable.

2. The cable lock device of claim 1, wherein said tampering subsystem includes control circuitry, said control circuitry electrically coupled to said at least one wire such that said control circuitry monitors said at least one wire for an open circuit condition.

3. The cable lock device of claim 2, wherein said at least one wire extends substantially throughout a length of said cable and is thereby configured to detect when said cable is cut at any point along said length of said cable.

4. The cable lock device of claim 2, further comprising a transmitter in data communication with said control circuitry and operable to transmit an alarm message when said control circuitry detects an open circuit condition.

5. The cable lock device of claim 4, wherein said transmitter transmits said alarm message to a remotely located monitoring system.

6. The cable lock device of claim 2, wherein said control circuitry includes a microcontroller.

7. The cable lock device of claim 1, wherein said at least one wire is electrically coupled at both ends to control circuitry of said tampering subsystem and said switch is interposed along a circuit path formed by said at least one wire, wherein said control circuitry supplies power to said circuit path and is operable to detect an open or closed circuit condition along said circuit path.

8. The cable lock device of claim 1, further comprising a tamper switch disposed within said housing, said tamper switch operable to detect opening of said housing.

9. The cable lock device of claim 1, wherein said second end of said cable includes a projection operable to actuate said switch into said closed state when said second end is attached to said housing.

10. The cable lock device of claim 1, wherein said switch is a reed sensor.

11. The cable lock device of claim 10, wherein said second end of said cable includes a magnet, said magnet operable to actuate said reed sensor into said closed state when said second end of said cable is attached to said housing.

12. A cable lock device comprising:

a housing;

a tampering subsystem disposed within said housing;

a cable having a first end fixedly attached to said housing and a second end selectively attached to said housing; and

a lock fitting rotatably supported by said housing between a locked state and an unlocked state, said lock fitting including a bore having a plurality of first projections operable to properly align said second end of said cable in said unlocked state and at least one lock projection fixedly attached to said housing and disposed within said bore of said lock fitting to selectively engage said second end in said locked state;

wherein said tampering subsystem is operable to detect if said second end of said cable is disconnected from said housing and whether said cable is cut at any point along its length.

13. The cable lock device of claim 12, wherein said lock fitting includes a first aperture and said housing includes a second aperture, said first aperture aligned with said second aperture when said lock fitting is in said locked state and operable to receive a locking member to prevent rotation of the lock fitting relative to said housing.

14. The cable lock device of claim 12, wherein said lock fitting further includes a guidepost, said guide post cooperating with said projections to properly align said second end with said lock fitting.

15. The cable lock device of claim 14, wherein said guidepost is formed with one of said projections.

16. The cable lock device of claim 12, wherein said second end includes an alignment slot, said alignment slot matingly engaging said guidepost to properly align said second end with said lock fitting.

17. The cable lock device of claim 12, wherein said second end includes at least one flange extending radially therefrom, said at least one flange received between said projections in said unlocked state and engaging said lock projections in said locked state.

18. A cable lock device comprising:

a housing;

a tampering subsystem disposed within said housing; and

a cable fixedly attached to said housing at a first end and selectively attached to said housing at a second end, said cable having one wire extending along its length and a metal braid surrounding said wire, said wire electrically connected to said tampering subsystem at said first end and insulated from said housing at said second end;

wherein said tampering subsystem is operable to detect if said second end of said cable is disconnected from said housing and whether said cable is cut at any point along its length.

19. The cable lock device of claim 18, wherein said metal braid is made from stainless steel.

20. The cable lock device of claim 18, wherein said metal braid circumferentially surrounds said wire.

21. The cable lock device of claim 18, wherein said metal braid and said wire are encapsulated by an insulating material.

22. The cable lock device of claim 21, wherein said insulating material is polyurethane.