ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR CAMERA LENS

• US 20140152440A1
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Berglund, David N., McKinney, Larry T., Grant, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US14/095,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20140152440A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to anti-theft devices, systems, and methods. For example, an anti-theft device includes a lens ring assembly comprising a ring configured to removably engage a removable camera lens. The anti-theft device also includes a sensor cable assembly configured to attach to the lens ring assembly and to provide a signal indicative of an unauthorized removal of the lens ring assembly from the removable camera lens or removal of the sensor cable assembly from the lens ring assembly.

Claims

1. An anti-theft device for protecting a removable camera lens from theft, the anti-theft device comprising:

a lens ring assembly comprising a ring configured to removably engage a removable camera lens; and

a sensor cable assembly configured to attach to the lens ring assembly and to provide a signal indicative of an unauthorized removal of the lens ring assembly from the removable camera lens or removal of the sensor cable assembly from the lens ring assembly.

2. The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the lens ring assembly comprises a threaded surface configured to threadably engage an end of the removable camera lens.

3. The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the lens ring assembly further comprises a transparent window disposed within the ring.

4. The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the lens ring assembly further comprises a cable attachment defining an opening configured to receive the sensor cable assembly for removably attaching the sensor cable assembly to the lens ring assembly.

5. The anti-theft device of claim 4, wherein the cable attachment is movably mounted within the lens ring.

6. The anti-theft device of claim 4, wherein the sensor cable assembly comprises a sensor switch configured to extend through the opening for engaging the removable lens.

7. The anti-theft device of claim 6, wherein the sensor switch comprises a plunger configured to engage the removable camera lens.

8. The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the sensor cable assembly comprises a sensor switch electrically connected to one end of a cable.

9. The anti-theft device of claim 8, wherein the sensor cable assembly further comprises a connector electrically connected to an end of the cable opposite the sensor switch.

10. The anti-theft device of claim 1, wherein the ring is annular in shape.

11. A system for protecting a removable camera lens from theft, the system comprising:

a camera comprising a removable camera lens;

a lens ring assembly comprising a ring configured to removably engage the removable camera lens; and

a sensor cable assembly configured to attach to the lens ring assembly and to provide a signal indicative of unauthorized removal of the lens ring assembly from the removable camera lens or removal of the sensor cable assembly from the lens ring assembly.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the lens ring assembly comprises a threaded external surface configured to threadably engage internal threads defined at an end of the removable camera lens.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a sensor body configured to operably engage the sensor cable assembly and to be mounted to the camera.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor cable assembly comprises a connector electrically connected to an end of a cable that is configured to electrically connect the sensor cable assembly to the sensor body.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor cable assembly further comprises a sensor switch electrically connected to an end of the cable opposite the connector.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the lens ring assembly further comprises a cable attachment defining an opening configured to receive the sensor cable assembly for removably attaching the sensor cable assembly to the lens ring assembly.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensor cable assembly comprises a sensor switch configured to extend through the opening for engaging the removable lens.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor switch comprises a plunger configured to engage the removable camera lens.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the removable camera lens comprises a free end configured to be removably engaged by the ring and an opposite end configured to removably attach to the camera.

20. A method for protecting a removable camera lens from theft, the method comprising:

attaching a sensor cable assembly to a lens ring assembly;

removably engaging the lens ring assembly to a removable camera lens; and

mounting a sensor body operably engaged with the sensor cable assembly to a camera comprising the removable camera lens, wherein the sensor cable assembly is configured to provide a signal to the sensor body indicative of unauthorized removal of the lens ring assembly from the removable camera lens or removal of the sensor cable assembly from the lens ring assembly.