Bag alarm device

• US 4,118,692 A
• Filed: 03/29/1977
• Issued: 10/03/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur B. Fitchetti
• Original Assignee: Arthur B. Fitchett
• Inventors: Fitchett, Arthur B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US05/782,503
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 340/280, 340/283, 200/61.74, 200/61.76, 200/61.85, 200/DIG. 2, 200/161, 109/43, 116/99, 116/77, 116/44, 116/75, 150/42, 150/46, 150/35, 150/47, 150/26, 190/42
• US Class Current: 340/542
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/24 Devices for sound-producing, piercing, gas-discharging, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation

Abstract

A bag alarm device utilizes a bar slideably affixed to the interior surface of a closure flap of a handbag extending outwardly from the marginal edge thereof. A pair of electrical contacts are urged into a closed position when the free end of the bar is pulled outwardly from the marginal edge of the flap by unauthorized means other than releasing the free end of the bar from locking engagement with a lock secured to the body of the bag. Closure of the contacts is maintained until the bar is permitted to return to its normal unextended position following opening the lock and releasing the bar in an authorized manner. An alarm device, including audible and visual alarms, is energized by a battery carried by the bag when the contacts are in the closed position.

Claims

1. A bag alarm device comprising means mounted on said bag to provide a source of direct current, alarm means mounted on said bag and electrically connected to said direct current means, pull responsive switch means mounted on a closure flap of said bag, said pull responsive switch means having an elongated external component having a logitudinal axis, said component extending outwardly from said closure flap, a portion of said external component releasably locked with a lock secured to a surface portion of the outside surface of said bag when said closure flap is overlying said surface portion thereby maintaining said bag in a closed condition, a set of contacts being maintained in an open circuited condition when said portion is locked with said lock, said set of contacts being disposed in a closed circuited condition upon the application of a pulling force applied to said closure flap in a direction of the longitudinal axis of said component tending to dispose said portion of said component further outwardly from said closure flap whilst said portion of said component is maintained locked with said lock, means to releasably maintain said set of contacts in said closed circuited condition following said application of said force, means to unlock said lock, releasing said portion therefrom without disposing said set of contacts into said closed circuited condition, said set of contacts connected to said alarm means.

2. The bag alarm device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lock is a combination lock.

3. The bag alarm device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said external component comprises a T-shaped bar having marginal edges, a U-shaped bracket fixedly secured to an internal surface of said closure flap, one of said marginal edges having saw tooth serrations therein, said bar being disposed in sliding engagement within a cavity formed by said bracket and said internal surface, a pawl pivotably secured to said internal surface, said pawl having a cam-like end, first means to bias said cam-like end into said serrations, said set of contacts including a pair of stationary contacts fixedly secured to said internal surface, second means to bias said portion of said component towards said cavity along said longitudinal axis of said component, a part of said bar electrically connecting said pair of stationary contacts together when said portion is urged in a direction away from said cavity whereby said pawl and said serrations maintain said pair of stationary contacts and said part of said bar in electrical engagement thereby.

4. The bag alarm device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said releasable contact maintaining means comprises an arm fixedly secured to said pawl, said pawl releasing said pair of stationary contacts from said electrical engagement with said portion of said bar when said arm is manually depressed disengaging said cam-like end from said serrations.

5. The bag alarm device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said alarm means comprises an audible tone generating apparatus.

6. The bag alarm device as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a visible light generating device.

7. The bag alarm device as claimed in claim 1 whereby said component is slideably affixed to said closure flap and whereby said portion thereof extends outwardly from a marginal edge of said flap.