Anti-theft vibration detector switch and system

• US 4,450,326 A
• Filed: 10/19/1981
• Issued: 05/22/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Curtis G. Ledger
• Original Assignee: Curtis G. Ledger
• Inventors: Ledger, Curtis G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US06/312,690
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 340/566, 340/571, 340/683, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.45 R
• US Class Current: 200/61.45M
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/144 operated by vibration

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a steel ball having a surface coating of gold is magnetically held against each of negative and positive electrical switch contacts within a fenced-in space substantially filled with silicone fluid, the electrical switch contacts being alternately arranged in a circular series and being connected to a logic cell and mechanism adapted to count pulses resulting from each of breaking and making electrical contacts when the ball is jolted by vibration and to reset if at-least two consecutive pulses do not occur within half a second, and to send an alarm signal to a transmitter that transmits an alarm signal to a radio receiver, magnetic force lines being provided by a pole of a large bar magnet positioned behind the electrical switch contacts and a like-charge repelling-pole of a smaller bar magnet in front of and spaced-from the electrical switch contacts and ball.

Claims

1. A vibration detection switch comprising in combination:

a circuit board having a series of alternately occuring negative and positive electrical contacts arranged in a substantially circular arrangement, a ball having an electrically conductive surface of a size such that when resting between any two consecutive ones of said negative and positive electrical contacts, the ball contacts and completes electrical circuit between the two consecutive electrical contacts, said ball being of a material conductive of magnetic flux such that the ball is magnetically responsive to lines of magnetic flux of a magnet, confining means for preventing the ball from rolling off said series on said board, a magnet having first pole thereof extending substantially transversely of said board substantially centrally of said circular arrangement such that said ball is magnetically attracted and held in contact with said two consecutive ones of said negative and positive contacts, and said confining means being positioned to substantially circumscribe said series and said ball when the ball is magnetically held by said first pole, and a magnet having a second pole of a magnetic-pole charge identical to that of the first pole, the second pole being positioned extending substantially transversely of said board substantially centrally of said circular arrangement in a position of opposing relationship to said first pole and spaced from said ball when said ball is held magnetically by said first pole such that like-pole magnetic fluxes from said first and second poles cause said ball to be repelled by the second pole toward said confining means whereby at all times of rest the ball is forced to maintain contact and completed electrical circuit with said two electrical contacts except when jolted by a vibration resulting from a blow at which time there is movement of one or the other of the circuit board and the ball relative to one another sufficient to break electrical circuitry momentarily after which magnetic flux lines promptly re-establish contact and electrical circuitry between said two electrical contacts.

2. A vibration detection switch of claim 1, in which said confining means forms a housing or enclosure enclosing said series and said ball within the enclosure space thereof and wherein said enclosure space is substantially but incompletely filled with a di-electric semi-viscous liquid.

3. A vibration detection switch of claim 2, in which said semi-viscous liquid has a viscosity of about 100 centistrobes.

4. A vibration detection switch of claim 3, in which said semi-viscous liquid comprises substantially silicone fluid.

5. A vibration detection switch of claim 4, in which said ball is metallic and has a coating of gold.

6. A vibration detection switch of claim 4, in which said ball is metallic and has a coating of rhodium.

7. A vibration detection switch of claim 1, in which said ball is metallic.

8. A vibration detection switch of claim 7, in which said ball has a coating of gold.

9. A vibration detection switch of claim 7, in which said ball has a coating of rhodium.