Golf bag security alarm system

• US 5,041,815 A
• Filed: 10/26/1989
• Issued: 08/20/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bogeyman Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ross E. Newton
• Inventors: Newton, Ross E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US07/427,461
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/571, 340/666, 206/315.3, 70/64
• US Class Current: 340/568.6
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2055/402 Warning devices for indicating missing golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/00 Bags for golf clubs; Stands for golf clubs for use on the course; Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/24 by interference with electromagnetic field distribution

Abstract

What has been disclosed is a golf bag alarm system which actuates an alarm when a thief attempts to remove the golf bag without authorization. In a weight sensitive embodiment of the invention, even the attempt to remove a golf club from the bag will cause the alarm to be sounded. A second embodiment of the invention, sensitive to movement of the bag, will actuate an alarm when the bag is moved from its nominal resting position. The alarm system is portable and may be housed within the golf bag itself or within an associated golf cart. The battery which powers the golf cart may be utilized as the power source for the alarm system carried by the golf cart.

Claims

1. A golf bag security alarm system comprising:

a weight sensitive switch having a first state of conduction when the gravitational force exerted on a mass is coupled thereto and a second state of conduction when said gravitational force is decoupled therefrom;

a golf bag having a mass sufficient to place said switch in said first state of conduction when the weight of said bag is coupled to said switch;

an alarm circuit coupled to said switch and having an alarm which is actuated when said switch is in said second state of conduction and deactuated when said switch is in said first state of conduction,

whereby coupling the weight of said golf bag to said switch prevents actuation of said alarm and decoupling the weight of said golf bag from said switch permits actuation of said alarm.

2. The alarm system of claim 1 further comprising weight sensitivity control means coupled to said weight sensitive switch for selectively establishing the minimum mass which when weight coupled to said switch will produce said first state of conduction in said switch.

3. The alarm system of claim 1 further comprising an arming switch coupled to said alarm circuit so as to selectedly permit and inhibit actuation of said alarm.

4. The alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a latching switch coupled to said alarm circuit and actuated when said weight sensitive switch changes from its first conduction state to its second conduction state as a result of a decoupling of the weight of said bag from said weight sensitive switch,

whereby said alarm remains actuated regardless of the weight of said bag being again coupled to said weight sensitive switch so as to place said weight sensitive switch in its first conduction state again.

5. The alarm system of claim 4 further comprising an arming switch coupled to said alarm circuit so as to selectedly permit and inhibit actuation of said alarm.

6. The alarm system of claim 5 further comprising weight sensitivity control means coupled to said weight sensitive switch for selectively establishing the minimum mass which when weight coupled to said switch will produce said first state of conduction in said switch.

7. The alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a self contained power source coupled to said alarm circuit and transportable therewith.

8. The alarm system of claim 7 further comprising weight sensitivity control means coupled to said weight sensitive switch for selectively establishing the minimum mass which when coupled to said switch will produce said first state of conduction in said switch.

9. The alarm system of claim 8 further comprising a latching switch coupled to said alarm circuit and actuated when said weight sensitive switch changes from its first conduction state to its second conduction state as a result of a decoupling of the weight of said bag from said weight sensitive switch,

whereby said alarm remains actuated regardless of the weight of said bag being again coupled to said weight sensitive switch so as to place said weight sensitive switch in its first conduction state again.

10. The alarm system of claim 7 further comprising said power source and said alarm circuit housed in said golf bag and transportable with said bag, the weight of said bag being coupled to said weight sensitive switch by the selected positioning of said bag.

11. The alarm system of claim 10 further comprising weight sensitivity control means coupled to said weight sensitive switch for selectively establishing the minimum mass which when weight coupled to said switch will produce said first state of conduction in said switch.

12. The alarm system of claim 10 wherein said self contained transportable power source is a battery.

13. The alarm system of claim 10 further comprising a latching switch coupled to said alarm circuit and actuated when said weight sensitive switch changes from its first conduction state to its second conduction state as a result of a decoupling of the weight of said bag from said weight sensitive switch,

whereby said alarm remains actuated regardless of the weight of said bag being again coupled to said weight sensitive switch so as to place said weight sensitive switch in its first conduction state again.

14. The alarm system of claim 13 further comprising weight sensitivity control means coupled to said weight sensitive switch for selectively establishing the minimum mass which when weight coupled to said switch will produce said first state of conduction in said switch.

15. The alarm system of claim 7 further comprising a golf cart having said alarm circuit coupled thereto for transport with said golf bag, said golf bag being in weight coupled relationship to said weight sensitive switch and said weight sensitive switch being thereby in said first state of conduction.

16. The alarm system of claim 15 further comprising weight sensitivity control means coupled to said weight sensitive switch for selectively establishing the minimum mass which when weight coupled to said switch will produce said first state of conduction in said switch.

17. The alarm system of claim 15 wherein said self contained transportable power source is a battery further coupled to said golf cart to power same.

18. The alarm system of claim 15 further comprising a latching switch coupled to said alarm circuit and actuated when said weight sensitive switch changes from its first conduction state to its second conduction state as a result of a decoupling of the weight of said bag from said weight sensitive switch,

whereby said alarm remains actuated regardless of the weight of said bag being again coupled to said weight sensitive switch so as to place said weight sensitive switch in its first conduction state again.

19. The alarm system of claim 18 further comprising weight sensitivity control means coupled to said weight sensitive switch for selectively establishing the minimum mass which when weight coupled to said switch will produce said first state of conduction in said switch.

20. A golf bag security alarm system comprising:

a golf bag;

a switch affixed to said bag and actuated by movement of said bag; and

an alarm circuit coupled to said switch having an alarm which is actuated upon actuation of said switch by movement of said golf bag.

21. A golf bag security alarm system comprising:

a golf bag;

a switch coupled to said bag and actuated by movement of said bag;

an alarm circuit coupled to said switch having an alarm which is actuated upon actuation of said switch by movement of said golf bag; and

a latching switch coupled to said alarm circuit for maintaining said alarm in an actuated state after said alarm is first actuated by movement of said golf bag.