Bicycle and bicycle elements theft alarm apparatus

• US 5,270,681 A
• Filed: 10/21/1991
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lynn E. Jack
• Original Assignee: Lynn E. Jack
• Inventors: Jack, Lynn E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US07/780,012
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 340/432, 340/426, 340/427, 340/429, 340/568
• US Class Current: 340/427
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1001 Alarm systems associated with another car fitting or mechanism, e.g. door lock or knob, pedals features related to the general power supply B60R25/1018
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/003 using chains or cables chain or cable locks per se E05B67/003; with alarm E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 3/14 indicating functioning of other devices, e.g. acoustic warnings indicating that lights are switched on
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/005 Chain-locks, cable-locks or padlocks with alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861

Abstract

A bicycle and bicycle elements theft alarm apparatus which can be attached to a bicycle assembly to activate an alarm member on unauthorized movement, theft of elements of the object, and entire theft of the object. The bicycle theft alarm apparatus includes a housing assembly having an alarm assembly and a control circuit assembly mounted therein. The alarm assembly includes 1) an actuator key pad assembly operable with a secret code for operation thereof; 2) a wheel release actuator member to indicate unauthorized removal of a bicycle support wheel assembly; 3) a seat release actuator member to indicate unauthorized removal of a bicycle support seat assembly; 4) a cable motion detector assembly operable to detect unauthorized detachment from an immovable object used as an anchor member; and 5) a motion detector assembly operable to detect unauthorized vertical or lateral movement of the bicycle assembly.

Claims

1. A theft alarm apparatus mounted on an object and operable to sound an alarm on unauthorized tampering of the object, comprising:

a) a control housing assembly having an alarm means mounted thereon;

b) said alarm means includes a quick release sensor assembly operably connected to removable sections of the object being protected and to an alarm member;

c) said quick release sensor assembly includes a wheel release actuator member connected to a wheel assembly on the object being protected;

d) said quick release sensor assembly further includes a seat release actuator assembly connected to a support seat assembly on the object being protected;

e) said wheel release actuator member and said seat release actuator member having actuator half sections to complete an electrical circuit therethrough when in a clamped condition; and

f) when said wheel assembly or said support seat assembly are attempted to be removed from the object being protected, said actuator half sections move to a non-contact electrical condition in order to disconnect the electrical circuit through said actuator half sections operable to energize said alarm member to present at least one of a visual and audio alarm signals therefrom to indicate unauthorized activity taking place on the object being protected.

2. A theft alarm apparatus mounted on a bicycle assembly having a front wheel assembly connected to a front wheel support yoke and a support seat assembly connected to a support frame assembly and operable to activate an alarm on unauthorized tampering of the bicycle assembly, comprising:

a) a main housing assembly connected to said bicycle assembly to prevent unauthorized removal thereof;

b) an alarm means mounted on said main housing assembly and connected to the front wheel assembly and the support seat assembly of the bicycle assembly;

c) said alarm means connected to an alarm member and a control circuit assembly; and

d) said alarm member energized to activate at least one of a visual and audio alarms on attempted removal of the front wheel assembly or the support seat assembly from the bicycle assembly.

3. The theft alarm apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein:

a) said alarm means includes a quick release sensor assembly having a wheel release actuator member connected to the front wheel assembly and a seat release actuator member connected to the support seat assembly;

b) said wheel release actuator member said seat actuator member each said having actuator half sections which, when clamped together, completes an electric circuit therethrough and, when separated, breaks said electrical circuit which then energizes said alarm member.

4. The theft alarm apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein:

a) said control circuit assembly includes a power supply circuit connected to a confidential code assembly which, in turn, is connected to said alarm means after a confidential secret code has been imposed on said confidential code assembly, to then allow the electrical power supply from said power supply circuit to flow to remaining portions of said alarm means and said control circuit assembly; and

b) said alarm means includes a motion detector assembly connected to said alarm member and operable to energize same on any movement of the bicycle assembly when said theft alarm apparatus is in an energized alarm condition.

5. The theft alarm apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein:

a) said control circuit assembly includes a power supply circuit connected to a confidential code assembly which, in turn, is connected to said alarm means after a confidential secret code has been imposed on said confidential code assembly, to then allow the electrical power supply from said power supply circuit to flow to remaining portions of said alarm means and said control circuit assembly; and

b) said alarm means includes a cable disconnect and severance detector assembly having a cable member connected through a receptacle member to said main housing assembly and operable to be placed about an immovable anchored object and reconnected to said alarm means to complete a circuit therethrough;

whereby movement of said cable member so as to be disconnected from said receptacle member or severance thereof operates to energize said alarm member to indicate unauthorized tampering of the bicycle assembly when in an alarm energized condition.

6. The theft alarm apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein:

a) said control circuit assembly includes a power supply circuit to supply power to an actuator key pad circuit which is operable to receive a secret code in order to place said theft alarm apparatus in an energized alarm system mode condition and a main sensor circuit; and

b) said main sensor circuit having a wheel sensor circuit, a seat sensor circuit, a motion sensor circuit, a cable motion sensor circuit, operably connected to said alarm member to energize same on tampering with the bicycle assembly.

7. The theft alarm apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein:

a) said control circuit assembly includes a power supply circuit connected to a confidential code assembly which, in turn, is connected to said alarm means after a confidential secret code has been imposed on said confidential code assembly, to then allow the electrical power supply from said power supply circuit to flow to remaining portions of said alarm mean and said control circuit assembly; and

b) said control circuit assembly includes a lapse timer circuit mounted between said main sensor circuit and said alarm member operable in response to a predetermined adjustable time period to de-energize said alarm member after at least one of unauthorized movement and tampering of the bicycle assembly is discontinued and said theft alarm apparatus is returned to its energized alarm system mode condition.

8. A theft alarm apparatus mounted on a bicycle assembly including bicycle elements to be protected against theft having a front wheel assembly connected to a front wheel support yoke and a support seat assembly connected to a support frame assembly and operable to activate an alarm on unauthorized tampering of the bicycle elements on the bicycle assembly, comprising:

a) a main housing assembly connected to said bicycle assembly;

b) an alarm means mounted on said main housing assembly and connected to at least one of the bicycle elements of the bicycle assembly;

c) said alarm means connected to an alarm member and a control circuit assembly;

d) said alarm member energized to sound an alarm on attempted removal of at least one of said bicycle elements from the bicycle assembly;

e) said alarm means includes a quick release sensor assembly having a wheel release actuator member connected to the front wheel assembly; and

f) said wheel release actuator member having actuator sections which, when clamped together, completes an electrical circuit therethrough and, when separated, breaks said electrical circuit which then energizes said alarm member.

9. A theft alarm apparatus mounted on a bicycle assembly including bicycle elements to be protected against theft having a front wheel assembly connected to a front wheel support yoke and a support seat assembly connected to a support frame assembly and operable to activate an alarm on unauthorized tampering of the bicycle elements on the bicycle assembly, comprising:

a) a main housing assembly connected to said bicycle assembly;

b) an alarm means mounted on said main housing assembly and connected to at least one of the bicycle elements of the bicycle assembly;

c) said alarm means connected to an alarm member and a control circuit assembly;

d) said alarm member energized to sound an alarm on attempted removal of at least one of said bicycle elements from the bicycle assembly;

e) said alarm means includes a quick release sensor assembly having a seat release actuator member connected to the support seat assembly; and

f) said seat actuator member having actuator sections which, when clamped together, completes an electrical circuit therethrough and, when separated, breaks said electrical circuit which then energizes said alarm member.

10. A theft alarm apparatus mounted on a bicycle assembly including bicycle elements to be protected against theft having a front wheel assembly connected to a front wheel support yoke and a support seat assembly connected to a support frame assembly and operable to activate an alarm on unauthorized tampering of the bicycle elements on the bicycle assembly, comprising:

a) a main housing assembly connected to said bicycle assembly;

b) an alarm means mounted on said main housing assembly and connected to at least one of the bicycle elements of the bicycle assembly;

c) said alarm means connected to an alarm member and a control circuit assembly;

d) said alarm member energized to sound an alarm on attempted removal of at least one of said bicycle elements from the bicycle assembly; and

e) said alarm means includes a motion detector assembly connected to said alarm member and operable to energize same on any movement of the bicycle assembly when said theft alarm apparatus is in an energized alarm condition.

11. A theft alarm apparatus mounted on a bicycle assembly including bicycle elements to be protected against theft having a front wheel assembly connected to a front wheel support yoke and a support seat assembly connected to a support frame assembly and operable to activate an alarm on unauthorized tampering of the bicycle elements on the bicycle assembly, comprising:

a) a main housing assembly connected to said bicycle assembly;

b) an alarm means mounted on said main housing assembly and connected to at least one of the bicycle elements of the bicycle assembly;

c) said alarm means connected to an alarm member and a control circuit assembly;

d) said alarm member energized to sound an alarm on attempted removal of at least one of said bicycle elements from the bicycle assembly; and

e) said alarm means includes a cable disconnect and severance detector assembly having a cable member connected through a receptacle member to said main housing assembly and operable to be placed about an immovable anchored object and reconnected to said alarm means to complete a circuit therethrough;

whereby movement of said cable member so as to be disconnected from said receptacle member or severance thereof operates to energize said alarm member to indicate unauthorized tampering of the bicycle assembly when in an alarm energized condition.