Theft preventive apparatus having an alarm output device

• US 5,610,587 A
• Filed: 04/27/1995
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Inventors: Nakajima, Mitsuhiko, Okumura, Hisakazu, Uchida, Kenji, Ida, Tsutomu, Takeshita, Masaaki, Fujiuchi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/428,108
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/571, 340/568, 70/57.1
• US Class Current: 340/568.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1454 Circuit arrangements thereof
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1472 with force or weight detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article

Abstract

A theft preventive apparatus is attached to a commodity or the like exhibited in a shop, for outputting an alarm when detached therefrom.

Conventionally, a battery is used as a power source for driving an alarm output device, and power supply is turned on and off by moving the battery. Even in a non-use state, an operation could be started inadvertently by vibration or the like.

The theft preventive apparatus of this invention includes an attached state detecting device (3, 103) exposed outside a box (2) for detecting a state of attachment to an object of theft prevention, alarm output means (G) mounted in said box (2) for detecting removal of said box (2) from the object of theft prevention based on information from said attached state detecting device (3, 103), and outputting an alarm in time of detection of the removal, a battery (V) mounted in said box (2) for driving said alarm output means (G), and a power supply switch (6) for turning power supply on and off between said battery (V) and said alarm output means (G). Consequently, by turning off the power supply switch, the theft preventive apparatus, even in a non-use state, does not start operating inadvertently by vibration or the like, thereby avoiding wasteful consumption of battery power.

Claims

1. A theft preventive apparatus comprising:

an attached-state detecting device exposed outside a box for detecting a state of attachment to an object of theft prevention,

alarm output means mounted in said box for detecting removal of said box from the object of theft prevention based on information from said attached-state detecting device and outputting an alarm at the time of detection of the removal,

a battery mounted in said box for driving said alarm output means, and

a power supply switch for a turning power supply on and off between said battery and said alarm output means;

wherein said attached-state detecting device comprises a mounting member connected to said box, and

said power supply switch is changeable from off state to on state when said mounting member is connected to said box.

2. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said box contains a turn-off member for turning off said power supply switch and a pinion gear meshed with a rack portion of said turn-off member,

said pinion gear being rotatable by a control member having rack portions at opposite ends thereof, to turn off said power supply switch.

3. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said box (2) includes:

lock means (H) for preventing separation of said box (2) and said mounting member, and

lock release means (I) for canceling separation preventive action of said lock means (H),

said lock release means (I) being operable with an operation of said control member (K) to turn off said power supply switch (6).

4. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said alarm output means outputs an alarm with an operation of said control member to turn off said power supply switch.

5. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said rack portions (K1, K2) of said control member (K) comprise a first rack portion (K1) and a second rack portion (K2) having different lengths, only one end of said control member being unlocked when said first rack portion (K1) of smaller length is inserted into an insertion bore, and opposite ends of said control member being unlocked when said second rack portion (K2) of greater length is inserted into the insertion bore.

6. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said attached state detecting device (3) includes connectors (30) arranged at opposite ends thereof for insertion into and removal from said box (2), said connectors (3) having engageable portions (30a),

said box (2) including engaging members (41, 42) biased toward engaging positions for engaging said engageable portions (30a),

said box (2) including a lock release means (I) for canceling engagement between said engageable portions (30a) and said engaging members (41, 42).

7. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising push-out means (P) for pushing out said connectors (30) in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion, upon an operation of said lock release means (I) for disengaging said engageable portions (30a) and said engaging members (41, 42).

8. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said attached state detecting device (103) includes a shank (103A) insertable into said box (2),

said box (2) housing switch means (S) for controlling power supply to said alarm output means (G) such that said alarm output means (G) is placed in an output halt state when said shank (103A) is inserted into said box (2), and said alarm output means (G) is placed in an outputting state when said shank (103A) is removed from said box (2),

said switch means (S) having a contact opening and closing conductive operated portion (148c) pushed when said shank (103A) is inserted into said box (2) to place said alarm output means (G) in the output halt state, and biased toward an outputting position to place said alarm output means (G) in the outputting state,

insulating means (Z) being provided for electrically insulating said operated portion (148c) and said shank (103A).

9. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said insulating means (Z) includes an insulator (148e) pushed by said shank (103A) inserted into said box (2), and elastic means (148d) disposed between said insulator (148e) and said operated portion (148c) for pushing said operated portion (148c) to said halt state when said insulator (148e) is pushed by said shank (103A), and for allowing said insulator (148e) to move toward said operated portion (148c) after said operated portion (148c) is moved to said halt state.

10. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said attached state detecting device (103) includes a head (103B) attached to one end of the shank (103A) and having a larger diameter than the shank,

said head (103B) of said attached state detecting device (103) having an outer configuration to promote a turnover said attached state detecting device (103) stood on said head (103B), and said attached state detecting device (103) having a center of gravity balance to promote a turnover of said attached state detecting device (103) stood on said head (103B).

11. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said head (103B) of said attached state detecting device (103) is formed of plastic, with a metal plate (103a) mounted inside said head (103B) or on an end surface thereof opposed to said shank (103A) to cross an axis of said shank (103A).

12. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said battery (V) for supplying power to said alarm sound output means (21) and said alarm sound output means (21) are opposed to each other inside said box (2),

a flat terminal unit (33) having a terminal connected to a terminal of said battery (V) and a terminal connected to an electrode of said alarm sound output means (21) being disposed between said battery (V) and said alarm sound output means (21).

13. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said alarm sound output means (21) is operable to output an intermittent sound as the alarm sound.

14. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said box (2) has sound release openings (10) formed in a side surface thereof for releasing the alarm sound outputted from said alarm sound output means (21) outside said box (2).

15. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said box (2) has a shield wall (32b) mounted therein for shielding components in the box (2) against exposure through said openings (10).

16. A theft preventive apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said box (2) includes receiver means (22) for receiving a medium of information communication transmitted from a transmitter (O) installed in a particular location,

said reception means (22) comprising a resonance antenna for operating said alarm output means (G) upon receipt of the electric wave from said transmitter (O), and having a coil (L), a capacitor (C) and a resistor (R) in parallel connection.