Portable theft alarm

• US 6,172,607 B1
• Filed: 04/28/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles F. Mcdonald
• Original Assignee: Charles F. Mcdonald
• Inventors: McDonald, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/302,076
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/568.1, 340/384.6
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection

Abstract

A portable alarm device of minimum dimensions and weight having secure activation and deactivation, and a visible alarm display, is activated by a motion detection switch, which, when displaced from it'"'"'s original position, causes electrical current from an internal power source to activate a high decibel alarm speaker. The alarm device can be permanently attached to the object to be secured or attached by an easily removeable fastener system so that the alarm can be used on various objects as a security need may arise.

Claims

1. An alarm device comprising a housing, a means of attachment of said housing to an object to be secured, said means of attachment to allow a side or the bottom of said alarm housing to be fastened to said object to be secured, a power source mounted within said housing, a first switch means mounted through said housing electrically connected to said power source operable between open and closed position, a second switch means, manually activated by a secured method available only to the user, mounted through said housing and electrically connected to said first switch means, said first switch means, when in closed position to provide electrical power from said power source to said second switch means means, a third switch means mounted through said housing connected electrically to said second switch means, said second switch means, when manually activated by said secured method, to provide electrical power from said power source to said third switch means, time delay circuit means electrically connected to said third switch means, said third switch means, when in closed position to provide electrical power from said power source to said time delay circuit means, alarm display means mounted through said housing electrically connected to said time delay circuit means, said time delay circuit means, when predetermined time has expired, to provide electrical power from said power source to said alarm display means, said time delay circuit means further electrically connected to motion detection switch means mounted to and within said housing operable between open and closed position, said time delay switch means, when predetermined time has expired, to provide electrical power from said power source to said motion detection switch means, latching circuit means electrically connected to said motion detection switch means, said motion detection switch means, which activated by movement of said housing, being placed in closed position, to provide electrical power from said power source to said latching circuit means, alarm circuit, including electrically connected alarm driver means, high decibel alarm speaker means and said power source, said alarm circuit electrically closed by said latching circuit means, said latching circuit means, activated by electrical power provided by said closed motion detection switch means, to electrically close said alarm circuit, and designed so that said alarm circuit remains closed even if electrical power provided by said closed motion detection switch ceases, a fourth switch means, mounted through said housing, connected electrically to said second switch means, said second switch means, reactivated by original secured method available only to user, to provide electrical power from said power source to said fourth switch means, a fifth switch means electrically connected to said fourth switch means, said fourth switch means, when closed, to provide electrical power from said power source to said fifth switch means, said fifth switch means, when electrical power from said fourth switch means is detected, to disconnect electrical power from said power source to all electrical circuits thereby silencing an active alarm and permitting said alarm device to be moved.

2. The alarm device of claim 1 wherein said means of attachment comprises a permanent adhesive means applied to a side or the bottom of said alarm device, said permanent adhesive means to permit a permanent attachment of said alarm device to an object.

3. The alarm device of claim 2 wherein said permanent adhesive means is a double sided tape.

4. The alarm device of claim 1 wherein said means of attachment comprises a hook and loop fastener system whereby the first part of said hook and loop fastener system is attached to a side or the underside of said alarm device by permanent adhesive means and the second part of said hook and loop fastener system is attached by permanent means to objects to be secured whereby when said first and second parts of said hook and loop fastener system are connected, said alarm device can be easily attached and detached to said objects to be secured as needed.

5. The alarm device of claim 1 wherein said means of attachment comprises a magnetic strip attached by permanent adhesive means to the second part of a hook and loop fastener system, the first part of said hook and loop fastener system being permanently attached to a side or bottom portion of said alarm device, which when said first and second parts of said hook and loop fastener system are connected, said alarm device can be quickly attached and detached to metallic objects to be secured.

6. The alarm device of claim 1 wherein said means of attachment comprises a spring type hand clamp or other clamping means attached by permanent adhesive means to the second part of a hook and loop fastener system, the first part of said hook and loop fastener system being permanently attached to a side or the bottom portion of said alarm device, whereby when said first and second parts of said hook and loop fastener system are connected, said alarm device can be quickly clamped or unclamped to a variety of objects to be secured.

7. The alarm device of claim 1 wherein said second switch means, which requires manual activation by a secured method, is a numeric keypad means by which the user can enter any number of digits as a security code to activate said third switch means for arming said alarm device and then reenter the identical security code to enable the user to activate said fourth switch means to disarm said alarm device.

8. The alarm device of claim 1 wherein said second switch means, which requires manual activation by a secured method, is a keyed lock means in which the user must insert the key and engage the lock to activate said third switch means for arming said alarm device and then reinsert the key and reengage the lock to activate said fourth switch means to disarm said alarm device.

9. The alarm device of claim 1 wherein said time delay circuit means therein described can be set to any length of time by user.

10. The alarm device of claim 1 further including a second time delay circuit means connected to said alarm circuit so as to permit a predetermined length of time that said alarm speaker means sounds.

11. The alarm device of claim 1 wherein said alarm display means produces a pulsating light.

12. The alarm device of claim 1 wherein said power source is a battery or batteries.

13. The alarm device of claim 1 wherein a rigid transparent protective cover is attached to said top portion of said alarm device by means to allow open and closed positions of said cover thereby providing access to and visibility of all external components of said top portion, said cover further to have a means of sealing said cover, when in a closed position, to said top portion so as to provide protection to said top portion from outside elements.