Removable security device for portable articles

• US 6,177,869 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC (Allegion PLC)
• Original Assignee: Kryptonite Corporation (Allegion PLC)
• Inventors: McDaid, Cornelius
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/400,593
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.5, 340/568.6, 340/568.7, 340/568.8, 340/571, 340/573.1, 340/572.9, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/540, 340/542, 340/546, 340/548, 340/545.5, 340/545.6
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• 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

Abstract

A removable security device for a portable article that includes an alarm housing with an audible electronic alarm circuit and a locking mechanism, a receiver that attaches to the portable article. The alarm housing has a pair of opposed rails that define a channel and the receiver has a pair of opposed flanges that mate with and that slide into the channel. A lock bolt, operated by the locking mechanism, extends from the alarm housing into a shaped depression in the receiver to secure the alarm housing to the receiver, and retracts from the depression to permit removal of the alarm housing from the receiver. The audible alarm is triggered by a motion detector or by cutting an attached cable.

Claims

1. A removable security device for portable articles comprising

(a) an alarm housing including an audible alarm circuit, a locking mechanism, and a bottom surface;

(b) a receiver adapted to be attached to said portable article;

(c) a pair of opposed rails on said alarm housing bottom surface, said rails defining a channel approximately parallel to said bottom surface and having an ingress;

(d) a pair of opposed flanges on said receiver shaped to mate relatively snugly with said channel and to slide into said channel ingress;

(e) a stop means for preventing said flanges from sliding beyond effective engagement with said channel, said alarm housing being installed on said receiver when said flanges are slid into said channel and stopped by said stop means; and

(f) a lock bolt selectively operated by said locking mechanism to extend from said alarm housing bottom surface into a shaped depression in said receiver when said alarm housing is installed on said receiver to secure said alarm housing to said receiver, and to retract from said shaped depression into said alarm housing bottom surface to permit removal of said alarm housing from said receiver.

2. The removable security device of claim 1 wherein each of said rails is a linear set of L-shaped protrusions.

3. The removable security device of claim 1 wherein said lock bolt is biased to extend out of said alarm housing.

4. The removable security device of claim 1 wherein said lock bolt extends from said alarm housing bottom surface between said rails.

5. The removable security device of claim 1 wherein said receiver is permanently attached to said portable article.

6. The removable security device of claim 1 wherein a removable attachment attaches said receiver to said portable article, said removable attachment being inaccessible when said alarm housing is installed on said receiver.

7. The removable security device of claim 1 wherein said alarm circuit includes a battery, said battery being stored in a battery compartment in said alarm housing, said compartment being covered by a hatch, said hatch being secured closed by a rod, said rod being operated by said locking mechanism to extend into an aperture in said hatch to secure said hatch closed and to retract from said aperture to allow removal of said hatch.

8. The removable security device of claim 1 wherein said alarm circuit includes a motion detector.

9. The removable security device of claim 1 wherein said alarm housing includes a retractable cable, said cable having a free end with a plug shaped to mate with a socket in said alarm housing.

10. A removable security device for portable articles comprising

(a) a alarm housing including an audible electronic alarm circuit, a locking mechanism, a retractable cable having a free end with a plug shaped to mate with a socket in said alarm housing, and a bottom surface;

(b) a receiver adapted to be attached to said portable article;

(c) a pair of opposed linear sets of L-shaped protrusions on said alarm housing bottom surface, said L-shaped protrusions defining a channel approximately parallel to said bottom surface and having an ingress;

(d) a pair of opposed flanges on said receiver shaped to mate relatively snugly with said channel and to slide into said channel ingress;

(e) a stop means for preventing said flanges from sliding beyond effective engagement with said channel, said alarm housing being installed on said receiver when said flanges are slid into said channel and stopped by said stop means; and

(f) a lock bolt selectively operated by said locking mechanism to extend from said alarm housing bottom surface into said channel and into a shaped depression in said receiver when said alarm housing is installed on said receiver to secure said alarm housing to said receiver, and to retract from said shaped depression into said alarm housing bottom surface to permit removal of said alarm housing from said receiver, said lock bolt being biased to extend out of said alarm housing.

11. The removable security device of claim 10 wherein said receiver is permanently attached to said portable article.

12. The removable security device of claim 10 wherein a removable attachment attaches said receiver to said portable article, said removable attachment being inaccessible when said alarm housing is installed on said receiver.

13. The removable security device of claim 10 wherein said alarm circuit includes a battery, said battery being stored in a battery compartment in said alarm housing, said compartment being covered by a hatch, said hatch being secured closed by a rod, said rod being operated by said locking mechanism to extend into an aperture in said hatch to secure said hatch closed and to retract from said aperture to allow removal of said hatch.

14. The removable security device of claim 10 wherein said alarm circuit includes a motion detector.