Tamper indication device

• US 7,385,521 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ideaz, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ideaz, LLC
• Inventors: Macari, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/145,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.6, 340/546, 340/570
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

A tamper indication device includes a first component, a second component, and an alarm device. The alarm device indicates relative displacement of the first component and the second component. The alarm device includes an alarm circuit that detects the relative displacement and generates an alarm signal, and an alarm indicator that receives the alarm signal and generates an alarm indication.

Claims

1. A tamper indication device, comprising:

a first component;

a second component;

an alarm device,

wherein the alarm device indicates relative displacement of the first component and the second component; and

an alarm suppression device that prevents setting of the alarm device if actuated during a fixed time period.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the alarm device includes

an alarm circuit that detects the relative displacement and generates an alarm signal;

and

an alarm indicator that receives the alarm signal and generates an alarm indication.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the alarm indicator is an audio speaker.

4. The device of claim 2, further comprising an actuator that sets the alarm device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the actuator includes a switch.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the switch has a first position and a second position.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the actuator sets the alarm device when the switch is moved to the first position.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the alarm indicator indicates an alarm when the switch is moved from the first position to the second position after the alarm device has been set.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the actuator includes a latch.

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the alarm device includes a delay device that delays the setting of the alarm device by a fixed time period following actuation of the alarm device by the actuator.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the delay device is a circuit that senses actuation of the alarm device by the actuator and delays the setting of the alarm device by the fixed time period.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the fixed time period is adjustable.

13. The device of claim 2, wherein the first component is a blocking device attached to a first side of a sliding door, and the second component is a knob attached to a second side of a sliding door, opposite the blocking device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the blocking device includes a housing and a block within the housing that is movable between a first block position and a second block position.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the block is attached to the housing along an axis, and the block is rotatable about the axis between the first block position and the second block position.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the block prevents the sliding door from opening when the block is in the first block position, and the block allows the sliding door to open when the block is in the second block position.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the knob is rotatable between a first knob position and a second knob position.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the disposition of the knob in the first knob position causes the block to be disposed in the first block position, and disposition of the knob in the second knob position causes the block to be disposed in the second knob position.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the knob includes a first magnet and the block includes a second magnet, wherein the relative positions of the first and second magnets control whether the block is disposed in the first or second block position.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the alarm circuit is disposed in the blocking device housing.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the alarm circuit includes a switch.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the switch is movable between a first switch position and a second switch position.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the alarm circuit generates the alarm signal when the switch is disposed in the second switch position.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the alarm circuit continuously generates the alarm signal after the switch has been disposed in the second switch position.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the block causes the switch to be disposed in the second switch position when the block is disposed in the second block position.

26. The device of claim 15, wherein the blocking device further includes a bar that is slidable between a first bar position and a second bar position.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the bar allows the block to be moved to the second block position when the bar is disposed in the first bar position, and the bar prevents the block from being moved to the second block position when the bar is disposed in the second bar position.

28. The device of claim 8, wherein

the first component is a U-shaped housing including a receptacle, and

the second component is an extension including a U-shaped end piece and a ratcheted arm that engages the receptacle, attached to one end of the U-shaped end piece.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein an open end of the U-shaped housing is disposed opposite an open end of the U-shaped end piece of the extension.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the alarm device is disposed within the U-shaped housing.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the actuator is disposed within the U-shaped housing.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the actuator is a switch that sets the alarm device when the ratcheted arm is moved in a direction to engage the receptacle, and causes the alarm circuit to generate the alarm signal when the ratcheted arm is moved in a direction to disengage the receptacle.

33. The device of claim 8, wherein

the first component is a housing including first and second receptacles, and

the second component is an extension including a U-shaped end piece and first and second ratcheted arms that engage the respective first and second receptacles, attached to respective ends of the U-shaped end piece.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the housing is disposed between the first and second ratcheted arms and is slidingly attached to the first and second ratcheted arms.

35. The device of claim 33, wherein the alarm device is disposed within the housing.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the actuator is disposed within the housing.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the actuator is a switch that sets the alarm device when the housing is moved along the first and second ratcheted arms in a direction toward the U-shaped end piece, and causes the alarm circuit to generate the alarm signal when the housing is moved along the first and second ratcheted arms in a direction away from the U-shaped end piece.

38. The device of claim 8, wherein the first component is a housing including a receptacle, and

the second component is a flexible strap including an extension at a first end that engages the receptacle.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein

the flexible strap includes first attachment means at a second end for attaching the second end to a first surface, and

the housing includes second attachment means for attaching the housing to a second surface.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the alarm device is disposed within the housing.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein the actuator is disposed within the housing.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein the actuator is a switch that sets the alarm device when the extension engages the receptacle, and causes the alarm circuit to generate the alarm signal when the extension is disengaged from the receptacle.

43. The device of claim 8, wherein

the first component is a housing, and

the second component is an extension extending from the housing and attached to the housing such that the extension is rotatable about a central axis of the extension between first and second rotational positions.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the housing is attached to a first surface, and the extension engages a bracket attached to a second surface.

45. The device of claim 43, wherein the alarm device is disposed within the housing.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the actuator is disposed within the housing.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the actuator is a switch that sets the alarm device when the extension is disposed in the first rotational position, and causes the alarm circuit to generate the alarm signal when the extension is disposed in the second rotational position.

48. The device of claim 8, wherein the first component is an electrical socket base, and the second component is an electrical outlet socket cover.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the electrical outlet socket cover includes at least one prong that engages a receptacle of the electrical socket.

50. The device of claim 48, wherein the alarm device is disposed within the electrical outlet socket cover.

51. The device of claim 50, wherein the actuator is disposed within the electrical outlet socket cover.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein the switch is moved to the first position when the electrical outlet socket cover is disposed against the electrical socket base, and the switch is moved to the second position when the electrical outlet socket cover is moved away from the electrical socket base.