Clip alarm

• US 8,164,449 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Van Tassel
• Original Assignee: David Van Tassel
• Inventors: Van Tassel, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/450,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20100097217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 3405721-5729, 340/541, 340565-566, 340/571, 340/545.1, 340/546
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

The clip alarm (100) is a retaining clip attachable to personal items in order to function as a loss prevention device capable of emitting an audible and/or visual alarm in response to the clip and attached item being dislodged from a user'"'"'s person. Upon dislodgment from a person or other support, a top clip member (105) of the device is pivoted towards an opposing, bottom clip member (110) through spring tensioning to make electrical contact with a battery (118) powering the alarm. The bottom surface of the bottom clip member (110) may have a permanently attached hook and loop fastener (200) to enable attachment of the clip to an item having a complementary hook and loop fastener. A recessed switch (120) is provided to turn the unit off when the user desires to intentionally remove it from his/her person or other object.

Claims

1. A clip alarm, comprising:

first and second elongated clip members pivotally attached to each other;

means for biasing the clip members in a closed position, the first clip member having a contact end bearing against a medial portion of an opposing face of the second clip member in the closed position;

a first electrical contact disposed in the contact and of the first clip member, a second electrical contact disposed in the medial portion of the opposing face of the second clip member, and an electrically conductive path extending through the first and second clip members, the electrically conductive path forming an electrically closed circuit when the first and second clip members are in the closed position;

a power source and an alarm transducer housed in the second clip member and disposed in the electrically conductive path; and

means for attaching an item to the second clip member for storage and transport;

wherein the alarm transducer is turned off when the first and second clip members are clipped to an insulated support; and

wherein the alarm transducer is turned on when the clip is removed from the insulated support and biased to the closed position in order to alert a user that the item has been removed from the support.

2. The clip alarm, according to claim 1, further comprising a recessed electrical cutoff switch disposed in a lower end of the second clip member, the cutoff switch interrupting current flow to the alarm transducer so that users can remove the clip from the person without triggering the alarm.

3. The clip alarm, according to claim 1, further comprising a thumb press disposed near an upper end of the first clip member, the thumb press pivoting the clip members to an open position when the thumb press is pressed by a user.

4. The clip alarm, according to claim 1, further comprising a warning lamp visibly disposed on a clip member, the warning lamp being energized when the alarm transducer is activated.

5. A clip alarm, comprising:

first and second elongated clip members pivotally attached to each other;

means for biasing the clip members in a closed position, the first clip member having a raised pin bearing against a medial portion of an opposing face of the second clip member in the closed position;

a normally open momentary electrical switch recessed in the medial portion of the opposing face of the second clip member;

an electrically conductive path extending through the first and second clip members between the raised pin and the switch, the electrically conductive path forming an electrically closed circuit when the first and second clip members are in the closed position, the raised pin mechanically engaging the normally open, momentary electrical switch, forming an electrically closed circuit;

a power source and an alarm transducer housed in the second clip member and disposed in the electrically closed circuit;

means for attaching an item to the second clip member for storage and transport;

wherein the alarm transducer is turned off when the first and second clip members are clipped to an insulated support; and

wherein the alarm transducer is turned on when the clip is removed from the insulated support and biased to the closed position in order to alert a user that the item has been removed from the support.

6. The clip alarm, according to claim 5, further comprising a recessed electrical cutoff switch disposed in a lower end of the second clip member, the cutoff switch interrupting current flow to the alarm transducer so that users can remove the clip from the person without triggering the alarm.

7. The clip alarm, according to claim 5, further comprising a thumb press disposed near an upper end of the first clip member, the thumb press pivoting the clip members to an open position when the thumb press is pressed by a user.

8. The clip alarm, according to claim 5, further comprising a warning lamp visibly disposed on a clip member, the warning lamp being energized when the alarm transducer is activated.