Clasping anti-theft device with alarm features

• US 8,421,633 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiao Hui Yang
• Original Assignee: Xiao Hui Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Xiao Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/614,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20130002430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.9, 340/572.1, 340/426.1, 340/542, 340/568.1, 340/539.1, 340/549, 340/545.1, 340/545.6
• US Class Current: 340/572.9
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0041 for essentially round objects, e.g. bottles or racket handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0052 of the magnetic type
• 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 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag

Abstract

An anti-theft device monitors objects having a shaft, strap, or similar element. The anti-theft device is comprised of a two components hingably connected together. The two components can move from an open position to a closed position to enclose the shaft or similar element. One component has a first latch element and contains electronics including an arming switch. When the two components are moved to the closed position, the other component changes the status of the arming switch. The other component has a second latch element which combines with the first latch element to hold the two components in the closed position. The anti-theft device may be armed or disarmed by a remote device. The latching elements may be releasably lockable and may be released by a magnet. The anti-theft device may have passcode protection capabilities.

Claims

1. An anti-theft tag comprising;

a first component hingably connected to a second component, said first and second components rotatable between open and closed positions and, when in said closed position defining a passageway for receipt of a portion of an article to be protected;

said first component comprising a first latching component and a housing defining an internal compartment with a switch aperture passing from said internal compartment to external of said housing;

electronics located within said internal compartment, said electronics comprising a closure switch, said closure switch extending through said switch aperture in said housing;

said second component comprising a second latching component;

said second component changing the state of said closure switch when said first component and said second component rotate to said closed position, and said first and second latching components combining to maintain said first and second components in said closed position when said latching components engage.

2. The anti-theft tag of claim 1, wherein:

said latching components are releasably lockable in engagement.

3. The anti-theft tag of claim 2, wherein:

said releasably lockable latching components may be unlocked by application of a magnet.

4. The anti-theft tag of claim 1, wherein:

said first latch component is a manually operated sliding latch movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;

said anti-theft tag further comprising a biased blocking component, said biased blocking component moving to a blocking position when said sliding latch is manually slid to said engaged position, thereby blocking the return of said sliding latch;

said biased blocking component being movable to a non-blocking position by application of a magnet to a magnetically attractable element associated with said biased blocking component, the moving of said biased blocking component to a non-blocking position allowing said sliding latch to be manually moved to said disengaged position.

5. The anti-theft tag of claim 1, wherein:

said electronics further comprise a circuit board, a microprocessor, communication elements, an audible alarm generator, and a battery.

6. The anti-theft tag of claim 5, wherein:

if said electronics detect a change in the status of said closure switch without authorizing communication being received by said communication elements in said electronics, said electronics determine an alarm condition and generate an alarm.

7. The anti-theft tag of claim 6, wherein;

said alarm is an audible alarm.

8. The anti-theft tag of claim 6, wherein;

said alarm is an alarm signal broadcast by said communication elements for receipt by devices external to said anti-theft tag.

9. The anti-theft tag of claim 5, wherein;

said electronics further comprise a latch switch;

said latch changing the state of said latch switch and arming said tag when said first and second components are in said closed position and said latch is moved to said engaged position.

10. The anti-theft tag of claim 5, wherein;

said communication elements are capable of communicating with external devices to receive signals changing said anti-theft tag between armed and disarmed states.

11. The anti-theft tag of claim 5, further comprising:

machine readable instructions encoded in said microprocessor for storing a passcode.

12. The anti-theft tag of claim 11, wherein:

said electronics further comprise an accurate clock generator, and

said machine readable instructions further comprise an algorithm for generating multiple passcodes, wherein at specific time intervals said algorithm generates a new passcode and a previously stored passcode is replaced by said new passcode.

13. The anti-theft tag of claim 1, further comprising;

a passive electronic article surveillance element.

14. An anti-theft tag comprising;

a housing defining an internal compartment with a switch aperture passing from said internal compartment to external of said housing, said housing having a first latching component;

a first hinge extending from said housing;

electronics located within said internal compartment, said electronics comprising a closure switch, said closure switch extending through said switch aperture in said housing;

a panel having a second latching component;

a second hinge extending from said panel, said first hinge and said second hinge pivotably connected to each other and rotatable between open positions and a closed position, said first hinge and said second hinge combining when in said closed position to form a passageway to receive a portion of an object to be protected;

said panel actuating said closure switch when said first and second hinges rotate to said closed position;

said first and second latching components combining to maintain said first and second hinges in said closed position when said latching components engage.

15. The anti-theft tag of claim 14, wherein:

said electronics further comprise a circuit board, a microprocessor, communication elements, an audible alarm generator, and a battery.

16. The anti-theft tag of claim 15, wherein;

if said electronics detect a change in the status of said closure switch without authorizing communication being received by said communication elements in said electronics, said electronics determine an alarm condition and generate an alarm.

17. The anti-theft tag of claim 16, wherein;

said first latch component is a manually operated sliding latch movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;

said anti-theft tag further comprising a biased blocking component, said biased blocking component moving to a blocking position when said sliding latch is manually slid to said engaged position, thereby blocking the return of said sliding latch;

said biased blocking component being movable to a non-blocking position by application of a magnet to a magnetically attractable element associated with said biased blocking component, the moving of said biased blocking component to a non-blocking position allowing said sliding latch to be manually moved to said disengaged position.

18. An anti-theft tag comprising;

a first component hingably connected to a second component, said first and second components rotatable between open and closed positions and, when in said closed position defining a passageway for receipt of a portion of an article to be protected,

said first component comprising a housing defining an internal compartment and a sliding latch,

said sliding latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and,

said second component comprising a latch receiver for receiving said sliding latch when said first and second components rotate to said closed position and said sliding latch moves to said latched position;

electronics located within said internal compartment;

a blocking component; and

,

a spring;

said spring moving said blocking component into a blocking position to prevent the return of said sliding latch when said first component and said second component rotate to said closed position, and said sliding latch moves to said latched position.

19. The anti-theft tag of claim 18, wherein;

said blocking component comprises a magnetically attractable material and can be moved from said blocking position by application of a magnet to said anti-theft tag.

20. The anti-theft tag of claim 18, wherein;

said electronics comprise a passive electronic article surveillance element.

21. The anti-theft tag of claim 18, wherein;

said first component further comprises a switch aperture passing from said internal compartment to external of said housing;

said electronics comprise a circuit board, microprocessor, battery, audible alarm generator, and a closure switch, said closure switch extending through said switch aperture in said housing; and

,

said second component changes the state of said closure switch when said first and second components are moved to said closed position.