Theft deterrent device and method of use

• US 9,222,285 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Perseus Micro Logic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Perseus Micro Logic Corporation
• Inventors: Ilislamloo, Shahriar, Sarabi, Andisheh
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Samson, Sara
• Application Number:
  US14/555,497
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0065 Saving energy E05B2047/0053, E05B2047/0074, E05B2047/0077, E05B2047/0079, E05B2047/0081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0071 Connecting lockparts by electronic communication means only, e.g. bus systems, time multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0072 Operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0097 including means for monitoring voltage, e.g. for indicating low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2073/0088 being lockable or unlockable by means of the office machine itself, e.g. by its keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 41/00 Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked indicator lights E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 43/00 Time locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/005 Chain-locks, cable-locks or padlocks with alarms
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/00 Electric permutation locks; Circuits therefor ; Mechanical aspects of electronic locks; Mechanical keys therefor arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; mechanisms including electronic locks actuated by nonmechanical keys such as passive and active electrical keys and other data carriers G07C9/00, G07F7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/24 by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A portable theft deterrent device is disclosed. The theft deterrent device comprises a lock detection mechanism. The lock detection mechanism includes a plurality of connectors. The lock detection mechanism includes a first active circuit therein coupled to the plurality of connectors. When the lock detection mechanism is coupled to an electrical path via at least one connector of the plurality of connectors and if the first active circuit detects an interruption in electrical flow in the electrical path, the lock detection mechanism provides an alert. The theft deterrent device includes a monitoring key member. The monitoring key member includes a second active circuit therein that allows for wireless communication with the lock detection mechanism when detached therefrom. The monitoring key member is configured to receive the alert remotely.

Claims

1. A portable theft deterrent device comprising:

a lock detection mechanism capable of forming a physical loop of one or more connectors of a plurality of connectors, wherein the physical loop comprises an electrical path having electrical flow, and the plurality of connectors includes at least one anchoring connector;

wherein the lock detection mechanism includes the plurality of connectors;

wherein the lock detection mechanism includes a first active circuit therein coupled to the plurality of connectors;

wherein when the lock detection mechanism is coupled to the electrical path via at least one connector of the plurality of connectors and the first active circuit detects an interruption in the electrical flow in the electrical path, the lock detection mechanism provides an alert; and

a monitoring key member, the monitoring key member includes a second active circuit therein that allows for wireless communication with the lock detection mechanism when detached therefrom;

wherein the monitoring key member is configured to receive the alert remotely and wherein the monitoring key member includes at least one key connector capable of forming an electrical path having electrical flow with the anchoring connector of the lock detection mechanism.

2. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the alert can be any of a light, beep, remote notification, horn, vibration and alarm.

3. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the electrical path comprises an anchor for the anchoring connector of the lock detection mechanism.

4. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 3, wherein the electrical path loops through an opening in a not easy to move object.

5. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein a portable device is secured by providing an electrical path between the portable device and the lock detection mechanism.

6. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 3, wherein the anchor comprises any of a virtual or physical anchor.

7. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 5, wherein the portable device is secured either through wireless or wired connection or both.

8. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 5, wherein the electrical path anchors the lock detection mechanism to a hard-to-move object and secures the portable device through the same electrical path.

9. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the lock detection mechanism includes a keypad, wherein the keypad enables and disables the lock detection mechanism when a correct key code is entered.

10. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 3, wherein the anchor comprises an electrical cable that is looped around a hard to move object and coupled between a first connector and a second connector in the lock detection mechanism.

11. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the lock detection mechanism includes a geometrical opening therethrough.

12. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 11, wherein the anchor comprises an electrical cable that is looped through the opening, is coupled to a first connector, looped around a hard to move object and coupled to a portable device.

13. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 3, wherein the anchor comprises an electrical cable that is connected between one of the plurality of connectors on the lock mechanism and an immovable power source.

14. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 3, wherein the anchor comprises a sensor which detects a change in position of the lock detection mechanism.

15. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 11, wherein the first active circuit includes a protection mechanism to detect tampering with the opening.

16. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 5, wherein the portable device includes any of a laptop, smartphone, tablet, phablet, digital camera, television, or recorders.

17. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 16, wherein the portable device includes one or more peripheral devices coupled thereto.

18. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 17, wherein the lock detection mechanism detects peripheral devices being attached or detached from the portable device.

19. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring key member includes a connector which can be utilized for any of data communication or power.

20. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 19, wherein the connector provides a charging path to an internal power source in the monitoring key member.

21. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein wireless communication is utilized to secure the portable device by detecting an out of range condition of the portable device.

22. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 5, wherein a plurality of other portable devices are secured by being attached to the portable device.

23. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the lock detection mechanism and the monitoring key member exchange a communication key and a session key through the connectors.

24. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the lock detection mechanism and the monitoring key member exchange wireless communication alerting the user of a state or the environment of the portable device.

25. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring key is configured to terminate the lock detection mechanism by physical attachment thereto.

26. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1 wherein the lock detection mechanism and the monitoring key member are configured to alert a user that the lock detection mechanism and the monitoring key member are outside of a predetermined range of each other.

27. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring key member is any of a smartphone, tablet, phablet, or laptop.

28. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the lock detection mechanism includes a memory, wherein the memory stores a record of information available including any tampering with the portable theft deterrent device.

29. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein operation parameters from the portable theft deterrent device can be communicated to a device that is coupled to a network, wherein the network can be any of a public network or a private network.

30. The portable theft deterrent device of claim 1, wherein the lock detection mechanism includes a charging system.