GB2217890A - Anti-theft alarm device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a casing 20 having a hinged lid 21, cable anchorage points 22, 22', a key operated lock 23 and mounting bolts 24, 24'. The bolts 24, 24' are securely attached to an article, e.g. a frame portion of a bicycle, and a metal cable (15, Fig 1) is connected at each end to the anchorage points 22, 22' and passes through a wheel or around a railing or fence. When the lid 21 is closed it is locked to the body of the casing 20 by the key operated lock 23. When the lid is locked shut, the ends of the cable (15) cannot be removed and if cable (15) is severed then an alarm located in the casing 20 will operate. At all times, the casing remains securely attached to the bicycle and therefore indicates to any third party that same has been stolen. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ANTI-THEFT DEVICES The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to anti-theft devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to anti-theft devices having an alarm associated therewith.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a bicycle anti-theft alarm lock arrangement. However, the present invention is also applicable to provision of anti-theft devices for many articles, typically those which are normally attached to another article, e.g.

trailers for vehicles, caravans, boats and outboard motors therefor.

In the case of bicycles, anti-theft locks are available which usually comprise a chain arrangement, the ends of such chain being connected together with a suitable locking mechanism, e.g. a padlock or combination lock. When the chain is passed through for example a wheel and a part of a frame of a bicycle, the bicycle cannot be ridden off. However, it is possible for a thief to carry away the bicycle with the chain attached thereto.

In an attempt to prevent such unauthorised removal, it is possible to chain the bicycle to, for example, a fence or railing, or even to other bicycles. However, in such arrangements, the thief can simply cut through the chain with a suitable pair of bolt cutters for example and is able to ride off on the bicycle. There is then no indication given to any member of the public that the bicycle has in fact been stolen.

A similar arrangement exists in relation to trailers, caravans, boats and outboard motors therefor.

If a chain lock arrangement is utilised then this can be broken or severed and then the article can be removed by the thief without any person knowing that the article had been stolen.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an anti-theft device which will indicate to the public that the article in question has been stolen.

According to the present invention there is provided an anti-theft device for an article comprising: (a) a housing containing an alarm; (b) means for securedly mounting cr attaching said housing to said article to be protected against theft; (c) attachment means connected at one end to said housing, the other end thereof being connectable to the housing, the attachment means being of sufficient length to enable same to be attached to or be located around or about a portion of said article and/or to a separate means; and means for activating said alarm when said connectable end of said attachment means is connected to said housing, whereby when the attachment means is tampered with the alarm operates, the housing remaining attached to said article.

It will thus be seen that when the anti-theft device of the present invention operates, the housing containing the alarm remains attached to the article being stolen and the public are then made aware that a theft has taken place. In most instances, it is believed the thief would leave the article when the alarm commenced to operate.

The housing is suitably in the form of a secure casing, suitably having a hinged lid and suitably contains a battery operated alarm.

The means for securedly mounting or attaching the housing to the article to be protected against theft suitably comprise mounting bolts or the like whereby secure attachment of the housing to the article may be maintained.

The attachment means suitably comprise cable or wire members, although it is possible to use plastics material provided same is of sufficient strength.

Normally, when the free end of the attachment means is connected to the housing then the circuit is made up. In such arrangement, the material of the attachment means has to be electrically conductive. However, it is also envisaged that the free end of the attachment means could be inserted into the housing without completing the circuit,removal of one end of the attachment means causing the alarm to operate.

The means for activating the alarm can be the attachment means when both ends thereof are located in the casing and connected to contact points. In another embodiment the free end of the attachment means may be inserted into the housing and the housing is then locked, when the free end is pulled out then the alarm is caused to operate.

In an embodiment of the present invention there is provided an anti-theft device for a bicycle having a secure casing with a lockable hinged lid containing a battery operated alarm, such casing being securely mountable onto the bicycle in use. A metal cable is connected at one end to the casing whilst the other free end may, in use, be passed through a wheel or around a railing or fence and thereafter be inserted into the casing. Such casing is then locked thereby securing both ends of the cable. When both ends of the cable are inserted into the casing the electrical circuit is completed, so that if the cable is severed, the alarm in the casing starts sounding and continues to sound until the battery power is sufficient or until the casing is opened and the cable removed.

The present invention will be further illustrated, by way of example, in relation to the use of the anti-theft device with a bicycle, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 schematically indicates a suitable electrical circuit arrangement for the alarm; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the casing for the alarm; and Fig. 3 is an elevation view of one end of the metal cable when connected to the cable anchorage point on the casing.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the electrical circuit diagram comprises a relay coil 11, a relay contact 12, an alarm unit 13 and a battery 14. The metal cable 15 is connected at either end to electrical contact points 16 and 17. Before the metal cable is connected to both contact points 16 and 17, the relay contact 12 is closed; however, as there is no electrical connection at the contact point 6 the alarm unit will not operate. When the metal cable 15 is connected whereby contacts are made at 16 and 17, the current flowing in the relay coil 11 causes the relay contact 12 to open, thereby disconnecting the alarm unit from the battery. If the metal cable is cut or otherwise tampered with, the current in the relay coil 11 will collapse, thereby causing the relay contact 12 to close which then connects the battery 14 to the alarm unit 14, thereby causing such unit 13 to operate.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the housing is in the form of a casing 20 having a hinged lid 21 and metal cable anchorage points 22, 22'. The casing is also provided with a key operated lock 23 and the casing 20 has mounting bolts 24, 24' for securing the casing 20, in use, to a bicycle. The inset 25 shown in the hinged lid 21 is usually provided with perforations in order to allow free passage of the sound from the alarm unit to pass from inside the casing to the outside thereof. When the hinged lid 21 is closed it is locked to the body of the casing 20 by the key operated lock 23. The ends of the metal cable are connected to the body of the casing 20 with the lid 21 open. Connection is effected at the cable anchorage points 22, 22' such that when the lid 21 is locked the ends of the cable cannot be removed.The mounting bolts 24, 24' may be secured to the casing 20 from the inside of the casing whereby, when the lid 21 of the casing 20 is locked, the mounting bolts 24, 24' cannot be removed.

The plan elevation of one end of the casing is illustrated in Fig. 3. The sides of the metal cable anchorage are indicated by reference numerals 31, 31' and at the end of the metal cable 32 are provided with two electrical contacts 33, 33' which correspond to the two electrical contacts referenced 6 in Fig. 1. The electrical contacts are not part of the metal cable but are shown in Fig. 3 in physical contact with the metal cable 32 when it is connected at the cable anchorage point.

Whilst the invention has been specifically described in relation to an anti-theft alarm lock for a bicycle, it is clear that the same arrangement could be utilised for preventing theft of other types of articles.

For example, the housing of the device could be attached to a trailer or caravan or horse box, or even a vehicle and the cable could be attached around a railing or any other suitable separate article such that if a thief were to attempt to steel the trailer, caravan, horsebox or vehicle then the alarm would operate and would remain attached to the article. Accordingly, any person could then see that the article was being stolen in all probability, the thief would run away.

In a similar manner, the device of the present invention could be used for the protection of boats and outboard motors therefor with a similar type of locking arrangement being utilised. The housing containing the alarm would be attached to the boat or outboard motor and if a thief were to try to steel same then the alarm would operate. Being attached to the article which is being stolen clearly indicates to members of the public that a theft has taken place of the article in question.

It is believed that the anti-theft device of the present invention should be simple and economical to construct and provide an effective means for preventing a thief from taking away an article which has been stolen and to which the housing of the device of the present invention remains attached with the alarm operating.

Claims (7)

1. An anti-theft device for an article comprising: (a) a housing containing an alarm; (b) means for securedly mounting or attaching said housing to said article to be protected against theft; (c) attachment means connected at one end to said housing, the other end thereof being connectable to the housing, the attachment means being of sufficient length to enable same to be attached to or be located around or about a portion of said article and/or to a separate means; and means for activating said alarm when said connectable end of said attachment means is connected to said housing, whereby when the attachment means is tampered with the alarm operates, the housing remaining attached to said article.

2. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1, in which the housing is in the form of a secure casing having a hinged rod and containing a battery operated alarm.

3. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the means for securedly mounting or attaching the housing to the article to be protected against theft comprises mounting bolts.

4. An anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the attachment means comprise cable or wire members.

5. An anti-theft device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the means for actuating the alarm comprises the attachment means when both ends thereof are located in the housing, and are connected to electrical contact points.

6. An anti-theft device for a bicycle, comprising a secure casing having a locatable hinged lid containing a battery operated alarm, said casing being securely mountable onto the bicycle in use, a metal cable being connected to the casing at one end, the other free end, in use, being passed through a wheel or around a railing or fence and thereafer being inserted into the casing, thereby completing an electrical circuit.

7. An anti-theft device for an article, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.