Folding anti-theft device

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding anti-theft device, comprising: a main body (1) equipped with a housing (11) in which is housed a lock (3) for opening and closing the anti-theft device, and a strong, articulated or flexible elongated body (2), a first end of which is fixed to the main body (1) and a second end of which has an orifice (23) or a configuration capable of effecting its fixing to said main body (1), by means of the lock, in the closed position of the device; said articulated body (2) comprising a series of flat and parallel bars (21), successively connected to each other by their opposite ends by means of rivets (22) and free to rotate between an unfolded position for use of the anti-theft device and a folded position in which said bars are superimposed;characterized in that the main body has an alarm (4) comprising: a microcontroller (41), a motion detector (42) providing a signal for triggering the alarm when it detects movement or vibration exceeding a predetermined threshold, a power supply battery (43), acoustic alarm means (44) and a switch (46) for activating and deactivating the alarm.;

Description

Title of the invention: Folding anti-theft device Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding anti-theft device, of the type used for immobilizing bicycles, scooters and other similar vehicles. State of the art

[0002] There are currently on the market various types of anti-theft devices, capable of attaching a bicycle, a scooter or similar to any fixed structure, in order to prevent them from being stolen.

[0003] These anti-theft devices generally comprise a main body equipped with a housing in which is housed a lock for opening and closing the device, and an elongated and resistant body, articulated or flexible, a first end of which is fixed to the main body and a second end of which has an orifice or a configuration capable of effecting its fixing to said main body, by means of the lock, and the closing of the anti-theft device.

[0004] Said elongated body may have different configurations and be constituted, for example, by a steel cable, a link chain or, as in the case of the present invention, a series of flat and parallel bars, successively connected to each other by their opposite ends by means of rivets and free to rotate between an unfolded position of use and a folded position in which said bars are superimposed.

[0005] This latter type of anti-theft device has, compared to the previous ones, the advantage in the rest position of being able to fold up and thus be compact, which facilitates transport; it remains however exposed, like the previous ones, to attempts at manipulation and opening by thieves who would try to steal the vehicle immobilized by the anti-theft device.

[0006] Although these anti-theft devices are robust, their manipulation or attempted forcing can continue over time until the thief inopportunely manages to open or break it.

[0007] Thus, the technical problem which arises is that of implementing a folding anti-theft device, of the type described above, capable of reducing the risk of illicit manipulation or forcing of the anti-theft device in order to obtain its opening. Presentation of the invention

[0008] The folding anti-theft device according to the invention, of the type described in the preamble of the main claim, has technical characteristics aimed at satisfactorily solving the technical problem posed above.

[0009] For this purpose, according to the invention, the main body of the folding anti-theft device comprises an alarm in the event of an attempt to unauthorisedly open the anti-theft device, which is activated when it detects movements or vibrations of a certain intensity on the anti-theft device, so that when the anti-theft device is manipulated, the alarm is triggered automatically in order to scare off the potential thief and prevent the immobilised vehicle from being stolen using said anti-theft device.

[0010] According to the invention, said alarm comprises: a microcontroller, a motion detector providing a signal for triggering the alarm when said movement exceeds a predetermined threshold, a power supply battery, acoustic alarm means and a switch for activating and deactivating the alarm.

[0011] The alarm activation and deactivation switch is preferably a switch that can be magnetically or mechanically actuated by the lock, although the use of a switch that can be operated remotely by means of a remote control could be considered.

[0012] In the case where the alarm activation and deactivation switch is actuated by the lock, said alarm may further comprise a manual alarm activation button allowing the anti-theft device to be used without activating the alarm.

[0013] To activate the alarm, it is sufficient to press the manual activation button, either at the time of closing the anti-theft device by means of the lock which acts on the activation switch, or within a few seconds after having closed said device.

[0014] When the motion detector detects movements or vibrations of a certain intensity, which may be produced by an attempt to open the anti-theft device, said motion detector triggers the alarm.

[0015] The need to press the manual actuation button to activate the alarm makes it possible to use the anti-theft device without activating said alarm, for example near a hospital or a school establishment, it is then sufficient to close the device without pressing the manual actuation button.

[0016] If the alarm is triggered, to turn it off, simply open the device by operating the lock with the appropriate key.

[0017] The acoustic alarm means comprise one or more loudspeakers housed in the housing of the main body, said housing having outlets for the acoustic signal to the outside.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the alarm comprises a tamper warning device and a timer delaying the triggering of the alarm means connected to the microcontroller.

[0019] Said warning device and timer are activated by the signal provided by the motion detector when it detects movements or vibrations exceeding the predetermined intensity.

[0020] The tamper warning device of the anti-theft device may include one of the alarm speakers or a light indicator, the role of which is to indicate to the user that the alarm triggering signal has been provided by the detector; the timer, for its part, allows the user the time necessary to deactivate the alarm, by opening the lock, before the alarm is triggered. Brief description of the figures

[0021] In order to complete the present description and to facilitate the understanding of the characteristics of the invention, the present descriptive memorandum is illustrated by a set of drawings in which the following is represented, by way of illustration and not limitation: - [Fig. 1] shows a perspective top view of an exemplary embodiment of the folding anti-theft device, according to the invention, in the folded or resting position. - [Fig.2] shows a top view of the folding anti-theft device, in the open position. - [Fig.3] shows a functional diagram of an example of the alarm implementation. - [Fig.4] shows a perspective bottom view of the folding anti-theft device of the previous figure, partially disassembled.

[0022] Description of embodiments of the invention

[0023] In the embodiment illustrated by the attached figures, the folding anti-theft device comprises a main body (1) and an elongated, folding body (2), consisting of a series of flat and parallel bars (21), successively connected to each other by their ends by means of rivets (22), allowing the relative rotation of said bars (21) between a folded position, shown in [Fig.l], in which they are superimposed, and an unfolded position in which they form different angles between them, as illustrated by [Fig.2], allowing, in such an unfolded position, to surround and immobilize the bicycle or the element to be protected.

[0024] The bar (21) corresponding to the first end of the elongated body (2) is fixed to the main body (1), in the same way as the bars between them, by means of a rivet (22). The bar (21) corresponding to the second end of the elongated body (2) here comprises an orifice (23) capable of receiving, inside, the bolt (31) of a lock (3) mounted in the main body (1), actuable by means of a key (32) and making it possible to open and close the anti-theft device.

[0025] Said main body (1) comprises a housing (11) in which are housed said lock (3) and an alarm (4) which emits an acoustic signal when it detects movements or vibrations exceeding a predetermined threshold, thus warning of a possible attempt to open or force the anti-theft device.

[0026] In the example illustrated by the diagram in [Fig.3], said alarm (4) comprises: a microcontroller (41), a motion detector (42), a power supply battery (43), acoustic alarm means (44), a button (45) for manual activation of the alarm and a switch (46) for activation and deactivation of the alarm which, in this exemplary embodiment, is actuated magnetically by a magnet inserted in the lock (3).

[0027] Said motion detector (42) provides a trigger signal which activates the acoustic alarm means, represented in [Fig.3] by a loudspeaker, when said motion detector detects movement exceeding a predetermined threshold.

[0028] To activate the alarm, it is necessary to press the button (45) at the time of closing the anti-theft device, or in an interval, for example of 5 to 10 seconds, following said closing of the anti-theft device, by means of the lock (3); to deactivate it, it is sufficient to open the lock (3) using the key (32).

[0029] If for any reason the anti-theft device needs to be closed without activating the alarm, it is sufficient to block the second end of the elongated body (2) in the main body (1) by means of the lock (3), without keeping the button (45) pressed when activating the lock.

[0030] In the example illustrated by said [Fig.3], the folding anti-theft device further comprises a warning device (47) for manipulation of the anti-theft device, represented by a LED-type light indicator, and a timer (48) delaying the triggering of the acoustic alarm means (44) connected to the microcontroller (41).

[0031] The warning device (47) and the timer (48) are activated when the motion detector (42) provides a signal to trigger the alarm means; the delay in triggering the alarm means then allows the user to deactivate the alarm before it is triggered, for example, when the movements detected by the motion detector have been caused by manipulation of the anti-theft device by the user himself.

[0032] The nature of the invention and a preferred embodiment having been described in detail, it should be noted, for all useful purposes, that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements described may be modified, provided that this does not imply any alteration of the essential characteristics of the invention claimed below.

Claims

1. Claims Folding anti-theft device, comprising: a main body (1) equipped with a housing (11) in which is housed a lock (3) for opening and closing the anti-theft device, and a strong, articulated or flexible elongated body (2), a first end of which is fixed to the main body (1) and a second end of which has an orifice (23) or a configuration capable of effecting its fixing to said main body (1), by means of the lock, in the closed position of the device; said articulated body (2) comprising a series of flat and parallel bars (21), successively connected to each other by their opposite ends by means of rivets (22) and free to rotate between an unfolded position for use of the anti-theft device and a folded position in which said bars are superimposed;characterized in that the main body has an alarm (4) comprising: a microcontroller (41), a motion detector (42) providing a signal for triggering the alarm when it detects movement or vibration exceeding a predetermined threshold, a power supply battery (43), acoustic alarm means (44) and a switch (46) for activating and deactivating the alarm.; 2. Device according to claim 1, in which the switch (46) for activating and deactivating the alarm is a switch actuated mechanically or magnetically by the lock (3), and the alarm (4) comprises a button (45) for manually activating the alarm.

3. Device according to claim 1, in which the switch (46) for activating and deactivating the alarm is a switch that can be operated remotely by a remote control.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a warning device (47) for manipulation of the anti-theft device and a timer (48) delaying the triggering of the alarm means, connected to the microcontroller (41) and activated by the signal for triggering the alarm means supplied by the motion detector (42).

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the acoustic alarm means (44) comprise one or more loudspeakers.

6. Device according to claim 5, in which the alarm (47) for manipulation of the anti-theft device comprises one of the alarm speakers.

7. Device according to claim 4, in which the alarm (47) for manipulation of the anti-theft device comprises a light indicator.

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