Abstract:
A portable anti-theft device for attachment to a piece of portable outdoor furniture comprises a base attachable to the outdoor furniture and a hollow security shell attachable to the base. The base comprises a segmented tubular body comprising at least two semitubular segments and having an inner peripheral surface; longitudinally opposed stops extending outwardly from the base, and a closure for attaching, the base to the portable outdoor furniture. The hollow security shell comprises a first shell segment and a second shell segment (the first and second shell segments defining an enclosed internal space with a pair of vertically-opposed apertures), and a hinge joining said first and second half shells, the security shell being configured to enclose the closure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Applicant claims the benefit of the priority of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/123,486, filed Apr. 9, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     At the present time, if an individual or group goes on an outdoor recreational excursion (for example to a beach, such as for a day of swimming, sunbathing, and similar recreational activities), it is common for them to bring, or rent, a foldable beach umbrella or a folding beach chair. The folding umbrella is used to provide shade on exposed beaches. (The increasing focus on preventing skin cancer is likely to encourage more people to use umbrellas at the beach.) The folding beach chair is used to sit. Additionally, beachgoers frequently bring valuable possessions with them. These may include wallets, house or car keys, cell phones, digital cameras, MP3 players, etc. These possessions are generally small, valuable and easy targets for theft. Because of the nature of an outdoor recreational area, such as a beach, there are generally no facilities or other resources to secure these valuables. This presents beachgoers with a difficult choice: either one person must remain with the valuables at all times or the valuables must be hidden (in clothing or under other belongings.) This second choice results in many thefts of unattended property as beachgoers leave their valuables and casual thieves remove them. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to provide, in combination, a locking container suitable for storing valuables while at the outdoor recreational area, such as a beach or a similar location, and an anchoring device which will attach to a folding beach umbrella or folding chair and provide a base for the locking container. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A portable anti-theft device for attachment to a piece of portable outdoor furniture comprises a base attachable to the outdoor furniture and a hollow security shell attachable to the base. The base comprises a segmented tubular body comprising at least two semitubular segments and having an inner peripheral surface; longitudinally opposed stops extending outwardly from the base, and a closure for attaching the base to the portable outdoor furniture. The hollow security shell comprises a first shell segment and a second shell segment (the first and second shell segments defining an enclosed internal space with a pair of vertically-opposed apertures), and a hinge joining said first and second half shells, the security shell being configured to enclose the closure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan elevation view of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7 . is a perspective view of the base of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8 . is a front elevation view of the base of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9 . is a side elevation view of the base of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10 . is a rear elevation view of the base of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11 . is a top plan view of the base of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12 . is a bottom plan view of the base of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13 . is a perspective view of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention with one half of the security shell removed; 
         FIG. 14 . is a side elevation view of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention with one half of the security removed; 
         FIG. 15 . is a top plan view of the base of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention with the base partially open; 
         FIG. 16 . is a perspective view of the base of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention with the base partially open; 
         FIG. 17 . is a front elevation view of the base of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention with the base partially open; 
         FIG. 18 . is a diagrammatic illustration of a generic collapsible beach umbrella for use with the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19 . is a diagrammatic illustration of a generic collapsible beach chair for use with the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  is a elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 21  is a elevation view in enlarged scale of a portion of the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 20  of the portable anti-theft device of the present invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The portable anti-theft device  1  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-17  and comprises a tubular base  20  and a security shell  100 . The tubular base  20  is configured to enclose a portion Sofa piece of foldable portable furniture and to be removably secured to that portion S against removal. In turn, the security shell  100  is configured to enclose the tubular base  20  and to be removably secured to it. The security shell  100 , as installed on the tubular base  20 , also defines a completely enclosed and lockable space for retaining articles in resistance against theft. 
     The portable anti-theft device  1  of the present invention is suitable, and is adapted for, attachment to portable, collapsible outdoor furniture, such as to the shaft of a collapsible beach umbrella ( FIG. 18 ) or to a leg, arm, or other suitable portion of a foldable beach chair ( FIG. 19 ), thereby rendering such furniture no longer fully collapsible rendering the furniture cumbersome and difficult to take and also acting as a visual signal that the furniture is being taken with the anti-theft device  1  still attached. It may even be suitable for attachment to a suitable outdoor feature, such as the trunk of a shrub or small tree or the like. 
     The portable antitheft device of the present invention is effective in preventing the casual theft of small, valuable belongings in two ways. First, valuables are secured in an opaque, lockable container made of high-strength material. Potential thieves will not be able to discern what, if any, valuables are in the container and will be unable to open the container without drawing undue attention to themselves. Because of the unique design of the portable antitheft device of the present invention, the lockable container, or security shell, can be affixed to a beach umbrella in such a location on the umbrella, namely its shaft ( FIG. 18 ), as to make the umbrella unable to be closed. This would require a potential thief to carry the umbrella in a fully open position (with the lockable container attached) if a theft was attempted. This visibility would make this an undesirable target for casual theft. Rather than the audible deterrence of an alarm, the open umbrella would provide a visual deterrence. 
     The tubular base  20  comprises a cylindrical tube  22  terminating at least at one end, and preferably at each end, with a radially-extending stop  23  that prevents the security shell  100  from being pulled axially up or down the cylindrical tube  22  and off the base  20 . In an embodiment of the portable antitheft device of the present invention, the cylindrical tube  22  terminates at its top end with a top flange  24  and terminates at its bottom end with a bottom flange  26 . It has these flange extensions on the top and bottom ends of the tube so as to keep the lockable security shell container  100  from moving translationally beyond the top or bottom edges of the base unit  20 . The flanges  24  and  26  prevent removal of the security shell by sliding the security shell  100  off the tubular base  20 . The tube  22 , in top plan comprises a central interior cylindrical channel  28  and a generally cylindrical outer periphery  30 . Each of the top flange  24  and the bottom flange  26  are annular in top plan with each having a central circular aperture  24   a  and  26   a , respectively, that coincides with the central cylindrical channel  28  and has the same inner diameter as that channel  28 . The outer periphery of each of the top flange and the bottom flange are circular in top plan and are greater in diameter than the outer diameter of channel  28 . The flanges  24  and  26  on the top and bottom of the base unit  20  perform two functions. First, they serve to keep any sand or other debris from entering the locking security shell container  100 . Secondly, they ensure that the base unit  20  and its associated security shell  100  is properly placed and kept immobile. 
     The tube  22  comprises a plurality of partially cylindrical tube segments, such as a pair  22   a  and  22   b  that are joined along one edge of each segment by a hinged connection  32 . 
     Hinged connection  32  comprises a first hinge segment  34   a  formed in the distal edge of tube segment  22   a  and a second hinge segment  34   b  formed in the confronting distal edge of tube segment  22   b . First and second hinge segments  34   a  and  34   b  are operatively joined by a headed cylindrical hinge pin  34   c  with a threaded end passing through them and held in place by a threaded nut  34   d . The head of the hinge pin  34   c  and the nut  34   d  are accessible by an arcuate cutout  24   a ,  24   b ,  26   a , and  26   b  in each of the top and bottom flanges of each of tube segments  22   a  and  22   b  as may be seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . Alternatively, the hinge pin  34   c  may be pushin fastener pin, thereby eliminating the need for a nut  34   b . The axis of rotation of the hinge  32  (and hinge pin  34   c ) is parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the tube  22 . By opening the hinged segments  22   a  and  22   b , such as two halves, of the base unit  20  by means of the hinge  32 , the base unit  20  can readily be placed on a portion S of a piece of foldable portable furniture (such as the shaft of a collapsible beach umbrella), encircling the portion S, and attached thereto. 
     As may be seen in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  13 - 18  on the front of the tubular component  22  opposite the hinge  32  is a closure mechanism that closes the base  20  on the portion S. It comprises two parts. On one tube segment  22   a  is a first tab-shaped extension  34  that projects from the left side of tube segment  22   a . It has a threaded aperture  36  through it large enough to accommodate a threaded shaft  38 . On the other side of the tube is a second tab-shaped extension  40  that projects from the right side tube segment  22   b . It has a threaded aperture  42  through which the threaded shaft  38  is passed. When the two halves  22   a  and  22   b  of the tube  22  are closed, the second tab  40  is located behind first tab  34  and the aperture  42  in tab  40  aligns with the threaded aperture  36  in tab  34 . The threaded shaft  38  may be provided with an enlarged diameter circular gripping wheel  44  to facilitate rotation of the shaft  28  to tighten or loosen it. As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  11 ,  12 , and  15 , the portion S may be provided with a threaded aperture A so that, with threaded aperture  36  aligned with aperture A, threading the shaft  38  through aperture  36  and aperture  42  and continuing to rotate it will thread the shaft into and through aperture A, thereby positively affixing device  1  to the portion S and doing so in a removable manner. Alternatively, the portion S may lack an aperture and the base  20  may be secured to the portion S by tightening the shaft  28  against the surface of the shaft S so that the distal end of the shaft  28  clamps the base  20  and the portion S and frictionally prevents movement of base  20  with respect to portion S. 
     To install the base  20  on a beach umbrella (or any similar item) the tube  22  is opened via the hinge  32 . The base  20  is placed around the portion S to which it is to be attached. The two halves  22   a  and  22   b  of the tube  22  are closed together—thereby moving the tab  40  on the right side of segment  22   b  (and its associated aperture  42 ) behind the threaded aperture  36  on tab  34  on segment  22   a  and into alignment with aperture  36 . Shaft  38  is placed in the threaded aperture  36  and tightened until the base  20  is securely fastened to the portion. This action both locks the two halves  22   a  and  22   b  of the base unit  20  together and locks the entire base unit  20  in place on the portable furniture. 
     The security shell  100  comprises a pair of clamshell-shaped half shells  102  and  104  joined by a hinge  106 . Each half-shell comprises an upper frustro-conical portion  102   a  and  104   a  and a lower frustro-conical portion  102   b  and  1041 ), the lower portion  102   b  and  104   b  being an inverted frustro-conical section. The top and bottom of each of these half shells  102  and  104  have semicircular holes which, when the security shell  100  is closed, create a circular aperture  108  identical in size to the outer diameter of the outer periphery  30  of tube  22  of the base  20 . In an alternative embodiment, the aperture  108  has a greater diameter than the outside diameter of the outer periphery  30  of the tube  22  so that the shell  100  can rotate on the base  20  thereby not allowing a thief to get purchase or leverage on the shell  100  with respect to the base  20  and to torque the device  1  off its anchoring furniture. Both sides  102  and  104  of the security shell  100  have outwardly extending tabs  110  and  112  with holes  110   a  and  112   a  in them to accommodate a locking device (not shown) located on the side of the security shell opposite of the hinge  106 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-17 , the tabs  110  and  112  abut each other when the half shells  102  and  104  are closed. In an alternative embodiment ( FIGS. 20 &amp; 21 ), one tab  110 ′ is provided with a recess  111 ′ and the other tab  112 ′ is reduced in dimension (length and width, for example) so that the tab  112 ′ fits into the recess  111 ′ of tab  110 ′ and the outer surface  112 ′ a  of tab  112 ′ lies flush with the corresponding surface  110 ′ b  of tab  110 ′. This hampers access to the space between the confronting abutting surfaces of tabs  110 ′ and  112 ′, such as by a tool, for prying the half shells  102  and  104  apart. 
     When the hinge  106  connecting the two half shell  102  and  104  is closed, these tabs  110  and  112 , and their associated apertures  110   a  and  112   a , are aligned. The axis of rotation of the hinge  106  is parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the base  20  and the longitudinal central axis of the security shell  100 . The height of the security shell  100  from its bottom surface  114  to its top surface  116  is at least substantially equal to the distance from the top surface of the bottom flange  26  to the bottom surface of the top flange  24  so that, upon closing the security shell  100 , the security shell  100  cannot shift axially on the portion S but may optionally rotate around the outer cylindrical surface of the tube  22  of the base  20 . Optionally, the aperture  108  is dimensioned to permit rotation so that a thief would have difficulty getting sufficient grip and purchase on the outer surface of the shell to twist it off the base  20  or the portion S, or both. As may be seen in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , each half shell  102  and  104  is provided with an upstanding bottom lip  118   a  and  118   b  that extends across the diameter of the half shell  102  and  104 . The lip  118   a  and  118   b , along with the lower portion of each half shell, provides a recess or walled tray to retain small items in the half shell  102  and  104 . The confronting edges of half shell  102  and half shell  104  may be provided with overlapping peripheral lips around their confronting periphery so as to close the space between the confronting edges of half shell  102  and half shell  104 . The bottom surface of each lower portion of each half shell  102  and  104  may be provided with reinforcing ribs to strengthen the shell  100 . 
     When placed between the flanges of the base unit  24  and  26  and closed (as described above), the security shell  100  is prevented from being readily removed from the portable furniture. In addition, by this design, access to the threaded shaft  38  securing the base unit  20  to the portable furniture is prevented by the security shell  100  that covers the closure mechanism. 
     The shape of the security shell  100  may vary based on the type of anchoring device that is used. The security shell  100  is hollow, which provides significant storage space for belongings to be stored. 
     To secure valuables, the user places them in the storage spaces of either one or both halves  102  and  104  of the security shell  100 . The security shell  100  is then placed between the two flanges  24  and  26  on the base unit  20  with the tube  22  of the base unit  20  in the circular cutouts forming the circular aperture  108  of the security shell  100 . The two halves  102  and  104   
     In use, the portable anti-theft device  1  of the present invention is placed on, and fixedly secured with respect to, a piece of collapsible or foldable outdoor furniture in such a way as to prevent the collapse or folding of that piece of furniture into a transportable or storable condition. As installed, it prevents anyone from moving the piece of furniture easily and without drawing attention. In the case of a collapsible beach umbrella (see  FIG. 18 ), the device  1  is attached to the shaft of the umbrella in sufficient proximity to the runner of the umbrella (in the runner&#39;s position when the umbrella is open) that the runner cannot fully move down the shaft. That is, the attachment of the device  1  to the umbrella shaft stops axial translation of the runner on the shaft of the umbrella. In the case of a collapsible or folding outdoor chair ( FIG. 19 ), the device  1  is attached to the leg, arm, back, or other relevant part in sufficient proximity to a pivot that, upon folding or collapse, prevents the chair from being collapsed or folded to a storage or transport configuration. That is, the attachment of the device  1  to the chair stops rotational pivoting of one or more structural elements of the chair. Hence, the purpose of the device  1  is to stop axial translation or pivotal rotation of one structural element of a piece of collapsible or foldable outdoor furniture with respect to another structural element of that piece of furniture, thereby impairing transportation or storage of that piece of furniture.