Abstract:
This invention relates to a portable locking device having a wireless transmitter that transmits the condition of the locking device to the receiver of a security system. The locking device comprises non-rigid cable so that it can be easily connected to various objects. Cutting the cable triggers prevents power from reaching the wireless transmitter, and the lack of signal triggers the security system to issue an alarm. The portable locking device comprises parallel armed and disarmed circuits to supply electricity to the wireless transmitter, but the armed circuit is broken if the lock is tampered with or compromised when locked.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a portable locking device having a wireless transmitter which electronically connects the locking device to a security system which monitors the condition of the locking device and transmits that condition either continuously or periodically to the receiver of a security system. The security system can report on the condition of the locking device and trigger an alarm if the lock is opened, broken or taken out of the range of the receiver. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Wireless components for security systems currently exist. Such components include magnetic contacts for attachment to doors or windows, motion detectors, smoke and fire detectors, flood detectors and temperature detectors. These devices may be hard-wired or wirelessly connected to a security system which can report on the condition of the devices. 
     Portable padlocks with wireless transmitters also currently exist. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,578 discloses a padlock with a battery powered alarm built into it. The alarm signal may be audible signal or an inaudible signal transmitted as a radio wave to a remote receiver. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,702 also discloses a padlock which when opened will emit an audible signal as well as an inaudible signal in the form of a radio or microwave transmission which may be received at some remote location. 
     One problem with the prior art is that the alarm can be bypassed by simply cutting the shackle on the lock. Because the locks are spring loaded, the shackle can be held down, broken, and taped down without setting off the alarm. This makes the prior art portable locks susceptible to being easily by-passed. 
     Moreover, the prior art locks contain rigid shackles which cannot be adjusted for locking larger objects such as motorcycles, boats, trailers, recreational vehicles, etc. . . . or oddly shaped objects which cannot be locked using a lock with a rigid shackle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking device which is portable and may be used in a remote location within wireless range of a security system, and includes a wireless transmitter connecting it to the security system to monitor the condition of the locking device. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable locking device which cannot be bypassed by simply cutting the shackle of the lock. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable locking device which has a non-rigid shackle so that it can be easily connected to a wider range of objects. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable locking device which has a non-rigid shackle that can be adjusted for locking larger items. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable locking device which cannot be bypassed by cutting the shackle of the lock and which can be manufactured and sold at a low cost. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable locking device which may be easily transported, carried and stored. 
     Accordingly, a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a portable locking device comprising of a wireless transmitter which electronically connects the locking device to a security system which monitors the condition of the locking device. The locking device&#39;s wireless transmitter can transmit the condition of the locking device either continuously or periodically to the receiver of a security system. If the locking device is opened, broken or fails to report because it has been taken out of the range of the receiver, the security system reports on the condition of the locking device and/or triggers an alarm. 
     The portable locking device of the present invention may also operate with a global positioning system for tracking objects to which it is attached and reporting on the location of the objects. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a mid-plane cross sectional view of an embodiment of the portable locking device of the present invention when the cylindrical latching mechanism is in the unlocked position. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the portable locking device of  FIG. 1  with the cylindrical latching mechanism illustrated not in cross section but in full to illustrate the locked position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     This invention teaches a portable locking device  10  capable of being wirelessly connected to a security system  11  through a receiver  12  (shown in stylized form).  FIG. 1  shows a cross section of a first embodiment of the portable locking device  10  when the cylindrical latching mechanism  40  is in the unlocked position. 
     The locking device  10  comprises a substantially solid casing or housing  30  and a flexible cable  20 . The housing  30  may be fashioned from any sturdy, hardened material suitable for the security purposes of this invention, such as hardened plastic or metal, though if metal is used, care must be taken to provide appropriate insulation around the various wires and electrical contact points within the housing and between components of the locking device  10  to ensure proper functioning. 
     The housing  30  comprises an enclosed cylindrical latching mechanism cavity  38  and a latch cavity  39 . The latch cavity  30  opens into or connects to the latching mechanism cavity  38 , preferably perpendicularly, inside the housing  30 . The latching mechanism cavity  38  transverses the housing  30  with openings  60 ,  61  in the housing  30  at both ends  58 ,  59 . The housing  30  further comprises abutments  56 ,  57  at either end  58 ,  59  which narrow the cavity openings  60 ,  61 , making the diameter of the openings  60 ,  61  smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical latching mechanism cavity  38 . The housing  30  also comprises an internal transmitter cavity  29  and, as shown in the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , may also comprise an alternate internal GPS (Global Positioning System) cavity  36 . 
     The housing  30  may be shaped like a traditional padlock or bicycle lock or may take any other shape as desired. 
     Finally, the housing  30  further comprises an internal power source cavity  27 . The electrical power source for the present invention may comprise one or more batteries  32  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , or, in an alternate embodiment, the power source may comprise an electrical cord (not shown) that will need to be plugged into an external power source such as a wall socket (not shown). As is typical, the power source has first and second terminals for electrical connections through which an electric current may pass. The housing  30  further comprises a removable cavity cover  31  for the power source cavity  27  to allow the batteries  32  to be removed and replaced. The cavity cover  31  should only be removeable when the key  49  is used to turn the latching mechanism  40  to the unlocked position. In an alternate embodiment, the cavity cover  31  or an outside portion of the housing  30  may be fitted with a solar cell (not shown) to recharge the batteries  32 . In another alternate embodiment not illustrated in the drawings, the power source cavity  27  may be located within the housing  30  adjacent and opening into the latch cavity  39  such that the batteries  32  can only be removed when the latch  50  is removed from the latch cavity  39 . In this alternate configuration, the cavity cover  31  would comprise a removable portion of the wall of the latch cavity  39 . 
     The latching mechanism cavity  38  is sized to receive a cylindrical latching mechanism  40  which is held within the latching mechanism cavity  38  by the abutments  56 ,  57 . The latching mechanism  40  comprises a unitary cylinder  46  comprising an outer end  47  having a lock mechanism  45  adjoined to a first electrically non-conductive spacer  42  adjoined to an electrically conductive catch portion  41  adjoined to a second electrically non-conductive spacer  68  adjoined to an electrically conductive second end  55 . 
     The lock mechanisms  45  useful in the present invention may take any structure known in the art which is useful to interact with a cooperating portion of the housing to lock the cylindrical latching mechanism in place relative to the housing. In one embodiment, a key slot  48  in the outer end  47  of the latching mechanism  40  receives a key  49  through cavity opening  60 . The key  49  operates the lock mechanism  45  allowing the cylindrical latching mechanism  40  to be turned between an unlocked position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and a normal, locked position (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The key  49  may only be removed when the latching mechanism  40  is in the locked position. The latching mechanism  40  may only be turned to the unlocked position when the key  49  is inserted. 
     The electrically conductive catch portion  41  of the latching mechanism  40  comprises a socket  43  adapted to receive without touching the plug or bolt  54  of the latch  50 . The catch portion  41  further comprises an arm  44  to contact, engage and retain the metal bolt  54  within the socket  43  when the latch  50  is fully inserted within the latch cavity  39  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). When the latching mechanism  40  is in the locked position shown in  FIG. 2 , the arm  44  engages the bolt  54  and prevents the removal of the bolt  54  and latch  50  from the latch cavity  39 . It also creates an electrically conductive contact between the bolt  54  and the catch portion  41 . When the latching mechanism  40  is in the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 1 , the bolt  54  may be inserted or removed from the socket  43  and, even if the latch  50  remains inserted within the latch cavity  39 , the electrical contact between the bolt  54  and the arm  44  of the catch portion  41  is broken. 
     The flexible cable  20  of the locking device  10  has a proximate end  22  and a distal end  21 . The proximate end  22  of the cable  20  connects to the electrically conductive second end  55  of the latching mechanism  40  and the cable  20  exits the housing  30  through cavity opening  61 . The distal end  21  of the cable  20  connects to the base  51  of the latch  50 . The cable  20  is made from a sturdy, non-rigid material such as an intertwined steel cable with plastic sheeting. An insulated electrically conductive wire  23  within the cable  20  runs the length of cable  20  from the proximate end  22  to the distal end  21 . At the proximate end  22 , the wire  23  is electrically connected to second end  55  of the latching mechanism  40 . At the distal end  21  of the cable  20 , the wire  23  is electrically connected to the bolt  54  of the latch  50 . 
     The cable  20  may have a length as desired for the intended purpose of use. For example, for locking smaller items, a cable  20  of shorter length may be desired. On the other hand, the advantages of a flexible cable  20  are more easily taken advantage of when a longer cable  20  is used. The preferred cable  20  length ranges between about 4 inches to about 8 feet, though shorter and longer cables are certainly within contemplation. Similarly, differently sized locking devices  10 , for example small, medium, large and extra large, for different purposes may be manufactured according to the claims of the present invention. 
     The latch  50  comprises of a base  51  and a top  52 . The latch  50  contains one or more magnets  53  about its periphery between the top  52  and the base  51 . 
     An electrically conductive bolt  54  extends from the top  52  of the latch  50 . The latch  50  is sized to be closely received within the latch cavity  39 , and when so positioned, the bolt  54  slides into the socket  43  of the latching mechanism  40  when it is in the unlocked position, and may be locked into place by turning the latching mechanism  40  into the locked position with the key  49 . Thus it can be seen that the distal end  21  and latch  50  of the cable  20  may be releasably removed from the housing  30 . Once removed, the free distal end  21  of the flexible cable  20  may be threaded around or through the object (not shown) to be locked, and then the latch  50  re-inserted into the latch cavity  39  and locked into place by turning the key  49 . 
     The housing  30  about the latch cavity  39  further comprises a normally open magnetic contact switch  16  positioned adjacent to the latch cavity  39  so that the magnetic contact switch  16  may be activated to the closed position by the magnet  53  of the latch  50  when the latch  50  is inserted within the latch cavity  39 . 
     The latching mechanism cavity  38  further comprises a cable contact point  67 , an armed circuit contact point  64 , and a pair of first and second disarmed circuit contact points  65 ,  66 . The cable contact point  67  touches the second end  55  of the latching mechanism  40  to create an electrical connection to the electrically conductive second end  55  of the latching mechanism  40 , regardless of whether the latching mechanism  40  is in the locked or unlocked position. The armed circuit contact point  64  creates an electrical connection to the electrically conductive catch portion  41  of the latching mechanism  40 , regardless of whether the latching mechanism  40  is in the locked or unlocked position. At least one of the first and second disarmed circuit contact points  65 ,  66  touches the arm  44  and both at least touch the catch portion  41  to create separate electrical connections to the electrically conductive catch portion  41  of the latching mechanism  40  only when the latching mechanism  40  is in the unlocked position. 
     The transmitter cavity  29  houses a wireless transmitter  28 . When powered by the flow of current from the battery  32 , the locking device&#39;s  10  wireless transmitter  28  can transmit the condition of the locking device  10  either continuously or periodically to the receiver  12  of a security system  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the locking device  10  of the present invention further comprises an armed circuit  62  and a disarmed circuit  63 . The armed circuit  62  and disarmed circuit  63  are parallel circuits, each capable of supplying electric current to the wireless transmitter  28  when complete unless the locking device  10  has been compromised. The armed circuit  62  comprises the following components electrically connected in series: one end of the battery  32  electrically connected (by a wire) to a first terminal of the wireless transmitter  28 ; the second terminal of the wireless transmitter  28  electrically connected to a first terminal of the normally open magnetic contact switch  16 ; the second terminal of the magnetic contact switch  16  electrically connected to the armed circuit contact point  64 , the armed circuit contact point  64  electrically connected to the catch portion  41  of the latching mechanism  40 ; the catch portion  41  electrically connected to the bolt  54 ; the bolt  54  electrically connected to the insulated wire  23 ; the insulated wire  23  electrically connected to the electrically conductive second end  55  of the latching mechanism  40 ; the second end  55  of the latching mechanism  40  electrically connected to the cable contact point  67 , the cable contact point  67  electrically connected to the other end of the battery  32 . Thus it can be seen that in order for the armed circuit  62  to carry an electric current, the latch  50  must be inserted into the latch cavity  39  so that the magnet  53  in the latch  50  closes the normally open magnetic switch  16 , and the latching mechanism  40  must be in the locked position so that the arm  44  of the catch portion  41  is electrically connected to the bolt  54 . Without these two conditions being fulfilled, no current will pass through the wireless transmitter  28  allowing it to function. When current is supplied to the wireless transmitter  28  through the armed circuit  62 , if the cable  20  were cut, the armed circuit  62  would be broken. As stated before, the wireless transmitter  27  can transmit the condition of the locking device  10  either continuously or periodically to the receiver (not shown) of a security system  11 . If no current is supplied to the wireless transmitter  28 , then no communication with the security system  11  will be possible, and the security system  11  will be alerted to the fact that the locking device  10  has failed or been compromised. Similarly, if locking device  10  and the object (not shown) to which it is locked are physically carried away from the security system  11  out of the effective range of the wireless transmitter  27 , then the wireless transmitter  27  will have no communication with the security system  11  and, without communication, the security system  11  will be programmed to provide an appropriate response, such as an alert or the sounding of an alarm. 
     The disarmed circuit  63  comprises the following components electrically connected in series: one end of the battery  32  electrically connected to a first terminal of the wireless transmitter  28 ; the second terminal of the wireless transmitter  28  electrically connected to the first disarmed circuit contact point  65 ; the first disarmed circuit contact point  65  electrically connected to the electrically conductive catch portion  41  of the latching mechanism  40  (only when in the unlocked position), the catch portion  41  electrically connected to the second disarmed circuit contact point  66 ; the second disarmed circuit contact point  66  electrically connected to the other end of the battery  32 . Thus it can be seen that the disarmed circuit  63  may only carry current through the wireless transmitter  28  when the latching mechanism  40 , and hence the arm  44  of the catch portion  41  are in the unlocked position. And because the latching mechanism  40  may only be turned to the unlocked position when the key  49  is in the slot  48 , the key  49  must be present for the wireless transmitter  28  of the portable locking device  10  to be powered when the latch is not in place within the latch cavity  39 . The disarmed circuit  63 , then, is useful only when one with access to the key  49 , presumably an authorized user, unlocks the lock  10 . Assuming one with the key  49  is authorized, it is desirable for the wireless transmitter  28  to continue reporting to the security system  11 , indicating that all is well with the locking device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the alternate GPS cavity  36  houses a GPS tracking unit  35  including a small radio frequency transceiver which allows it and the locking device  10  that it is in to be tracked and its movement monitored. If so equipped, the locking device  10  further comprises a GPS circuit  72  in parallel with the armed circuit  62  and disarmed circuit  63 . The GPS circuit  72  comprises the following components electrically connected in series: one end of the battery  32  electrically connected to a first terminal of the GPS tracking unit  35 ; the second terminal of the GPS tracking unit  35  electrically connected to the other end of the battery  32 . Thus it can be seen that as long as the battery  32  lasts, current will be supplied through the GPS tracking unit  35  so that it will be operational. Because the GPS circuit  72  is wired in parallel with the armed circuit  62  and disarmed circuit  63 , the GPS tracking unit will continue to receive electrical current and remain operational even if the locking device  10  is compromised. 
     By means of the wireless transmitter  28 , the locking device  10  may be integrated into a home security system  11  or other security monitoring device. If the locking device  10  is taken out of range of the transmitter  28  from the base receiver  12  of the security system  11 , the security system  11  recognizes the interruption in the signal of the wireless transmitter  28  of the locking device  10  and the security system  11  which can either sound an alarm, dispatch police or contact the owner, depending on the security system  11 . 
     If the armed circuit  62  is disrupted, such as by cutting the cable  20  or removing the latch  50 , the failure of the wireless transmitter  28  to communicate with the security system  11  will alert the security system  11  to either sound an alarm, dispatch police or contact the owner, depending on the security system  11  and the desired settings. 
     Additionally, if the battery  32  runs low, the wireless transmitter  28  may be programmed to trigger a warning from the security system  11 . 
     Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.