Wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm

A baggage proximity monitor is provided including a portable user housing adapted to be carried by a user and a baggage housing including a mounting mechanism for releasably mounting to an article of baggage. Next provided is a user circuit including a transmitter adapted to continuously transmit an activation signal of a predetermined magnitude and at a predetermined frequency only upon the actuation thereof and a switch situated on the housing and connected to the transmitter. The switch has a first orientation for actuating the transmitter and second orientation for precluding the actuation thereof. Also included is baggage circuit including a receiver mechanism for receiving the activation signal only at the predetermined frequency via free space, a comparator mechanism connected to the receiver mechanism and adapted to transmit the activation signal only upon a magnitude of the activation signal being below a predetermined amount, and an audio mechanism connected to the comparator mechanism for emitting an audio when the activation signal is received.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to distance monitors and more particularly 
pertains to a new wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm for preventing the 
theft of an article of baggage or a purse. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of distance monitors is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
distance monitors heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist 
basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, 
notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art 
which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and 
requirements. 
Known prior art distance monitors include U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,571; U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,052,718; U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,135; U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,291; U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,772,878; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 345,116. 
In these respects, the wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm according to 
the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts 
and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus 
primarily developed for the purpose of preventing the theft of an article 
of baggage or a purse. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
distance monitors now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides a new wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm construction wherein 
the same can be utilized for preventing the theft of an article of baggage 
or a purse. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new wireless 
purse-snatcher/luggage alarm apparatus and method which has many of the 
advantages of the distance monitors mentioned heretofore and many novel 
features that result in a new wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm which 
is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of 
the prior art distance monitors, either alone or in any combination 
thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a portable user 
housing having a rectilinear configuration. As shown in FIGS. 1 & 2, the 
user housing is defined by a front face, a rear face, a top face, a bottom 
face, and a pair of side faces forming an interior space. For mounting the 
housing to an article of clothing of a user, the rear face of the user 
housing has a clip formed thereon. With reference now to FIGS. 3 & 4, it 
is shown that a baggage housing is provided. Similar to the user housing, 
the baggage housing has a rectilinear configuration with a front face, a 
rear face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces defining an 
interior space. For reasons that will become apparent hereinafter, the 
front face of the housing has a grill formed therein. The baggage housing 
further includes a mounting means with a bottom portion having a U-shaped 
configuration. The bottom portion has a first end thereof fixedly coupled 
to the bottom face of the baggage housing in perpendicular relationship 
therewith. A second end of the bottom portion has a plurality of threads 
formed thereon. The mounting means also includes a top portion having an 
inverted U-shaped configuration with a first end thereof rotatably coupled 
to the top face of the baggage housing in perpendicular relationship 
therewith. The top portion further has a second end having a sleeve 
slidably and rotatably coupled thereto in linear alignment therewith. The 
sleeve has a knurled outer surface and a threaded inner surface. By this 
structure, the sleeve is adapted for releasably engaging the second end of 
the bottom portion of the mounting means and defining a closed loop for 
coupling with an article of baggage. A user circuit is situated within the 
user housing, as shown in FIG. 5. The user circuit includes a transmitter 
adapted to continuously transmit an activation signal of a predetermined 
magnitude and at a predetermined frequency only upon the actuation 
thereof. Associated therewith is a toggle switch situated on the front 
face of the user housing and connected to the transmitter. During use, the 
toggle switch has a first orientation for actuating the transmitter and 
second orientation for precluding the actuation thereof. For indicating 
whether the transmitter is actuated, a light emitting diode is positioned 
on the top face of the user housing and connected to the toggle switch. 
The diode is thus adapted for illuminating only when the toggle switch is 
in the first orientation thereof. Next provided is a baggage circuit 
situated within the baggage housing. As shown in FIG. 6, the baggage 
circuit includes a receiver means for receiving the activation signal only 
at the predetermined frequency via free space. Comparator means is 
connected to the receiver means and adapted to transmit the activation 
signal only upon a magnitude of the activation signal being below a 
predetermined amount. Lastly, audio means is connected to the comparator 
means for emitting an audio tone from the grill of the baggage housing 
when the activation signal is received. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new 
wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm apparatus and method which has many 
of the advantages of the distance monitors mentioned heretofore and many 
novel features that result in a new Wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm 
which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by 
any of the prior art distance monitors, either alone or in any combination 
thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new Wireless 
purse-snatcher/luggage alarm which may be easily and efficiently 
manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new wireless 
purse-snatcher/luggage alarm which is of a durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new 
wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm which is susceptible of a low cost 
of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which 
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming 
public, thereby making such wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm 
economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm which provides in the apparatuses 
and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while 
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated 
therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new wireless 
purse-snatcher/luggage alarm for preventing the theft of an article of 
baggage or a purse. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm that includes a portable user 
housing adapted to be carried by a user and a baggage housing including a 
mounting mechanism for releasably mounting to an article of baggage. Next 
provided is a user circuit including a transmitter adapted to continuously 
transmit an activation signal of a predetermined magnitude and at a 
predetermined frequency only upon the actuation thereof and a switch 
situated on the housing and connected to the transmitter. The switch has a 
first orientation for actuating the transmitter and second orientation for 
precluding the actuation thereof. Also included is baggage circuit 
including a receiver mechanism for receiving the activation signal only at 
the predetermined frequency via free space, a comparator mechanism 
connected to the receiver mechanism and adapted to transmit the activation 
signal only upon a magnitude of the activation signal being below a 
predetermined amount, and an audio mechanism connected to the comparator 
mechanism for emitting an audio when the activation signal is received. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 
thereof, a new Wireless purse-snatcher/luggage alarm embodying the 
principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated 
by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
The system designated as numeral 10 includes a portable user housing 12 
having a rectilinear configuration. As shown in FIGS. 1 & 2, the user 
housing is defined by a front face, a rear face, a top face, a bottom 
face, and a pair of side faces forming an interior space. For mounting the 
housing to an article of clothing of a user, the rear face of the user 
housing has a clip 14 formed thereon. As shown, the clip has a top 
horizontal tab 16 from which a elongated member 17 depends downwardly and 
inwardly toward the rear face of the user housing at an end of which an 
upturned portion 18 is formed. It should be understood that various other 
types of coupling means may be employed to facilitate the carrying of the 
user housing. 
With reference now to FIGS. 3 & 4, it is shown that a baggage housing 20 is 
provided. Similar to the user housing, the baggage housing has a 
rectilinear configuration with a front face, a rear face, a top face, a 
bottom face, and a pair of side faces defining an interior space. For 
reasons that will become apparent hereinafter, the front face of the 
housing has a grill 22 formed therein. A waterproof 24 covering is 
preferably situated over the grill. 
The baggage housing further includes a mounting means 26 with a bottom 
portion 28 having a U-shaped configuration. The bottom portion has a first 
end thereof fixedly coupled to the bottom face of the baggage housing in 
perpendicular relationship therewith. A second end of the bottom portion 
has a plurality of unillustrated threads formed thereon. The mounting 
means also includes a top portion 30 having an inverted U-shaped 
configuration with a first end thereof rotatably coupled to the top face 
of the baggage housing in perpendicular relationship therewith. The top 
portion further has a second end having a sleeve 32 slidably and rotatably 
coupled thereto in linear alignment therewith. The sleeve has a knurled 
outer surface and a threaded inner surface. By this structure, the sleeve 
is adapted for releasably engaging the second end of the bottom portion of 
the mounting means and defining a closed loop for coupling with an article 
of baggage. It should be noted that when the second ends of the portions 
are secured, the mounting means resides in a plane common with that of the 
housing. Similar to the user housing, various other types of alternate 
coupling mechanisms such as straps, belts, screws and the like may be 
utilized to attach the baggage housing to a recipient surface. Further, in 
the present description, the term baggage is meant to include any carried 
storage entity such as a purse, briefcase and the like. 
A user circuit 34 is situated within the user housing, as shown in FIG. 5. 
The user circuit includes a transmitter 36 adapted to continuously 
transmit an activation signal of a predetermined magnitude and at a 
predetermined frequency only upon the actuation thereof. It should be 
noted that such magnitude abates as a function of distance from the user 
housing. Such magnitude thus is selected such that it is of a 
predetermined amount when a distance between the user housing and an 
article of baggage reaches a point at which a user wishes to be alerted. 
Associated therewith is a toggle switch 38, or slide switch, situated on 
the front face of the user housing and connected to the transmitter. 
During use, the toggle switch has a first orientation for actuating the 
transmitter and second orientation for precluding the actuation thereof. 
For indicating whether the transmitter is actuated, a light emitting diode 
40 is positioned on the top face of the user housing and connected to the 
toggle switch. The diode is thus adapted for illuminating only when the 
toggle switch is in the first orientation thereof. 
Next provided is a baggage circuit 42 situated within the baggage housing. 
As shown in FIG. 6, the baggage circuit includes a receiver means 44 for 
receiving the activation signal only at the predetermined frequency via 
free space. The receiver means includes a receiver 46 and an envelope 
detector 48 that is adapted to generate an activation signal with a 
constant magnitude equal to that of the activation signal received by the 
receiver. 
Comparator means 50 is connected to the receiver means and adapted to 
transmit the activation signal only upon a magnitude of the activation 
signal being below a predetermined amount. To accomplish this, a negative 
input of an operational amplifier 52 is connected to the envelope detector 
and a positive input is connected to a voltage divider. As an option, such 
voltage divider may comprise a potentiometer 54 so as to allow the user to 
select the predetermined amount the magnitude below which the present 
invention is actuated. Such potentiometer preferably takes the form of a 
switch mounted on the baggage housing. The present slide switch has a 
first orientation and a second orientation for effecting the transmission 
of the activation signal by the comparator means only upon a magnitude of 
the activation signal being below a first predetermined amount 
corresponding to a first distance from the user housing and a second 
predetermined amount corresponding to a second distance therefrom, 
respectively. Such respective distances are 25 feet and 10 feet. In other 
words, by equipping the baggage circuit with a potentiometer which is 
controlled by a switch on the baggage housing, the user may select the 
distance from the user housing the baggage housing must be before the 
present invention is actuated. 
Lastly, an audio means 56 is connected to the comparator means for emitting 
an audio tone from the grill of the baggage housing when the activation 
signal is received. In the preferred embodiment, a hidden slide switch is 
situated in the battery compartment which has a first orientation and a 
second orientation for effecting the emission of an audio tone at a first 
level of magnitude and a second higher level of magnitude, respectively. 
Such levels are preferably 50-60 dB and 100 dB, respectively. It should be 
noted that in an alternate use, the present invention may be employed as a 
child monitor. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.