Abstract:
A theft prevention device includes an outer shell having a top wall and side walls and defining a cavity, wherein the side walls have a slit therein adapted to accommodate a strap and wherein the top wall has an outer shell opening; and an inner shell having a top wall and side walls and defining a cavity, wherein the side walls have a slit therein adapted to accommodate a strap and wherein the top wall has an inner shell opening; wherein the inner shell is adapted to be mated to the outer shell such that the inner shell opening and the outer shell opening can be generally aligned.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present invention generally related to a theft prevention device, and more particularly, to a theft prevention device attachable to a strap having a buckle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Luggage, carrying bags, backpacks and various other storage devices often use a snap buckle as a way to temporary “lock” the storage device closed, thereby preventing the contents stored therein from spilling out. Often, snap buckles are used instead of other fasteners, such as zippers, because they are easy to couple and uncouple. Strap buckles are manufactured in various sizes and usually involve a female portion and a male portion adapted to “snap” together in a locking position. Typically, the male portion will have a pair of movable fingers that are biased into an open position. The fingers can be forced into a closed position to allow the male portion to be inserted into the female portion and then release to engage the female portion and thereby couple the portions together. The portions can be released from each other relatively easily by applying a force to the fingers to move them into the closed position and sliding the male portion out of the female portion. Accordingly, while snap buckles provide an easy mechanism for temporarily locking together two pieces of fabric or other material, since snap buckles cannot be locked in and of themselves, they do not prevent unwanted persons from unsnapping the buckle and stealing the contents within the storage device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, a theft prevention device is provided including an outer shell having a top wall and side walls and defining a cavity, wherein the side walls have a slit therein adapted to accommodate a strap and wherein the top wall has an outer shell opening; and an inner shell having a top wall and side walls and defining a cavity, wherein the side walls have a slit therein adapted to accommodate a strap and wherein the top wall has an inner shell opening; wherein the inner shell is adapted to be mated to the outer shell such that the inner shell opening and the outer shell opening can be generally aligned. 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, the top walls of the outer shell and of the inner shell define a ledge which protrudes past an end of the side walls of the outer shell and of the inner shell, respectively, and wherein the outer shell opening and the inner shell opening are located on the ledge of the outer shell and the inner shell, respectively. Further, when the inner shell is mated with the outer shell, the slits on the inner shell and the outer shell overlap and are substantially aligned. In one embodiment, when the inner shell is mated with the outer shell, the theft prevention device defines a space therein adapted to accommodate a buckle attached to a strap. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the theft prevention device may include a lock, wherein when the inner shell is mated with the outer shell and when the lock is inserted through the inner shell opening and the outer shell opening, the inner shell is prevented from being separated from the outer shell. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of an uncoupled theft prevention device of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the theft prevention device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the theft prevention device of  FIG. 1  that has been coupled and locked. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the theft prevention device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side view theft prevention device of  FIG. 1  that has been coupled and locked. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    In general, a theft prevention device  10  is provided to be attached over a buckle portion of a bag strap, such as a camera bag strap, to prevent undesired uncoupling of the buckle, and thereby prevent theft of any contents inside the bag. As will be appreciated, the theft prevention device can be attached over any coupling mechanism on a strap to prevent access to the coupling mechanism, and is not intended to be limited to buckles. 
         [0012]    With reference now to  FIGS. 1-5 , the theft prevention device  10  includes an outer shell  20  and inner shell  40  adapted to mate with the outer shell. When the outer shell  20  and the inner shell  40  are mated together over a buckle and locked, they encompass the buckle and prevent access to the buckle. As such, the theft prevention device  10  can be used to safely keep contents within a storage device sealed by a buckle. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the outer shell  20  is a single integral component comprising a rigid resin polymer or metal. In one embodiment, the outer shell may be made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), but is not limited thereto and can be made from any appropriately rigid material. The outer shell  20  is defined by an end wall  22 , a bottom wall  24 , a top wall  26  and side walls  28 . As defined herein, “top” and “bottom” are orientations or directions as shown in the figures, with the “top” being closer to a top of the page and the “bottom” being closer to the bottom of the page. Together, the walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  define an outer shell cavity  30  adapted to receive the inner shell  40  and dimensioned to cover a buckle of a strap. As will be appreciated, the size of the outer shell  20 , as well as other parts of the theft prevention device  10 , may be dimensioned to fit over differently sized buckles, depending on the desired use. As shown in the drawings, the outer shell is a single integral structure, but it will be appreciated that the outer shell  20  may also be made from separate pieces that are attached together, such as by welding or by fasteners. 
         [0014]    Each of the side walls  28  includes a slit  32  sized to allow a strap  60  to pass therethrough when the theft prevention device covers a buckle. As will be appreciated, the slit  32  is wide enough to allow the strap  60  to pass therethrough, but not so wide as to allow access to the buckle such that the buckle could be uncoupled. The slit  32  has an open end at the termination of the side wall  28  opposite the end wall  22  to allow the strap to be inserted into the slit. Additionally, the slit  32  does not extend along the entire length of the side wall  28 , thereby preventing the outer shell  20  from being able to slide off a lateral edge of the strap  60 . 
         [0015]    With specific reference to  FIG. 4 , the top wall  26  defines a ledge  34  protruding past an edge of the side wall  28 . The ledge has an outer shell opening  36  adapted to receive a lock  70  ( FIG. 5 ) for locking the outer shell to the inner shell, as described below. The ledge  34  extends past the end of the side walls  28  and the bottom wall  24  by a sufficient distance such that when the lock  70  is inserted through the opening  36 , the side walls and the bottom wall do not interfere with the lock. 
         [0016]    The inner shell  40  is sized to fit within the outer shell  20  and may be made of the same or a substantially similar material as the outer shell. Similarly to the outer shell  20 , the inner shell includes an end wall  42 , a bottom wall  44 , a top wall  46  and side walls  48 . Together, the walls  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  define an inner shell cavity  50  dimensioned to cover a buckle of a strap. As will be appreciated, the size of the inner shell  40  may be dimensioned to fit over differently sized buckles, depending on the desired use. As with the outer shell  20 , the inner shell  40  is a single integral structure, but it will be appreciated that the inner shell  40  may also be made from separate pieces that are attached together, such as by welding or by fasteners. 
         [0017]    Each of the side walls  48  includes a slit  52  sized to allow a strap  60  to pass therethrough when the theft prevention device covers a buckle. In one embodiment, the slit  52  is wide enough to allow the strap  60  to pass therethrough, but not so wide as to allow access to the buckle such that the buckle could be uncoupled. The slit  52  has an open end at the termination of the side wall  48  opposite the end wall  42  to allow the strap to be inserted into the slit. Additionally, in one embodiment, the slit  52  does not extend along the entire length of the side wall  48 , thereby preventing the inner shell  40  from being able to slide off a lateral edge of the strap  60 . 
         [0018]    Again with specific reference to  FIG. 4 , the top wall  46  of the inner shell  40  defines a ledge  54  protruding past the end wall  44 . The ledge  54  has an inner shell opening  56  adapted to receive the lock  70  ( FIG. 5 ) for locking the inner shell to the outer shell. The ledge  54  extends past the end of the side walls  48  and the bottom wall  44  by a sufficient distance such that when the lock  70  is inserted through the opening  56 , the side walls and the bottom wall do not interfere with the lock. 
         [0019]    Operation of the theft prevention device will now be described with respect to  FIGS. 1-5 . First, the outer shell  20  is laterally slid over the strap so as to generally cover the buckle or other desired area and so that the strap extends out from the outer shell through the outer shell slits  32  on each of the side walls  28 . Then the inner shell  40  is mated with the outer shell  20  by being inserted into the cavity  30  of the outer shell such that strap extends from the inner shell slits  52  and such that together the inner shell and the outer shell encompass the buckle of the strap. 
         [0020]    The inner shell  40  is inserted into the outer shell  20  such that the inner shell opening  56  is substantially aligned with the outer shell opening  36 , i.e., the end wall  44  of the inner shell is opposite to the end wall  22  of the outer shell  20 . When the openings  35 ,  56  are substantially aligned, the lock  70  ( FIG. 3 ) can be inserted through the openings and locked to prevent the inner shell  40  from being uncoupled from the outer shell  20 , thereby preventing undesired uncoupling of the buckle and access to the contents within the storage unit. As will be understood, once the lock is removed from the openings  35 ,  56 , the inner shell  40  can be separated from the outer shell  20  to expose the buckle. 
         [0021]    While the present invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.