Patent Publication Number: US-11026489-B2

Title: Anti-theft device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Many people regularly carry a wallet to store money, credit cards, identification, and other important documents. One place a wallet is often carried is in a rear pants pocket. Although having one&#39;s wallet in one&#39;s pocket is convenient, the wallet may be susceptible to theft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an example anti-theft device consistent with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an example system including an anti-theft device consistent with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Carrying a wallet to store money, credit cards, identification, and similar documents is a common practice. Often, people, particularly men, will carry their wallet in a rear pocket of a pair of pants. This allows the wallet to be easily accessible while remaining unobtrusive when not needed. However, carrying a wallet in a back pocket also presents a risk, namely, the wallet being stolen by a pickpocket or similar. Unfortunately, by the time the theft is discovered, the thief may be long gone with the wallet and its contents. As a result, the owner of the wallet may have to replace cards and identification, which is stressful and takes both time and money. 
     One way to help mitigate the chance of getting one&#39;s wallet taken is to change the pocket in which the wallet is carried to, for example, a front pocket of the pair of pants. By moving the wallet to the front pocket, a potential thief would have to reach around the wallet&#39;s owner or be facing the owner in order to steal the wallet. Since much pickpocket-type theft is based on ease of target (i.e., a pickpocket is more likely to target a person who they think they can steal from without getting caught), a pickpocket is less likely to attempt to, or be successful in, theft of the wallet. However, not all pants pockets are sufficiently deep to allow a wallet, particularly a bulky wallet, to fit comfortably. In addition, not all pants have front pockets to place a wallet into. 
     Another option is to carry one&#39;s wallet in a separate, secondary accessory, such as a purse, a backpack, or a fanny pack. Although such accessories may be useful, particularly in situations such as when traveling, they may not be practical for everyday use. In addition, it may not always be feasible to carry additional accessories, particularly for the sole purpose of carrying a wallet. Moreover, not everyone may be comfortable with carrying an additional accessory, particularly in certain circumstances. For example, wearing a fanny pack while out sightseeing may serve to mark a user as a “typical tourist”, which may lead to a pickpocket or other thief marking the user as an easy target. 
     The anti-theft device of the present disclosure, by contrast, is small and unobtrusive enough that a user is able to deploy the device without giving an indication that such a device is, in fact, being used. A pair of tubes are joined by a spring that is able to be compressed and released. On an outer end of each tube is a plurality of angled tines that are able to engage with the fabric of a pocket when the wallet including the device is inserted. The tubes, including the tines, may be compressed at the spring by a pair of lips to insert the wallet into a pocket; then, upon release of the spring, the tines may engage with the fabric of the pocket. As a result, the wallet may be prevented from inadvertent removal and, should someone attempt to remove the wallet, the owner of the wallet may be alerted. 
       FIG. 1  is an example anti-theft device  100  consistent with the present disclosure. Device  100  may comprise a first tube  102  having a first diameter  104 . Device  100  may further comprise a second tube  106  having a second diameter  108 . Although first tube  102  and second tube  106  are shown as rectangular tubes in  FIG. 1 , examples are not so limited and other shapes of tube may be used. For example, first tube  102  and second tube  106  may be circular, oblong, or geometrical in shape. The first diameter  104  may be greater than the second diameter  108 ; that is, first tube  102  may have a greater diameter than second tube  106 . First tube  102  and second tube  106  may be metal, plastic, or any other rigid material. 
     A spring  110  may be disposed between the first tube  102  and the second tube  106 . Spring  110  may be a metal spring and may be a coil spring, a compression spring, or any other type of spring. A first end of spring  110  may be coupled to first tube  102 , while a second end of spring  110  may be coupled to second tube  106 . As a result, spring  110  may be disposed between the first tube  102  and the second tube  106  such that the first tube  102  is coupled to the second tube  106  by the spring  110 . Said differently, spring  110  may join the first tube  102  and the second tube  106 . 
     Spring  110  may be compressible; that is, spring  110  may be pressed together such that its length decreases. Because first tube  102  and second tube  106  may be coupled together by spring  110 , compression of spring  110  also moves first tube  102  and second tube  106  closer together. However, because first tube  102  has a greater diameter (first diameter  104 ) than the second tube  106  (having second diameter  108 ), second tube  106  may slidably engage with first tube  102 . That is, second tube  106  may slide into the first tube  102  when the spring  110  is compressed. When spring  110  is released, second tube  106  may retract from first tube  102 . 
     Device  100  may further include a plurality of tines  112 -,  112 - 2 ,  112 - 3 ,  112 - 4 ,  112 - 5 ,  112 - 6  . . .  112 -N (collectively, tines  112 ). As used herein, a tine refers to a prong or other sharp point that extends outwardly from a surface. Tines  112  may be disposed at a first end of first tube  102  and at a first end of second tube  106 . In some examples, tines  112  may be disposed on opposing ends; that is, tines  112  may be on the outwardly-facing ends of device  100 . Tines  112  may engage with fabric of a pocket when device  100  is in use. 
     In some examples, tines  112  may be disposed at an angle with respect to the first tube  102  and the second tube  106 . Tines  112  may be disposed at an angle of between 50 degrees and 70 degrees with respect to the surface upon which tines  112  are disposed. For example, tines  112  may be disposed at a 60 degree angle with respect to the first tube  102 ; however, examples are not so limited and other angles may be used. By being angled, tines  112  may engage with the fabric of a pocket in such a way that removal of device  100  is rendered more difficult because removing the device  100  without compressing the spring  110  moves tines  112  opposite the angle at which they are disposed. Said differently, angling tines  112  may provide an additional layer of security when device  100  is in use; not only are tines  112  engaged with a pocket, tines  112  are engaged with the pocket in such a way as to make unwanted removal of device  100  more difficult, and more apparent to a user. 
     Device  100  may further include a first lip disposed on an upper surface of first tube  102 . The first lip may extend past the first diameter  104  of first tube  102 ; that is, the first lip may reach past the edge of first tube  102 . A second lip may similarly be disposed on an upper surface of second tube  106 . Like the first lip, the second lip may extend past the second diameter  108  of the second tube  106 . Together, the lips may allow a user to compress spring  110 , thus compressing first tube  102  and second tube  106 , at an easier-to-grasp location than, for example, tines  112 . In addition, the first lip and the second lip may be accessible when device  100  is in use, such that a user is able to remove device  100  should he or she so desire. 
       FIG. 2  is an example system  214  including an anti-theft device  200  consistent with the present disclosure. System  214  may include a wallet  216 . Although a bi-fold wallet is shown in  FIG. 2 , examples are not so limited and other types of wallet (e.g., a tri-fold wallet) may be used. Wallet  216  may include an opening  218  disposed along a length thereof. Opening  218  may be used to receive, for example, cash or other documents. 
     System  214  may further include a device  200  to engage with wallet  216 . Device  200  may be akin to device  100 , discussed with respect to  FIG. 1 . In some examples, device  200  may engage with wallet  216  along a fold thereof. More particularly, device  200  may engage with  216  such that opening  218  of wallet  216  faces upwards with respect to the ground when the device  200  is in use. 
     Device  200  may include a first tube  202  having a first diameter  204  and a second tube  206  having a second diameter  208 . Second diameter  208  may be less than first diameter  204  such that second tube  206  is able to slidably engage with first tube  202 . A spring  210  may be disposed between first tube  202  and second tube  206  such that first tube  202  and second tube  206  are coupled to one another by spring  210 . 
     A first lip  220  may be disposed on an upper surface of first tube  202 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , first lip  220  may be disposed such that it is substantially parallel to the diameter of first tube  202  and is substantially perpendicular to a length of first tube  202 . First lip  220  may extend past the edges of first tube  202 . A second lip  222  may be similarly disposed on an upper surface of second tube  206 . Like first lip  220 , second lip  222  may be substantially parallel to the diameter of second tube  206  and may extend past the edges of second tube  206 . 
     First lip  220  and second lip  222  may receive an applied force from a user. When first lip  220  and second lip  222  receive an applied force, spring  210  may be engaged and may compress. Engagement of spring  210  may cause second tube  206  to slide into first tube  202  such that the overall length of device  200  is shortened. By contrast, when first lip  220  and second lip  222  are in a resting position, i.e. not having a force applied, spring  210  may be disengaged, or not compressed. 
     Device  200  may further include a plurality of tines  212 - 1 ,  212 - 2 ,  212 - 3 ,  212 - 4 ,  212 - 5  . . .  212 -N (collectively, tines  212 ) disposed on a first end of first tube  202  and on a first end of second tube  206 . As discussed with respect to  FIG. 1 , tines  212  may be disposed such that they are on opposing ends of device  200 . Tines  212  may further be disposed at an angle with respect to first tube  202  and second tube  206 . 
     When device  200  is engaged with wallet  216 , device  200  may be placed along a fold of wallet  216 . Tines  212  may extend past the edge of wallet  216 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In addition, a portion of first tube  202  and a portion of second tube  206 , including first lip  220  and second lip  222 , may also extend past the edges of wallet  216  when the device  200  is placed into wallet  216 . To engage the device  200 , spring  210  may be compressed by applying a force to first lip  220  and second lip  222  simultaneously. As previously discussed, doing so may cause second tube  206  to slide into first tube  202 , shortening the length of device  200 . The wallet  216  may then be inserted into a pocket without interference from, for instance, tines  212 . 
     Upon insertion into a pocket, the spring  210  may be disengaged by releasing the applied force on first lip  220  and second lip  222 . By releasing the spring  210 , first tube  202  and second tube  206  may cease being slidably engaged with one another. In addition, tines  212  may engage with the fabric of the pocket. Because tines  212  are disposed at an angle with respect to the ends of the first tube  202  and the second tube  206 , tines  212  may catch the fabric of the pocket, particularly at a seam of the pocket. Tines  212  thus retain wallet  216  in its position with respect to the pocket and make it more difficult for the wallet  216  to be removed by someone other than a user. However, the user is able to remove the wallet  216  by reapplying a force to first lip  220  and second lip  222 , compressing the spring  210 . This draws the tines  212  away from the pocket such that wallet  216  is able to be removed as necessary by the user. 
     In the foregoing detailed description of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration how examples of the disclosure may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that process and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit corresponds to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Elements shown in the various figures herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional examples of the present disclosure. In addition, the proportion and relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the present disclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense.