Patent ID: 8525653

Claim:
An anti-theft system for protecting wheels and rims of a vehicle, said system comprising: (a) a lug nut component for threading into a lug nut slot of a wheel, the lug nut component having a first end arid a second end; (b) a first hole disposed in the first end of the lug nut component, wherein the first hole is a keyhole configured to receive a key; (c) a sensor spring disposed on the second end of the lug nut component; (d) a threaded cap for securing in the lug nut slot, the threaded cap is configured to receive the second end of the lug nut component, wherein the threaded cap and second end of the lug nut component sandwich the sensor spring and move the sensor spring from an extended position to a compressed position; wherein when the lug nut component threads out of the lug nut slot of a wheel, the sensor spring moves from the compressed position toward the extended position; (e) a sensor operatively connected to the sensor spring, the sensor is configured to detect when the sensor spring moves from the compressed position to file extended position; (f) a first microprocessor operatively connected to the sensor; (g) a first transmitter operatively connected to the first microprocessor; and (h) a second microprocessor operatively connected to a receiver, the second microprocessor is configured to be operatively connected to an alarm system of the vehicle; wherein the first microprocessor is configured to receive a first sensor input signal from the sensor when the sensor detects the sensor spring moving to the extended position, wherein when the first microprocessor receives the first sensor input signal the first microprocessor generates a first transmitter output command to the first transmitter to cause the first transmitter to send a first alarm signal to the receiver, wherein the second microprocessor is configured to receive a first receiver input signal from the receiver when the receiver receives the first alarm signal whereupon the second microprocessor generates a first alarm system output command to activate the alarm system of the vehicle; (i) a rechargeable battery disposed within the lug nut component, wherein the rechargeable battery is operatively, connected to the first microprocessor, the sensor and the transmitter; a second transmitter operatively connected to the second microprocessor; wherein upon receipt of the first receiver input signal from the receiver the microprocessor is configured to generate a second transmitter output command to the second transmitter to cause the second transmitter to send a secondary alarm signal to a cellular phone network, a system in a user's home, a police system, or an internet system.