Anti-theft security device and alarm

Claim 2

An anti-theft device for detecting the disconnection of an electronic device which includes a first connector and a second connector, the first and second connectors each having a signal conductor and a common conductor and wherein the common conductors of the first and second connectors are electrically shorted, said anti-theft device comprising: circuit means for producing an alarm signal, said circuit means including a loop input and a loop output, said circuit means producing an alarm signal when said loop input is electrically disconnected from said loop output; a source connector connected to the first connector, said source connector including a signal conductor and a common conductor which are connected to the respective conductors of said first connector, said loop input also connected to the common conductor of said source connector; a playback connector connected to the second connector, said playback connector including a signal conductor and a common conductor which are connected to the respective conductors of said second connector, said loop output also connected to said playback connector common conductor; and alarm means responsive to said alarm signal for indicating when said alarm signal is present.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said source connector and said playback connector each include decoupling means for decoupling the common conductors of said source connector and said playback connector from a signal source device and a playback device, respectively.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein said decoupling means are series connected capacitors.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein said alarm means includes an audible or visible alarm signal.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 including a key lock switch for disabling said alarm means when said key lock switch is activated.

Claim 7

An anti-theft device for detecting the disconnection of one of a plurality of electronics devices from a series loop circuit, wherein each electronic device includes a first connector and a second connector, and wherein the first and second connectors have a signal conductor and a common conductor and the common conductors of the first and second connectors are electrically shorted within each electronic device, said anti-theft device comprising: circuit means for producing an alarm signal, said circuit means including a loop input and a loop output, said circuit means producing an alarm signal when said loop input is electrically disconnected from said loop output; a plurality of device connection modules each connectable to one of said plurality of electronic devices, wherein each connection module includes a source connector connected to the first connector of a corresponding electronic device, said source connector including a signal conductor and a common conductor which are connected to the respective conductors of said first connector of said corresponding device, each of said connection modules also including a playback connector connected to the second connector of a corresponding electronic device, said playback connector including a signal conductor and a common conductor which are connected to the respective conductors of said second connector of said corresponding device; wherein said plurality of device connection modules are interconnected in a series loop circuit such that one of said modules has one of its common conductors connected to said loop input, and another one of said plurality of device connection modules has one of its common conductors connected to said loop output, and each remaining connection module is connected in series to form said series loop circuit through said common conductors of said source and playback connectors such that the electronic device completes a circuit from each of said source connector common conductors to said playback connector common conductors of each of said modules; and signalling means responsive to said alarm signal for indicating when said alarm signal is present.

Claim 8

An anti-theft device for detecting the disconnection of one of a plurality of electronics devices from a series loop circuit, wherein each electronic device includes a first connector and a second connector, and wherein the first and second connectors have a signal conductor and a common conductor and the common conductors of the first and second connectors are electrically shorted within each electronic device, said anti-theft device comprising: circuit means for producing an alarm signal, said circuit means including a loop input and a loop output, said circuit means producing an alarm signal when said loop input is electrically disconnected from said loop output; a plurality of device connection modules each connectable to one of said plurality of electronic devices, wherein each connection module includes a source connector connected to the first connector of a corresponding electronic device, said source connector including a signal conductor and a common conductor which are connected to the respective conductors of said first connector of said corresponding device, each of said connection modules also including a playback connector connected to the second connector of a corresponding electronic device, said playback connector including a signal conductor and a common conductor which are connected to the respective conductors of said second connector of said corresponding device; wherein said plurality of device connection modules are interconnected in a series loop circuit such that one of said modules has one of its common conductors connected to said loop input, and another one of said plurality of device connection modules has one of its common conductors connected to said loop output, and each remaining connection module is connected in series to form said series loop circuit through said common conductors of said source and playback connectors such that the electronic device completes a circuit from each of said source connector common conductors to said playback connector common conductors of each of said modules; and signalling means responsive to said alarm signal for indicating when said alarm signal is present.

Claim 9

The device of claim 6 wherein said plurality of device connection modules are wall mountable and each also includes isolation means connected to each of said source and playback connectors for decoupling said electronic device from signal source and playback devices.

Claim 10

The device of claim 7 wherein said signalling means is an audible alarm.

Claim 11

The device of claim 7 wherein said signalling means is a visual alarm.

Claim 12

The device of claim 8 including a switch for disabling said audible alarm.

Claim 13

The device of claim 10 wherein said switch is a key lock activated switch.

Claim 14

The device of claim 11 wherein said electronics device is a VCR, and said first connector is an antenna in connector and said second connector is a RF signal out connector of said VCR.

Claim 15

The device of claim 6 wherein said electronics device is an audio playback device wherein said first and second connectors are left and right channel audio playback connectors.

Claim 16

The device of claim 6 wherein said electronics device is an audio playback device wherein said first and second connectors are left and right channel audio record connectors.

Claim 17

The device of claim 6 wherein said electronics device is an audio playback device wherein said first connector is an audio record connector and said second connector is an audio playback connector.

Claim 18

The device of claim 6 wherein said first, second, source and playback connectors are coaxial connectors.

Claim 19

An anti-theft device for detecting the disconnection of an electronic device which includes a first connector and a second connector, the first and second connectors each having a signal conductor and a common conductor and wherein the common conductors of the first and second connectors are electrically shorted, said anti-theft device comprising: circuit means for producing an alarm signal, said circuit means including a loop input and a loop output, said circuit means operable to produce an alarm signal when said loop input is electrically disconnected from said loop output; power supply means for supplying a power signal to said circuit means; a source connector connectable to the first connector, said source connector including a signal conductor and a common conductor which are electrically compatible with the corresponding conductors of said first connector, said loop input being connected to the common conductor of said source connector; a playback connector connectable to the second connector, said playback connector including a signal conductor and a common conductor which are electrically compatible with the corresponding conductors of said second connector, said loop output being connected to the common conductor of said playback connector; and alarm means responsive to said alarm signal for indicating when said alarm signal is present.

Claim 20

An anti-theft device for detecting the disconnection of an electronic device which includes a first connector and a second connector, the first and second connectors each having a signal conductor and a common conductor and wherein the common conductors of the first and second connectors are electrically shorted, said anti-theft device comprising: circuit means for producing an alarm signal, said circuit means including a loop input and a loop output, said circuit means operable to produce an alarm signal when said loop input is electrically disconnected from said loop output; power supply means for supplying a power signal to said circuit means; a source connector connectable to the first connector, said source connector including a signal conductor and a common conductor which are electrically compatible with the corresponding conductors of said first connector, said loop input being connected to the common conductor of said source connector; a playback connector connectable to the second connector, said playback connector including a signal conductor and a common conductor which are electrically compatible with the corresponding conductors of said second connector, said loop output being connected to the common conductor of said playback connector; and alarm means responsive to said alarm signal for indicating when said alarm signal is present.