Vehicle protective cover including an alarm unit

Abstract

A vehicle security system includes a protective cover incorporating a battery operated alarm unit contained within a pocket that is attached to the inner surface of the cover. A cable contained within the cover removably connects a switch actuating plunger of the alarm unit to the vehicle for operating a switch to activate the alarm unit, producing an audible alarm in the event an intruder attempts to remove the cover from the vehicle.

1 . A protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system, comprising: 
 a protective cover having an inner surface and an outer surface, said protective cover adapted to cover substantially all portions of a vehicle;    at least one alarm unit removably affixed to said protective cover; and    at least one actuator cable having a first end removably coupled to said alarm unit and a second end removably coupled to said vehicle with said actuator cable untensioned, wherein said alarm unit is triggered upon tensioning of said actuator cable by movement of said protective cover relative to said vehicle.    
   
   
       2 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 1 , wherein said protective cover includes at least one pocket on said inner surface, said alarm unit adapted to be received in said pocket.  
   
   
       3 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 2 , wherein said protective cover includes a plurality of pockets, said alarm unit adapted to be received in any one of said pockets.  
   
   
       4 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 2 , wherein said pocket is defined independently of said inner surface of said protective cover, said pocket including a top portion, a bottom portion, and first and second side walls, and wherein at least a portion of said pocket is affixed to said inner surface of said protective cover so that said pocket hangs freely therefrom.  
   
   
       5 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 4 , wherein said top portion of said pocket defines an opening for said pocket to allow said alarm unit to be inserted into said pocket, said top portion adapted to securely close said opening for maintaining said alarm unit in said pocket.  
   
   
       6 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 5 , wherein said pocket further includes an aperture, said first end of said actuator cable extending into said pocket through said aperture and removably coupling to said alarm unit.  
   
   
       7 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 6 , wherein said alarm unit includes a plunger actuator, said actuator cable being removably coupled to said plunger actuator.  
   
   
       8 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 7 , wherein said alarm unit further includes an alarm circuit, a switch and a transducer.  
   
   
       9 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 8 , wherein said alarm circuit includes a reset circuit.  
   
   
       10 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 9 , wherein said reset circuit includes a timer, said timer adapted to deactivate said alarm circuit after a preset interval of time.  
   
   
       11 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 8 , wherein said alarm unit includes a transponder allowing remote arming of said alarm unit.  
   
   
       12 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 6 , wherein said pocket includes at least one perforation to minimize attenuation of audible signals produced by said alarm unit when triggered.  
   
   
       13 . A protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system, comprising: 
 a flexible protective cover having an inner surface and an outer surface, said protective cover adapted to cover substantially all portions of a vehicle;    at least one pocket on said inner surface of said protective cover, said pocket defined by a top portion, a bottom portion, and first and second side walls;    at least one alarm unit removably contained within said pocket, said alarm unit including a plunger actuator extending therefrom; and at least one actuator cable having a first end removably coupled to said plunger actuator of said alarm unit and a second end removably coupled to said vehicle with said actuator cable untensioned, wherein said alarm unit is triggered upon tensioning of said actuator cable by movement of said protective cover relative to said vehicle.    
   
   
       14 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 13 , wherein said pocket is defined independently of said inner surface of said protective cover, and wherein at least a portion of said top portion of said pocket is affixed to said inner surface of said protective cover so that said pocket hangs freely therefrom.  
   
   
       15 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 14 , wherein said top portion of said pocket defines an opening for said pocket to allow said alarm unit to be inserted into said pocket, said top portion adapted to securely close said opening for maintaining said alarm unit in said pocket.  
   
   
       16 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 15 , wherein said pocket further includes an actuator cable aperture, said first end of said actuator cable extending into said pocket through said actuator cable aperture and removably coupling to said plunger actuator.  
   
   
       17 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 16 , wherein said alarm unit further includes an alarm circuit, a switch and a transducer.  
   
   
       18 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 17 , wherein said alarm circuit includes a reset circuit.  
   
   
       19 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 18 , wherein said reset circuit includes a timer, said timer adapted to deactivate said alarm circuit after a preset interval of time.  
   
   
       20 . The protective vehicle cover and vehicle cover security system of  claim 17 , wherein said alarm unit includes a transponder allowing remote arming of said alarm unit.