Catalytic converter theft protection arrangement

Abstract

A catalytic converter theft protection arrangement includes a metal cage rigidly attached to an underside of a vehicle such that the cage surrounds a catalytic converter of the vehicle. An electronic tamper-detecting device is disposed within the cage and transmits an alarm signal in response to detecting motion around the catalytic converter and/or vibration of the cage. A remote controller selectively activates and deactivates the electronic tamper-detecting device in response to actuation of the remote controller by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catalytic converter theft protection arrangement, comprising:
 a metal cage configured to be rigidly attached to an underside of a vehicle such that the cage surrounds a catalytic converter of the vehicle;   an electronic tamper-detecting device disposed within the cage and configured to transmit an alarm signal in response to detecting at least one of:
 motion around the catalytic converter; and 
 vibration of the cage; and 
   a remote controller configured to selectively activate and deactivate the electronic tamper-detecting device in response to actuation of the remote controller by a user.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-detecting device is disposed in a corner of the cage. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-detecting device is attached to the cage at a location within the cage that maximizes a distance between the tamper-detecting device and the catalytic converter. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-detecting device is configured to activate an audible alarm in response to detecting at least one of:
 motion around the catalytic converter; and   vibration of the cage.   
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the cage is formed of perforated sheet metal. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the cage includes:
 a front wall having a first upper edge with a slot receiving an input pipe connected to the catalytic converter; and   a back wall having a second upper edge with a slot receiving an output pipe connected to the catalytic converter.   
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tamper-proof fasteners attaching the cage to the underside of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-detecting device is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal to a civic authority in response to detecting at least one of:
 motion around the catalytic converter; and   vibration of the cage.   
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-detecting device includes a housing in physical contact with the cage such that the cage is configured to carry heat away from the housing. 
     
     
         10 . A catalytic converter theft protection arrangement, comprising:
 an enclosure having five substantially rectangular sides, the sides, including a front side, a back side, a bottom side, a left side and a right side, the front side and the back side each including a respective upper edge with a respective slot therein; and   at least one tamper proof fastener attached to at least one of the front side, the back side, the left side and the right side of the enclosure, the fastener being configured to rigidly attach the enclosure to an underside of a vehicle such that the enclosure substantially surrounds a catalytic converter of the vehicle with an input pipe of the catalytic converter being received in the slot of the front side, and with an output pipe of the catalytic converter being received in the slot of the back side.   
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , further comprising an electronic tamper-detecting device disposed within the enclosure and configured to transmit an alarm signal in response to detecting at least one of:
 motion around the catalytic converter; and   vibration of the enclosure.   
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , further comprising a remote controller configured to selectively activate and deactivate the electronic tamper-detecting device in response to actuation of the remote controller by a user. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the tamper-detecting device is disposed in a corner of the enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the tamper-detecting device is attached to the enclosure at a location within the enclosure that maximizes a distance between the tamper-detecting device and the catalytic converter. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the enclosure is formed of perforated sheet metal. 
     
     
         16 . A catalytic converter theft protection arrangement, comprising:
 a metal enclosure configured to be rigidly attached to an underside of a vehicle such that the enclosure surrounds a catalytic converter of the vehicle, the enclosure having a front corner defined by three substantially flat surfaces of the enclosure; and   an electronic tamper-detecting device having a housing with two outer substantially flat surfaces oriented at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to each other, the tamper-detecting device being disposed within the front corner of the enclosure such that each of the two outer substantially flat surfaces of the housing physically contacts a respective one of the three substantially flat surfaces of the enclosure, the tamper-detecting device being configured to transmit an alarm signal in response to detecting at least one of:
 motion around the catalytic converter; and 
 vibration of the enclosure. 
   
     
     
         17 . The arrangement of  claim 16 , further comprising a remote controller configured to selectively activate and deactivate the electronic tamper-detecting device in response to actuation of the remote controller by a user. 
     
     
         18 . The arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein the tamper-detecting device is disposed in a lower front corner of the enclosure. 
     
     
         19 . The arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein the tamper-detecting device is attached to the enclosure at a location within the enclosure that maximizes a distance between the tamper-detecting device and the catalytic converter. 
     
     
         20 . The arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein the enclosure is formed of perforated sheet metal.