D E S C R I P T I O N

The present invention refers to the field of personal anti-theft devices for objects such as, for example, wallets, change purses, pouches, pockets, etc. contained in an handbag or bag.

The prior art already comprises anti-theft devices using personal alarms having a tear-away string with an audible signaler, but more complicated and unpractical. It is known for example the patent JP2004016775. The invention comprises a system formed by a small pocket to be inserted in handbags, backpacks, bags, wallets, etc., containing a personal alarm connected, by a chain, to the human body. Said chain is threaded through two holes: one made in a side of the small pocket, and the other made on the side of the handbag at the small pocket hole.

The main disadvantages of the prior art are:

• the anti-theft device must be attached to the person, for example, by hooking an end to the belt or eyelet of garments and the other end to the object to be secured. Therefore :

• there is a connection coming from the handbag, in case somebody wants to fasten an object contained in it, this makes the use of the same not very practical, and • at the same time it is dangerous in case the owner of the small pockets is jerked during a bag-snatching.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems by providing an anti-theft device substantially comprising a personal alarm which is turned on in case of a theft attempt.

A first advantage of the device object of the present invention is due to its simple use, because it is possible to extract from the handbag the secured object without turning off the device and without detaching the connecting element from the device or human body.

Another advantage is the lightness of the device, because the handbag is weighed down just by the weight of the connecting element.

Moreover, it is pointed out the toughness of the anti- theft device because it is made of anti-tear and metal materials .

Said objects and advantages are all met by the anti- theft device for handbags, object of the present invention, which is characterized for what is provided in the following claims.

This and other characteristics will be better understood by the following description of a preferred embodiment shown in an exemplifying non-limiting way in the attached drawings. - Figure 1 is an overall view of the device received in an handbag and hooked, for example, to an inner zipper of the handbag;

- Figure 2 is a detailed view of the anti-theft device for handbags.

Referring particularly to the figures, 1 shows the handbag in which is received the anti-theft device for handbags object of the present invention.

2 shows the object to be secured, for example, a wallet, and 2a shows the closure system of the same, for example a zipper.

A metal ring 5 located at one of the two ends of the connecting element 4 is hooked to the closure system 2a of the object 2 to be secured.

Said connecting element 4 can comprise, for example, a metal chain or a string made of a tear resistant material such as Cordura (a trademark of INVISTA TECHNOLOGIES S.r.l.) or synthetic fibres or plastic straps or any material having a good tear resistance. 6 shows a second ring at the other end of the connecting element 4.

By said ring 6 and an hooking element 7 of the metal spring-catch type, it is possible to join the connecting element 4 to the lower part of a personal alarm 3b with the anti-tear string having an audible signaler with interchangeable batteries.

Said personal alarm 3b is received in a alarm holding small pocket 3a made of a tear-resistant material, provided in its upper part with an hooking point 3c particularly resistant made for example of a reinforced stitch .

The assembly formed by the alarm holding small pocket

3a, the personal alarm 3b is the deterrent system 3.

To the hooking point 3c on the upper part of the alarm holding small pocket 3a, it is joined, for example, with a stitch, a second hooking element 8, of the metal spring-catch type, which fastens the upper part of the alarm holding small pocket 3b to the inside of the handbag 1 (for example adjacent an inner zipper, as shown in Figure 1) .

Now, it is described the operation of the device object of the present invention by following the reference numbers shown in the figures.

If somebody tries for example to steal the wallet 2, by pulling the connecting element 4, to which the wallet 2 itself is hooked, it is activated the audible signal of the personal alarm 3b received in the alarm holding small pocket 3a.

The personal alarm 3b keeps on sounding until it is turned off. The operation procedure of said personal alarm 3b is known.

Moreover, the wallet 2 cannot be easily extracted since the anti-theft device fastens the wallet to an inner part of the handbag, such as a zipper of an inner pocket .