US 11,938,901 B2
Catalytic converter theft prevention and recovery
Mark Steven Richardi, Huntington Beach, CA (US); John Rollins, Palo Alto, CA (US); Natasha Peterson, Yucca Valley, CA (US); and Gregory Duff Bracy, Simi Valley, CA (US)
Assigned to CATrack Technologies, Inc., Huntington Beach, CA (US)
Filed by CATrak Technologies, Inc., Huntington Beach, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/355,145.
Application 18/355,145 is a continuation of application No. 18/013,345, previously published as PCT/US2022/039223, filed on Aug. 2, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/228,392, filed on Aug. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0365104 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60R 25/33 (2013.01); B60R 25/10 (2013.01); B60R 25/102 (2013.01); B60R 25/104 (2013.01); B60R 25/40 (2013.01); F01N 99/00 (2010.01)
CPC B60R 25/33 (2013.01) [B60R 25/1004 (2013.01); B60R 25/102 (2013.01); B60R 25/1045 (2013.01); B60R 25/40 (2013.01); F01N 99/00 (2022.08); B60R 2025/1015 (2013.01); B60R 2025/1016 (2013.01); B60R 2325/10 (2013.01); B60R 2325/30 (2013.01); F01N 2260/22 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for monitoring a vehicle component, comprising:
a housing having an exterior surface and defining an interior cavity;
an electronic component disposed within the interior cavity, wherein the electronic component comprises a computing device, and wherein the electronic component is communicatively coupled with a wireless transceiver and a GPS locator; and
a plurality of spacers extending from the exterior surface and configured to be adjacent to the vehicle component;
wherein the plurality of spacers defines a channel configured to promote airflow between the device and the vehicle component thereby minimizing heat transfer between the device and the vehicle component;
wherein the battery is configured to energize the computing device, the wireless transceiver, and the GPS locator when the device is isolated from an external power source; and
wherein, when the electronic component is isolated from the external power source, the electronic component is configured to (i) cause the wireless transceiver to generate an alert signal and (ii) cause the GPS locator to generate a location signal.