HK1125730A - Cable alarm security device - Google Patents

Description

Cable alarm safety device

Background

1. The technical field is as follows:

the present invention relates to an anti-theft device and, more particularly, to an EAS tag carrier device that can be secured to an article to prevent theft of the article. More particularly, the present invention relates to such a safety device, namely: which is attached to the item of merchandise by a cable that is locked to the item of merchandise using a magnetically attractable locking mechanism and is provided with an internal alarm that is activated if the integrity of the cable is breached and when an item having a security setting approaches the security gate sensor.

2. Background of the invention

Many retail stores use anti-theft systems and devices to prevent shoplifting. Many of these anti-theft devices utilize Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tags attached to the merchandise. The tag is configured to activate an alarm located on a security gate at an exit of the retail store. A problem faced by many retail stores is the attachment of EAS tags to merchandise. The tag must be attached in a secure manner that prevents unauthorized removal without damaging the item of merchandise. Furthermore, the tag must be easily removed by authorized personnel so that the tag is not so delayed that the security gate alarm is inadvertently turned on.

The prior art provides carrier devices having EAS tags that are designed to secure a tag card to an article of merchandise. In many known types, the frame is designed to extend around the component, the pin penetrates the component, and the cable wrap is designed to carry the component. One type of security device to which the present invention relates is a load bearing type of cable wrapped around or threaded through the merchandise.

Many of these cable devices are large and bulky in construction and require complex mechanical structures for locking and unlocking the cable to the device for subsequent removal from the article of merchandise. Furthermore, some prior art alarm devices are activated only when the cable is severed and/or disengaged from the device, but do not sound an alarm if the merchandise and the security features attached thereto are carried away altogether. Even if an EAS tag could actuate a different alarm at a security gate upon passing through the gate, these cannot always guarantee that the device is satisfactory due to the sensitivity of the gate, which must be coordinated with the multiple security devices throughout the store. Moreover, once the security device on the stolen merchandise remains attached to it and is carried out of the store by a thief, the thief can easily disappear in a crowd or a parking lot, and the store's alarm merely alerts store personnel that the merchandise has been stolen.

The object of the present invention is to solve many of these problems described above by providing a device which has a relatively inexpensive structure but which is easy to apply to and remove from the product of the article to be protected, and which provides various alarm systems housed within the housing.

Disclosure of Invention

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a cable alarm security device that is easily placed on the product of the merchandise being protected and easily removed prior to checkout, and that can be reused multiple times on a variety of merchandise products, requiring only a small opening for the locking member and cable to pass therethrough.

Another aspect of the invention is that when the cable is locked to the housing, a closed loop may be formed for securing the device to an article of merchandise, wherein the cable may be of a variety of types having a variety of thicknesses and containing one or two electrical conductors that are protected by connecting the electrical conductors to an alarm system secured within the housing of the security device.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide such a security device wherein the alarm system includes a light emitting diode that is visible from both sides of the housing using a lens located in the annular end wall of the housing or in two opposing openings formed in the side walls of the housing to increase visibility of store personnel and to warn potential shoplifters that an alarm may be activated.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an internal alarm system having an EAS tag that activates an internal acoustic alarm within the housing when the security device approaches the security gate alarm system, in addition to activating the security gate alarm, the internal acoustic alarm of the security device remains activated even after the thief leaves the store with the stolen item of merchandise.

Another feature of the present invention is that the length of the cable can be extended over a relatively large range making it suitable for use with a variety of merchandise items, wherein the locking mechanism includes a magnetically attractable locking device that can be easily opened only when a pair of magnets are aligned with a pair of locking terminals (tine) to reduce the risk of a potential shoplifter opening only a single magnet device.

These characteristics are achieved by the cable alarm security device of the present invention, which may be described generally as comprising: a housing; a flexible cable having first and second ends, the first end being attached to the housing and the second end being attached to a latch, wherein the latch is selectively attachable to and removable from the housing; a magnetically actuated locking mechanism mounted within the housing and engaged with the latch and movable between locked and unlocked positions for locking the latch to the housing; and an alarm system mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the cable to sound an audible alarm housed within the housing when the integrity of the cable is compromised or when the security device is proximate the security gate.

Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode contemplated by the applicant of the application, is set forth below and shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a cable alarm security device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the security device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view of the safety device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a security device housing including alarm system components with a deadbolt disposed therein in a locked position;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the magnetically attractable locking member disengaged from the locking mechanism of the housing shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4A showing the magnetic switch movement locking member of FIG. 4A in an open position.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of the deadbolt out of the housing;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a cable alarm security device extending throughout the length of a sleeve of an article of clothing;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the security device shown in FIG. 7, similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the locking cable of FIG. 8 with only a portion of the locking cable shown therein;

FIG. 10 is an exploded plan view of the safety device shown in FIGS. 7-9, similar to that shown in FIG. 3;

fig. 11 is a partial view of the security device alarm system and internal locking mechanism of fig. 7-10 in a locked position.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Detailed Description

A cable alarm security device in a first embodiment of the present invention is generally designated 1 and is shown in fig. 1-6. The device 1 comprises a main housing 2 and a locking cable 3. The housing 1 shown in fig. 3 generally comprises two half body parts generally designated by the reference numerals 5 and 7, said half body parts 5 and 7 being secured together along a seam 8, for example by means of an adhesive or sonic welding, said seam 8 extending in a continuous manner completely along the circumference of the housing as shown in fig. 1 and 2. The housing body parts 5 and 7 are preferably moulded from a rigid plastics material and form a hollow internal cavity 9, within which cavity 9 is mounted an alarm system generally indicated at 11 (shown in figure 3) and a locking mechanism generally indicated at 13, the details of which alarm system 11 will be discussed further below.

The housing 2 has a relatively elongated, relatively flat configuration as shown in fig. 1 and 2, with a thickness (shown in fig. 2) that is much less than its length (shown in fig. 1). This provides a relatively compact but suction-compatible device. The housing 1 includes a pair of spaced side walls 15 and 16, spaced edge walls 17 and 18, and a pair of opposed spaced end walls 19 and 20. As mentioned above, when the two half parts 5 and 7 are joined together as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the joining seam 9 will extend continuously along the edge walls 17 and 18 and the end walls 19 and 20. The housing part 7 is provided with three positioning pegs 21, said positioning pegs 21 extending into three bosses 21A, said bosses 21A being formed on the housing part 5, in which the parts are properly aligned before the final connection is completed.

The locking cable 3 is shown more clearly in fig. 3, said locking cable 3 comprising an internal helically wound electrically conducting cable 22, said electrically conducting cable 22 being coated by an insulator 23. The inner conductor 22 provides both electrical conduction to the cable sensing circuit (loop) and mechanical strength to the cable. One end of the cable 3 is connected to a connector 25, said connector 25 preferably having a cylindrical configuration and being made of an electrically conductive metal, said connector 25 being in electrical contact with the conductor 22 when it is fixed to the cable. A conductor 26 is attached to the connector 25 and extends from the connector 25 for electrically connecting the cable to the alarm system 11. A locking bolt, generally designated by reference numeral 27, is secured to the other end of the cable 3. The locking latch 27 is preferably made of an insulating plastic and has at least a pair of locking shoulders 28 (shown in fig. 4) formed thereon, the locking shoulders 28 engaging a pair of spring biased metal terminals 31 when in the locked position.

The terminals 31 are preferably cut from a leaf spring metal strip material 33 (shown in fig. 4A) so as to extend outwardly in the direction shown in fig. 4. As shown in fig. 5, the terminals 31 are integrally connected to the strip 33 by hinge segments 34 in order to facilitate movement to their initial positions along a portion of the strip 33 and as part of the strip 33. As shown in fig. 4, the metal strip 33 is secured within the housing 2 by extending into a slot opening formed by a pair of tabs 37, whereby the terminals 31 extend into locking channels 38 formed within the housing 2. The locking channel 38 is formed between the edge wall 18 and the rib 35, said rib 35 extending parallel to the wall 18 and spaced from the wall 18. Another rib 36 is formed on side walls 15 and 16 and extends forwardly to assist in forming a locking channel 38 for securely retaining latch 27 therein.

As shown in fig. 4, 5 and 6, the dead bolt 27 has, in general, an elongated rectangular configuration and has two pairs of locking shoulders 28, the locking shoulders 28 being formed on opposite sides of the dead bolt 27. This enables a latch inserted into the lock channel 38 to cause the cable 3 to operate in either direction to lock an article of merchandise. As shown in fig. 4, the deadbolt 27 may be rotated 180 degrees and inserted into the lock channel 38 and locked therein by the terminal 31.

Similar to connector 25, a second metal crimp connector 39 is crimped to the other end of cable 3 and is connected to internal alarm system 11 when in the locked position by engaging a spring metal clip 40, which spring metal clip 40 is electrically connected to the internal alarm system. As shown in fig. 4, connector 25 on one end of cable 3 is electrically connected to the alarm system by attached conductor 26 and at the opposite end by crimp connector 39 to metal clip 40, which clip 40 is electrically connected to the alarm system, thus forming a closed loop or inductive circuit through cable 3. Further, when the latch 27 is in the locked position as shown in fig. 4, its distal end 42 will engage and compress a plunger 43 on a plunger switch 44 to move it from the open position shown in fig. 6 to the closed position shown in fig. 4 and 5. Plunger switch 44 is electrically connected into the electrical circuit of alarm system 11 and forms a closed loop with an audible alarm 45 located within housing 2. The audible alarm 45 is mounted within an annular boss 46, the annular boss 46 abutting a pair of perforated sections 48, the perforated sections 48 being formed in the upper portions of the side walls 15 and 16 forming opposed grill-like housing portions. The battery 49 is also mounted within the annular boss 46 (shown in fig. 3) and covered by a foam gasket 50. Battery 49 provides power to alarm system 11 through terminal 51.

A light emitting diode 53 is mounted within the cavity 9 of the housing 2 and is electrically connected to the battery 49, the light emitting diode 53 abutting a pair of oppositely aligned openings 54, the openings 54 being formed in the housing side walls 15 and 16 in which a lens 55 can be mounted. When the alarm system is activated, the light emitting diode 53 is preferably blinked, which is readily visible from both sides of the housing by store personnel and potential shoplifters, alerting them that the alarm system is activated, thereby further protecting the item of merchandise on which the device 1 is mounted from theft.

EAS tag 57 is located within cavity 9 of housing 2 and may have a variety of configurations, such as: such as the coil configurations shown in fig. 3-6. The tag 57 is preferably a magnetic sensing device or an RF (radio frequency) sensing device, the tag 57 being the most common combination of both EAS tags and currently used sensor systems. As described further below, EAS tag 57 may not only activate internal acoustic alarm 43 via a signal received from a security gate, but may also activate a security gate alarm as with most EAS tags contained within a security device.

Alarm system 11 includes a solid state circuit board 59 mounted on housing member 5 (shown in fig. 3 and 4) and preferably of the type shown and described in detail in the pending provisional patent application filed on 12/28/2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

As shown in fig. 4, the cable end connector 25 is securely mounted within the housing 2 within a compartment 60 formed at the lower corner of the housing 2 and along with the cable 3 enters the housing through an annular opening 61 formed in the end wall 19. Figure 4 shows the locking pin 27 in the locked position with the distal end of the spring biased terminal 31 engaging the shoulder 28 to prevent the pin 27 from being removed from the lock channel 38. In this position, plunger switch 44 is actuated and electrically connected to alarm system 11 by spring-biased clip 40.

To unlock the locking mechanism of the security device 1 (fig. 5), a magnetic key, generally designated 63, attracts them in the direction indicated by arrow a (shown in fig. 5), moving the metal terminals 31 from their locked position shown in fig. 4 to the unlocked position shown in fig. 5. The key 63 preferably comprises a pair of internal magnets 64, said magnets 64 being located in a position that can be precisely aligned with the terminals 31 so as to exert a sufficient magnetic force thereon for moving them to the open position. A pair of alignment notches 66 are formed in both side walls 15 and 16 of the housing for aligning with positioning tabs (not shown) formed on magnetic switch 63 to ensure that magnets 64 are properly aligned with terminals 31. It has been found that such a magnetic key having a pair of magnets can be fully aligned with the metal terminals to increase safety over a connection having only a single metal terminal and a corresponding single magnet. However, other types of magnetic unlocking key arrangements may be used without altering the concept of the invention. After the terminals have been moved to their open position shown in fig. 5, the locking latches 27 are easily pulled out of the locking channels 38 in the direction of arrow B (shown in fig. 6) to allow the cable 3 to be removed from the product of the selected article of merchandise.

The cable alarm security device of the second embodiment is generally identified by reference numeral 70 and shown in fig. 7, mounted on an article of clothing 71 and extending through sleeves 72. The device 1 as shown in fig. 8-11 comprises a number of features of the device 1 as described above. The safety cable, generally designated by reference numeral 75, is a continuous loop of a single cable having an inner metal conductor 76 covered by an insulator 77, which extends in the continuous loop through a curved opening 80 formed at the end of the plug 27 to connect with the locking plug 27 (fig. 10 and 11). The two ends 81 and 82 have cylindrical connectors attached thereto and are located in spaced relation within a pair of compartments 83 and 84, respectively, formed within the housing 2 (fig. 11). The connectors 81 and 82 are connected to a circuit board 85, on which circuit board 85 are mounted a plurality of capacitors, resistors, and other elements constituting an alarm system generally identified by reference numeral 86. Latch end 27 lockingly engages metal terminal 31 in the same manner as described above with reference to safety device 1.

The main difference between the safety devices 1 and 70 is the ease of the alarm system 86 with respect to the alarm system 11. Since both ends of cable 75 are directly connected to circuit board 85 by conductors 87 and 88, alarm system 86 does not include plunger switch 44 nor spring metal clip 40. This arrangement also provides a sensing circuit through cable 75 which, if the cable is cut or severed or ends 81 and 82 are separated from the circuit board, will cause the audible alarm 45 to sound alerting store personnel that a theft is in progress. Another difference between the safety device 70 and the safety device 1 is that the outer end wall of the housing is formed together with an annular cutout 90, in which cutout 90 a lens 91 with a light emitting diode 92 is mounted, said light emitting diode 92 abutting the lens 91 to emit light through the lens 91. The LEDs 92 are directly connected to the circuit board 85 and preferably emit a visible, flashing glow from both sides of the housing 95.

As shown in fig. 10 and 11, the alarm wiring board 85 is connected to the alarm 45 by a pair of conductors 97. EAS tag 57 is mounted within housing 95 and actuates an audible alarm at the point of passage through the security gate. The power for alarm system 86 is supplied by self-contained battery 49, which self-contained battery 49 is secured within annular boss 46 by battery cover plate 98. Security device 70 is less expensive than security device 1 because the alarm system mounted therein is less complex and is only used to sound an alarm if security cable 75 is cut or ends 81 and 82 are forcibly removed from the housing and detached from the circuit board. It does not include the more complex and expensive circuitry associated with the security device 1 described above, but only issues an internal alarm 45 when proximate to the security gate. However, security device 70 also provides a secure mechanical attachment of the device to an article of merchandise as shown in FIG. 7, as well as the alarm security feature of a security device that someone is attempting to remove from the article of merchandise, and the security feature of a companion EAS tag, such that an audible alarm may sound when the security device is still attached to the article of merchandise and passes through a security gate in an unauthorized manner.

In the foregoing, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below, since these terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly construed.

Furthermore, the description and drawings of the present invention are by way of example only, and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown and described.

Claims (20)

1. A security device for use with an article of merchandise, the device comprising:

a housing;

a flexible cable having first and second ends, the first end connected to the housing and the second end connected to a latch, the latch selectively connectable to and removable from the housing;

a magnetically actuated locking mechanism mounted within the housing, engageable with the latch and movable between locked and unlocked positions for locking the latch to the housing; and

an alarm system mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the cable to sound the audible alarm housed within the housing when the integrity of the cable is compromised.

2. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the single electrical conductor extends through the cable and is electrically connected to the alarm system at a first end of the cable and is electrically connected to a metal terminal mounted thereon at a second end of the cable, the metal terminal engaging a spring contact mounted within the housing and electrically connected to the alarm system.

3. The security device of claim 2, wherein the pin is an elongated member formed of an insulating material; wherein the cable termination is retained within a compartment formed in the latch.

4. The security device of claim 1, wherein a plunger switch is located within the housing and is engaged by the latch to activate the alarm system when in the locked position.

5. The security device of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pair of spring biased magnetically attractable terminals; wherein the latch is formed with at least a pair of locking shoulders, each locking shoulder being engageable with a respective one of the terminals to secure the latch in the locked position.

6. The security device of claim 5, wherein the latch has a generally rectangular shape with a pair of opposing sides; wherein two pairs of locking shoulders are formed on the bolt, each pair of locking shoulders being formed on a respective one of the sides of the bolt, whereby the bolt is insertable into the housing and operative to lockingly engage the locking mechanism at two different positions of the bolt.

7. The security device of claim 1, wherein a light emitting diode is mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the alarm system, the light emitting diode being positioned adjacent opposing openings formed on opposing sides of the housing, whereby the light emitting diode is visible on both sides of the housing when illuminated.

8. The security device of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode is mounted at an outer end of the housing and is operatively connected to an alarm system.

9. The security device of claim 1, wherein the alarm system comprises an audible alarm and an EAS tag located within the housing; wherein the EAS tag is adapted to actuate an audible alarm of a security gate.

10. The security device of claim 9, wherein the alarm system comprises an audible alarm; the EAS tag activates the audible alarm when the security device is adjacent a security gate.

11. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the cable includes a single electrical conductor that extends in a continuous loop beginning and ending at the first end of the cable and extends in a continuous manner through the second end; wherein the cable is electrically connected to an alarm system at the first end.

12. The security device of claim 1, wherein the alarm system is powered by a battery located within the housing and connected to the alarm system.

13. The safety device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a generally elongated, relatively flat structure including a pair of opposing side walls, a rim wall, and an end wall; wherein the pin is slidably inserted into a guide track formed within the housing through an opening formed in one of the end walls that abuts one of the edge walls.

14. The security device defined in claim 13 wherein the first end of the cable is connected to the housing by said one end wall abutting the other of said edge walls.

15. The security device defined in claim 14 wherein the other of the end walls has a circular configuration.

16. The security device defined in claim 15 wherein the light emitting diode is mounted within the housing adjacent the circular end wall of the housing; wherein a lens is mounted within the housing at the circular end wall, whereby the light emitting diodes are visible from both sides of the housing.

17. The security device defined in claim 15 wherein a perforated area is formed on both side walls of the housing generally adjacent the circular end wall; the alarm system includes an audible alarm positioned adjacent the perforated section.

18. The safety device of claim 13, wherein the housing comprises two half body members substantially similar to one another and joined at a seam extending along the edge wall and the end wall.

19. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism comprises an elongated flat metal plate having a pair of outwardly extending terminals cut therein, each of the terminals being engageable with a locking shoulder formed on the latch to releasably secure the latch in the locked position.

20. A security device as claimed in claim 19 in combination with a key for opening the locking mechanism, said key comprising a pair of spaced magnets, each magnet being aligned with a respective one of the metal terminals to move said terminals out of engagement with the locking shoulders.