EAS device with wrapping splitter for objects with wrapping

• US 10,066,422 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yang, Xiao Hui
• Original Assignee: Yang, Xiao Hui
• Inventors: Yang, Xiao Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Point, Rufus
• Application Number:
  US15/822,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20180163435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0029 Tags wrapped around the protected product using cables, wires or the like, e.g. with cable retraction for tensioning
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0058 for essentially box-shaped devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10188 the repeating consisting of intelligently propagating data from record carriers via intermediate stations to the interrogation device, e.g. a distant RFID or RFID falling in a "shadow" region sending its identification data to an interrogation device using at least the help of one further RFID that is positioned in a region "visible" to the interrogation device, the further RFID therefore functioning as a relay station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

An electronic article surveillance device with an electronics housing and base attaches to an article to be protected. The housing and base have connecting interfaces which act together to attach the housing to the base. The housing and base have matching apertures. A switch and a wrapping splitter extend from the housing through the apertures. The switch detects when the device is attached to an object and the wrapping splitter splits the wrapping to prevent the wrapping from being used to defeat the switch. Electronics monitor the status of the switch. The apparatus may employ a restraining mechanism to prevent the operation of the wrapping splitter unless the housing is attached to the base. The housing and base may be attached to each other by a manually movable latch, which may also actuate the wrapping splitter. Electronics in the apparatus receive and send signals.

Claims

1. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) apparatus for objects having wrapping, said EAS apparatus comprising:

a housing enclosing a wrapping splitter and electronic components, said housing having a bottom surface, a top surface and at least one side connecting said bottom surface and said top surface, said housing having a first attaching interface and said bottom surface having a bottom aperture, said electronic components comprising a switch having a plunger; and

a base, said base having a top surface and a bottom surface, said base having a second attaching interface complimentary to said first attaching interface, said first attaching interface and said second attaching interface facilitating the releasable attachment of said housing to said base with said bottom surface of said housing facing said top surface of said base, said base comprising a base aperture located to align with said bottom aperture in said housing when said housing is attached to said base, said base further comprising adhesive on said bottom surface of said base;

wherein

said wrapping splitter extends through said bottom aperture and said base aperture when splitting the wrapping of an object to which the EAS apparatus is attached, and

when said housing is attached to said base, said plunger of said switch aligns with said bottom aperture and said base aperture and said plunger extends through said base aperture.

2. The EAS apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said first attaching interface comprises at least one hook receiving slot in said housing and a sliding latch in said housing, said sliding latch having a latch hook mounted on it; and

,

said second attaching interface comprises at least two fixed hooks on said base;

wherein,

said at least one hook receiving slot receives a first of said fixed hooks on said base and said latch hook engages a second of said fixed hooks when said sliding latch is slid from an unlatched position to a latched position to maintain said housing on said base.

3. The EAS apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said sliding latch actuates said wrapping splitter.

4. The EAS apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

said wrapping splitter comprises a pivot end and a splitting end, said pivot end being pivotally mounted within said housing proximal to said sliding latch and located to position said splitting end at said bottom aperture; and

said sliding latch comprises a splitter guide proximal to said wrapping splitter, said splitter guide moving said wrapping splitter about said pivot end when said sliding latch is slid, moving said splitting end through an arc, said splitting end of said wrapping splitter extending through said base aperture in said base to split the wrapping while moving through the arc.

5. The EAS apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a cantilever panel having a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end of said cantilever panel being fixed to said sliding latch; and

,

a cam fixed internal to said housing, said cam located to contact said cantilever beam on said sliding latch when said sliding latch is moved;

said wrapping splitter comprising a fixed end and a splitting end, said fixed end of said wrapping splitter being fixed to said cantilever panel proximal to said free end of said cantilever panel, and said splitting end of said wrapping splitter being aligned with said bottom aperture of said housing;

said cam pushing said splitting end of said wrapping splitter through said base aperture when said sliding latch is moved.

6. The EAS apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

said wrapping splitter is said switch, said plunger comprising a piercing end and said switch further comprising a cam follower surface; and

said sliding latch further comprises a cam surface aligned with the cam follower surface of said switch;

wherein,

when said sliding latch is slid from an unlatched position to a latched position, said cam surface contacts said cam follower surface and extends said piercing end of said plunger through said bottom aperture and said base aperture.

7. The EAS apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said switch is fixed to said sliding latch and said sliding latch positions said switch to align with a split in the wrapping of an object.

8. The EAS apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a latch restrainer, said latch restrainer comprising;

a restrainer aperture through said bottom surface of said housing, said restrainer aperture located proximal to said sliding latch within said housing;

a restrainer pin on said sliding latch, said restrainer pin being located on said sliding latch to insert into said restrainer aperture when said sliding latch is unlatched; and

,

a release stub on said top surface of said base, said release stub positioned on said top surface of said base to insert into said restrainer aperture when said housing is placed on said base, said release stub being long enough to insert through said bottom surface of said housing;

wherein,

when said housing is placed on said base, said release stub inserts through said restrainer aperture and displaces said restrainer pin on said latch slide from said restrainer aperture, allowing said sliding latch to be moved from an unlatched position to a latched position.

9. The EAS apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a blocking component biased to shift position to a blocking position to block the return of said sliding latch when said sliding latch is moved to engage said latch hook into a respective fixed hook.

10. The EAS apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

said blocking component is magnetically attractable to move it from said blocking position to allow the return of said sliding latch.

11. The EAS apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said EAS electronics further comprise a microprocessor, wireless communication elements, and a battery, said microprocessor monitoring the status of said switch.

12. The EAS apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said wireless communication elements comprise radio frequency communication circuitry.

13. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) apparatus for objects having wrapping, said EAS apparatus comprising:

a base and a housing, said base and housing being configured to attach to each other;

said base comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, a base aperture through said base, and adhesive on said bottom surface;

said housing comprising a bottom surface, a top surface and at least one side connecting said bottom surface and said top surface, said bottom surface of said housing having a bottom aperture located to align with said base aperture when said housing is attached to said base, said housing enclosing a latch, a wrapping splitter, and electronics;

said latch being manually movable to attach said housing to said base with said bottom surface of said housing facing said top surface of said base and said bottom aperture aligning with said base aperture,

said wrapping splitter aligning with, and extending through, said bottom aperture and base aperture to split the wrapping of an object to which said EAS apparatus is attached, and

said electronics comprising a microprocessor, wireless communication elements, a power supply, and a switch, said switch having a plunger aligning with, and extending through, said bottom aperture and said base aperture when said housing is attached to said base, said microprocessor monitoring the status of said switch.

14. The EAS apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said latch actuates said wrapping splitter when said latch is manually moved to attach said housing to said base.

15. The EAS apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

said wrapping splitter comprises a pivot end and a splitting end, said pivot end being pivotally mounted within said housing proximal to said latch and located to position said splitting end at said bottom aperture; and

said latch comprises a splitter guide proximal to said wrapping splitter, said splitter guide moving said wrapping splitter about said pivot end when said latch is manually moved, moving said splitting end through an arc, said splitting end of said wrapping splitter extending through said base aperture in said base to split the wrapping while moving through the arc.

16. The EAS apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a cantilever panel having a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end of said cantilever panel being fixed to said latch; and

,

a cam fixed internal to said housing, said cam located to contact said cantilever beam on said latch when said latch is moved;

said wrapping splitter comprising a fixed end and a splitting end, said fixed end of said wrapping splitter being fixed to said cantilever panel proximal to said free end of said cantilever panel, and said splitting end of said wrapping splitter being aligned with said bottom aperture of said housing;

said cam pushing said splitting end of said wrapping splitter through said base aperture when said latch is moved.

17. The EAS apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

said wrapping splitter is said switch, said plunger comprising a piercing end and said switch further comprising a cam follower surface; and

said latch further comprises a cam surface aligned with the cam follower surface of said switch;

wherein,

when said latch is manually moved to attach said housing to said base, said cam surface contacts said cam follower surface and extends said piercing end of said plunger through said bottom aperture and said base aperture.

18. The EAS apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said switch is fixed to said latch and said latch positions said switch to align with a split in the wrapping of an object when said switch is manually moved to attach said housing to said base.

19. The EAS apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a latch restrainer, said latch restrainer comprising;

a restrainer aperture through said bottom surface of said housing, said restrainer aperture located proximal to said latch within said housing;

a restrainer pin on said latch, said restrainer pin being located on said latch to insert into said restrainer aperture when said latch is unlatched; and

,

a release stub on said top surface of said base, said release stub positioned on said top surface of said base to insert into said restrainer aperture when said housing is placed on said base, said release stub being long enough to insert through said bottom surface of said housing;

wherein,

when said housing is placed on said base, said release stub inserts through said restrainer aperture and displaces said restrainer pin on said latch from said restrainer aperture, allowing said latch to be moved from an unlatched position to a latched position.

20. The EAS apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a blocking component biased to shift position to a blocking position to block the return of said latch when said latch is moved to attach said housing to said base, wherein said blocking component is magnetically attractable to move it from said blocking position to allow the return of said latch.

21. The EAS apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said wireless communication elements comprise radio frequency communication circuitry.