Wrap for an item of merchandise

• US 10,134,251 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2018
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Van Landingham, Jr., A. Reneau, Sankey, James K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Terrell, Emily C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US15/958,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20180240316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 214 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0009 with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
• 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: 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 13/1472 with force or weight detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits

Abstract

A merchandise security device configured for use with an electronic key for locking and/or unlocking a lock mechanism is provided. The merchandise security device may include a housing operably coupled with a cable, wherein the cable is configured to be extended and retracted relative to the housing and to at least partially surround an item of merchandise. The security device may also include a lock mechanism configured to releasably secure the cable relative to the housing for locking the cable about the item of merchandise. In addition, the lock mechanism is configured to receive electrical power for unlocking the lock mechanism so that the housing and the cable may be removed from the item of merchandise.

Claims

1. A merchandise security device for securing an item of merchandise from theft, the merchandise security device comprising:

a housing operably coupled with a cable, the cable configured to at least partially surround an item of merchandise, wherein the cable is operably engaged with a spool disposed within the housing and is configured to be wound on and unwound from the spool; and

a lock mechanism configured to releasably secure the cable relative to the housing for locking the cable about the item of merchandise, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a manually operated lock button extending outwardly from the housing when the spool is unlocked and configured to be displaced into the housing for locking the spool relative to the housing such that the cable is unable to be unwound from the spool, and

wherein the lock mechanism is configured to receive electrical power for unlocking the lock mechanism so that the housing and the cable may be removed from the item of merchandise.

2. The merchandise security device of claim 1, further comprising a shape memory material operably engaged with the lock mechanism and configured to change in shape in response to receiving electrical power for unlocking the lock mechanism so that the housing and the cable may be removed from the item of merchandise.

3. The merchandise security device of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to receive electrical power inductively.

4. The merchandise security device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an alarm circuit, and wherein the cable comprises at least one conductor in electrical communication with the alarm circuit.

5. The merchandise security device of claim 1, wherein the cable is configured to be manually wound into the housing.

6. The merchandise security device of claim 1, wherein the lock button and the spool each comprises a plurality of engagement members, and wherein the plurality of engagement members are configured to engage with one another when the lock button is displaced into the housing.

7. The merchandise security device of claim 1, further comprising a latch configured to releasably engage the lock button when the lock button is displaced within the housing.

8. The merchandise security device of claim 1, wherein the cable is configured to be wound and unwound from the housing for extending and retracting the cable relative to the housing, and wherein the lock mechanism does not include a ratchet mechanism for winding the cable within the housing.

9. The merchandise security device of claim 1, further comprising a hang tag coupled to the housing.

10. The merchandise security device of claim 1, further comprising a transfer port on the top surface of the housing for communicating with an electronic key for receiving electrical power.

11. The merchandise security device of claim 7, further comprising a shape memory material operably engaged with the latch and configured to change in shape in response to receiving electrical power for disengaging the latch from the lock button.

12. The merchandise security device of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to receive electrical power from an electronic key for unlocking the lock mechanism.

13. The merchandise security device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface extending therebetween, and wherein the manually operated lock button is disposed on the side surface of the housing.

14. The merchandise security device of claim 1, wherein the cable is configured to be extended and retracted relative to the housing.

15. A method for securing an item of merchandise from theft, the method comprising:

positioning a housing adjacent to an item of merchandise, the housing operably coupled with a cable, wherein the cable is operably engaged with a spool disposed within the housing and is configured to be wound on and unwound from the spool, wherein a manually operated lock button extends outwardly from the housing when the spool is unlocked;

at least partially surrounding the item of merchandise with the cable;

rotating the spool to tighten the cable about the item of merchandise;

inserting the manually operated lock button within the housing for engaging a lock mechanism to releasably secure the cable relative to the housing such that the cable is locked about the item of merchandise and the spool is unable to rotate to unwind the cable from the spool; and

actuating the lock mechanism with electrical power to unlock the lock mechanism to facilitate removal of the housing and the cable from the item of merchandise.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the item of merchandise comprises a front surface and a rear surface and a lateral side extending therebetween, and wherein positioning comprises positioning the housing on the lateral side of the item of merchandise.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein actuating comprises actuating the lock mechanism with electrical power to unlock the lock mechanism in response to a change in shape of a shape memory material operably engaged with the lock mechanism to facilitate removal of the housing and the cable from the item of merchandise.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising manually winding the cable within the housing for tightening the cable about the item of merchandise.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein winding does not comprise winding using a ratchet mechanism.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein inserting comprises inserting the lock button within a side surface of the housing.