Recoiler for a merchandise security system

• US 10,403,105 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2018
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Berglund, David N., Baker, Kyle, Bisesti, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US16/109,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20190012889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/024 with provisions for preventing unauthorised removal show cases with devices for prevention of theft A47F3/002; devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal E05B73/0017
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/265 Reels with grooves or grooved elements inhibiting aligned or orderly winding
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/48 Automatic re-storing devices
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to recoilers, merchandise security systems, and methods for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise from theft. In one example, the merchandise security system includes a sensor configured to be secured to the article of merchandise and a base for removably supporting the sensor and the item of merchandise thereon. The system also includes a recoiler operably coupled to the sensor. The recoiler includes a rotatable member defining a helical recess. The system further includes a cable configured to connect to the sensor and to be unwound from and wound on the rotatable member as the cable is extended and retracted. The cable is configured to be extended from the recoiler in response to the sensor being lifted off of the base, and the cable is configured to be retracted into the recoiler in response to the sensor being moved to a seated position on the base. The helical recess is configured to at least partially receive the cable therein as the cable is wound on the rotatable member.

Claims

1. A merchandise security system for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise from theft, comprising:

a sensor that is secured to the article of merchandise and that detects removal of the article of merchandise from the sensor;

a base that removably supports the sensor and the article of merchandise thereon;

a cable connected to the sensor and the base;

a spool located within the base, wherein the cable is configured to unwind from the spool when the sensor is lifted off of the base and to wind on the spool when the sensor is returned to the base; and

a lock mechanism configured to be rotated to engage the spool to lock the sensor to the base in a locked position when the sensor is seated on the base to thereby prevent the sensor from being lifted off of the base and to be unlocked to allow removal of the sensor from the base in an unlocked position.

2. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a fastener configured to be rotated between the locked position and the unlocked position.

3. The merchandise security system of claim 2, wherein the fastener comprises a proprietary fastener.

4. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein each of the base and the sensor comprises one or more electrical contacts that are configured to contact one another when the sensor is seated on the base for transferring electrical power for charging the article of merchandise.

5. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the sensor or the base comprises an alarm for generating an audible and/or a visible alarm.

6. The merchandise security system of claim 5, wherein the sensor or the base is configured to be disarmed with a key.

7. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to prevent the spool from rotating in the locked position.

8. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a locking member configured to be rotated between the locked position and the unlocked position.

9. The merchandise security system of claim 8, wherein the locking member comprises a fastener.

10. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is disposed in the base.

11. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a fastener configured to be rotated to engage the spool to prevent rotation of the spool in the locked position.

12. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a fastener extending through the base.

13. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a top surface for supporting the sensor, a bottom surface for being positioned on a display surface, and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the lock mechanism is accessible on the side surface.

14. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a fastener rotatable about an axis and a locking member extending perpendicular to the axis.

15. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a rotatable member and a locking member extending perpendicular to the rotatable member.

16. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to be mounted to a display surface.

17. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein a security signal is configured to be transmitted through the cable for detecting the cable being cut, shorted, or disconnected.

18. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to be mounted on a top surface of a display, and wherein the spool is enclosed within the base.

19. The merchandise security system of claim 18, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to prevent the spool from rotating in the locked position.

20. The merchandise security system of claim 18, wherein the lock mechanism is disposed in the base.

21. The merchandise security system of claim 18, wherein the base comprises a top surface for supporting the sensor, a bottom surface for being positioned on the top surface of the display, and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the lock mechanism is accessible on the side surface.

22. The merchandise security system of claim 21, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a locking member configured to be rotated between the locked position and the unlocked position.

23. The merchandise security system of claim 22, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to prevent the spool from rotating in the locked position.

24. The merchandise security system of claim 23, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a rotatable member and a locking member extending perpendicular to the rotatable member.

25. The merchandise security system of claim 21, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a fastener extending through the side surface of the base.

26. A method for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise from theft, comprising:

securing a sensor to the article of merchandise that detects removal of the article of merchandise from the sensor;

attaching a base to a support surface that removably supports the sensor and the article of merchandise thereon;

connecting a cable to the sensor, wherein the cable is configured to unwind from a spool when the sensor is lifted off of the base and to wind on the spool when the sensor is returned to the base; and

rotating a lock mechanism to engage the spool and lock the sensor to the base in a locked position when the sensor is seated on the base to thereby prevent the sensor from being lifted off of the base.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising disengaging the lock mechanism to allow removal of the sensor from the base in an unlocked position.