Security system with mechanism for controlling cord twisting

• US 20050040949A1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Se-Kure Controls Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Se-Kure Controls Incorporated
• Inventors: Leyden, Roger, Surma, Terrance, Frederiksen, Bjarne
• Granted Patent: US 6,946,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.200
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1445 with detection of interference with a cable tethering an article, e.g. alarm activated by detecting detachment of article, breaking or stretching of cable furniture, e.g. shelves for displaying merchandise, incorporating tethers to prevent theft A47F7/024, A47F5/0861

Abstract

A security system having a flexible cord with a length, a housing, and a connector on the cable. The housing is mountable in an operative position on the support. The cord is urged into a stored state into the housing and can be selectively withdrawn therefrom. The connector is attachable to an article to be monitored. At least one of a) a first discrete part of the cord is repositionable relative to a second discrete part of the cord and b) at least a part of the housing is repositionable relative to a support on which the housing is mounted in an operative position to control twisting of the cord about the length of the cord by reason of turning of the connector.

Claims

1. A security system comprising:

a flexible cord having a length;

a housing mountable in an operative position to a support and into which the cord is urged into a stored state and from which the cord can be selectively withdrawn; and

a connector on the cord,

the connector attachable to an article to be monitored,

at least one of a) a first discrete part of the cord being repositionable relative to a second discrete part of the cord and b) at least a part of the housing being repositionable relative to a support upon which the housing is mounted in an operative position to control twisting of the cord about the length of the cord by reason of turning of the connector.

2. The security system according to claim 1 wherein the first discrete part of the cord has a first connector assembly and the second discrete part of the cord has a second connector assembly, and at least a part of the first connector assembly is movable guidingly relative to at least a part of the second connector assembly.

3. The security system according to claim 2 wherein the cord comprises at least a first conductive element, the first connector assembly has a first connector element, the second connector assembly has a second connector element, and the first and second connector assemblies define a conductive path for the at least first conductive element between the first and second discrete cord parts.

4. The security system according to claim 3 wherein the first connector element is movable guidingly relative to the second connector element around an axis.

5. The security system according to claim 3 wherein the first connector element is movable against the second connector element as the at least part of the first connector assembly is moved guidingly relative to the at least part of the second connector assembly.

6. The security system according to claim 4 wherein the first connector element is movable against the second connector element as the at least part of the first connector assembly is moved guidingly relative to the at least part of the second connector assembly.

7. The security system according to claim 4 wherein the first connector element comprises an arcuate conductor and the second connector element comprises at least a first conductive arm which contacts the arcuate conductor.

8. The security system according to claim 7 wherein the first conductive arm comprises a plurality of discrete fingers which contact the arcuate conductor.

9. The security system according to claim 7 wherein the second connector element comprises a second arm which contacts the arcuate conductor, the first and second arms contacting the arcuate conductor at spaced locations.

10. The security system according to claim 3 further in combination with an alarm assembly capable of generating a detectable signal in the event that the conductive path is interrupted.

11. The security system according to claim 1 further in combination with an article to which the connector is attached.

12. The security system according to claim 10 wherein the connector has an armed state when attached to an article to be monitored and an alarm state with the connector detached from an article to be monitored, and the alarm system generates the detectable signal as an incident of the connector being detached and changing from the armed state into the alarm state.

13. The security system according to claim 1 further in combination with a support to which the housing is mounted in the operative position.

14. The security system according to claim 13 further comprising a layer associated with the support and having first and second opposite sides, the housing is on the first side of the layer, and the cord extends through the layer so that the connector is on the second side of the layer.

15. The security system according to claim 13 wherein the security system comprises a bearing assembly which acts between the housing and the support to guide repositioning of the housing relative to the support.

16. The security system according to claim 15 wherein the bearing assembly comprises a first bearing portion that moves as one piece with the housing, a second bearing portion on the support and a plurality of bearing elements that act between the first and second bearing portions.

17. The security system according to claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of bearing elements comprises a roller element.

18. The security system according to claim 16 wherein each of the roller elements comprises a sphere.

19. The security system according to claim 16 wherein the security system comprises a support bracket to which the housing is mounted so that the support bracket moves as one piece with the housing.

20. The security system according to claim 17 wherein the first and second bearing portions comprise a non-metal material and the plurality of bearing elements comprise a metal material.

21. A security system comprising:

a flexible cord having a length;

a housing mountable in an operative position to a support and into which the cord is urged into a stored state and from which the cord can be selectively withdrawn; and

a connector on the cable,

the connector attachable to an article to be monitored,

at least one of a) a first discrete part of the cord being repositionable relative to a second discrete part of the cord and b) at least a part of the housing being repositionable relative to a support upon which the housing is mounted in an operative position to control twisting of the cord about the length of the cord by reason of turning of the connector,

wherein the first discrete part of the cord has a first connector assembly and the second discrete part of the cord has a second connector assembly, and at least a part of the first connector assembly is movable guidingly relative to at least a part of the second connector assembly,

wherein the cord comprises at least a first conductive element, the first connector assembly has a first connector element, the second connector assembly has a second connector element, and the first and second connector assemblies define a conductive path for the at least first conductive element between the first and second discrete cord parts,

wherein the first connector element is movable guidingly relative to the second connector element around an axis,

wherein the first connector element is movable guidingly relative to the second connector element continuously in one direction around the axis without causing kinking of the cord.

22. A security system comprising:

a flexible cord having a length;

a housing into which the cord is urged into a stored state and from which the cord can be selectively withdrawn;

a support to which the housing is mounted in an operative position; and

an article to which the cord is attached,

the flexible cord, housing, and support being interconnected so that the cord can be turned about the length of the cord continuously in one direction without causing kinking of the cord.

23. The security system according to claim 22 wherein the flexible cord has first and second discrete parts, the first discrete part of the cord has a first connector assembly, the second discrete part of the cord has a second connector assembly, and at least a part of the first connector assembly is movable guidingly relative to at least a part of the second connector assembly.

24. The security system according to claim 23 wherein the cord comprises at least a first conductive element, the first connector assembly has a first connector element, the second connector assembly has a second connector element, and the first and second connector assemblies define a conductive path for the at least first conductive element between the first and second discrete cord parts.

25. The security system according to claim 24 wherein the first connector element is movable guidingly relative to the second connector element around an axis.

26. The security system according to claim 24 further in combination with an alarm assembly capable of generating a detectable signal in the event that the conductive path is interrupted.

27. The security system according to claim 22 further comprising a layer associated with the support and having first and second opposite sides, the housing is on the first side of the layer, and the cord extends through the layer so that the connector is on the second side of the layer.

28. The security system according to claim 22 wherein the security system comprises a bearing assembly which acts between the housing and the support to guide repositioning of the housing relative to the support.

29. The security system according to claim 28 wherein the bearing assembly comprises a first bearing portion that moves as one piece with the housing, a second bearing portion on the support, and a plurality of bearing elements that act between the first and second bearing portions.