Electronic security device and system for articles of merchandise

• US 20060145848A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alpha Security Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alpha Security Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Fawcett, Christopher J., Belden, Dennis D. Jr., Scott, Ian R., Marsilio, Ronald M.
• Application Number:
  US11/312,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20060145848A1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A security device includes a mechanism for attaching the security device to an article of merchandise. A circuit module containing a central controller is contained in the security device and monitors the attachment mechanism to sound an audible alarm contained in the security device if the integrity of a sense loop in the attachment mechanism is compromised. A trigger circuit also actuates the audible alarm if the security device approaches the vicinity of a remote security gate. An EAS tag contained in the security device actuates a security gate alarm upon the unauthorized passage of the article of merchandise through the gate. Other sense loops will actuate the audible alarm through the central controller if a switch within the security device is actuated or when an unlocking mechanism or verification device is used on the security device.

Claims

1. A security device for articles of merchandise comprising:

an attachment mechanism for securing the security device to the article of merchandise;

a sense loop for monitoring a condition of the security device;

a central controller which monitors the integrity of the sense loop;

a power source for powering the central controller;

an audible alarm carried by the security device actuated by the central controller when the integrity of the sense loop is compromised;

a security gate sensor for actuating the audible alarm of the security device upon the security device being in proximity to a security gate; and

an EAS tag carried by the security device for actuating a security gate alarm when detected by said security gate.

2. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the power source is a battery contained within the security device.

3. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the EAS tag is Radio Frequency (RF) sensitive or magnetically sensitive (AM).

4. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the audible alarm includes a piezo actuated circuit.

5. The security device defined in claim 1 including a visual signal indicating a condition of the security device.

6. The security device defined in claim 5 wherein the visual signal is an LED.

7. The security device defined in claim 1 including a trigger circuit which cooperates with the sense loop and central controller to activate the audible alarm when the integrity of the sense loop is compromised.

8. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism includes a lock device for locking the security device to the article of merchandise and a key for unlocking the locking device, said key containing a code monitored by the central controller.

9. A security system for protecting merchandise comprising:

a security gate having a sensor for detecting an EAS tag passing through the gate;

a security device for attaching to an article of merchandise, said device including the EAS tag, a sense loop, an audio alarm and a controller, said controller monitoring the integrity of the sense loop and if interrupted, activates the audio alarm of the security device;

wherein the controller activates the security device alarm upon the security device being in proximity to the security gate; and

wherein the security gate sensor activates a second audio alarm remote from the security device upon detecting the EAS tag in the security device.

10. The security system defined in claim 9 wherein the central controller is a microprocessor.

11. The security system defined in claim 9 wherein the circuit module includes a central controller and a trigger circuit, said trigger circuit actuating the audible alarm of the security device if the sense loop is interrupted.

12. The security system defined in claim 11 wherein the security device contains a battery for powering the circuit module.

13. The security system defined in claim 10 wherein the circuit module maintains the audible alarm of the security device once activated, for a predetermined time period, unless deactivated by authorized personnel.

14. The security system defined in claim 10 wherein the EAS tag is Radio Frequency (RF) sensitive or magnetically sensitive.

15. The security system defined in clam 10 wherein the security device includes a visual signal indicating the condition of the security device.

16. A circuit module for incorporation in a security device for protecting articles, said circuit module comprising:

a central controller which monitors the integrity of a sense loop which is part of a wired connection for attaching the security device to the article,

an audible alarm which is actuated by the central controller when (1) the integrity of the sense loop is compromised and (2) when the security device is detected by a remote security gate; and

an EAS tag operatively connected to the central controller for actuating a security gate alarm when detected by said security gate.

17. The circuit module defined in claim 16 wherein the central controller is powered by a battery.

18. The circuit module defined in claim 16 wherein the central controller includes a visual signal which indicates a condition of the security device.

19. The circuit module defined in claim 18 wherein the visual signal is a flashing LED.

20. The circuit module defined in claim 16 wherein the central controller maintains the audible alarm actuated for a predetermined time period once actuated by either of the two conditions set forth in claim 16.