Banding clip alarm

• US 20080169924A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alpha Security Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Belden, Dennis D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,522,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.4
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/10 Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• 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 13/1445 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 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/483 Flexible shackle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/50 Special application

Abstract

A security alarm is removably attached to a band extending about a package which sounds an alarm should tension on the band be reduced to prevent theft of the package contents. The band extends through a passage formed between the bottom of an alarm housing and a bottom lock plate pivotally connected to the housing. A plunger switch is mounted in the housing and engages the band. Reduction of the band tension permits the switch plunger to move and actuate an audible alarm. A slide lock locks the bottom lock plate to the alarm housing to prevent removal of the alarm from the band. A key unlocks the slide lock from the alarm housing enabling the alarm to be slid from beneath the band.

Claims

1. A security device for an article protected by a band extending about the article, said device comprising:

a housing;

a lock plate;

an alarm located within the housing having a switch for actuating the alarm;

at least one passage through at least one of the housing and lock plate for receiving a section of the band therein; and

said alarm switch being in communication with the passage and adapted to engage the band to prevent the switch from actuating the alarm when the band is under tension.

2. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the alarm actuation switch is a plunger switch which is moved to an armed position against the band when the band is in a tensioned condition about the article.

3. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one passage includes two passages formed in the housing in an X-configuration for receiving crossing sections of the band therein;

and in which two alarm actuation switches are located in the housing and project into the two passages for actuating the alarm when tension on at least one of the bands is reduced.

4. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the lock plate is pivotally mounted on the housing;

and in which a lock mechanism locks the lock plate in a locked position to the housing to trap the band in the at least one passage.

5. The security device defined in claim 4 wherein the lock is a magnetically operated lock.

6. The security device defined in claim 4 wherein the base is a thin generally flat planar plate adapted to slide between the band and article for trapping the band in the at least one passage upon locking the base to the housing.

7. The security device defined in claim 4 wherein the housing is formed with at least one channel forming the passage for receiving the band therein.

8. The security device defined in claim 4 wherein the lock includes a latch which slidably engages a ledge formed in the lock plate to lock the lock plate to the housing.

9. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the alarm includes a visual indicator that the alarm is in an operative state.

10. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the alarm includes an audible alarm.

11. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the alarm switch includes a metal dome snap switch and a plunger operatively connected thereto.

12. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein a lock mechanism locks the lock plate to the housing;

and in which the alarm includes a disarming switch which is operatively engaged by the lock mechanism when the lock mechanism moves from a locked position to an unlocked position to disarm the alarm.

13. The security device defined in claim 12 wherein the lock mechanism includes a magnetically operable lock member and a slide lock engageable therewith;

and in which the slide lock has a latch engageable with the lock plate to secure the lock plate in locked position to the housing.

14. A method of protecting an article secured by a band extending about the article under tension, comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having an alarm and a lock plate connected to the housing;

sliding the lock plate under the band;

locking the lock plate to the housing trapping the band therebetween;

arming the alarm by a switch engaging the tensional band upon locking the lock plate to the housing; and

actuating the alarm upon tension in the band being released.

15. The method defined in claim 14 including the steps of placing the band in a passage formed in the housing;

and depressing the switch to arm the alarm upon locking the lock plate to the housing and the tensional band engaging the switch.

16. The method defined in claim 14 including the steps of providing a visual indication that the alarm has been armed;

and providing an audible signal when the alarm has been activated.

17. The method defined in claim 16 including the step of locating an EAS tag in the housing.

18. The method defined in claim 14 including the step of providing a pair of passages in an X-configuration in the housing;

and receiving a crossing junction of the band in said passages to prevent sliding movement of the housing along the band.

19. The method defined in claim 14 including the steps of unlocking the base from the housing by placing a magnet adjacent a lock mechanism in the housing;

and sliding a locking latch to an unlocked position.

20. In combination an article protected by a band extending about the article and a security device connected to the band, said security device comprising:

a housing;

a lock plate;

an alarm located within the housing having a switch for actuating the alarm;

at least one passage through at least one of the housing and lock plate receiving a section of the band therein; and

said alarm switch being in communication with the passage and engaging the band, said switch being armed by the band when under tension and actuated to sound an alarm when the tension in the band is reduced.