COILED CABLE DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20090033492A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rapp, Michael, Brenner, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 7,724,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.800
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 24/42 Independent, headed, aperture pass-through fastener

Abstract

A system for displaying an item includes a display shelf having an aperture through it and a thin tether having a first end and a second end that extends through the aperture. The first end of the tether is secured to a mount above a top side of said display shelf and the second end of said tether is secured adjacent to a bottom side of the displays shelf. The first end of the tether has a mount for connection of tether to the item, above the shelf. The system further includes a coiled cable coiled around the tether extending through the aperture. The coiled cable provides an electrical path to the item. The coiled cable has a first end and a second end. The first end is secured adjacent to the mount and the second end securely terminates below the bottom unexposed side of said display shelf.

Claims

1. A system for displaying an item, comprising:

(a) a display shelf having an aperture therethrough;

(b) a thin tether having a first end and a second end, said tether extending through said aperture wherein said first end of said tether is secured to a mount above a top, exposed side of said display shelf and said second end of said tether is secured adjacent to a bottom, unexposed side of said displays shelf, said first end of said tether having a mount thereon for secure connection of the first end of the tether to the item above the shelf; and

(c) a coiled cable, coiled around the tether and extending through said aperture, said coiled cable providing an electrical path for power and electrical signal to the item, said coiled cable having a first end and a second end, said first end secured adjacent to the mount, said second end terminating below the bottom unexposed side of said display shelf.

2. The system for displaying the item of claim 1, wherein the second end of the thin tether is connected to a spring loaded tether take-up reel, thereby causing the first end of the tether to be biased toward the aperture of the display shelf.

3. The system for displaying the item of claim 2, including a hollow tube disposed between the take up reel and the shelf to accommodate the coiled cable in a retracted position and a portion of the tether.

4. The system for displaying the item of claim 1, wherein the second end of the thin tether is connected to a free-hanging weight located beneath the aperture, thereby causing the first end of the tether to be biased toward the aperture of the display shelf.

5. The system for displaying the item of claim 1, wherein the top exposed side of the display shelf has a stand for holding the item and the bottom side has a hollow tube connected thereto for accommodating the coiled cable and a portion of the tether, said hollow tube having a top end and a bottom end, said top end secured to the display shelf, wherein the coiled cable and a portion of the tether are enclosed by the hollow tube when the mount is seated on the stand.

6. The system for displaying the item of claim 1, wherein the tether is fabricated from a cut resistant metal cable to prevent theft of the item.

7. The system for displaying an item of claim 1, further comprising an event sensor associated with the item, said event sensor detecting the manipulation of, or approach of a user to the item, said event sensor being coupled to a monitoring and alarm apparatus and said event sensor emitting a sensor signal to said monitoring and alarm apparatus corresponding to the manipulation of, or approach of a user to the item, said monitoring and alarm apparatus comprising:

(a) a transmitter, arranged to automatically provide a wireless signal in the event that a person removes the item from the vicinity of the counter or other structure; and

(b) a receiver being arranged to receive said wireless signal to alert an authorized person of the removal of the item from the vicinity of the counter or other structure.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said event sensor is coupled to the item at a first end of the coiled cable and wherein said first end of the tether is coupled to the item and the second end of the coiled cable is coupled to the monitoring and alarm apparatus, said coiled cable arranged to carry an electrical signal generated by said event sensor, indicative of a person approaching, touching or picking up the item, whereupon a product information device provides visual or audible information relating to the item.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the tether physically secures an electronic item to the display shelf to deter unauthorized removal of the item from the display shelf, said coiled cable comprising a power conductor and a sensor signal conductor, said power conductor and sensor signal conductor having ends that are contained within a power jack that couples to the electronic item for powering or charging the electronic item.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said mount further comprises a cradle that holds the item and which comprises members that releasably secure a power jack to the item.

11. The system for displaying the item of claim 1, wherein said mount is a battery-type mount adapted to replace a standard battery supplied with said item, said mount utilizing standard battery mounting fasteners supplied with the item, said battery-type mount having theft resistant fasteners.