Multi-sensor alarm apparatus, system and/or method for securing articles

• US 20100301998A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sennco Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sennco Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Reynolds, Andy, Berland, Kerry, Ty, Try, Kmiecik, Mark, Marszalek, Christopher, Eaton, Edward T., Horvath, Daniel, Groth, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 8,395,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.65
• 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 multi-sensor alarm apparatus, system and method may prevent and/or may deter a theft and/or a removal of one or more articles from a display stand. A base, a main body and a head unit are provided. The base and the main body are secured to the display stand. The multi-sensor alarm apparatus monitors an integrity of the attachment of the main body to the base with a separation sensor. Further, the multi-sensor alarm apparatus monitors sensors connected to the head unit and/or to the main body. The sensors may be removed and/or added as needed depending on the articles to be secured.

Claims

1. An alarm apparatus for securing a plurality of articles to a display with a plurality of sensors wherein each of the plurality of sensors has a plug, the alarm apparatus comprising:

a base having a front side and a back side wherein the back side is positioned opposite to the front side wherein the base has a first end and a second end wherein the second end is positioned opposite to the first end wherein the base has a bottom end in a position adjacent to the front side, the back side, the first end and the second end wherein the front side, the back side, the first end and the second end are integrally formed with the bottom end wherein the front side, the back side, the first end, the second end and the bottom end form a perimeter of the base;

fastening means on the bottom end of the base to attach the base to the display;

a main body having a front end and a back end wherein the back end is positioned opposite to the front end wherein the main body is sized to sit within the perimeter of the base to form an interior compartment wherein the interior compartment is defined by the front side of the base, the back side of the base, first end of the base, the second end of the base, the bottom end of the base and the main body wherein the main body fastens to the base;

a faceplate integrally formed on the front end of the main body wherein the faceplate forms a pedestal having a surface area sized to display one of the plurality of articles;

a key slot in the front end of the main body sized to provide access to the interior compartment;

a release lever extending from the base within the interior compartment wherein the release lever deflects to unlock the main body from the base; and

a plurality of jacks in the main body to receive the plugs wherein the plurality of jacks are accessed from the interior compartment wherein the base prevents removal of the plugs from the plurality of jacks.

2. The alarm apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a lens cover sized for attachment to the main body to cover the faceplate wherein the lens cover is transparent; and

an insert having indicia wherein the insert is sized for insertion between the lens cover and the faceplate.

3. The alarm apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a head unit sized to house one of the -plurality of sensors wherein the head unit attaches to one of the plurality of articles wherein the head unit has a convex surface; and

a concave surface on the faceplate to receive the convex surface of the head unit.

4. The alarm apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a key sized for insertion into the key slot to release the main body from the base.

5. The alarm apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a power connection in the main body to provide power to the main body wherein the power connection is accessed from the interior compartment.

6. The alarm apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a battery within the main body wherein the battery powers the main body.

7. The alarm apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a plunger sensor extending from the main body wherein the plunger sensor detects an attachment of the main body to the base.

8. The alarm apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an LED visible from the main body to provide a visual indication of an alarm state.

9. The alarm apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a speaker within the main body to provide an audible indication of an alarm state.

10. A system for redundantly monitoring an attachment of an article to a display stand wherein the article has a power jack to provide power to the article, the system comprising:

an alarm housing that attaches to the display stand;

a printed circuit board within the alarm housing;

a head unit in communication with the printed circuit board and the alarm housing wherein the head unit is sized to attach to the article;

a tether cable that electrically connects the head unit to the printed circuit board wherein the tether cable connects the head unit to the alarm housing;

a plunger extending from the head unit to detect an attachment of the head unit to the article wherein the printed circuit board is programmed to monitor an attachment of the head unit to the article with the plunger;

an electrical jack recessed into the head unit wherein the printed circuit board is programmed to provide power to the electrical jack; and

a charging cable having a first end and a second end wherein the second end is positioned opposite to the first end wherein the first end of the charging cable is connected to the electrical jack of the head unit wherein the second end of the charging cable is connected to the power jack of the article wherein the printed circuit board is programmed to monitor the electrical connection between the article and the head unit.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

an auxiliary sensor jack recessed into the head unit wherein the auxiliary sensor jack is electrically connected to the printed circuit board; and

an auxiliary sensor connected to the auxiliary sensor jack wherein the auxiliary sensor attaches to the article wherein the printed circuit board is programmed to monitor an attachment of the auxiliary sensor to the article.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a key having a computer chip wherein the key inserts into the alarm housing.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a button extending from the alarm housing wherein the printed circuit board is electrically connected to the button and further wherein the printed circuit board is programmed to accept an input from the button.

14. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a sensor extending from the alarm housing wherein the sensor is electrically connected to the printed circuit board wherein the printed circuit board is programmed to detect an attachment of the alarm housing to the display stand.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

an adhesive strip on the head unit to attach the head unit to the article.

16. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

an external power source electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

17. A method for operating an alarm for securing articles to a display stand with a plurality of sensors wherein the alarm is configured to receive a first key and a second key wherein each of the first key and the second key has a computer chip having a unique serial identity wherein the alarm is programmed to recognize the serial identity of the chip of the first key wherein the alarm is not programmed to recognize the serial identity of the chip of the second key and further wherein the alarm has a button to train the alarm wherein the button is accessed from a surface of the alarm wherein the button is used to program the alarm, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting the first key into the alarm;

installing the plurality of sensors between the articles and the alarm;

depressing the button wherein the alarm detects the plurality of sensors; and

removing the first key from the alarm wherein the alarm is activated to monitor the plurality of sensors.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

inserting the first key into the alarm to de-activate the alarm.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

inserting the second key into the alarm to program the alarm to recognize the second key.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

depressing the button; and

inserting the second key into the alarm to program the alarm to recognize the second key.