METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POWERING A SECURITY DEVICE

• US 20130009770A1
• Filed: 07/03/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eckert, Lee H., Shafer, Gary Mark, Yeager, Lawrence R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,171,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 Monitoring of the detection circuits

Abstract

A security apparatus and method for protecting merchandise items is presented. In the preferred embodiment, a merchandise security device includes a housing with an access door that has an open position and a closed position, a primary power source, a secondary power source and alarm system. The alarm system determines when a voltage of the primary power source drops below a threshold value. When the voltage drops below the threshold value, the alarm system switches to the secondary power source for its power. When the alarm system is in a standby mode, it will not generate alarms when operating on the secondary power source. However, when the alarm system has not been placed into a standby mode, the alarm system will generate alarms when operating on the secondary power source and the access door is in the open position.

Claims

1. A merchandise security device comprising:

a housing having an access door moveable between open and closed positions;

a primary power source and a secondary power source located within the housing; and

an alarm system located within the housing and operatively connected between the primary and secondary power sources, said alarm system determines when a voltage of the primary power source drops below a threshold value to switch powering of the alarm system from the primary power source to the secondary power source.

2. The merchandise security device defined in claim 1 including a sensor switch operatively connected to the access door and alarm system to sound an alarm upon unauthorized opening of the access door.

3. The merchandise security device defined in claim 2 wherein the sensor switch is a plunger switch.

4. The merchandise security device defined in claim 2 wherein the primary power source is readily accessible for removal when the door is in an open position and the secondary power source is unaccessible.

5. The merchandise security device defined in claim 1 including a speaker operatively connected to the alarm system to sound an audible alarm upon unauthorized opening of the access door.

6. The merchandise security device defined in claim 1 wherein the primary power source is a battery and the secondary power source is a capacitor.

7. The merchandise security device defined in claim 1 including a key-operated lock mechanism for securing the access door in a closed locked position.

8. The merchandise security device defined in claim 1 including a key for deactivating the alarm system.

9. The merchandise security device defined in claim 1 wherein the access door is a drawer containing the primary power source;

and wherein said drawer is moveable exterior of the housing to provide ready access to the primary power source.

10. The merchandise security device defined in claim 9 including a sensor device engageable by the drawer to sound an alarm upon unauthorized movement of the drawer from the housing.

11. The merchandise security device defined in claim 9 including a slid contact engageable with the drawer to affect the condition of the alarm circuit upon movement of the drawer with respect to the housing.

12. The merchandise security device defined in claim 9 wherein the secondary power source is remote from the drawer to prevent access to the secondary power source when the drawer is moved exteriorly of the housing.

13. The merchandise security device defined in claim 1 including at least one visual signal device to provide a visual status of the alarm system.

14. The merchandise security device defined in claim 1 wherein the alarm system includes a logic circuit to determine when the alarm system has been placed in a standby mode and when in the standby mode will not actuate the alarm system when operating on the secondary power source.

15. A method of protecting an item of merchandise comprising the step of:

providing a housing having primary and secondary power sources for operating an alarm system contained in the housing;

controlling the alarm system by the primary power source;

determining when a voltage of the primary power source drops to a certain threshold value; and

switching from the primary power source to secondary power source to control the alarm system upon reaching the threshold value.

16. The method defined in claim 15 including the step of placing the alarm system in a standby mode;

determining when the alarm system has been placed in the standby mode; and

preventing actuation of the alarm system when operating on the secondary power source in the standby mode.

17. The method defined in claim 15 including the step of providing a signal when operation of the alarm system has switched from the primary power source to the secondary power source.

18. The method defined in claim 15 including the steps of providing an access door on the housing to gain access to the primary power source;

and actuating an alarm upon unauthorized opening of the access door.

19. The method defined in claim 15 including the steps of placing the primary power source in a moveable drawer located within the housing;

and sliding the drawer from the housing to gain access to the primary power source while preventing access to the secondary power source.