PROGRAMMABLE SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING MERCHANDISE

• US 20150348381A1
• Filed: 08/13/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Fawcett, Christopher J., Grant, Jeffrey A., Belden, Dennis D. Jr., Marsilio, Ronald M., Scott, Ian R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,269,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00539 anti-theft
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/12 by the breaking or disturbance of stretched cords or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• 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 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• 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 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2465 Aspects related to the EAS system, e.g. system components other than tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A programmable security system and method for protecting an item of merchandise includes a programming station, a programmable key and a security system. The programming station generates a security code and communicates the security code to a memory of the programmable key. The programmable key initially communicates the security code to a memory of the security device and subsequently operates the security device upon a matching of the security code in the memory of the security device with the security code in the memory of the programmable key. The programmable key may also transfer power via electrical contacts or inductive transfer from an internal battery to the security device to operate a lock mechanism. The security code may be communicated by wireless infrared (IR) systems, electrical contacts or inductive transfer. A timer inactivates the programmable key and/or the security device after a predetermine period of time. A counter inactivates the programmable key after a predetermined maximum number of activations.

Claims

1. A programmable security system for protecting items of merchandise from theft, the programmable security system comprising:

a programming station comprising a logic control circuit configured to generate a unique security code, and a memory for storing the unique security code;

a plurality of programmable keys each configured to communicate with the programming station to receive and store the unique security code in a memory, each of the plurality of programmable keys having the unique security code stored in its memory; and

a plurality of security devices each comprising an alarm and a memory for storing the unique security code, each of the plurality of security devices having the unique security code stored in its memory, each of the plurality of security devices configured to be attached to an item of merchandise, each of the plurality of security devices further configured to activate the alarm in response to the integrity of the security device being compromised;

wherein each of the plurality of programmable keys is configured to arm or disarm each of the plurality of security devices upon a matching of the unique security code stored by the plurality of security devices with the unique security code stored by the plurality of programmable keys.

2. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of security devices further comprises an adhesive.

3. The programmable security system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of attachment cables, each attachment cable configured to be attached to one of the plurality of security devices.

4. The programmable security system of claim 3, wherein each alarm of the plurality of security devices is configured to be activated in response to cutting the attachment cable attached to the security device or detaching the attachment cable from the security device.

5. The programmable security system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of security devices comprises a plurality of connection jacks, and wherein each attachment cable attached to one of the plurality of security devices is configured to be connected to one of the plurality of connection jacks.

6. The programmable security system of claim 3, wherein each attachment cable attached to one of the plurality of security devices extends between the security device and the item of merchandise.

7. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of security devices further comprises a visual indicator configured to indicate a status of the security device.

8. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of programmable keys comprises a visual indicator configured to indicate a status thereof.

9. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of programmable keys comprises an internal battery.

10. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programming station comprises a switch configured to be actuated for generating the unique security code.

11. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programming station comprises a port for receiving one of the plurality of programmable keys therein.

12. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of security devices comprises a port for receiving one of the plurality of the programmable keys therein.

13. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of programmable keys is configured to wirelessly communicate with the programming station and each of the plurality of security devices.

14. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of security devices comprises a power source.

15. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of programmable keys is configured to be inactivated after a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of activations.

16. The programmable security system of claim 15, wherein

the programming station is configured to reactivate each of the plurality of programmable keys after the predetermined period of time or the predetermined number of activations.

17. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of security devices further comprises a switch configured to be actuated for activating the alarm in response to the integrity of the security device being compromised.

19. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the unique security code is configured to be permanently stored in the programming station.

20. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the unique security code is configured to be changed.

21. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the logic control circuit is configured to randomly generate the unique security code.

22. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the unique security code is unique to a particular retail establishment or retail store.

23. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of programmable keys is configured to provide the unique security code to each of the plurality of security devices for storing the unique security code.

24. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the unique security code is not chosen by a person.

18. (canceled)

25. A method for protecting items of merchandise from theft, the method comprising:

generating a unique security code with a logic control circuit provided in a programming station;

providing the unique security code to each of a plurality of programmable keys, each of the plurality of programmable keys having the unique security code stored in its memory;

storing the unique security code at a plurality of security devices each configured to be attached to an item of merchandise, each of the plurality of security devices having the unique security code stored in its memory, each of the plurality of security devices comprising an alarm configured to be activated in response to the integrity of the security device being compromised; and

arming or disarming each of the plurality of security devices upon a matching of the unique security code stored by the plurality of security devices with the unique security code stored by the plurality of programmable keys.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the providing comprises wirelessly communicating the unique security code to each of the plurality of programmable keys.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprises inactivating each of the plurality of programmable keys after a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of activations.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the generating comprises randomly generating the unique security code in the programming station.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising changing the unique security code in the programming station to a new unique security code.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising providing the new unique security code to each of the plurality of programmable keys.

31. A method for protecting items of merchandise from theft, the method comprising:

storing a security code in a programming station, the security code generated by the programming station and being unique thereto;

providing the security code to a programmable key;

storing the security code at a security device attached to an item of merchandise, the security device comprising an alarm configured to be activated in response to the integrity of the security device being compromised; and

arming or disarming the security device upon a matching of the security code generated by the programming station with the security code stored by the security device.