ALARM SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INCORPORATING MAGNETIC SWITCH MEANS MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRICAL SWITCHES

• US 3,636,547 A
• Filed: 06/09/1969
• Issued: 01/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meyer Fienberg, Robert J. Brace
• Original Assignee: Meyer Fienberg, Robert J. Brace
• Inventors: Brace, Robert J., Fienberg, Meyer
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wannisky, William M.
• Application Number:
  US04/831,613
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 340/272,280 335/205 200/11K,19M,67F,57PB,57GR,153R,61.45M,85
• US Class Current: 200/85.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1472 with force or weight detection

Abstract

A magnetically controlled switch-actuating member projects upwardly from the supporting surface of a shelf, rack or the like positioned for downward depression by a merchandise article supported on the shelf. The switch-actuating member extends downwardly through a permanent magnet block at the shelf underside, the actuating member always being urged magnetically upwardly to projecting position when depressed by the article on the shelf. Electrical contact strips extend over the magnet block and are free of contact by the actuating member when in its article-depressed position, but contacted by the actuating member when in its projecting position completing an electrical circuit therethrough to any form of electrically actuated device, such as an alarm. Thus, any given series of switches may be provided and will sound the alarm when any one of a series of articles is removed from the shelf.

Claims

1. In an electrical switch of the type for installation with a supporting member having spaced upper and lower sides with an opening extending generally vertically therebetween;

said electrical switch including an actuating member extending through said supporting member opening movable between an upper and lower position, magnetic means in the form of a permanent magnet positioned at said supporting member lower side adjacent said actuating member actionable between said actuating member and said supporting member normally urging through magnetic force said actuating member to said upper position and permitting movement of said actuating member to said lower position while still maintaining said magnetic upward urging upon a downward force thereon sufficient to counteract said magnetic force upward urging, said actuating member being normally free of urging to said upper position other than by said magnetic force upward urging, said actuating member having an upper end portion at said supporting member upper side positioned engageable by an object at said supporting member upper side and forcing said actuating ember from said upper to said lower position when said object is of sufficient weight to counteract said magnetic force upward urging of said magnet, electrical contact means operably connected to said actuating member normally free of transmitting electrical energy therethrough when said actuating member is in said lower position and transmitting electrical energy therethrough when said actuating member is in said upper position, and cover means mounted normally covering said magnet and at least a part of said electrical contact means and a part of said actuating member at said electrical contact means, said cover means being constructed and arranged relative to said electrical contact means and said actuating member for causing said electrical contact means to transmit said electrical energy therethrough upon displacement of said cover means during an attempted removal of said cover means from its covering position.

2. An electrical switch as defined in claim 1 in which said electrical contact means is mounted in association with said magnet subject to transmitting said electrical energy therethrough upon an attempted movement of said magnet downwardly away from said supporting member lower side;

and in which said cover means is normally positioned covering said magnet and at least a part of said electrical contact means and a part of said actuating member at said supporting member lower side, said cover means in said normal position having a portion thereof engaged between said magnet and said supporting membeR lower side for movement by said cover means of said magnet downwardly away from said supporting member lower side upon displacement of said cover means during an attempted removal of said cover means form its covering position casing said electrical contact means to transmit said electrical energy therethrough.

3. In a magnetic switch, the combination of:

an actuating member movable between a first and second position, magnetic means positioned actionable on said actuating member constantly urging through magnetic force said actuating member to said second position and permitting movement of said actuating member to said first position while still maintaining said magnetic urging toward said second position upon a force thereon sufficient to counteract said magnetic force urging, said actuating member being normally free of urging to said second position other than by said magnetic force urging;

electrical contact mans operably connected to said actuating member normally free of transmitting electrical energy therethrough when said actuating member is in said first position and transmitting electrical energy therethrough when said actuating member is in said second position;

said magnetic means being a permanent magnet having an opening formed therethrough between opposite sides thereof; and

said actuating member being positioned extending through and freely movable within said magnet opening and having opposite end portions projecting beyond said magnet opposite sides, said actuating member being formed of a magnetically nonattracting material except for at least a part of one of said end portions, said end portion being formed of magnetically attracting material.

4. A magnetic switch as defined in claim 3 in which said actuating member one end portion forms a part of said electrical contact means and is capable of transmitting electrical energy therethrough;

and in which said electrical contact means includes spaced metal strips formed of an electrically conducting material positioned simultaneously engaged by said actuating member one end portion upon said actuating member being moved to said second position and at least one of said metal strips being free of engagement by said actuating member one end portion upon said actuating member being moved to said first position.

5. A magnetic switch as defined in claim 3 in which said actuating member is formed of a magnetically nonattracting material except for a part of one of said end portions, said actuating member one end portion part being formed of magnetically attracting material, said actuating member one end portion part being flanged and being formed of a material capable of transmitting electrical energy therethrough forming a part of said electrical contact means;

and in which said electrical contact means includes spaced metal foil strips mounted on said side of said magnetic means adjacent said actuating member one end portion part, said metal foil strips being positioned relative to said actuating member one end portion part simultaneously engaged by said one end portion part when said actuating member is moved to said second position and at least one being free of engagement by said one end portion part upon movement of said actuating member to said first position.

6. In an electrical switch of the type for installation with a supporting member having spaced upper and lower sides with an opening extending generally vertically therebetween;

said electrical switch including an actuating member extending through said supporting member opening movable between an upper and lower position, magnetic means positioned actionable between said actuating member and said supporting member normally urging by magnetic force said actuating member to said upper position and permitting movement of said actuating member to said lower position while still maintaining said magnetic upward urging upon a downward force thereon sufficient to counteract said magnetic force upward urging, said actuating member being Normally free of urging to said upper position other than by said magnetic force upward urging, said actuating member having an upper end portion at said supporting member upper side positioned engageable by an object at said supporting member upper side and forcing said actuating member from said upper to said lower position when said object is of sufficient weight to counteract said magnetic force upward urging of said magnetic means, electrical contact means operably connected to said operating member normally free of transmitting electrical energy therethrough when said operating member is in said lower position and transmitting electrical energy therethrough when said actuating ember is in said upper position, said magnetic means including a permanent magnet positioned at said supporting member lower side, said electrical contact means including spaced electrically conducting metal foil strips at a lower side of said magnet, said actuating member projecting upwardly though said magnet and said supporting member opening, said actuating member being formed of a magnetically nonattracting material except for a lower end portion thereof positioned beneath said magnet lower side, aid actuating member having a portion thereof forming a part of said electrical contact means positioned engaged between said contact means spaced foil strips establishing electrical contact therebetween when said actuating member is in said upper position and normally being free of contacting at least one of said contact means spaced foil strips when said actuating member is in said lower position.

7. An electrical switch as defined in claim 6 in which said electrical switch is one of a series of said electrical switches including at least two;

in which said electrical switches are mounted in association with separate openings in said supporting member;

in which each of said electrical switches includes a permanent magnet forming said magnetic means positioned at said supporting member lower side adhering to magnetically attracting metal of said supporting member lower side solely through magnetic attracting therebetween, an opening though said magnet generally aligned with said supporting member opening, said actuating member extending through said supporting member opening and said magnet opening, said actuating member being of a magnetically nonattracting material except for a lower portion thereof positioned below said magnet, and in which said electrical contact means of said electrical switches includes a pair of spaced electrically conducting metal foil strips extending along lower surfaces of said magnets at opposite sides of said actuating members and continuously between said electrical switches on said supporting member lower side, parts of said actuating member lower portions projecting beneath said metal foil strips movable into engagement between said spaced metal foil strips when said actuating members are moved to said upper positions, said parts of said actuating member lower portions transmitting electrical energy therethrough between said metal foil strips when in engagement therewith.