STOLEN ARTICLE DETECTION

• US 3,725,895 A
• Filed: 07/13/1972
• Issued: 04/03/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence B. Haynes
• Original Assignee: Lawrence B. Haynes
• Inventors: Haynes, Lawrence B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Partridge, Scott F.
• Application Number:
  US05/271,437
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 340/280,237,258 116/67,83 73/23,23.1,40.7
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles

Abstract

A method and system for detecting stolen articles such as by shoplifting. Articles in a store and the like are sprayed with a non-toxic, humanly undetectable aerosol which is subject, being highly aromatic in nature, to detection by a sensing device. In removing the treated article a detection area or zone from the store must be passed and if unauthorized or unapproved removal of the article is attempted an indicator or alarm is activated by detection of the aerosol, resulting in apprehension of the article carrier. If the article is paid for or removal from the premises is otherwise authorized, then when passing through an authorizing area such as a checkout counter, the sensible odor can be neutralized or rendered passive or an additional neutralizing agent or means can be applied to the article, either method of which will serve to prevent activation of the detection device.

Claims

1. A method of detecting attempted unauthorized removal of articles from premises of an establishment including the steps of:

A. applying an olfactronic sensible material to the articles;

B. establishing an olfactronic detection zone requiring passage therethrough of the so marked articles for removal from the premises;

C. discriminately detecting existent olfactronic emissions from the so marked articles during passage through the detection zone; and

D. selectively activating indicating means by the presence or absence of selected detected olfactronic emissions to indicate attempted unauthorized removal of articles from the premises.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said olfactronic material consists of odorifeRous materials normally humanly undetectable and in the nature of non-toxic Freon compounds.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 including encapsulating the olfactronic material utilizing a microencapsulation technique adapted for time release subsequent to application to the articles.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of neutralizing the olfactronic sensible material applied to the articles to indicate authorized removal thereof from the premises.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein an agent - remove agent is applied to the article at the time of authorized removal whereby any agent detected leaving the building indicates unauthorized article removal attempt.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 including applying a masking agent to the first applied olfactronic sensible material for indicating authorization of article removal.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 including applying two agents having olfactronic sensible capabilities wherein one is applied to articles as normally stored on the premises and a second is applied at a time of article removal authorization whereby if only a single agent appears on an article at the detection zone an indication of attempted unauthorized removal results.

8. A method as claimed in claim 5 including removing the agent by application of ultraviolet light.

9. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the detection agent is encapsulated and subsequently removing the agent by means of adhesives, magnetics or by bursting with ultrasonic vibrations.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the secondarily applied agent can consist of a label marked by a short life agent, a stamp or a sales slip attached to the article.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein detection of the olfactronic emissions is accomplished by an electron capture type of gas chromatograph.