Antitheft device

• US 5,077,872 A
• Filed: 08/10/1990
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Actron Denmark A/S
• Original Assignee: Antonson Security Denmark A/S
• Inventors: Guthammar, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boucher, Darwell
• Application Number:
  US07/566,609
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 70/57.1, 70/276, 24/704.1, 24/706.8, 24/635, 24/634, 267/158, 267/161, 267/159, 267/148, 267/149, 267/164, 267/160, 267/166.1
• US Class Current: 24/704.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/002 by releasing a liquid, e.g. ill-smelling or dye
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0052 of the magnetic type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4614 Moves slidably guided, nonself-biasing, holding component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/50 Readily interlocking, two-part fastener requiring either destructive or tool disengagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article

Abstract

An antitheft device for marking articles for sale and comprising two members, which automatically interlock one another when one member is inserted in a cavity in the other member, the first member being a rod-shaped body with a completely or partially pointed insertion end, whereby said rod-shaped body is capable of engaging for instance balls loosely arranged in the cavity of the second member, a third member of magnetizable material being inserted below the loosely arranged balls, whereby a resilient member with an upward driving force is placed below said third member. According to the invention the resilient member is an annular plastic member with inward connecting parts connected to a centrally arranged disk-shaped plastic member pressing against the third member in the cavity, the annular plastic member being secured by way of squeezing to an annular groove in the bottom of the housing. As a result, the assembling of the members of the lock is facilitated and the bottom and the spring can be formed in one piece. An additional cavity may be provided around the cavity of the lock, said additional cavity containing a colored liquid.

Claims

1. An antitheft device for marking an article for sale, the device comprising:

first and second members, interlock means on the members for automatically interlocking a portion of the first member in a first cavity (30) having an axis in the second member, the interlocking means comprising a rod-shaped body (22b) with an at least partially pointed insertion end on the first member for engaging balls loosely arranged radially about the first cavity (30) of the second member, a third member of magnetizable material in the first cavity (30) axially of the loosely arranged balls, a resilient member in the first cavity for providing a driving force to the third member toward the balls, the resilient member being an annular plastic member with inward connecting parts connected to a centrally arranged disk-shaped plastic member for pressing against the third member in the first cavity (30), and an additional cavity (30a) in the second member around the first cavity (30), wherein the second member comprises a shell (28) having the additional cavity (30a) and a closure member (29) on the shell (28) for closing the additional cavity (30a) of the shell (28), the closure member (29) providing the first cavity (30) and having a cover (31) for closing the first cavity (30), the closure member (29) having weakened portion means for breaking if a tool is inserted between the first and the second members when interlocked, whereby a liquid in the additional cavity (30a) can be released.

2. An antitheft device for marking an article for sale, the device comprising:

first and second members, interlock means on the members for automatically interlocking a portion of the first member in a first cavity (30) of the second member, the interlocking means comprising a rod-shaped body with an at least partially pointed insertion end, on the first member for engaging a lock in the first cavity of the second member, a fluid containing additional cavity in the second member around the first cavity, wherein the second member comprises a shell (28) having an additional cavity (30a) and a closure member (29) on the shell (28) for closing the additional cavity (30a) of the shell (28), the closure member (29) being provided with the first cavity (30) and a cover (31) therefor with an opening in the middle for receiving the rod-shaped body.