Security device

• US 5,644,295 A
• Filed: 09/05/1995
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Permasign Limited
• Original Assignee: Permasign Limited
• Inventors: Connolly, Raymond Edwin, Griffiths, Jonathan James Whittington
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/523,473
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568, 340/571, 340/572, 340/665, 439/225, 324/691
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a security device for fixing to a surface to allow relative movement of the device and the surface to be detected, and a connector for such a device.

Claims

1. A security device for fixing to a surface to allow relative movement of the device and the surface to be detected, the device comprising:

a substrate having a fixing portion by which the device may be fixed to the surface;

an adhesive layer for fixing the fixing portion to the surface; and

circuit means defining a circuit between two locations on the device and having predetermined electrical characteristics, at least part of the circuit means being located between the substrate and the adhesive layer and having in a first region a greater adhesion with the substrate than with the adhesive layer and in a second region a greater adhesion with the adhesive layer than with the substrate so that when the device is fixed to the surface by said adhesive layer, relative movement of the substrate and the surface disrupts the circuit means by measurably changing said predetermined electrical characteristics.

2. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least part of the circuit means is located near the periphery of the fixing portion.

3. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second region is divided into a plurality of spaced apart second regions in each of which the circuit means has greater adhesion with the adhesive layer than with the substrate.

4. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer covers the whole area of the fixing portion.

5. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is opaque in the area of the fixing portion.

6. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit means comprises a carbon track.

7. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit means presents electrical resistance.

8. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit means is electrically conductive.

9. A security device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a contact at each of the said locations for allowing continuity or disruption of the circuit to be detected.

10. A security device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a release layer adjacent said circuit means for reducing the adhesion of said circuit means in said second region with said substrate.

11. A security device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the release layer is located between the second region of the circuit means and the substrate.

12. A security device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the release layer comprises peelable ink.

13. A security device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the release layer is sensitive to stress so that it fractures in response to deformation of the fixing portion and thereby fractures part of the circuit means.

14. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit means passes around substantially the whole periphery of the fixing portion.

15. A security device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first region is divided into a plurality of first regions spaced apart around the periphery of the fixing portion at each of which the circuit means has greater adhesion with the substrate than with the adhesive layer.

16. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first region is divided into a plurality of spaced apart first regions at each of which the circuit means has greater adhesion with the substrate than with the adhesive layer.

17. A security device as claimed in claim 16, having at least three spaced-apart first regions.

18. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate has an elongate limb extending from the fixing portion, the circuit means extending along the limb.

19. A security device as claimed in claim 18, comprising an insulating layer extending along the limb, at least part of the circuit means being sandwiched between the limb and the insulating layer.

20. A security device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said locations are at the distal end of the limb.

21. A security device for fixing to a surface to allow relative movement of the device and the surface to be detected, the device comprising:

a substrate having a fixing portion by which the device may be fixed to the surface;

an adhesive layer for fixing the fixing portion to the surface; and

circuit means defining a circuit between two locations on the device, at least part of the circuit means being located between the substrate and the adhesive layer and having in a first region a greater adhesion with the substrate than with the adhesive layer and in a second region a greater adhesion with the adhesive layer than with the substrate so that, when the device is fixed to the surface by said adhesive layer, relative movement of the substrate and the surface disrupts the circuit means due to greater adhesion of said circuit means in said first region with said substrate and greater adhesion of said circuit means in said second region with said adhesive layer, there being a release layer adjacent said circuit means for reducing the adhesion of said circuit means in said second region with said substrate.