Theft-deterrent device and a locking element and a release device for a theft-deterrent device

• US 6,191,692 B1
• Filed: 03/23/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fargklamman AB
• Original Assignee: Fargklamman AB
• Inventors: Stoltz, Klas, Gustavsson, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/274,357
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.9, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.9
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/002 by releasing a liquid, e.g. ill-smelling or dye
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0009 with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a theft-deterrent device intended to be attached to and locked on theft-attractive goods and constructed to co-act with a release device (14) for releasing the theft-deterrent device from said goods (12). The theft-deterrent device includes a first element (2) comprising a base element (4) and a connecting element (6) which projects out from the base element and is intended to be inserted through said goods, and a locking element (8) which is intended to be attached to and locked on said connecting element such as to prevent movement in a direction away from the base element and therewith to hold the anti-theft device securely on said goods. The locking element (8) can be released from the connecting element (6) by means of a temperature-dependent change in form of a release-part (66) provided in the locking element (8) and comprised of a material that has memory properties. The invention also relates to a locking element and to a release device for a theft-deterrent device.

Claims

1. A theft-deterrent device intended to be attached to and locked on theft-attractive goods, said device including a first element (2) which comprises a base element (4) and a connecting element (6) which projects out from the base element and which is intended for insertion through the goods (12) to be protected, and a locking element (8) which is adapted to be attached to and locked on the connecting element (6) against movement in a direction away from the base element (4) so as to hold the theft-deterrent device securely on said goods (12), said theft-deterrent device being constructed to co-act with a release device (14) for releasing the theft-deterrent device from said goods (12), characterised in that said locking element (8) is adapted to be released from the connecting element (6) by means of a temperature-dependent change in the form of a release-part (66) disposed in the locking element (8) and comprised of a material having memory properties.

2. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting element (6) is intended to be inserted into and locked in a locking unit (10) in the locking element (8), said locking unit (10) including said release-part (66) and at least two locking tongues (56) which are adapted to grip around and lock said connecting element (6) in a non-actuated position and to move to a release position in response to a change in the form of said release-part (66).

3. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 2, characterised in that the locking unit (10) comprises two mutually co-acting parts, one of which being said release-part (66) and the other being a resilient lock plate (52) that includes said locking tongues (56).

4. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 3, characterised in that the connecting element (6) is released through the change in the form of the release-part (66) in a generally radial direction in relation to said connecting element (6).

5. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 4, characterised in that the locking tongues (56) are movable to a release position in a generally radial direction relative to said connecting element (6).

6. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 5, characterised in that the change in the form of the release-part (66) is transferred to the resilient lock plate (52) that carries the locking tongues (56).

7. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 3, characterised in that the locking tongues (56) are movable to a release position in a generally radial direction relative to said connecting element (6).

8. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 7, characterised in that the change in the form of the release-part (66) is transferred to the resilient lock plate (52) that carries the locking tongues (56).

9. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 8, characterised in that the release-part (66) is generally circular in shape, said connecting element (6) being released as a result of a change in the form of said release-part (66) in a generally radial direction of said release-part.

10. The theft-deterrent device of claim 3 wherein the change in the form of the release-part (66) is transferred to the resilient lock plate (52) that carries the locking tongues (56).

11. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 2, characterised in that the locking tongues (56) are movable to a release position in a generally radial direction relative to said connecting element (6).

12. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 1 characterised in that the change in the form of the release-part (66) is transferred to a resilient lock plate (52) that carries the locking tongues (56).

13. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 1, characterised in that the release-part (66) is made either totally or partially of a metal material having memory properties.

14. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 1, characterised in that the form of the release-part (66) is changed in response to an increase in temperature.

15. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 14, characterised in that the temperature of the release-part (66) is increased by inductive heating.

16. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 1, characterised in that the form of the release-part (66) is changed in response to a decrease in temperature.

17. A theft-deterrent device according to claim 1, characterised in that the release-part (66) is generally circular in shape, said connecting element (6) being released as a result of a change in the form of said release-part (66) in a generally radial direction of said release-part.

18. A release device for a theft-deterrent device intended to be attached to and locked on theft-attractive goods, said theft-deterrent device including a first element (2) which comprises a base element (4) and a connecting element (6) which projects out from the base element and which is intended for insertion through the goods (12) to be protected, and a locking element (8) which is adapted to be attached to and locked on the connecting element (6) against movement in a direction away from the base element (4) so as to hold the theft-deterrent device securely on said goods (12), characterised in that the release device is constructed to receive said locking element (8) and cause, either directly or indirectly, a change in temperature of a release-part (66) in the locking element (8).

19. A release device according to claim 18, characterised in that the release device (14) includes a coil (18) that can be connected to a source of alternating current, said release part (66) of the locking element (8) being heated inductively when the coil is connected to said alternating current source.

20. A release device according to claim 19, characterised in that the release device (14) includes a seat (16) for receiving said locking element (8), said coil (18) being disposed around said seat (16).

21. A release device according to claim 20, characterised in that the seat (16) includes an electric contact means which is actuated by a locking element (8) received in the release device (14) such as to connect said coil to said alternating current source.