Apparatus for safeguarding a merchandise item against theft

• US 6,380,855 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ott Security Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reinhold Ott
• Inventors: Ott, Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/689,148
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.4, 340/568.8, 340/572, 340/691, 340/693
• US Class Current: 340/568.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/024 with provisions for preventing unauthorised removal show cases with devices for prevention of theft A47F3/002; devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal E05B73/0017
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/005 Chain-locks, cable-locks or padlocks with alarms
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18

Abstract

In order to develop an apparatus for safeguarding a merchandise item against theft, having a safeguarding part for fixing to the merchandise item and having a connecting cord for connecting the safeguarding part to an object which is not at risk of theft in such a way that it allows improved presentation of the merchandise item, it is proposed that the safeguarding part comprises a substantially rigid base part and also a fixing part, which can be fixed to the merchandise item and can be adapted to the form of the merchandise item at least in a partial region of its surface associated with the merchandise item.

Claims

1. Apparatus for safeguarding a merchandise item against theft, comprising:

a safeguarding part for fixing to the merchandise item, said safeguarding part having a substantially rigid base part and a fixing part;

said fixing part having at least two contact elements which can be applied to the merchandise item, at least one contact element being held in a manner that allows it to pivot about at least one pivot axis so that the fixing part can be at least partially adapted to the form of the merchandise item; and

a connecting cord for connecting the safeguarding part to an object which is not at risk of theft.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two contact elements are held in a manner that allows them to pivot.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contact elements are held in a manner that allows them to pivot about pivot axes which are oriented parallel to one another.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one contact element is held in a manner that allows it to pivot about two pivot axes which are oriented perpendicularly to one another.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two contact elements are held in a manner that allows them to pivot in each case about two pivot axes which are oriented perpendicularly to one another.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one contact element is held in a manner that allows it to pivot by means of a ball-and-socket joint.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part comprises at least three contact elements, at least two contact elements being held in a manner that allows them to pivot with pivot axes which are oriented perpendicularly to one another.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part comprises three contact elements, two contact elements being able to be pivoted about pivot axes which are oriented parallel to one another, and the third contact element being held in a manner that allows it to pivot transversely with respect to the pivot axes of the other two contact elements.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a holding part for fixing to the object which is not at risk of theft, the holding part being connected to the safeguarding part via the connecting cord.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the safeguarding part and the holding part comprise mutually complementary connecting means for establishing a releasable connection.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the holding part has a receptacle, into which the safeguarding part can be inserted.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the safeguarding part can be suspended in the holding part.

13. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus comprises a sensor element for monitoring proper contact between the holding part and the object which is not at risk of theft, it being possible for the sensor element to be connected to an electrical monitoring circuit, for outputting an alarm signal in the event of proper contact between the holding part and the object which is not at risk of theft ceasing.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sensor element which interacts with the object which is not at risk of theft is disposed on the holding part.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the sensor element which interacts with the object which is not at risk of theft is disposed on a housing wall of the holding part.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one winding element for automatically winding up the connecting cord.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a winding element is disposed on the holding part.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the winding element is disposed in a housing of the holding part.

19. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a winding element is integrated into the base part.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a sensor element for monitoring proper contact between the apparatus and the merchandise item, it being possible for the sensor element to be connected to an electrical monitoring circuit, for outputting an alarm signal in the event of proper contact between the apparatus and the merchandise item ceasing.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the sensor element is disposed on the safeguarding part.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the sensor element is disposed on the fixing part.

23. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the connecting cord comprises an electrical conductor for electrically connecting the sensor element to an external monitoring circuit.

24. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the sensor element comprises an electrical switching element, with a switching plunger which interacts with the merchandise item.

25. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the monitoring circuit is disposed in the base part.

26. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the monitoring circuit is disposed in the holding part, and in that the connecting cord comprises an electrical conductor for establishing an electrical connection between the sensor element, which interacts with the merchandise item, and the monitoring circuit.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the monitoring circuit and a winding element are disposed in the housing of the holding part, the monitoring circuit being electrically connected to the sensor element, which interacts with the merchandise item, via the connecting cord, which can be wound up by means of the winding element.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the holding part comprises a cord guide for guiding the connecting cord within the housing of the holding part.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the cord guide is integrally connected to the housing of the holding part.

30. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein at least one of a visual alarm transmitter and an acoustic alarm transmitter is electrically connected to the monitoring circuit and is disposed in the housing of the holding part.

31. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein an electrical voltage supply unit, which is electrically connected to the monitoring circuit, is disposed in the housing of the holding part.