Shoplifting monitoring apparatus and attachment unit

• US 6,570,502 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsuo Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Matsuo Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsuo, Toichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/943,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.2, 340/568.1, 340/568.3, 340/568.4, 340/568.8, 340/571, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 248/551, 70/571, 70/58
• US Class Current: 340/568.2
• 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

Disclosed are a shoplifting monitoring apparatus and an attachment unit.

The shoplifting monitoring apparatus includes the attachment unit and an alarm device.

The attachment unit has an attachment surface to be attached to an article. The attachment unit includes a detection element for detecting whether the attachment unit is attached to the article or not. The attachment unit is provided at the attachment surface with a first portion screw-fittable onto a screw of the article. The attachment unit can be attached to the article by screw-fitting the first portion of the attachment unit onto the screw of the article.

The alarm device issues an alarm based on information indicating that the attachment unit is not attached to the article, the information being detected by the detection element.

Claims

1. A shoplifting monitoring apparatus comprising:

an attachment unit having an attachment surface to be attached to an article, the attachment unit including a detection element for detecting whether the attachment unit is attached to the article or not; and

an alarm device issuing an alarm based on information indicating that the attachment unit is not attached to the article, the information being detected by the detection element;

wherein

the attachment unit is provided at the attachment surface with a first portion screw-fittable onto a screw of the article;

the attachment unit can be attached to the article by screw-fitting the first portion of the attachment unit onto the screw of the article;

the detection element is a switch including a movable piece and a contact,

the contact is put in an open state or a closed state in accordance with a position of the movable piece;

the movable piece is biased toward an outside of the attachment surface;

the contact is put in the closed state when the movable piece is pushed toward an inside of the attachment surface so that the movable piece is located at an inside of a standard position;

the contact is put in the open state when the movable piece is located at the standard position or at an outside of the standard position;

the attachment unit can be attached to the article such that the movable piece is pushed toward the inside of the attachment surface, and the movable piece is located at the inside of the standard position, and thereby the contact is put in the closed state;

the alarm device issues the alarm at least when the contact of the switch is in the open state;

the first portion of the attachment unit is a male screw;

the male screw is provided with an aperture extending along a longitudinal direction of the male screw; and

at least a part of the movable piece of the switch is arranged inside the aperture of the male screw.

2. The shoplifting monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article to which the attachment unit is to be attached is a camera or a video camera.

3. The shoplifting monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first portion of the attachment unit can be screw-fitted onto the screw of the article, the screw of the article being provided at the article for connecting a tripod to the article.

4. The shoplifting monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment unit further includes an extension rod that moves together with the movable piece of the switch;

and the movable piece is pushed via the extension rod toward the inside of the attachment surface when the attachment unit is attached to the article.

5. The shoplifting monitoring apparatus according claim 1, wherein the attachment unit further includes an elastic member that moves together with the movable piece of the switch;

and the movable piece is pushed via the elastic member toward the inside of the attachment surface when the attachment unit is attached to the article.

6. A shoplifting monitoring apparatus comprising:

an attachment unit having an attachment surface to be attached to an article, the attachment unit including a detection element for detecting whether the attachment unit is attached to the article or not; and

an alarm device issuing an alarm based on information indicating that the attachment unit is not attached to the article, the information being detected by the detection element;

wherein

the attachment unit is provided at the attachment surface with a first portion screw-fit table onto a screw of the article;

the attachment unit can be attached to the article by screw-fitting the first portion of the attachment unit onto the screw of the article;

the detection element is a switch including a movable piece and a contact;

the contact is put in an in an open state or a closed state in accordance with a position of the movable piece;

the movable piece is biased toward an outside of the attachment surface;

the contact is put in the closed state when the movable piece is pushed toward an inside of the attachment surface so that the movable piece is located at an inside of a standard position;

the contact is put in the open state when the movable piece is located at the standard position or at an outside of the standard position;

the attachment unit can be attached to the article such that the movable piece is pushed toward the inside of the attachment surface, and the movable piece is located at the inside of the standard position, and thereby the contact is put in the closed state;

the alarm device issues the alarm at least when the contact of the switch is in the open state;

the first portion of the attachment unit is a male screw;

the male screw is provided with an aperture extending along a longitudinal directing of the male screw;

the switch is configured to move inside the aperture of the male screw; and

the switch is biased toward the outside of the attachment surface.

7. The shoplifting monitoring apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the article to which the attachment unit is to be attached is a camera or a video camera.

8. The shoplifting monitoring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first portion of the attachment unit can be screw-fitted onto the screw of the article, the screw of the article being provided at the article for connecting a tripod to the article.

9. A shoplifting monitoring apparatus comprising:

an attachment unit having an attachment surface to be attached to an article, the attachment unit including a detection element for detecting whether the attachment unit is attached to the article or not; and

an alarm device issuing an alarm based on information indicating that the attachment unit is not attached to the article, the information being detected by the detection element;

wherein

the attachment unit is provided at the attachment surface with a unthreaded projection portion projecting from the attachment surface and screw-fittable into a female screw of the article;

the attachment unit is attached to the article by screw-fitting the unthreaded projection portion of the attachment unit into the female screw of the article, and the unthreaded projection portion of the attachment unit is screw-fitted into the female screw of the article while the unthreaded projection portion is screw-threaded by the female screw of the article thereby converting the unthreaded projection portion to a threaded projection portion.

10. The shoplifting monitoring apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the article to which the attachment unit is to be attached is a camera or a video camera.

11. The shoplifting monitoring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the unthreaded projection portion of the attachment unit is screw-fitted into the female screw of the article, the female screw of the article being provided at the article for connecting a tripod to the article.

12. An attachment unit utilized in a shoplifting monitoring apparatus and having an attachment surface to be attached to an article, the attachment unit comprising:

a detection element for detecting whether the attachment unit is attached to the article or not; and

a first portion screw-fittable onto a screw of the article and arranged at the attachment surface;

wherein

the attachment unit can be attached to the article by screw-fitting the first portion of the attachment unit onto the screw of the article;

the detection element is a switch including a movable piece and a contact;

the contact is put in an open state or a closed state in accordance with a position of the movable piece;

the movable piece is biased toward an outside of the attachment surface;

the contact is put in the closed state when the movable piece is pushed toward an inside of the attachment surface so that the movable piece is located at an inside of a standard position;

the contact is put on the open state when the movable piece is located at the standard position or at an outside of the standard position;

the attachment unit can be attached to the article such that the movable piece is pushed toward the inside of the attachment surface, and the movable piece is located at the inside of the standard position, and thereby the contact is put in the closed state;

the first portion of the attachment unit is a male screw;

the male screw is provided with an aperture extending along a longitudinal direction of the male screw; and

at least a part of the movable piece of the switch is arranged inside the aperture of the male screw.

13. The attachment unit according to claim 12, wherein the article to which the attachment unit is to be attached is a camera or a video camera.

14. The attachment unit according to claim 13, wherein the first portion of the attachment unit can be screw-fitted onto the screw of the article, the screw of the article being provided at the article for connecting a tripod to the article.

15. The attachment unit according to claim 12, wherein the attachment unit further includes an extension rod that moves together with the movable piece of the switch;

and the movable piece is pushed via the extension rod toward the inside of the attachment surface when the attachment unit is attached to the article.

16. The attachment unit according to claim 12, wherein the attachment unit further includes an elastic member that moves together with the movable piece of the switch;

and the movable piece is pushed via the elastic member toward the inside of the attachment surface when the attachment unit is attached to the article.

17. An attachment unit utilized in a shoplifting monitoring apparatus and having an attachment surface to be attached to an article, the attachment unit comprising:

a detection element for detecting whether the attachment unit is attached to the article or not; and

a first portion screw-fittable onto a screw of the article and arranged at the attachment surface;

wherein

the attachment unit can be attached to the article by screw-fitting the first portion of the attachment unit onto the screw of the article;

the detection element is a switch including a movable piece and a contact;

the contact is put in an open state or a closed state in accordance with a position of the movable piece;

the movable piece is biased toward an outside of the attachment surface;

the contact is put in the closed state when the movable piece is pushed toward an inside of the attachment surface so that the movable piece is located at an inside of a standard position;

the contact is put in the open state when the movable piece is located at the standard position or at an outside of the standard position;

the attachment unit can be attached to the article such that the movable piece is pushed toward the inside of the attachment surface, and the movable piece is located at the inside of the standard position, and thereby the contact is put in the closed state;

the first portion of the attachment unit is a male screw;

the male screw is provided with an aperture extending along a longitudinal direction of the male screw;

the switch is configured to move inside the aperture of the male screw; and

the switch is biased toward the outside of the attachment surface.

18. The attachment unit according to claim 17, wherein the article to which the attachment unit is to be attached is a camera or a video camera.

19. The attachment unit according to claim 23, wherein the unthreaded projection portion of the attachment unit is screw-fitted into the female screw of the article, the female screw of the article being provided at the article for connecting a tripod to the article.

20. An attachment unit utilized in a shoplifting monitoring apparatus and having an attachment surface to be attached to an article, the attachment unit comprising:

a detection element for detecting whether the attachment unit is attached to the article or not; and

a unthreaded projection portion screw-fittable onto a female screw of the article and arranged at and projecting from the attachment surface;

wherein

the attachment unit is attached to the article by screw-fitting the unthreaded projection portion of the attachment unit into the female screw of the article; and

the unthreaded projection portion of the attachment unit is screw-fitted into the female screw of the article while the unthreaded projection portion is screw-threaded by the female screw of the article thereby converting the unthreaded projection portion to a threaded projection portion.

21. The attachment unit according to claim 20, wherein the article to which the attachment unit is to be attached is a camera or a video camera.

22. The attachment unit according to claim 21, wherein the first portion of the attachment unit can be screw-fitted onto the screw of the article, the screw of the article being provided at the article for connecting a tripod to the article.