Bottle security device

• US 6,604,643 B1
• Filed: 06/23/1999
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alpha Security Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Belden, Dennis D. Jr., Sedon, Nicholas M., Jaeb, Michael S., Gallagher, Christopher G., Michael, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US09/338,819
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 215/201, 215/204, 215/207, 215/215-217, 215/219, 215/221, 215/224, 215/225, 215/273, 215/275, 215/277, 215/278, 215/280, 215/286, 215/290, 215/293, 215/302, 215/251, 215/253, 220/210, 220/255, 220/255.1, 220/256.1, 220/284, 220/315
• US Class Current: 215/204
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/067 using integral or non-integral accessories, e.g. tool, key B65D50/062, B65D50/064, B65D50/065 take precedence
• 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 73/0041 for essentially round objects, e.g. bottles or racket handles

Abstract

A bottle security device includes an inner member and an outer member that cooperate to lock the bottle security device on the neck of a bottle. The inner member includes a plurality of fingers that are adapted to fit under the bead on a bottle neck. The inner member further includes outwardly extending teeth. The outer sleeve member of the device slides over the inner member and forces the fingers against the bottle. The outer sleeve member further includes a plurality of upwardly extending arms that have inwardly projecting teeth that engage the teeth of the inner member to lock the two members together. A key is used to separate the two pieces and release the security device from the bottle. The key extends down through the top of the outer sleeve member to physically engage the upwardly extending arms and to move them radially outward to where they disengage the inner member.

Claims

1. A bottle security device for use with a bottle having a neck, the bottle security device comprising:

an inner member adapted to fit around at least a portion of the neck of the bottle;

at least one tooth projecting outwardly from the inner member;

an outer member having a cavity, the inner member selectively positionable in the cavity;

at least one arm resiliently cantilevered from the outer member and disposed in the cavity;

at least one tooth projecting inwardly from the arm; and

the tooth on the inner member engaging the tooth on the arm when the inner member is positioned in the cavity to prevent the inner member from being removed from the cavity.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner member includes a body and a plurality of resilient fingers cantilevered from the body.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the inner member further includes an end wall;

the body having first and second opposed ends;

the end wall connected to the first end and the fingers connected to the second end of the body.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the end wall is substantially circular.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein each finger has a first end and a second end;

the first end being connected to the body; and

the second end having an inwardly-facing shoulder.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second end of each finger has an inwardly angled surface.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner member includes a plurality of teeth.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein each tooth is annular.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner member has an outer surface with an upper end and a lower end;

the tooth of the inner member including an upwardly facing angled portion and a locking portion;

the locking portion being substantially normal to the outer surface of the inner member.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the tooth projecting from the arm includes a downwardly facing angled portion and a locking portion.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer member includes four arms.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer member has an opening aligned with the arm.

13. The device of claim 12, in combination with a key;

the key having a cam sized to selectively slide through the opening in the outer member and engage the arm of the outer member to move it away from the inner member.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a ring attached to the inner member;

the ring adapted to surround a portion of the neck.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising an electronic article surveillance device mounted on one of the inner and outer members.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer member has an upper end and a lower end;

a camming surface disposed about the lower end of the outer member;

the inner member having an upper end a lower end, the lower end being tapered;

the tapered lower end of the inner member engaging the camming surface of the outer member to force the lower end of the inner member in an inward direction.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer member has an upper end and a lower end;

the at least one arm being resiliently cantilevered to the outer member adjacent the lower end of the outer member.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one arm includes an upper end disposed closer to the upper end of the outer member than the lower end of the outer member.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the upper end of the at least one arm is angled.

20. A bottle security device for use with a bottle having a neck, the bottle security device comprising:

an inner member adapted to fit around at least a portion of the neck of the bottle;

the inner member including a plurality of fingers and a pair of opposed receiving members;

an outer member having a cavity, the inner member selectively lockable in the cavity; and

a ring connected to the inner member;

the ring adapted to surround a portion of the neck of the bottle;

the ring being connected to the receiving members and disposed below the fingers.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the ring is a frustum, the outer member abutting the ring to block access to the inner member.

22. A bottle security device for use with a bottle having a neck, the bottle security device comprising:

an inner member adapted to fit around at least a portion of the neck of the bottle;

the inner member having a body portion;

a plurality of annular teeth extending outwardly from the body portion of the inner member;

an outer member having a cavity, the inner member selectively positionable in the cavity;

the outer member having an upper end and a lower end;

at least three arms resiliently cantilevered from the lower end of the outer member;

each of the arms extending in the cavity toward the upper end of the outer member;

at least one tooth projecting inwardly from each of the arms;

at least one of the teeth on the inner member engaging the tooth on each arm when the inner member is positioned in the cavity to prevent the inner member from being removed from the cavity;

the upper end of the outer member having an opening aligned with each of the arms; and

a key having a cam for each of the arms;

each cam being selectively slidable through an opening to engage an arm to move the arm away from the inner member to disengage the arm from the inner member.

23. A bottle security device for use with a bottle having a neck, the bottle security device comprising:

an inner member adapted to slide over at least a portion of the neck of the bottle;

the inner member including a plurality of fingers;

an outer member defining a cavity, the inner member being selectively lockable in the cavity;

a ring connected to the inner member;

the ring adapted to surround a portion of the neck of the bottle;

the ring protecting the fingers when the inner member is disposed on the bottle; and

the inner member including opposed receiving members;

the ring being connected to the receiving members and disposed below the fingers.

24. A bottle security device for use with a bottle having a neck, the bottle security device comprising:

an inner member adapted to slide over at least a portion of the neck of the bottle;

at least one locking tooth connected to the inner member;

an outer member defining a cavity, the inner member being selectively lockable in the cavity;

at least one locking tooth connected to the outer member;

the locking teeth engaging each other to lock the inner member within the outer member;

a ring connected to the inner member;

the ring adapted to surround a portion of the neck of the bottle; and

the outer member including a cantilevered arm projecting into the cavity;

the locking tooth of the outer member being disposed on the arm.

25. A bottle security device for use with a bottle having a neck, the bottle security device comprising:

an inner member adapted to fit around at least a portion of the neck of the bottle;

an outer member having a cavity, the inner member being selectively positionable in the cavity;

at least one arm resiliently cantilevered from the outer member and disposed in the cavity;

the arm being selectively movable from a locked position to an unlocked position; and

the at least one arm lockingly engaging the inner member when the at least one arm is disposed in the locked position and releasing the inner member when the at least one arm is in an unlocked position.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the outer member defines a key opening that is aligned with the at least one arm.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the outer member has an upper end and a lower end;

a camming surface disposed adjacent the lower end of the outer member;

the inner member having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being tapered;

the tapered lower end of the inner member engaging the camming surface of the outer member to force the lower end of the inner member in an inward direction when the inner member is inserted into the cavity of the outer member.