Electronic monitoring device

• US 7,292,149 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centrak Incorporated (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Elpas Electro-Optic Systems Limited
• Inventors: Bais, Mathiew, Yasur, Shlomo
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/082,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 3405721-5729, 340/573.4, 340/5.81, 24/68.R, 24/18
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/21 Strap tighteners

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for an electronic monitoring device having an adjustable length cable to connect the monitoring device to an object. A band is adapted to engage at least a portion of the object and is operable for receiving a portion of the cable therein. The band may include a winding mechanism connectable thereto which is adapted to wind a desired length of cable into the band such that the band and cable can be matched to the size of the object being monitored.

Claims

1. An electronic monitoring device, comprising:

an adjustable length cable connected to an object; and

a winding mechanism adapted to wind a desired length of cable into the mechanism,

wherein opposing ends of the adjustable length cable are secured in a cap that is separate from the winding mechanism.

2. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a band connected to the cable and adapted to engage at least a portion of the object.

3. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the cable includes an electrical conducting wire.

4. The electronic monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of contact springs insertable into the cap and adapted to electrically connect the cable to an electronic tag.

5. The electronic monitoring device of claim 4, wherein the electronic tag is operable for transmitting an electronic or electro-optic signal.

6. An electronic monitoring device comprising:

an adjustable length cable connected to an object; and

a winding mechanism adapted to wind a desired length of cable into the mechanism, the winding mechanism comprising;

a rotor operable for winding the cable into the winding mechanism when the rotor is rotated in a first direction; and

a stopper held in a fixed position relative to the rotor, the stopper operable for permitting the rotor to rotate only in the first direction to prevent the cable from unwinding.

7. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the rotor includes a pair of posts having a channel formed therebetween to receive a length of cable therethrough, the posts having arcuate external surfaces for receiving the cable when the cable is wound around the posts.

8. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the stopper includes at least one flexible arm extending inwardly from an outer rim.

9. The electronic monitoring device of claim 8, wherein the rotor includes a plurality of teeth extending radially outward at a predetermined angle, the teeth engageable with the at least one arm to permit the rotor to rotate past the at least one arm in the first direction and to prevent the rotor from rotating past the at least one arm in an opposing direction.

10. The electronic monitoring device of claim 6, wherein the rotor includes a key slot operable for permitting a key to engage and rotate the rotor in the first direction.

11. An apparatus for monitoring an object, comprising:

an electronic tag operable for transmitting an electronic or electro-optic signal;

an adjustable length cable connecting the electronic tag to the object; and

a winding mechanism operationally connected to the cable and adapted to wind the cable into the winding mechanism,

wherein opposing ends of the adjustable length cable are secured in a cap separate from the winding mechanism.

12. The electronic monitoring device of claim 11, further comprising:

a pair of contact springs insertable into the cap and adapted to electrically connect the cable to the electronic tag.

13. The electronic monitoring device of claim 11, wherein the cable includes an electrical conducting wire.

14. The electronic monitoring device of claim 11, further comprising:

an ankle band adapted to engage an ankle of a baby.

15. An electronic monitoring device comprising:

an electronic tag operable for transmitting an electronic or electro-optic signal;

an adjustable length cable connecting the electronic tag to the object; and

a winding mechanism operationally connected to the cable and adapted to wind the cable into the winding mechanism, the winding mechanism comprising;

a rotor operable for winding the cable into the winding mechanism when the rotor is rotated in a first direction; and

a stopper held in a fixed position relative to the rotor, the stopper operable for permitting the rotor to rotate only in the first direction to prevent the cable from unwinding.

16. The electronic monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the rotor includes a pair of posts having a channel formed therebetween to receive a length of cable therethrough, the posts having arcuate external surfaces for receiving the cable when the cable is wound around the posts.

17. The electronic monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the stopper includes at least one flexible arm extending inwardly from an outer rim.

18. The electronic monitoring device of claim 17, wherein the rotor includes a plurality of teeth extending radially outward at a predetermined angle, the teeth engageable with the at least one arm to permit the rotor to rotate past the at least one arm in the first direction and to prevent the rotor from rotating past the at least one arm in an opposing direction.

19. The electronic monitoring device of claim 15, wherein the rotor includes a key slot operable for permitting a key to engage and rotate the rotor in the first direction.

20. An apparatus for monitoring an object, comprising:

an electronic tag operable for transmitting an electronic or electro-optic signal;

a cap releasably connectable to the electronic tag;

an adjustable length cable connectable to the cap;

a stopper having a rim with at least one flexible arm extending radially inward and at least one protruding element extending radially outward, wherein the at least one protruding element is adapted to prevent the stopper from rotating within a housing; and

a rotor operable for winding the cable into the housing, the rotor having a plurality of angled teeth extending radially outward and engagebale with the at least one arm of the stopper to permit rotation of the rotor in a first direction to wind the cable into the housing and prevent the rotor from rotating in an opposite direction to unwind the cable.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

an extraction tool operable for removing the cap from the electronic tag.

22. A method for attaching an electronic monitoring device to an object, comprising the steps of:

placing a band having a cable winding mechanism around the object;

winding a cable in the cable winding mechanism beginning at a portion between ends of the cable;

inserting a key into the cable winding mechanism; and

rotating the key in one direction to adjust a cable length.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

rotating the key in an opposite direction from the first direction to remove the key from the winding mechanism.

24. A method for removing an electronic tag from a cap connected to an attaching apparatus, comprising the steps of:

pushing the electronic tag through an aperture formed in an extraction tool until the extractor tool locks into position;

disconnecting locking tabs extending from the cap to the electronic tag; and

pulling the electronic tag away from the cap.