Security system for power and display of consumer electronic devices

• US 7,327,276 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vanguard Products Group, Inc., DBA Vanguard Protex Global
• Original Assignee: Protex International Corporation (Vanguard Protex Global)
• Inventors: Azzoli, William J., Deconinck, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu; Van T.
• Application Number:
  US11/226,787
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/686.4, 340/686.5, 340/687, 340/693.5, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.8, 348/208.2, 348/211.4, 600/117, 600/118
• US Class Current: 340/687
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• 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

A security system for powering and displaying a handheld electronic device includes a stand assembly mounted to a support and a housing removably mounted on a top portion of the stand assembly. The handheld electronic device is secured to a top portion of the housing and a sensor is coupled to the handheld electronic device. The sensor has a secure and a non-secure state and produces a detectable signal in the non-secure state. An output voltage controller controls an output voltage to the handheld electronic device which can be set only when the sensor is in the non-secure state. The output voltage is set to zero if the sensor is not placed in the secure state within a predetermined time.

Claims

1. A security system for displaying a handheld electronic device, the security system comprising:

a) a stand assembly mounted to a support;

b) a housing removably mounted on a top portion of said stand assembly, said housing comprising a top surface adapted to receive the handheld electronic device;

c) a sensor adapted to be coupled to said housing and to the handheld electronic device, said sensor having a secure state and a non-secure state, wherein said sensor produces a detectable signal when said sensor is in said non-secure state;

d) a output voltage controller coupled to said housing for controlling an output voltage to the handheld electronic device, wherein said output voltage can be set only when said sensor is in said non-secure state and wherein said output voltage is set to zero if said sensor is not placed in a secure state within a predetermined time after setting said output voltage;

e) a power cable coupling said output voltage controller to the handheld electronic device;

f) a retractable cable coupled to said housing;

g) a control unit for receiving the detectable signal from said sensor, wherein said control unit is in electrical communication with said output voltage controller; and

h) a power supply coupled to said control unit.

2. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit further comprises a satellite and a control module.

3. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said top surface of said housing is adapted to display said handheld electronic device at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

4. The security system according to claim 3, wherein said angle comprises an angle in the range of approximately 30 to 60 degrees.

5. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said output voltage is set to zero if said sensor is placed in said secure state within said predetermined time after setting said output voltage and said sensor is subsequently placed in said non-secure state.

6. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a modular connector adapted to engage said housing and wherein said sensor is placed in said non-secure state when said modular connector is not engaged with said housing.

7. The security system according to claim 6, wherein said power cable comprises a connector adapted to engage said housing and wherein when said sensor modular connector is engaged with said housing and said power cable connector is engaged with said housing said power cable connector cannot be disengaged from said housing without first disengaging said sensor modular connector.

8. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises at least one conductive element wherein said sensor is placed in said non-secure state when said at least one conductive element is broken.

9. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a wire loop sensor.

10. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a flexible printed circuit ribbon having a slit disposed at an end thereof.

11. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a folding sensor.

12. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

13. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said stand assembly comprises one or more sections, each of said one or more sections having a bore for routing said retractable cable.

14. The security system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more sections comprise a plurality of sections which are secured together in an interlocking manner.

15. The security system according to claim 14, wherein one or more of said plurality of sections comprise a threaded portion.

16. The security system according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of sections includes one or more sections of differing lengths.

17. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said top portion of said stand assembly further comprises a collar having a cavity adapted to receive a portion of said housing and wherein said collar and said housing are shaped such that said housing is centered in said stand assembly when mounted thereon.

18. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said handheld electronic device is secured to said housing with an adhesive.

19. The security system according to claim 1, wherein said handheld electronic device is secured to said housing with a flexible locking band.

20. The security system according to claim 1, further comprising a detangler coupled to said retractable cable.

21. A security system for displaying a handheld electronic device engaged with a docking station, the security system comprising:

a) a stand assembly mounted to a support;

b) a housing removably mounted on a top portion of said stand assembly, said housing comprising a top surface adapted to receive the docking station;

c) a sensor adapted to be coupled to said housing and to the handheld electronic device, said sensor having a secure state and a non-secure state, wherein said sensor produces a detectable signal when said sensor is in said non-secure state;

d) a output voltage controller coupled to said housing for controlling an output voltage to the handheld electronic device, wherein said output voltage can be set only when said sensor is in said non-secure state and wherein said output voltage is set to zero if said sensor is not placed in a secure state within a predetermined time after setting said output voltage;

e) a power cable coupling said output voltage controller to the handheld electronic device;

f) a retractable cable coupled to said housing;

g) a control unit for receiving the detectable signal from said sensor, wherein said control unit is in electrical communication with said output voltage controller; and

h) a power supply coupled to said control unit.

22. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said top surface of said housing is adapted to display said docking station at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

23. The security system according to claim 22, wherein said angle comprises an angle in the range of approximately 30 to 60 degrees.

24. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said control unit further comprises a satellite and a control module.

25. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said output voltage is set to zero if said sensor is placed in said secure state within said predetermined time after setting said output voltage and said sensor is subsequently placed in said non-secure state.

26. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said sensor comprises a modular connector adapted to engage said housing and wherein said sensor is placed in said non-secure state when said modular connector is not engaged with said housing.

27. The security system according to claim 26, wherein said power cable comprises a connector adapted to engage said housing and wherein when said sensor modular connector is engaged with said housing and said power cable connector is engaged with said housing said power cable connector cannot be disengaged from said housing without first disengaging said sensor modular connector.

28. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said sensor comprises at least one conductive element wherein said sensor is placed in said non-secure state when said at least one conductive element is broken.

29. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said sensor comprises a wire loop sensor.

30. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said sensor comprises a flexible printed circuit ribbon having a slit disposed at an end thereof.

31. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said sensor comprises a folding sensor.

32. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

33. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said stand assembly comprises one or more sections, each of said one or more sections having a bore for routing said retractable cable.

34. The security system according to claim 33, wherein said one or more sections comprise a plurality of sections which are secured together in an interlocking manner.

35. The security system according to claim 34, wherein one or more of said plurality of sections comprise a threaded portion.

36. The security system according to claim 34, wherein said plurality of sections includes one or more sections of differing lengths.

37. The security system according to claim 21, wherein said top portion of said stand assembly further comprises a collar having a cavity adapted to receive a portion of said housing and wherein said collar and said housing are shaped such that said housing is centered in said stand assembly when mounted thereon.

38. The security system according to claim 21, wherein the docking station is secured to said housing with an adhesive.

39. The security system according to claim 21, wherein the docking station is secured to said housing with a flexible locking band.

40. The security system according to claim 21, further comprising a detangler coupled to said retractable cable.

41. A security system for displaying a handheld electronic device, the security system comprising:

a) a stand assembly mounted to a support;

b) a housing removably mounted on a top portion of said stand assembly, said housing comprising a top surface adapted to receive the handheld electronic device;

c) a sensor adapted to be coupled to said housing and to the handheld electronic device, said sensor having a secure state and a non-secure state, wherein said sensor produces a detectable signal when said sensor is in said non-secure state;

d) a output voltage controller coupled to said housing for controlling an output voltage to the handheld electronic device;

e) a power cable coupling said output voltage controller to the handheld electronic device;

f) a battery coupled to said output voltage controller and disposed in said housing for powering said handheld electronic device;

g) a control unit for receiving the detectable signal from said sensor via a wireless transmission; and

h) a power supply coupled to said control unit.

42. The security system according to claim 41 wherein said battery comprises a rechargeable battery and said stand assembly further comprises an induction charger for charging said rechargeable battery when said housing is mounted on said stand assembly.

43. The security system according to claim 41, further comprising a retractable cable coupled to said housing for mechanically securing said housing to the support.

44. The security system according to claim 43, further comprising a detangler coupled to said retractable cable.

45. The security system according to claim 41, wherein said output voltage can be set only when said sensor is in said non-secure state and wherein said output voltage is set to zero if said sensor is not placed in a secure state within a predetermined time after setting said output voltage.

46. The security system according to claim 41, wherein said control unit further comprises a satellite and a control module.

47. The security system according to claim 41, wherein said top surface of said housing is adapted to display said handheld electronic device at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

48. The security system according to claim 47, wherein said angle comprises an angle in the range of approximately 30 to 60 degrees.

49. The security system according to claim 41, wherein said output voltage is set to zero if said sensor is placed in said secure state within said predetermined time after setting said output voltage and said sensor is subsequently placed in said non-secure state.

50. The security system according to claim 41, wherein said sensor comprises a modular connector adapted to engage said housing and wherein said sensor is placed in said non-secure state when said modular connector is not engaged with said housing.

51. The security system according to claim 50, wherein said power cable comprises a connector adapted to engage said housing and wherein when said sensor modular connector is engaged with said housing and said power cable connector is engaged with said housing said power cable connector cannot be disengaged from said housing without first disengaging said sensor modular connector.

52. The security system according to claim 41, wherein said sensor comprises a radio frequency module.

53. The security system according to claim 41, wherein said stand assembly comprises one or more sections, each of said one or more sections having a bore for routing said retractable cable.

54. The security system according to claim 53, wherein said one or more sections comprise a plurality of sections which are secured together in an interlocking manner.

55. The security system according to claim 53, wherein one or more of said plurality of sections comprise a threaded portion.

56. The security system according to claim 54, wherein said plurality of sections includes one or more sections of differing lengths.

57. The security system according to claim 41, wherein said top portion of said stand assembly further comprises a collar having a cavity adapted to receive a portion of said housing and wherein said collar and said housing are shaped such that said housing is centered in said stand assembly when mounted thereon.

58. The security system according to claim 41, wherein said handheld electronic device is secured to said housing with an adhesive.

59. The security system according to claim 41, wherein said handheld electronic device is secured to said housing with a flexible locking band.