Methods and devices for securing a product against theft

• US 7,688,205 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ott Security Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reinhold Ott
• Inventors: Ott, Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/542,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20060139170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,261 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/506, 340/539.1, 340/531, 340/501, 340/425.5, 340/825.69, 340/825.57, 340/539.11, 340/517, 340/521, 340/541, 340/5.2, 340/568.2, 340/628, 340/686.1, 340/687, 340/426.1, 340/426.13, 340/539.16
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• 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 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and devices for securing a product against theft. The security device comprises a connection mode (110) and an on position mode (100). A receiver (6) of the security device is activated when in the on position (100) and the security device switches from the on position (100) to the connection mode (110) when the receiver (6) is impinged upon by a transmitter (5). The receiver (6) is deactivated in the connection mode (110). The energy consumption of the security device is reduced by deactivating (111) the receiver (6). The security device can be prevented from being unintentionally impinged upon by selection signals from the transmitter because of said deactivation (111).

Claims

1. Method for protecting a commercial product against theft, the method comprising:

activating a receiver housed in a security unit, the security unit thereby being in an on-state mode; and

shifting the security unit from the on-state mode to a connect mode for connecting the commercial product to the security unit, the shifting occurring when the receiver is impinged upon by a transmitter, wherein the receiver is deactivated when the security unit shifts to the connect mode,

wherein the security unit is shifted from the connect mode to an alarm mode if the security unit is not prepared within a preset time interval for a shift to the monitoring mode, wherein, in the monitoring mode, an attempted theft will result in a shift to an alarm mode, wherein in the monitoring mode the receiver is deactivated and, wherein the receiver is activated when the security unit shifts to the alarm mode.

2. Method pursuant to claim 1, wherein the security unit is placed in the on-state mode when it is switched on.

3. Method pursuant to claim 1 wherein, in the connect mode, the security unit is prepared for a shift to a monitoring mode.

4. Method pursuant to claim 1, wherein the alarm mode is terminated when the receiver is impinged upon by the transmitter.

5. Method for protecting a commercial product against theft, in which a security unit is connected to a central unit via connectors, comprising:

activating a receiver housed in the central unit, the central unit thereby being in an on-state mode; and

shifting the central unit from the on-state mode to a connect mode for connecting the commercial product to the security unit, the shifting occurring when the receiver is impinged upon by a transmitter, wherein the receiver is deactivated when the central unit shifts to the connect mode,

wherein the central unit is switched from the connect mode to an alarm mode when at least one of the security unit and the central unit has not been prepared for a shift to the monitoring mode within a preset time interval, wherein, in the monitoring mode, a theft attempt will result in a shift to an alarm mode, wherein in the monitoring mode the receiver is deactivated and wherein the receiver is activated when the central unit shifts to the alarm mode.

6. Method pursuant to claim 5, wherein the central unit is shifted to the on-state mode when it is switched on.

7. Method pursuant to claim 5, wherein at least one of the security unit and the central unit, in the connect mode, is prepared for a transfer to a monitoring mode.

8. Method pursuant to claim 5, wherein the alarm mode is terminated when the receiver is impinged upon by the transmitter.

9. Method pursuant to claim 5, wherein the transmitter transmits a selection signal that impinges upon the receiver.

10. Method pursuant to claim 9, wherein the selection signal used to terminate the alarm mode and the selection signal used to shift the system to the connect mode are the same.

11. Method pursuant to claim 9, wherein the alarm mode is not terminated if a selection signal received during the alarm mode differs from the selection signal that was received by the system in the on-state mode.

12. Method pursuant to claim 9, wherein the selection signal is encoded.

13. Method pursuant to claim 9, wherein the selection signal is stored in the receiver in a volatile memory.

14. Method pursuant to claim 9, wherein at least one of the security unit and the central unit are switched off and on in series, in order to subsequently transfer a selection signal to the security unit.

15. Method pursuant to claim 9, wherein, to transmit the selection signal from the transmitter to the receiver, a remote operation system is used.

16. Method pursuant to claim 9, wherein the selection signal is transmitted by a transmitter to at least one other transmitter.

17. Method pursuant to claim 5, wherein one or more operating modes for at least one of the security unit and the central unit are indicated via at least one of an optical and acoustic signal.

18. Method pursuant to claim 17, wherein

at least one of the optical and acoustic signal is modulated based upon an amount of time remaining in the time interval.

19. Method pursuant to claim 5, wherein a status of an energy source for at least one of the security unit and the central unit is monitored.

20. Method pursuant to claim 19, wherein at least one of an acoustic and optical signal is emitted based upon the status of the energy source.

21. Method pursuant to claim 5, wherein at least one of multiple security units and multiple central units are operated using a single transmitter.

22. Method pursuant to claim 5, wherein the security unit is equipped with a bracket component for mounting to the product, and wherein, in attaching the bracket component to the product, a monitoring of the bracket component for proper attachment to the product is activated.

23. Method pursuant to claim 22, wherein the security unit is equipped with a mounting component that is connected to the bracket component via connectors, for fastening to a mounting area that cannot be stolen, and wherein, in the attachment of the mounting component to the mounting area, a monitoring of the mounting component for proper fastening to the mounting area is activated.

24. Method pursuant to claim 23, wherein, in at least one of attaching the bracket component to the product and attaching the mounting component to the mounting area, the monitoring is activated wherein, in at least one of the bracket component and the mounting component, a measuring loop that includes one or more sensors is closed.

25. Method pursuant to claim 24, wherein, when an attempt is made to separate at least one of the bracket component from the product, the mounting component from the mounting area and the bracket component from the mounting component, the measuring loop is opened.

26. Method pursuant to claim 22, wherein the security unit is connectable to the central unit via the connectors, and wherein, in connecting the security unit to the central unit, a monitoring for proper connection of the security unit to the central unit is activated.

27. Method pursuant to claim 26, wherein, in at least one of attaching the bracket component to the product and connecting the security unit to the central unit, the monitoring is activated wherein, in the bracket component, a measuring loop including one or more sensors is closed.

28. Method pursuant to claim 27, wherein, when an attempt is made to separate at least one of the bracket component from the product and the security unit from the central unit, the measuring loop is opened.

29. Device for protecting a commercial product against theft, comprising:

a security unit including an on-state mode in which a receiver housed in the security unit is activated, and a connect mode in which the receiver is deactivated, wherein the security unit is placed in the on-state mode when it is switched on,

wherein the security unit includes a monitoring mode, in which a theft attempt will result in the security unit shifting to an alarm mode, and wherein, in the monitoring mode, the receiver is deactivated, and activated in the alarm mode.

30. Device pursuant to claim 29, wherein the security unit is preparable, in the connect mode, for a shift to the monitoring mode.

31. Device pursuant to claim 29, wherein the security unit includes a bracket component for attachment to the product.

32. Device pursuant to claim 31, wherein a monitoring is activatable via an attachment of the bracket component to the product.

33. Device pursuant to claim 31, wherein the security unit includes a mounting component connected to the bracket component via connectors and intended for mounting the unit to a mounting area.

34. Device pursuant to claim 33, wherein a monitoring is activatable by attaching the mounting component to the mounting area.

35. Device pursuant to claim 33, wherein the receiver is housed in at least one of the mounting component and the central unit.

36. Device pursuant to claim 33, wherein a battery chamber is provided in at least one of the mounting component and the central unit.

37. Device pursuant to claim 33, wherein the mounting component is equipped with a retractor device.

38. Device pursuant to claim 33, wherein the connectors are designed as cable.

39. Device pursuant to claim 33, wherein the mounting component is at least one of suspendable and latchable in the bracket component.

40. Device pursuant to claim 33, wherein the mounting component and the bracket component are coupleable via a magnet.

41. Device pursuant to claim 31, wherein the security unit is connectable via connectors to the central unit, and wherein a monitoring is activatable by connecting the security unit to the central unit.

42. Device pursuant to claim 31, wherein the bracket component is provided with a first mounting area and a second mounting area, and wherein the second mounting area is more flexible than the first mounting area.

43. Device pursuant to claim 42, wherein a material thickness at the first mounting area is greater than a material thickness at the second mounting area.

44. Device pursuant to claim 29, wherein a transmitter, designed as a remote operation system, is provided for impinging upon the receiver.

45. Device pursuant to claim 29, wherein at least one of the security unit and the central unit includes a volatile memory for storing a selection signal.

46. Device pursuant to claim 29, wherein at least one of the security unit and the central unit includes at least one of optical and acoustic signal generators.

47. Device pursuant to claim 46, wherein the optical signal generators are designed as light-emitting diodes.

48. Device pursuant to claim 46, wherein the acoustic signal generators are designed as piezoelectric transducers.

49. Device pursuant to claim 29, wherein a housing of at least one of the security unit and the central unit is at least partially translucent or transparent.

50. Device pursuant to claim 29, wherein at least one of the bracket component and the mounting component is equipped with a measuring loop formed by one or more sensors.

51. Device pursuant to claim 50, wherein the measuring loop of the bracket component and the measuring loop of the mounting component are connected in series.

52. Device pursuant to claim 50, wherein the measuring loop opens up when an attempt is made to separate at least one of the bracket component from the product, the mounting component from the mounting area and the bracket component from the mounting component.

53. Device pursuant to claim 50, wherein the one or more sensors are designed as at least one of electrical sensors, capacitive sensors and optical sensors.

54. Device pursuant to claim 50, wherein the one or more sensors are integrated at least partially into the adhesive layer.

55. Device pursuant to claim 29, wherein at least one of the bracket component and the mounting component are provided with an adhesive layer for at least one of affixing the bracket component to the product and affixing the mounting component to the mounting area.

56. Device pursuant to claim 55, wherein the adhesive strip is a double-sided adhesive strip.

57. Device pursuant to claim 55, wherein the adhesive layer adheres more strongly to at least one of the product and the mounting area than to at least one of the bracket component and the mounting component.

58. Device pursuant to claim 55, wherein the at least one adhesive layer is provided with a grip tab.

59. Device for protecting a product against theft, comprising:

a security unit connected to a central unit via connectors, the central unit including a connect mode and an on-state mode, a receiver housed in the central unit being activated in the on-state mode and being deactivated in the connect mode, wherein the security unit is placed in the on-state mode when it is switched on

wherein the central unit includes a monitoring mode, in which a theft attempt will trigger a shift of the central unit to an alarm mode, and wherein the receiver is deactivated in the monitoring mode and activated in the alarm mode.

60. Device pursuant to claim 59, wherein at least one of the security unit and the central unit is preparable in the connect mode for a shift to the monitoring mode.