Holder for at least one object

• US 7,768,399 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventory Systems Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Inventory Systems Gmbh
• Inventors: Hachmann, Georg, Rossa, Hans-Joachim, Bork, Veit, Porsche, Manfred, Genentz, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/721,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.8, 340/571, 340/687, 340/686.1, 439/135, 439/136, 406/420.2, 406/53, 406/54, 406/59, 211/54.1, 211/59.1, 211/59.3, 211/57.1, 211/123, 211/124
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0861 Anti-theft means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1472 with force or weight detection

Abstract

The invention relates to a fixture (1) for at least one object, especially merchandise or packagings for merchandise. According to the invention, a means (21) for automatically determining the frequency with which said at least one object is removed from and/out of the fixture (1) and a control means (23) for transmitting at least one signal in accordance with the determined frequency of removal are provided.

Claims

1. A holder for at least one object, in particular for articles or packs, the holder comprising:

means for automatically determining the removal frequency at which the at least one object is removed from and/or out of the holder, and

control means for transmitting at least one signal in dependence on the removal frequency determined.

2. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for automatically determining the removal frequency is coupled to a control means which automatically emits at least one signal if at least one predetermined threshold value for the removal frequency is exceeded.

3. The holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the threshold value is a removal frequency of more than 3 removal operations per 5 seconds for removing an object from and/or out of the holder.

4. The holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein the threshold value is a removal frequency of more than 7 removal operations per 30 seconds for removing an object from and/or out of the holder.

5. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one signal is a loud acoustic signal in the vicinity of the holder and/or an optical signal in the vicinity of the holder.

6. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one signal is an acoustic and/or optical signal at a monitoring location remote from the holder.

7. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one signal is a wireless radio signal, in particular an SMS message, a pager message, an e-mail and/or a radio message.

8. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one signal is a triggering signal for a monitoring camera and/or a monitor.

9. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for automatically determining the removal frequency is coupled to a clock, in which case the at least one signal is triggered in dependence on the time.

10. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object has at least one retaining opening, in which case a retaining means of the holder is configured to be guided through the retaining opening and retains the object.

11. The holder as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mechanical device coupled to the at least one retaining means, the mechanical device being intended for separating the operations for removing an object and is coupled to the at least one means for automatically determining the removal frequency via an electromagnetic, magnetic, electronic and/or optical signal.

12. The holder as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mechanical device for separating objects is in the form of a removal opening of the holder.

13. The holder as claimed in claim 11, wherein a removal opening is arranged beneath an introduction opening for the objects, in which case the objects, under the action of gravitational force, are arranged in front of the removal opening.

14. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for automatically determining the removal frequency has a reed contact.

15. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical barrier, in a removal position, allows the intended removal of an object from the retaining means and, in a blocking position, prevents the intended removal of an object from the retaining means.

16. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical barrier, which is coupled to the one retaining means, is designed such that it is moved automatically from the removal position into the blocking position by the proper removal of an object from the retaining means.

17. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier is mounted for rotation about an axis such that it is moved from the removal position into the blocking position by a rotary movement about the axis upon proper removal of an object from the retaining means.

18. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier has a protrusion which, in the removal position, projects out of the retaining means such that it is subjected to mechanical contact, and moved, by the object upon proper removal of the latter from the retaining means, as a result of which the barrier is moved into the blocking position.

19. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in a not-in-use position, the barrier moves automatically into the removal position.

20. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier, in the blocking position, has at least one dimension which is larger than the at least one opening of the object, in which case the retaining means is restricted in movement through the opening in the blocking position.

21. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier has at least one blocking leg and a swing-action leg, which are coupled mechanically to one another.

22. The holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the proper removal of an object from the at least one retaining means moves the swing-action leg such that the blocking leg is moved into the blocking position via the mechanical coupling to the swing-action leg.

23. The holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the blocking leg, in the removal position, is oriented essentially parallel to the retaining means.

24. The holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the blocking leg, in the removal position, is recessed in the retaining means.

25. The holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the swing-action leg, in the removal position, is formed essentially perpendicularly to the retaining means.

26. The holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the blocking leg, in the blocking position, is formed essentially perpendicularly to the retaining means.

27. The holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the swing-action leg, in the blocking position, is formed essentially parallel to the retaining means.

28. The holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the swing-action leg is designed to be heavier than the blocking leg.

29. The holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the swing-action leg is designed to be longer than the blocking leg.

30. The holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the holder is designed as a U-shaped double hook, between which at least one leg of the barrier is configured to move.

31. The holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the swing-action leg is designed as an information carrier, in particular for a price tag.

32. The holder as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a stop for the blocking leg, the stop limiting movement of the blocking leg, in the removal position, in at least one direction and thus regulating the position of the barrier in the removal position.

33. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier is of essentially an L-shaped design.

34. The holder as claimed in claim 33, wherein the axis runs through the L-vertex of the barrier, and the barrier (2) is mounted such that it is configured to rotate about its L-vertex.

35. The holder as claimed in claim 33, wherein the axis runs through the end of one of the L-legs of the barrier, and the barrier is mounted such that it is configured to rotate about the end of its L-leg.

36. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier is fixed to the retaining means.

37. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining means is designed as a hook, in particular as a rack hook.

38. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier is arranged at the end of the retaining means, the object being moved via the end upon proper removal from the retaining means.

39. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein an acoustic signal is generated when the barrier is moved from the removal position into the blocking position.

40. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acoustic signal sound is triggered by an acoustic signal transmitter being subject to electronic contact, in the blocking position, by the swing-action leg.

41. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for automatically determining the removal frequency is coupled to a means for monitoring stock.