Theft deterrent device including a spring washer
First Claim
1. A theft protection device comprising:
- a. a pin member for attaching said device to an article to be protected from theft;
b. a housing disposed within said device, said housing including a floor and a wall tapering towards a confining end;
c. a ball clutch mechanism disposed within said housing, said ball clutch mechanism applying radial pressure against said pin member to prevent said pin member from being removed from said device;
d. coaxial openings extending through said housing and said ball clutch mechanism for insertably receiving said pin member in a longitudinal direction; and
,e. said floor comprising a deflectable member which deflects in a direction away from the confining end of the housing upon insertion of said pin member to apply a radial force against said pin member to frictionally engage said pin member within said device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device to protect an article from theft is disclosed. The device includes a pointed pin member to enable attachment of the device to the article to be protected from theft. A housing disposed within the device includes a floor and a wall tapering towards a confining end. The housing includes coaxial openings for insertably receiving the pin member. A ball clutch mechanism is located within the housing and includes a plurality of balls. As the balls are urged towards the confining end of the housing, they wedge between the tapering wall and the pin member to apply increasing radial pressure against the pin member to prevent it from being withdrawn from the device. The floor includes a member which deflects downwardly upon insertion of the pin member into the housing to apply a radial force against the pin member to frictionally engage it within the device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A theft protection device comprising:
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a. a pin member for attaching said device to an article to be protected from theft; b. a housing disposed within said device, said housing including a floor and a wall tapering towards a confining end; c. a ball clutch mechanism disposed within said housing, said ball clutch mechanism applying radial pressure against said pin member to prevent said pin member from being removed from said device; d. coaxial openings extending through said housing and said ball clutch mechanism for insertably receiving said pin member in a longitudinal direction; and
,e. said floor comprising a deflectable member which deflects in a direction away from the confining end of the housing upon insertion of said pin member to apply a radial force against said pin member to frictionally engage said pin member within said device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A theft protection device comprising:
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a. a pin member for attaching said device to an article to be protected from theft; b. a housing disposed within said device, said housing including a floor and a wall tapering towards a confining end; c. a ball clutch mechanism disposed within said housing, said ball clutch mechanism comprising a plurality of balls applying radial pressure against said pin member to prevent said pin member from being removed from said device; d. coaxial openings extending through said housing and said ball clutch mechanism for insertably receiving said pin member in a longitudinal direction; and
,e. said floor comprising a plurality of radially extending bendable tabs formed of a magnetic material, wherein in response to a magnetic force, said tabs bend in a direction away from said confining end of said housing to release said plurality of balls from said pin member.
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Specification