Product securement and management system

• US 8,235,222 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US13/015,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 211/189, 211/134, 211/183, 211/4, 211/150, 211/8, 211/9, 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/184, 211/187, 211/119.003, 312/138.1, 312/215, 312/222, 312/35, 312/117, 221 2- 6, 700/237, 700/240, 700/244, 70 85- 88
• US Class Current: 211/4
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/002 Devices for protection against sunlight or theft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A system for detecting the potential theft of product from a display shelf may comprise: at least one shelf for containing product, a barrier, and an alert device. The barrier may be movable between a closed position and an open position. The alert device may be operatively connected to the barrier by an air switch and a pressurized pneumatic tube connected to the air switch and located adjacent to the first end of the barrier, wherein the alert device detects movement of the barrier and provides an alert indicative of a potential theft of product from the shelf. When the barrier moves from the closed position to the open position, the barrier may engage the pneumatic tubing, thereby compressing the pneumatic tubing, activating the air switch, and sending a signal to the alert device.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the potential theft of product from a display shelf comprising:

at least one shelf for containing product, the at least one shelf defining a front edge;

a barrier with a first end mounted to the system, and a second end that cooperates with the front edge of the shelf to inhibit access to the product on the at least one shelf, the barrier extending towards the shelf and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the barrier substantially blocks access to the at least one shelf when in the closed position and permits access to the at least one shelf when in the open position and permits removal of product from the front of the at least one shelf; and

an alert device operatively connected to the barrier by an air switch and a pressurized pneumatic tube connected to the air switch, and the pneumatic tube located adjacent to the first end of the barrier, wherein the alert device detects movement of the barrier and provides an alert indicative of a potential theft of product from the shelf.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the barrier is pivotal from the closed position to the open position.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein when the barrier moves from the closed position to the open position, the first end of the barrier pivots to engage the pneumatic tubing, thereby compressing the pneumatic tubing, activating the air switch, and sending a signal to the alert device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein when the barrier moves from the open position to the closed position, the first end of the barrier pivots to disengage the pneumatic tubing, thereby de-compressing the pneumatic tubing and de-activating the air switch.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a receiver for detecting the alert from the alert device and wherein the alert from the alert device is selected from the group consisting of an audible, inaudible, infrared, radio-frequency, cellular, ultrasonic, digital, analog, and electronic alerts.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the alert is received by a processor for further signal processing.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the further signal processing includes determining a total time the barrier was in the open position.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the further signal processing includes determining a frequency the barrier was in the open position.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the further signal processing includes determining whether a theft situation exists.

10. A security shelf system comprising:

at least one shelf for containing product;

a retaining wall mounted on the at least one shelf and extending from the at least one shelf;

a moveable barrier with a first end mounted to the system, and a second end of the moveable barrier extending from the mounting towards the shelf, the barrier movable from a closed position that inhibits access to product on the shelf to an open position that permits limited access to product on the shelf and permits removal of product from the shelf over the retaining wall; and

a device for detecting movement of the barrier and providing an alert indicative of a potential theft of product from the shelf, wherein the device further includes an air switch and a pressurized pneumatic tube connected to the air switch and the pneumatic tube located adjacent to the first end of the barrier,

wherein when the barrier moves from the closed position to the open position, the first end of the barrier engages the pneumatic tubing, thereby compressing the pneumatic tubing, activating the air switch, and sending a signal to the device.

11. The security shelf system of claim 10, wherein the barrier is pivotal from the closed position to the open position.

12. The security shelf system of claim 11, wherein when the barrier moves from the open position to the closed position, the first end of the barrier disengages from the pneumatic tubing, thereby de-compressing the pneumatic tubing and de-activating the air switch.

13. The security shelf system of claim 10 further comprising a receiver for detecting the alert from the device and wherein the alert from the device is selected from the group consisting of an audible, inaudible, infrared, radio-frequency, cellular, ultrasonic, digital, analog, and electronic alerts.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the alert is received by a processor for further signal processing.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the further signal processing includes determining a total time the barrier was in the open position.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the further signal processing includes determining a frequency the barrier was in the open position.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the further signal processing includes determining whether a theft situation exists.