Combination non-programmable and programmable key for security device

• US 8,542,119 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Sankey, James K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US12/685,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20100175438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.8, 340/572.1, 340/693.5, 340/691.1, 340/815.45, 340/5.25, 340 521- 523, 340/5.28, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.65, 340/10.51, 340/571, 340/543, 70/571, 703/44, 702/77, 70/58, 702/76
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 19/046 the shank being slidingly mounted on the bow, e.g. for storage
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/06 Electric alarm locks E05B45/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/004 the magnets acting directly on the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0045 keys with permanent magnets E05B47/0043, E05B47/0044, E05B73/0052 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• 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 13/1472 with force or weight detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7486 Single key

Abstract

A combination non-programmable and programmable key for a security device of the type used to display items of merchandise includes a non-programmable portion for cooperating with a mechanical lock of the security device and a programmable portion for cooperating with a sensor of the security device that is operatively coupled to an alarm for indicating a security threat to the security device or to an item of merchandise displayed on the security device. The non-programmable portion includes a side assembly having a magnet that cooperates with a magnetically attractable locking pin to unlock the mechanical lock of the security device. The programmable portion emits an energy signal that cooperates with the sensor of the security device to disarm the alarm and thereby permit the security device to be removed or an item of merchandise to be removed without the alarm indicating a security threat.

Claims

1. A combination non-programmable and programmable key for a security device, comprising:

a housing;

a non-programmable portion disposed at least partially within the housing operable for unlocking a mechanical lock of the security device; and

a programmable portion disposed at least partially within the housing operable for independently arming and disarming a monitoring circuit that is in electrical communication with a sensor and operatively coupled to an alarm,

wherein the security device or an item of merchandise is locked to a display support when the mechanical lock is locked, and the security device or the item of merchandise is removable from the display support when the mechanical lock is unlocked by the non-programmable portion of the key.

2. The combination non-programmable and programmable key of claim 1, wherein the alarm provides an alarm signal if the security device is separated from a display support when the monitoring circuit is armed by the programmable portion of the key.

3. The combination non-programmable and programmable key of claim 1, wherein the alarm provides an alarm signal if an item of merchandise displayed on the security device is removed from the security device when the monitoring circuit is armed by the programmable portion of the key.

4. The combination non-programmable and programmable key of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an interior cavity for housing the non-programmable portion and the programmable portion and wherein at least the non-programmable portion is movable relative to the housing within the interior cavity.

5. The combination non-programmable and programmable key of claim 4, wherein the non-programmable portion comprises a slide assembly configured for sliding movement within the interior cavity, a magnet at one end of the slide assembly, and a spring attached to the slide assembly for biasing the slide assembly and the magnet to a retracted position.

6. The combination non-programmable and programmable key of claim 5, further comprising a button for moving the slide assembly and the magnet against a biasing force of the spring to an extended position.

7. The combination non-programmable and programmable key of claim 6, wherein the biasing force of the spring returns the slide assembly and the magnet to the retracted position when the button is released.

8. The combination non-programmable and programmable key of claim 1, wherein the programmable portion emits an energy signal for arming or disarming the monitoring circuit.

9. The combination non-programmable and programmable key of claim 8, wherein the programmable portion comprises a contact strip, a contact switch operatively coupled to the contact strip, and at least one biasing member for biasing the contact strip such that the contact switch is in one of an opened position and a closed position.

10. The combination non-programmable and programmable key of claim 9, further comprising a button for moving the contact strip against a biasing force of the biasing member between the opened position and the closed position.

11. The combination non-programmable and programmable key of claim 10, wherein the biasing force of the biasing member returns the contact strip to the other of the opened position and the closed position when the button is returned to an initial position.

12. A combination non-programmable and programmable key for a security device, the key comprising a programmable portion operable for disarming an alarm associated with the security device that produces an alarm signal indicating a security threat to the security device or to an item of merchandise displayed on the security device, the key further comprising a non-programmable portion operable for unlocking the security device from a display support or for unlocking an item of merchandise displayed on the security device, the non-programmable portion comprising a slide assembly, a magnet at an end of the slide assembly and a spring attached to the slide assembly for biasing the slide assembly and the magnet to a retracted position.

13. A key for a security device having a mechanical lock for locking the security device to a display support or for locking an item of merchandise on the security device and a sensor electrically connected to a monitoring circuit that is operatively coupled to an alarm for indicating a security threat to the security device or to the item of merchandise, the key comprising:

a housing defining an interior cavity;

a non-programmable portion at least partially disposed within the interior cavity for unlocking the mechanical lock of the security device; and

a programmable portion at least partially disposed within the interior cavity for disarming the monitoring circuit of the security device to thereby prevent the alarm from indicating the security threat, the programmable portion comprising a contact strip, a contact switch operatively coupled to the contact strip, and at least one biasing member for biasing the contact strip such that the contact switch is in one of an opened position and a closed position.

14. A key according to claim 13, wherein the non-programmable portion comprises a magnet that cooperates with a locking pin made of a magnetically attractable material to unlock the mechanical lock of the security device.

15. A key according to claim 13, wherein the programmable portion comprises an energy signal module configured to emit an energy signal that communicates with the monitoring circuit to disarm the alarm and thereby permit the security device to be removed from the display support or the item of merchandise to be removed from the security device.

16. A key according to claim 15, wherein the energy signal is selected from the group consisting of an electrical signal, an optical signal, an acoustical signal and a magnetic pulse signal.

17. A combination non-programmable and programmable key for a security device, comprising:

a housing;

a non-programmable portion disposed at least partially within the housing operable for unlocking a mechanical lock of the security device; and

a programmable portion disposed at least partially within the housing operable for independently arming and disarming a monitoring circuit that is in electrical communication with a sensor and operatively coupled to an alarm,

wherein the alarm provides an alarm signal if the security device is separated from a display support or if an item of merchandise displayed on the security device is removed from the security device when the monitoring circuit is armed by the programmable portion of the key.