Antitheft device for commodity items

• US 8,573,011 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thoonsen Trading
• Original Assignee: Thoonsen Trading
• Inventors: Thoonsen, Jacky
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Suzanne
• Application Number:
  US13/273,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20120073336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 70/571, 245/07, 206/1.5, 206/387.11, 206/308.1, 206/308.2, 340/572.1, 3405727-5729
• US Class Current: 70/57.1
• 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: Y10T 24/44444 having specific surface material or irregularity on or along engaging face
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/411 Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article

Abstract

An antitheft device designed to be attached to an off-the-shelf commodity item, preferably a piece of clothing, in particular in close proximity to the edge of the item, including a first so-called fastening part, provided with a nail-type pinning element, a second so-called attachment part, including a recess capable of receiving the said pinning element, a locking system designed to retain the pinning element in the said recess, the two parts being connected to one another so as to be movable relative to one another when the pinning element is outside the recess, and a spring providing the elastic mobility of the fastening part in relation to the attachment part.

Claims

1. An antitheft device designed to be attached to an off-the-shelf commodity item, preferably a piece of clothing, in particular in close proximity to the edge of the item, comprising

a first fastening part, provided with a nail-type pinning element;

a second attachment part, comprising a hole capable of receiving the said pinning element;

a locking system designed to retain the pinning element in the said hole, the two parts being connected to one another so as to be movable relative to one another when the pinning element is outside the hole; and

a spring providing the elastic mobility of the fastening part in relation to the attachment part,

wherein said device comprises an electronic theft detection system, said electronic theft detection system being accommodated in the attachment part and

wherein the hole has a flared opening and a generally funnel shape, the flared opening being operable to guide the pinning element into the hole during attachment.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the spring is carried by a pin extending along a plane that is substantially transversal to the direction in which the pinning element is inserted or removed.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the pin of the spring is made integral, firstly with a distal end of the fastening part, and secondly with a portion of a peripheral edge of the fastening part.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the spring pin is made integral with a joining area of the attachment part of the attachment part and fastening part, by moulding and/or crimping.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening part constitutes a means to guide the pinning element for inserting the pinning element in the hole and a means for ejecting the said pinning element outside the said hole.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening part comprises an oblong body which extends longitudinally from the fastening device, is integral with one edge of the attachment part, includes a free opposite end of the fastening part which bears the pinning element, and has a length so that the pinning element is arranged directly opposite the hole.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening part is shaped, particularly with a curved profile that is concave towards the inside of the device, so that the fastening part is both rigid and elastic in order to apply a return force in the locked position of the pinning element.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the body of the fastening part has an inner face in front of the attachment part and an opposite outer face, the outer face being convex on the surface and/or the inner face having a reinforcing rib, preferably elongated and median, which extends longitudinally to the body.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening part is made of plastic, particularly PVC or PEHD.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening part and the attachment part are made integral by moulding, gluing or non-removable fitting, in particular, the fastening part comprises two parts, one part with the pinning element and a second part having an edge at which the first part is connected and which constitutes a closing element for the fastening part.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pinning element comprises a head and a stem extending from the head and ending at a pointed end, the head being made integral, preferably by moulding or crimping, with the free end of the fastening part.