System and device for protecting articles

• US 8,890,690 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Checkpoint Systems GmbH (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brenner, Ranier
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US14/035,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20140022078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.2
• US Class Current: 340/568.2
• 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: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

A system for protecting articles, especially displayed goods, from theft is typically configured to produce information about the article when a person is detected approaching the article or the article is moved but not taken. The system typically includes an alarm which may be sounded if the article is moved too far from the display position or under other conditions.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a merchandise item protection apparatus comprising;

a theft detection sensor configured to be affixed to an item of merchandise, the theft detection sensor being further configured to generate a theft detection sensor response when the theft detection sensor is removed from the item of merchandise,

an antenna,

a checking and alarm device connected to the antenna, the checking and alarm device being configured to produce a theft alarm based on the theft detection sensor response,

a removal sensor, and

a cable connected to the theft detection sensor, the cable having a magnet attached thereto, where the removal sensor comprises a magnetic switch configured to be actuated in response to interruption of a magnetic field generated by the magnet attached to the cable; and

an electronic key including a transmitter configured to transmit data to the antenna,

wherein the checking and alarm device is further configured to receive the data via the antenna and perform a wireless authorization check of the electronic key.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the theft detection sensor is connected to the cable, and wherein the theft detection sensor generates the theft detection sensor response when the cable is severed.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein theft detection sensor includes a wireless transmitter.

5. The system of claim 4, the system further comprises a distance sensor that detects a distance that the item of merchandise has been moved using the wireless transmitter of the theft detection sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the system further comprises at least one additional antenna, wherein the checking and alarm device is configured to detect a direction in which the item of merchandise is moved based on signals received via the at least one additional antenna.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter of the electronic key is configured to produce an electric field that couples to a person'"'"'s skin when the electronic key is proximate the person'"'"'s body.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the transmitter capacitively couples with the person'"'"'s skin.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the transmitter of the electronic key is further configured to modulate data onto a signal voltage that generates the electric field.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the theft detection sensor includes a theft detection sensor transmitter configured to generate a field that couples with a person'"'"'s skin that is handling the item of merchandise.

3. The system of claim wherein the magnet is configured to operate as a cable stop for the cable by resting against an abutment when the cable is being refracted onto a cable retractor.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a theft detection sensor configured to be affixed to an item of merchandise, the theft detection sensor being further configured to generate a theft detection sensor response when the theft detection sensor is removed from the item of merchandise;

an antenna;

a checking and alarm device connected to the antenna, the checking and alarm device being configured to;

produce a theft alarm based on the theft detection sensor response,

receive data via the antenna from an electronic key, and

perform an authorization check of the electronic key;

a removal sensor; and

a cable connected to the theft detection sensor, the cable having a magnet attached thereto, where the removal sensor comprises a magnetic switch configured to be actuated in response to interruption of a magnetic field generated by the magnet attached to the cable.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the theft detection sensor is connected to the cable, and wherein the theft detection sensor generates the theft detection sensor response when the cable is severed.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a display surface, wherein the removal sensor is configured to generate a removal sensor response when the item of merchandise is removed from the display surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the removal sensor is configured to provide a removal sensor response that activates a presentation of associated product information retrieved from a video database and displayed on a visual display unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the theft detection sensor includes a wireless transmitter.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the antenna is configured to receive the data from the electronic key via an electric field that is coupled to a person'"'"'s skin when a transmitter of the electronic key is proximate the person'"'"'s body.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the antenna is further configured to receive the data from the electronic key that has been modulated onto a signal voltage that generates the electric field.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the theft detection sensor includes a theft detection sensor transmitter configured to generate a field that couples with a person'"'"'s skin that is handling the item of merchandise.

19. An electronic key apparatus comprising:

a memory including data; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the data to an antenna of a merchandise item protection apparatus,

wherein the merchandise protection apparatus includes a checking and alarm device configured to produce a theft alarm based on a theft detection sensor response provides by a theft detection sensor, and further configured to receive the data via an antenna connected to the checking and alarm device and perform a wireless authorization check of the electronic key, and

wherein the transmitter of the electronic key capacitively couples with a person'"'"'s skin and is configured to produce an electric field that couples to the person'"'"'s skin when the electronic key is proximate the person'"'"'s body.

20. The electronic key apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transmitter configured to transmit the data is further configured to transmit the data to the antenna of the merchandise item protection apparatus, the theft detection sensor of the merchandise protection apparatus being connected to a cable, and the theft detection sensor being configured to generate the theft detection sensor response when the cable is severed.

21. The electronic key apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transmitter is further configured to modulate data onto a signal voltage that generates the electric field.

22. The electronic key apparatus of claim 21, wherein the modulated data is used for identification.