Security surround device with cord lock

• US 8,938,997 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2013
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Piccoli, Anthony F., Wu, Wei, Appalucci, Lawrence, Mazoki, Gary T., McKeown, Thomas J., Strauser, Seth, Brodzik, James
• Primary Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US13/732,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20130174617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 70/14, 70/18, 70/19, 70/30, 70/49, 70/57, 70/571, 70/58, 704/19
• US Class Current: 70/58
• 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: E05B 73/0029 Tags wrapped around the protected product using cables, wires or the like, e.g. with cable retraction for tensioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/50 Special application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A security device and method to surround merchandise for theft deterrence. The security device includes a cord and housing for a knot in the cord. The cord is pulled from one end about the knot to tighten cord around a product and the cord is pulled from another section to lock cord in place around the product. The device serves to deter breaking in or stealing merchandising product. The security device may also include an additional housing for the cord to pass through. Either housing may include an EAS and/or RFID element for additional security.

Claims

1. A security device for a product comprising:

a lock housing;

a first support post and a second support post positioned within the lock housing;

a cord configured to at least partially surround the product and constrict about the product, wherein the cord includes a knot having (1) a first loop configured to engage with the first support post within the lock housing to lock the cord about the product at a predefined length and (2) a second loop; and

a cord tail included on an end of the cord, wherein pulling the cord tail in a direction away from the second support post results in the second loop engaging the second support post and constricting upon the second support post.

8. The security device of claim 1, further comprising one or more crossover housings comprising:

at least one guide channel positioned inside the crossover housing; and

at least one pair of crossover openings, wherein each crossover opening of the pair of crossover openings is located about the periphery of the crossover housing;

wherein the crossover guide channel runs between each crossover opening; and

wherein a section of the cord, external of the lock housing, is positioned in the crossover guide channel and through the pair of crossover openings.

9. The security device of claim 8, wherein at least one side of the crossover housing comprises an adhesive to fasten the crossover housing to the product.

10. The security device of claim 8, wherein the crossover housing further comprises at least one crossover housing support wall, positioned within the crossover housing, to counter an external force on the crossover housing.

11. The security device of claim 8, wherein the crossover housing further comprises a security element positioned within the crossover housing and wherein the security element is selected from at least one of an EAS element or an RFID element.

12. The security device of claim 11, wherein the lock housing further comprises a security element positioned within the lock housing and wherein the security element is selected from at least one of an EAS element or an RFID element.

13. The security device of claim 1, wherein at least one side of the lock housing comprises an adhesive to fasten the lock housing to the product.

14. The security device of claim 1, wherein the lock housing further comprises at least one lock housing support wall, positioned within the lock housing, to counter external force on the lock housing.

15. The security device of claim 1, wherein material of the cord is selected from at least one of metal, plastic, cloth, rubber, wool, or silk.

16. The security device of claim 1, wherein the lock housing further comprises a security element positioned within the lock housing and wherein the security element is selected from at least one of an EAS element or an RFID element.

2. The security device of claim wherein the lock housing comprises:

a first outlet located about a periphery of the lock housing; and

a second outlet located about a periphery of the lock housing in proximity to the first outlet.

3. The security device of claim 2, wherein the first support post is positioned approximately between the second support post, the first outlet, and the second outlet.

4. The security device of claim 3, wherein the knot adjacent cord portion is located through the first outlet and the tail end is located through the second outlet.

5. The security device of claim 4, wherein the knot further comprises:

the second loop positioned through the first loop;

wherein the cord length constricts between the head end and the knot adjacent cord portion when the tail end is pulled away externally from the second outlet of the housing to move the cord around the first support post in the first loop and around the second support post in the second loop;

wherein the first loop constricts around the second loop and the tail end at the first support post to restrict movement of the cord around the first loop and the second loop when the knot adjacent cord portion is pulled away externally from the first outlet of the housing to lock the constricted length of the cord about the product.

6. The security device of claim 4, wherein the lock housing comprises a blade, attached in proximity to the second outlet, to cut away the tail end of the cord.

7. The security device of claim 2, wherein the lock housing comprises:

a lock housing guide channel positioned inside the lock housing; and

a pair of lock housing openings, wherein each lock housing opening of the pair of lock housing openings is located about the periphery of the lock housing;

wherein the lock housing guide channel runs between each lock housing opening;

wherein a section of the cord, between the knot adjacent cord portion and head end, is positioned in the lock housing guide channel and through the pair of lock housing openings.

17. A method for securing a product comprising:

positioning a first support post within a lock housing;

surrounding a portion of the product with a cord, wherein the cord includes a knot and the knot includes a first loop;

engaging the first loop of the knot with the first support post within the lock housing;

pulling a tail end of the cord away externally from a second outlet of the lock housing and from the knot to constrict the length of the cord between a head end of the cord and a knot adjacent cord portion of the cord, located through a first outlet, wherein the first outlet and second outlet are located about a periphery of the lock housing, the head end is positioned in the housing, and the knot adjacent cord portion is located approximate to the knot on the opposite side of the knot from the tail end;

pulling the knot adjacent cord portion away externally from the first outlet to constrict a first loop of the knot around a second loop of the knot and the tail end at a first support post in the lock housing, wherein the lock housing comprises (1) a base having the first support post and a second support post positioned within, and (2) a cover, the first support post being positioned approximately between the second support post, the first outlet, and the second outlet;

locking the cord in place around the product at a predefined length; and

surrounding at least a portion of the product with part of the cord.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

forming the knot in the cord; and

positioning the knot into the base of the lock housing prior to tightening to constrict the length of the cord.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein forming the knot comprises:

forming the first loop in the knot with the tail end of the cord and the cord;

forming the second loop in the knot with the tail end between the tail end and the first loop; and

passing the tail end about the second loop through the formed first loop.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein positioning the knot into the base of the lock housing comprises:

positioning the formed first loop around the first support post in the base;

positioning the formed second loop around the second support post in the base;

positioning the knot adjacent cord portion of the cord into the first outlet; and

positioning the tail end of the cord into the second outlet.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising placing the head end of the cord into the base portion.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising attaching the cover to the base prior to surrounding the portion of the product.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising positioning a security element into the lock housing prior to attaching the cover to the base, wherein the security element is selected from at least one of an EAS element or an RFID element.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising welding the attached cover to the base about a seam about a periphery of the lock housing.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

positioning a section of the cord, external of the lock housing, in one or more crossover guide channels and through one or more pair of crossover openings, wherein the one or more crossover guide channels are located inside one or more crossover bases and the one or more pair of crossover openings are located about the periphery of the crossover base, and wherein the crossover guide channel runs between each crossover opening in the pair of crossover openings;

attaching a crossover cover to the crossover base to form a crossover housing to enclose the section of cord.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising fastening the one or more crossover housings to the product with adhesive.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising positioning a security element into the crossover housing prior to attaching the crossover cover to the crossover base, wherein the security element is selected from at least one of an EAS element or an RFID element.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising fastening the lock housing to the product with adhesive.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

positioning a section of the cord, between the knot adjacent cord portion and the head end, into a lock housing guide channel and through a pair of lock housing openings prior to tightening the cord around the product, wherein the lock housing guide channel is located inside the base and the lock housing openings are located about the periphery of the base, and wherein the lock housing guide channel runs between each lock housing opening in the pair of lock housing openings.

30. The method of claim 17, further comprising cutting the tail end of the cord by a blade attached in proximity to the second outlet of the lock housing after tightening the cord around the product.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein cutting the tail end of the cord comprises forcing the cover down onto the base about the second outlet to move the blade through the cord.