Programmable security system and method for protecting merchandise

• US 9,171,441 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Fawcett, Christopher J., Grant, Jeffrey A., Belden, Dennis D. Jr., Marsilio, Ronald M., Scott, Ian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US14/306,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20140292515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 340/543, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340 56- 564, 340 521- 528, 340/571, 340/10.51, 340/309.16, 235/382, 235/382.5, 702/782
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00539 anti-theft
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/12 by the breaking or disturbance of stretched cords or wires
• 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 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2465 Aspects related to the EAS system, e.g. system components other than tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

A programmable security system and method for protecting an item of merchandise includes a programming station, a programmable key and a security system. The programming station generates a security code and communicates the security code to a memory of the programmable key. The programmable key initially communicates the security code to a memory of the security device and subsequently operates the security device upon a matching of the security code in the memory of the security device with the security code in the memory of the programmable key. The programmable key may also transfer power via electrical contacts or inductive transfer from an internal battery to the security device to operate a lock mechanism. The security code may be communicated by wireless infrared (IR) systems, electrical contacts or inductive transfer. A timer inactivates the programmable key and/or the security device after a predetermined period of time. A counter inactivates the programmable key after a predetermined maximum number of activations.

Claims

1. A programmable security system for protecting merchandise comprising:

a programming station adapted for generating a single security code and having a memory for storing the single security code, the single security code being unique to the programming station;

a programmable key adapted for being operably coupled to the programming station to receive the single security code from the programming station and having a memory for storing the single security code; and

a security device adapted for being attached to the merchandise and for being operably coupled to the programmable key to receive the single security code from the programmable key, the security device having a memory for storing the single security code;

wherein the programming station initially communicates the single security code to the programmable key and the single security code is stored in the memory of the programmable key;

wherein the programmable key subsequently communicates the single security code to the security device and the single security code is stored in the memory of the security device; and

wherein the programmable key operates the security device upon a matching of the single security code stored in the memory of the security device with the single security code stored in the memory of the programmable key.

2. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the programming station and the programmable key comprises a communication circuit for communicating the single security code therebetween.

3. The programmable security system of claim 2, wherein each of the communication circuit of the programming station and the communication circuit of the programmable key comprises an infrared (IR) system for optically communicating the single security code therebetween.

4. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein each of the programmable key and the security device comprises a communication circuit for communicating the single security code therebetween.

5. The programmable security system of claim 4, wherein each of the communication circuit of the programmable key and the communication circuit of the security device comprises an infrared (IR) system for optically communicating the single security code therebetween.

6. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programming station comprises a housing having a key-receiving port and the programmable key comprises a housing having a transfer end adapted to be positioned adjacent the key-receiving port of the programming station.

7. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the security device comprises a housing having a key-receiving port and the programmable key comprises a housing having a transfer end adapted to be positioned adjacent the key-receiving port of the security device.

8. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key comprises a timer and wherein the programmable key is inactivated if the single security code stored in the memory of the programmable key is not reprogrammed or refreshed by the programming station within a predetermined period of time.

9. The programmable security system of claim 8, wherein the timer is reset when the programming station reprograms or refreshes the single security code stored in the memory of the programmable key.

10. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programmable key comprises a counter and wherein the programmable key is inactivated after a predetermined maximum number of activations of the programmable key.

11. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the single security code is unique to a particular retail establishment.

12. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the single security code is unique to a particular retail store.

13. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programming station is configured to randomly generate the single security code.

14. The programmable security system of claim 1, wherein the programming station comprises a logic control circuit configured to generate the single security code.

15. The programmable security system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of security devices and a plurality of programmable keys.

16. The programmable security system of claim 15, wherein each of the programmable keys is configured to arm or disarm each of the plurality of security devices.

17. The programmable security system of claim 15, wherein the single security code is the same for each of the plurality of security devices and the programmable keys.

18. A method for protecting merchandise, comprising:

providing a programmable security system comprising a programming station, a programmable key and a security device each having a memory and a communication circuit;

generating a single security code in the programming station and storing the single security code in the memory of the programming station, the single security code being unique to the programming station;

using the communication circuits of the programming station and the programmable key to communicate the single security code from the memory of the programming station to the memory of the programmable key;

using the communication circuits of the programmable key and the security device to communicate the single security code from the memory of the programmable key to the memory of the security device; and

subsequently matching the single security code stored in the memory of the security device with the single security code stored in the memory of the programmable key to operate the security device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the generating comprises randomly generating the single security code in the programming station.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the generating comprises generating the single security code with a logic control circuit provided in the programming station.