Securing device for objects

• US 9,524,626 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2011
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pataco AG
• Original Assignee: Pataco AG
• Inventors: Brhwiler, Cornel, Kreider, Jrgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Zhen Y
• Application Number:
  US13/702,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20130169440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: 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: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details

Abstract

A securing device for attachment of an object (2) which is to be secured. The securing device has a housing with a base plate and a lid as well as an apparatus for generating an alarm when the securing device is removed from the object without authorization. The securing device has an open and closed state. In the closed state the base plate and the lid can be locked to one another by a lock. The apparatus for generating an alarm comprises a mechanical sensor and/or an optical sensor In the closed state the mechanical sensor can detect contact with the object by the base plate and can react to a loss of contact with the object. In the closed state the optical sensor emits light through the base plate, and can sense reflections of this light from the object through the base plate and can react to changes in these reflections.

Claims

1. A securing device for attachment to an object that is to be secured, wherein the securing device comprises a housing with a base plate and a lid as well as an apparatus for generating an alarm when the securing device is removed from the object without authorization, wherein said base plate and said lid are selectively movable relative to one another between an open state wherein said lid at least partially separated from said base plate and a closed state wherein said lid is not separated from said base plate, while said securing device is attached to an object to be secured, and wherein a lock releasably locks said base plate and said lid to one another in the closed state, said lock having a locking condition and a releasing condition, and at least one non-electrically conductive belt for extending around the object for attaching the securing device to the object, the at least one non-electrically conductive belt being devoid of an alarm structure for generating an alarm in response to the cutting of the at least one non-electrically conductive belt;

wherein the apparatus for generating an alarm comprises a mechanical sensor and an optical sensor, wherein in response to said base plate and said lid being in the closed state the mechanical sensor through the base plate detects contact with the object and responds to loss of contact with the object and effects the generation of the alarm in response to the loss of contact with the object, and wherein the optical sensor includes a light source for emitting light through the base plate and detects reflections of the light from the object through the base plate, and reacts to changes in the reflections and effects the generation of the alarm in response to the changes in the reflections even in the event of the disabling of the mechanical sensor.

2. The securing device according to claim 1, further comprising a hinge for removably connecting the base plate and the lid to one another for enabling the selective movement of said base plate relative to said lid while the securing device is attached to the object.

3. The securing device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical sensor comprises a contact switch for contacting the object to which the securing device is attached when said base plate and said lid are in the closed state and generates an alarm in response to the removal of the securing device from the object.

4. The securing device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor comprises an electric eye or an image sensor.

5. The securing device according to claim 4, wherein the optical sensor is insensitive to ambient light.

6. The securing device according to claim 5, wherein the optical sensor emits infrared light.

7. The securing device according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus for generating an alarm comprises a resonant oscillating circuit detectable by an electronic goods securing unit and generates an alarm when the resonant oscillating circuit is energized by the electronic goods securing unit.

8. The securing device according to claim 1, wherein the securing device includes a hook-shaped slide and a spring for biasing said hook-shaped slide into locking engagement with said base plate in response to moving said base plate and said lid relative to one another from said open state to said closed state to activate the locking of said base plate and said lid by the hook-shaped slide and said base plate.

9. The securing device according to claim 1, wherein the lock is magnetically releasable with a magnetic opener and/or is mechanically releasable with a key.

10. The securing device according to claim 1, wherein closing the securing device activates the apparatus for generating an alarm.

11. The securing device according to claim 1, wherein releasing the lock deactivates the apparatus for generating an alarm.

12. The securing device according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus for generating an alarm can be deactivated by remote control or by a deactivator plate.

13. The securing device according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus for generating an alarm generates a multistage alarm in terms of intensity and/or duration.

14. The securing device according to claim 1, for objects that are prevented from being opened, wherein said at least one non-electrically conductive belt is clamped around the objects that are prevented from being opened, wherein the base plate in the open state is slidable between the belt and the respective objects that are prevented from being opened, and wherein the base plate and the lid in the closed state are lockable in engagement with the belt by the lock.

15. The securing device according to claim 14, wherein the base plate comprises at least one groove-like indentation and/or the lid comprises several recesses in which the belt can be inserted for accommodating the belt.

16. The securing device according to claim 14, wherein said device comprises an apparatus to prevent slipping of the base plate on the object to be secured.

17. The securing device according to claim 1, further comprising a double-adhesive adhesive strip having an initial adhesiveness for fastening said device to an object to be secured, wherein the adhesive strip loses adhesiveness when stretched and is removable from the object and the securing device, wherein the adhesive strip is completely covered by the base plate and has a grip for stretching which is accessible only in the open state of the securing device.

18. The securing device according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus for generating an alarm comprises a two-strand cable, wherein one end of said cable is connected to a plug connector disposed in the securing device and is accessible only when the securing device is in the open state, and wherein the other end of said cable is a free end projecting out of the securing device, and the free end is provided with an apparatus for attachment to an additional object.

19. The securing device according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus for attachment to an additional object comprises an additional housing with a mechanical sensor for detecting contact with the additional object through the additional housing and in the case of loss of contact with the additional object, breaks an electrical connection between the two strands of the cable.

20. The securing device according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus for attachment to an additional object comprises an eye on the cable end and a sleeve in which the two strands of the cable are electrically connected to one another.