Recoiler for a merchandise security system
First Claim
1. A merchandise security system for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise from theft, comprising:
- a sensor configured to be secured to the article of merchandise;
a base for removably supporting the sensor and the article of merchandise thereon, wherein each of the base and the sensor comprises one or more electrical contacts that are configured to contact one another when the sensor is seated on the base for transferring electrical power for charging the article of merchandise;
a lock mechanism configured to lock the sensor to the base in a locked position when the sensor is seated on the base to thereby prevent the sensor from being lifted off of the base and to be unlocked to allow removal of the sensor from the base in an unlocked position;
a recoiler operably coupled to the sensor, the recoiler comprising a rotatable member defining a helical recess; and
a cable configured to connect to the sensor and to be unwound from and wound on the rotatable member as the cable is extended and retracted,wherein the cable is configured to be extended from the base in response to the sensor being lifted off of the base, and wherein the cable is configured to be retracted into the base in response to the sensor being moved to a seated position on the base, andwherein the helical recess is configured to at least partially receive the cable therein as the cable is wound on the rotatable member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to recoilers, merchandise security systems, and methods for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise from theft. In one example, the merchandise security system includes a sensor configured to be secured to the article of merchandise and a base for removably supporting the sensor and the item of merchandise thereon. The system also includes a recoiler operably coupled to the sensor. The recoiler includes a rotatable member defining a helical recess. The system further includes a cable configured to connect to the sensor and to be unwound from and wound on the rotatable member as the cable is extended and retracted. The cable is configured to be extended from the recoiler in response to the sensor being lifted off of the base, and the cable is configured to be retracted into the recoiler in response to the sensor being moved to a seated position on the base. The helical recess is configured to at least partially receive the cable therein as the cable is wound on the rotatable member.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A merchandise security system for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise from theft, comprising:
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a sensor configured to be secured to the article of merchandise; a base for removably supporting the sensor and the article of merchandise thereon, wherein each of the base and the sensor comprises one or more electrical contacts that are configured to contact one another when the sensor is seated on the base for transferring electrical power for charging the article of merchandise; a lock mechanism configured to lock the sensor to the base in a locked position when the sensor is seated on the base to thereby prevent the sensor from being lifted off of the base and to be unlocked to allow removal of the sensor from the base in an unlocked position; a recoiler operably coupled to the sensor, the recoiler comprising a rotatable member defining a helical recess; and a cable configured to connect to the sensor and to be unwound from and wound on the rotatable member as the cable is extended and retracted, wherein the cable is configured to be extended from the base in response to the sensor being lifted off of the base, and wherein the cable is configured to be retracted into the base in response to the sensor being moved to a seated position on the base, and wherein the helical recess is configured to at least partially receive the cable therein as the cable is wound on the rotatable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise from theft, comprising:
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securing a sensor to the article of merchandise, a recoiler operably coupled to the sensor and comprising a rotatable member defining a helical recess; attaching a base to a support surface for removably supporting the sensor and the article of merchandise thereon; connecting a cable to the sensor; positioning the sensor on the base, wherein each of the base and the sensor comprises one or more electrical contacts that are configured to contact one another when the sensor is positioned on the base for transferring electrical power for charging the article of merchandise; and selectively locking a lock mechanism for locking the sensor to the base in a locked position when the sensor is seated on the base to thereby prevent the sensor from being lifted off of the base and unlocking the lock mechanism to allow removal of the sensor from the base in an unlocked position, wherein the cable is configured to be extended from the base in response to the sensor being lifted off of the base when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked position, wherein the cable is configured to be retracted into the base in response to the sensor being moved to a seated position on the base, and wherein the helical recess is configured to at least partially receive the cable therein as the cable is wound on the rotatable member. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A merchandise security system for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise from theft, comprising:
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a sensor configured to be secured to the article of merchandise; a base for removably supporting the sensor and the article of merchandise thereon; a recoiler operably coupled to the sensor, the recoiler comprising a rotatable member defining a helical recess, a spring secured to one end of the rotatable member and a slip ring secured at an opposite end of the rotatable member; and a cable configured to connect to the sensor and to be unwound from and wound on the rotatable member as the cable is extended and retracted, wherein the cable is configured to be extended from the base in response to the sensor being lifted off of the base, and wherein the cable is configured to be retracted into the base in response to the sensor being moved to a seated position on the base, and wherein the helical recess is configured to at least partially receive the cable therein as the cable is wound on the rotatable member.
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Specification