Recoiler for a merchandise security system

• US 9,928,704 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2017
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Berglund, David N., Baker, Kyle, Bisesti, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US15/725,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20180033268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 173 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/024 with provisions for preventing unauthorised removal show cases with devices for prevention of theft A47F3/002; devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal E05B73/0017
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/265 Reels with grooves or grooved elements inhibiting aligned or orderly winding
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/48 Automatic re-storing devices
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0082 for office machines, e.g. PC's, portable computers, typewriters, calculators
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• 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

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.

Claims

1. A merchandise security system for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise and an auxiliary device of the article of merchandise from theft, comprising:

a sensor that is secured to the article of merchandise and that detects removal of the article of merchandise from the sensor;

a base that removably supports the sensor and the article of merchandise thereon, wherein the base further comprises an auxiliary port that operably connects to the auxiliary device; and

a cable operably connected to the sensor and the base,

wherein a security signal is transmitted through the auxiliary port that is used to detect removal of the auxiliary device from the base.

2. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary port is configured to receive an input connector operably connected to the auxiliary device.

3. The merchandise security system of claim 2, wherein the security signal is configured to be transmitted through the cable and the auxiliary port for detecting removal of the input connector from the auxiliary port.

4. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to transfer power to the auxiliary device.

5. The merchandise security system of claim 1, 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.

6. The merchandise security system of claim 5, wherein the base further comprises a power cable electrically connected to an input power source for providing power to the one or more electrical contacts of the base.

7. The merchandise security system of claim 1, further comprising 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.

8. The merchandise security system of claim 7, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to be moved between the locked position and the unlocked position with a fastener.

9. The merchandise security system of claim 7, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to rotate between the locked position and the unlocked position.

10. The merchandise security system of claim 7, wherein the base comprises a top surface for supporting the sensor, a bottom surface for being positioned on a display surface, a side surface, and a rear surface, wherein the lock mechanism is accessible on the side surface and the auxiliary port is accessible on the rear surface.

11. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary port is a USB-type input port.

12. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary port is configured to operably connect to an auxiliary device comprising a stylus, a speaker, a keyboard, or a Bluetooth device each configured to operate with the article of merchandise.

13. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a charging circuit configured to determine a power requirement of the auxiliary device and to provide power to the auxiliary device via the auxiliary port based on the power requirement.

14. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises one or more electrical conductors defining a sense loop for conducting the security signal.

15. The merchandise security system of claim 14, wherein the sense loop is further defined in the auxiliary port.

16. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the security signal is configured to be transmitted through the cable and the auxiliary port for detecting the cable being cut, shorted, or disconnected.

17. The merchandise security system of claim 1, further comprising a releasable connector at an end of the cable configured to releasably engage the sensor.

18. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein each of the sensor and the base comprises an alarm for generating an audible and/or a visible alarm.

19. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to be disarmed with a wireless key.

20. The merchandise security system of claim 19, wherein the base comprises a port for facilitating communication with the wireless key.

21. The merchandise security system of claim 1, further comprising a connector configured to electrically connect the sensor to the article of merchandise, wherein a sense loop is configured to be defined through the connector for detecting removal of the connector from the article of merchandise.

22. The merchandise security system of claim 1, further comprising a recoiler comprising a rotatable member, wherein the cable is configured to be unwound from and wound on the rotatable member as the cable is extended and retracted.

23. The merchandise security system of claim 22, wherein the base is configured to house the recoiler therein.

24. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a top surface for supporting the sensor, a bottom surface for being positioned on a display surface, a side surface, and a rear surface, wherein the auxiliary port is disposed on the rear surface.

25. The merchandise security system of claim 1, wherein an end of the cable comprises an optical transceiver for communicating optical signals with the sensor.

26. The merchandise security system of claim 25, wherein the cable comprises a releasable connector configured to releasably engage the sensor, wherein the releasable connector is configured to contain the optical transceiver.

27. The merchandise security system of claim 25, wherein the cable comprises one or more electrical conductors for providing power to the optical transceiver.

28. The merchandise security system of claim 25, wherein the sensor comprises an optical transceiver for communicating optical signals with the optical transceiver of the cable.

29. The merchandise security system of claim 28, wherein the optical transceiver of the cable and the optical transceiver of the sensor are configured to communicate with one another to determine if the cable has been cut or disconnected.

30. The merchandise security system of claim 28, further comprising a connector configured to electrically connect the sensor to the article of merchandise, wherein the optical transceiver of the cable and the optical transceiver of the sensor are configured to communicate with one another to determine if the connector has been removed from the article of merchandise.

31. The merchandise security system of claim 28, wherein the optical transceiver of the cable and the optical transceiver of the sensor are configured to rotate relative to one another.

32. The merchandise security system of claim 28, wherein the optical transceiver of the cable and the optical transceiver of the sensor are configured to communicate with one another to define a sense loop through the cable.

33. The merchandise security system of claim 28, wherein the optical transceiver of the cable and the optical transceiver of the sensor are separated by an air gap.

34. A method for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise and an auxiliary device of the article of merchandise from theft, comprising:

securing a sensor to the article of merchandise that detects removal of the article of merchandise from the sensor;

attaching a base to a support surface that removably supports the sensor and the article of merchandise thereon, the base comprising an auxiliary port;

connecting a cable to the sensor; and

operably connecting the auxiliary device to the auxiliary port, wherein a security signal is transmitted through the auxiliary port that is used to detect removal of the auxiliary device from the base.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein operably connecting comprises connecting an input connector to the auxiliary port.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising 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.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein operably connecting comprises operably connecting the auxiliary device to the auxiliary port such that power is provided from the base to the auxiliary device.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein operably connecting comprises operably connecting the auxiliary device to the auxiliary port such that the auxiliary device is displayed for use with the article of merchandise by a prospective consumer.