1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to an anti-theft display box for protecting consumer articles from theft, and more particularly, to an improved anti-theft box for displaying an article in a manner which allows the article to be handled by a consumer while also reducing the likelihood of theft of the article and/or display box.
2. Background of Related Art
Surveillance systems which prevent or deter theft of merchandise from retail stores are well known in the art. For example, systems utilizing electronic article surveillance (EAS) markers or tags which activate an alarm upon removal of the article from the store are frequently utilized by retail stores. These types of markers are typically secured to an article and are either removed or rendered inactive at checkout. In some cases the markers are visible to consumers, and in other cases the markers are hidden from view in order to prevent unauthorized removal. In either case, if the markers are not rendered inactive or removed, they will be sensed by the EAS system causing an alarm to signal, usually when exiting the retail store. The use of such markers or tags to trigger an alarm have been somewhat successful in deterring the theft of merchandise. However, the use of such markers with certain types of merchandise has not always been successful due to the nature of the articles to be tagged. For example, some articles are inherently difficult to tag, either due to their size or ease of removal of the tag. In such cases, the EAS marker is often hidden in a holder displaying the article, for example by attaching the EAS marker to a display tag or hiding the marker in a display box. Although placing the marker in the holder displaying the article has also had limited success, a more reliable system for tagging expensive consumer articles, such as watches, is needed.
Because the most expensive component of a watch is the face which houses the watch mechanism, a person desiring to steal a watch will often simply remove the watch from its display box and cut the wristband as they pretend to try on the watch. Thus, the face of the watch is stolen, and any EAS marker contained on the wristband or in the box is discarded by the thief. In an attempt to deter the theft of watches, some retailers lock the watches behind display cases, and only remove the watches when a customer requests to see the watch. This requires the retailer to take out each watch individually and stay with the customer as he or she handles the watch, because upon removal from the locked case the watch becomes vulnerable to theft. This can become very burdensome as many consumers wish to handle a watch before purchasing it. Some watches are locked in plastic display boxes which, again, require the retailer to remove the watch from within the case in order for the consumer to handle the watch. In this case, the watch may not only be stolen upon removal, but the box itself may be stolen with the watch in it.
In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that while utilizing EAS markers has met with some success, the success has been limited for certain consumer articles, for example watches, eyeglasses and other jewelry items. Therefore, there is a continued need in the art for a an improved anti-theft device for watches, and the like, which can display an article to a consumer, allow the consumer to handle the article in some manner, while also deterring the theft of the article.
It is an object of the anti-theft box disclosed herein to provide a device which can be used to display a consumer article, allow a consumer to handle the article in some manner without removing it from the box, while also deterring theft of the article and/or box. The anti-theft display box preferably includes a base for supporting the article to be displayed, and a cover which engages and is lockable with the base. The article is visible through the cover, and an opening in the cover allows a consumer to touch the article without opening the locked cover or removing the article. The article is preferably supported on the base so that it can be touched through the cover, but not removed through the opening. In addition, the base includes a locking mechanism in order to normally lock the cover to the base so that it cannot be readily disengaged by the consumer. However, upon bringing the box to a retail associate for purchase, the associate can readily engage the base, for example with a key plate, in order to easily open the cover. In one embodiment, an EAS marker is also supported within the base, preferably hidden from the consumer. A flashing light may also be visible to alert the consumer to the existence of a security feature, in an attempt to further deter theft of the article.
It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the invention. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring now to
The cover 14 is preferably fabricated of a transparent material so that watch 18 can be readily viewed through the cover. The cover also includes an opening 20 which may preferably be formed in a top portion 22a of the cover, and which may extend between the side walls 24a, 24b of the cover. The opening 20 is preferably positioned so that a consumer can reach in and touch the article contained within the box 10. In the present embodiment, for example, the opening 20 may be aligned with the watch face 26, such that the user can touch and possibly operate the functions disposed on the face of the watch, without removing the watch from within the case. In order to deter removal of the watch 18 from within the case 10 through the opening 20, the watch is preferably secured to a mounting member 28 supported on base 12. The mounting member is known in the art, and also serves the function of displaying the watch in a visually appealing manner. In the present embodiment, the watch is secured to the mounting member at a location spaced from the opening 20, and which cannot be readily reached through the opening to further deter theft. In addition, the opening 20 may preferably have a size and/or shape which, while allowing a consumer to touch the article contained in the box, discourages removal of the article through the opening. For example, in the present embodiment the opening may have a width “wc”, which is lesser than the width “wf” of the watch face 26. As will be appreciated, by securing the watch within the display box 10 in the aforementioned manner, the watch may be handled or touched in some way by the consumer, without being removed from the box, and without the box being opened.
The cover of the display box 10 may preferably be pivotably attached to the base 12, for example by hinge 29, to facilitate removing and mounting the watch or other article within the box. Alternately, the cover may be removable from the base, or otherwise attached in a manner as would be known to one of skill in the art. In the present embodiment, the cover is movable between the open position (
Referring now to
In the present embodiment, the tabs may each further include an opening 36a, 36b (not shown) disposed in the lower portion 54 of each tab. The tab openings 36a, 36b are positioned in substantial alignment with a pair of openings 38a, 38b formed in the bottom 40 of the base 12. In order to unlock the box, and remove the watch supported therein, a pair of protrusions 42a, 42b are preferably supported on a key plate 44, and are inserted within the openings 38a, 38b in the base and through openings 36a, 36b in the tabs by the retailer to unlock the box. The protrusion preferably each include an inclined surface 46a, 46b such that as they are being inserted within the openings of the tab, they engage an interior back wall 48 of the tabs in order to move the tabs inwardly, in the direction of arrow “A”, against the biasing force of spring 34. This causes the upper portion 50 of the tabs, which protrude from within the slots 32a, 32b in the cover 14, to retract from within the cover slots, thus unlocking the cover from the base. Although a pair of tabs are shown and described, the locking mechanism may include a single tab and spring. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may have any of a variety of configurations, and the tab, if utilized, may take any of a number of shapes.
The base 12 may further include an EAS marker 52 supported within an interior portion of the base so that it is not visible to the consumer. In the present embodiment, the EAS marker may be disposed between a cover which covers the cavity that houses the locking mechanism, and an interior surface of the support of the base. A front plate 53 may also be provided in order to conceal the tabs 30a, 30b. In addition, a flashing light 56 may also be visible to alert the consumer to the existence of a security feature, in an attempt to further deter theft of the article without allowing the consumer to know the type of security feature.
Use of the anti-theft box of the first embodiment will now be described with reference to
Referring now to
It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiment disclosed herein. For example, the size and shape of the opening in the cover may be readily varied, a variety of locking mechanisms may be utilized which may or may not be supported in the base, and alternate mounting members may also be utilized to support and display the article, as would be known to one of skill in the art. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of a preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope, spirit and intent of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4074637 | Lorenzen, Jr. | Feb 1978 | A |
4805769 | Soltis et al. | Feb 1989 | A |
5011005 | Boyd et al. | Apr 1991 | A |
5579906 | Fabbri et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
5601188 | Dressen et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
5762187 | Belden, Jr. et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5873457 | Madweb | Feb 1999 | A |
5944173 | Boire et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
6199309 | Markarian | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6202454 | Nakasuji | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6308539 | Kolton et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6352606 | DiMarco et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
7028836 | Hsiao et al. | Apr 2006 | B2 |
7032750 | Amtenbrink | Apr 2006 | B2 |