Patent Application
20170193771
Various example embodiments relate generally to retail theft deterrent and merchandise protection devices and methods.
Customers often wish to visually inspect merchandise, in particular expensive merchandise, before deciding to purchase it. Therefore, retail stores may have a difficult time securing this displayed merchandise. Typical security devices primarily used to prevent or deter theft in retail environments may be configured to be attached to a product or packaging of a product. In some cases, these security devices may include acousto-magnetic or radio frequency tags which can be detected by security gates and trigger an alarm. However, in some instances, these tags may be removed with little to no damage to the product or the product may be removed from the packaging to which the tag is attached, thereby defeating the ability of the tags to detect a theft event. Even further, when merchandise has separable components (e.g., a drill having separable battery), retail stores may have difficulty in securing the separable components. For example, while a tag may secure the drill, it may difficult to simultaneously secure both the battery and the drill while being able to retain the functionality of the drill.
Accordingly, some example embodiments provide a security device for effectively displaying securing merchandise, such as merchandise having separable components. In one example embodiment, a security device is provided that includes a leash configured to be operably coupled to a product. The security device may also include a first tag. The first tag may include an attachment sensor configured to sense an operable coupling of the first tag to a surface. The first tag may also include a ratchet assembly supported within a housing of the first tag such that the ratchet assembly is rotatable in a tightening direction to tighten the leash and a loosening direction to loosen the leash. The tag may also include a locking assembly moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, where in the locked position the locking assembly is configured to prevent the ratchet assembly from being rotated in the loosening direction. The tag may also include an alarm assembly configured to alarm in response to the attachment sensor not sensing the operable coupling of the first tag to the surface, the alarm assembly being configured to disarm responsive to interaction with a key, where access to the alarm assembly for the key is prevented when the first tag is operably coupled to the product.
In another example embodiment, a security device is provided that includes a leash configured to be operably coupled to a product. The security device may also include a first tag. The first tag may include an attachment sensor configured to sense an operable coupling of the first tag to a surface. The first tag may also include a ratchet assembly supported within a housing of the first tag such that the ratchet assembly is rotatable in a tightening direction to tighten the leash and a loosening direction to loosen the leash. The tag may also include a locking assembly moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, where in the locked position the locking assembly is configured to prevent the ratchet assembly from being rotated in the loosening direction, and where the locking assembly cannot be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position when the first tag is operably coupled to the product.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
Some example embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and pictured herein should not be construed as being limiting as to the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “or” is to be interpreted as a logical operator that results in true whenever one or more of its operands are true. As used herein, “operable coupling” should be understood to relate to direct or indirect connection that, in either case, enables at least a functional interconnection of components that are operably coupled to each other.
Security devices may be affixed to products in a commercial space (e.g., a retail store) in order to secure the products on which the tags are affixed or to effectively manage or monitor inventory within the retail space. If products are outfitted with security devices, the security devices may be used to ensure that the products are not removed from the retail space without proper point of sale processing. In some cases, a product may be put on display for a customer to view, “try out”, or “experience” before purchasing. In order to protect the displayed product, a security device may be operably coupled to the product. Therefore, if an individual tried to steal the displayed product without removing the security device first, the security device may cause alarming functions when exposed to predetermined electromagnetic field (e.g., pedestals located at the retail store exit). Even if the individual tried to remove the security device in attempt to steal the displayed product, the tag may be configured to alarm upon removal from the product to which the tag was attached. Traditionally, the security device may be unlocked and removed from the product by a key without causing an alarming function. Therefore, in order to avoid detection, sophisticated thieves might employ stolen or counterfeit magnetic keys to remove and unlock the tag. Therefore, in order to increase security of displayed products, retailers may utilize a security device that is configured to always alarm when removed from the product to which the security device was attached and that cannot be disarmed or unlocked while attached to the product. Even further, to ensure that a product having separate components is effectively secured (e.g., a tool have a separable battery), retailers may utilize a security device that is configured to simultaneously secure both a first portion and a second portion of the product. In the example embodiments described herein, the terms first product and second product may be parts or portions of a single product having separable components. However, in other examples, the first and second product could be different products or objects. In one example, the first product may be a retail object and the second product could be a shelf or other object tethered to the retail object. Moreover, it should be appreciated that in some example embodiments the security device may include a tag that can be attached to a surface of a first product (or object) that can be tethered to a second product (or object). In this context, the surface may be a surface of a retail object, a shelf, or any other object in the retail store.
The tag housing 140 may also include a recess adapted to receive the leash 130. The leash may include a plug end 132 and a snare end 134. Specifically, the plug end 132 of the leash 130 may be inserted through the recess in the tag housing 140 for engagement with a ratchet assembly 200 (as described in relation to
As shown in
In some embodiments, an alarm assembly may be disposed within the tag housing 140. The alarm assembly may include an audio device (e.g., a piezoelectric, mechanical, or electromechanical beeper, buzzer or other audio signaling device such as an audible alarm). The alarm assembly may also include a speaker portion 400 or other sound generating device that may be provided in the second surface 410 of the tag housing 140 (see
Additionally, the first surface 310 may include key apertures 320. The key apertures 320 may align with key projections of a key (e.g., a magnetic key) when placed thereon. When the key is placed within the key apertures 320, the locking assembly 218 may unlock or move to the unlocked position thereby releasing engagement with the ratchet assembly 200. In particular, the tension of the biasing mechanism 230 may be overcome or released causing the pawl 220 to draw down toward the first surface 310 of the tag 100 to disengage and release contact with the one-way gear teeth 248 of the second annular flange 204. When the pawl 220 is unbiased from the second annular flange 204 (and therefore the spool 202), the spool 202 is enabled to rotate freely in either the tightening or loosening direction. By enabling the spool 202 to rotate in the loosening direction, the leash 130 may unwind and the plug end 132 of the leash 130 may be removed via the recess from the tag housing 140. In some cases, when the locking assembly 218 moves to the unlocked position (i.e., in response to the key projections aligning with the key apertures 320), the processing circuitry of the first tag 100 may be configured to direct the alarm assembly to disarm or stop alarming or alerting. Generally speaking, however, the locking assembly 218 may stay in the locked position unless a key is placed in contact or engagement with the key apertures 320. In some cases, the key may be configured to unlock the first tag 100 (i.e., move the locking assembly 218 to the unlocked position) when the key is brought in close proximity to the first surface 310 of the first tag 100. Therefore, in further example embodiments, the first surface 310 of the first tag 100 may not include key apertures 320.
As both the attachment sensor 120 and the key apertures 320 are disposed on the first surface 310 of the tag housing 140, the first tag 100 must be removed from the first product 110 before the key apertures 320 are accessible by the key. As stated above, in order to loosen the leash 130 from the spool 202 (i.e., untighten the snare end 134 of the leash from the second product 150), the key must unlock the first tag 100 (i.e., move the locking assembly 218 to the unlocked position). Therefore, the first tag 100 must be removed from the first product 110 thereby causing the attachment sensor 120 to release from contact with the first product 110. As the alarm assembly may sound when the first tag 100 is removed from the product 100 (i.e., the attachment sensor 120 is released), the first tag 100 may alarm each time the key apertures 320 are accessed.
Example embodiments therefore represent a security device that includes a leash configured to be operably coupled to a product. The security device may also include a first tag. The first tag may include an attachment sensor configured to sense an operable coupling of the first tag to a surface. The first tag may also include a ratchet assembly supported within a housing of the first tag such that the ratchet assembly is rotatable in a tightening direction to tighten the leash and a loosening direction to loosen the leash. The tag may also include a locking assembly moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, where in the locked position the locking assembly is configured to prevent the ratchet assembly from being rotated in the loosening direction. The tag may also include an alarm assembly configured to alarm in response to the attachment sensor not sensing the operable coupling of the first tag to the surface, the alarm assembly being configured to disarm responsive to interaction with a key, where access to the alarm assembly for the key is prevented when the first tag is operably coupled to the product.
In some embodiments, the features described above may be augmented or modified, or additional features may be added. These augmentations, modifications and additions may be optional and may be provided in any combination. Thus, although some example modifications, augmentations and additions are listed below, it should be appreciated that any of the modifications, augmentations and additions could be implemented individually or in combination with one or more, or even all of the other modifications, augmentations and additions that are listed. As such, for example, the locking assembly may not be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position when the first tag is operably coupled to the product. Alternatively or additionally, the locking assembly may require the key to move from the locked position to the unlocked position. In an example embodiment, the leash may be removable from the ratchet assembly, and the leash may include a snare end and a plug end, where the snare end may be configured to be operably coupled around a portion of a different object, and where the plug end may be configured to be inserted through a recess in a housing of the first tag to operably couple the leash to the ratchet assembly. Alternatively or additionally, the tightening mechanism may include a slot to enable rotation of the ratchet assembly. Alternatively or additionally, the leash may be wound around the ratchet assembly in response to rotation of the ratchet assembly in the tightening direction thereby tightening the snare end. Alternatively or additionally, the plug end may be prevented from being removed from the recess in the housing when the locking assembly is in the locked position. In some cases, the locking assembly may include a spring and a pawl, and when the locking assembly is in the locked position, the spring may bias the pawl into engagement with the ratchet assembly. In some cases, the key may be required to overcome the bias of the spring to enable the pawl to be released from the ratchet assembly to move the locking assembly to the unlocked position. In some cases, the key may draw the pawl away from ratcheting teeth of the ratchet assembly to release the pawl from the ratchet assembly. In some example embodiments, the security device may further include a second tag operably coupled to the housing via a cable. In some cases, the second tag may include processing circuitry that is configured to provide a sense loop through the cable. In some cases, the second tag may further include a second alarm assembly. In some example embodiments, the housing may further include key apertures configured for engagement with the key, and the key may be a magnetic key. In one example embodiment, the tightening mechanism may include a slot to enable rotation of the ratchet assembly
Many modifications and other embodiments set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these embodiments pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments covered are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. In cases where advantages, benefits or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be appreciated that such advantages, benefits or solutions may be applicable to some example embodiments, but not necessarily all example embodiments. Thus, any advantages, benefits or solutions described herein should not be thought of as being critical, required or essential to all embodiments or to that which is claimed herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
