Patent Application
20130075408
1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to containers for packaging and/or shipping merchandise. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a merchandise container that includes one or more security features that make it difficult for a thief to cut into or open the container to access the merchandise.
2. Background Information
High value, small-in-size merchandise such as electronics, jewelry, watches, pharmaceuticals, and the like are targeted by thieves because the merchandise is easy to transport and store before it can be resold. Some thieves target merchandise during the transportation phase of the merchandise wherein the merchandise is frequently packaged in corrugated cardboard shipping containers.
Although one method for stealing such merchandise is to steal an entire pallet full of merchandise using a forklift and a truck, thieves that break into shipping containers to steal a partial load of merchandise are an increasing problem. Such thieves gain access to a shipping container by cutting through an exposed sidewall of a cardboard shipping container that itself contains multiple small items of merchandise that themselves are already packaged in their individual display containers. A common method of gaining access is to use a box cutter or knife to cut an opening or a slit in a sidewall. These thefts are referred to as “slash and go” thefts. The merchandise is removed and the sidewall may be re-closed to disguise the theft. Another method is to open the tops of the containers and remove the individual merchandise boxes and then re-closing the containers to disguise the theft. Although the companies responsible for caretaking the goods have added different levels of security to their operations, the slash-and-go thefts continue and it can be difficult for the owner of the goods to pinpoint the location of the theft.
One device that has been used in the past to limit slash-and-go thefts is a lockable bag having a zippered opening. The bag includes a stainless steel mesh insert that resists cutting. US20080158002 discloses a security bag 300 using smart fiber 334 to identify when material has been cut. U.S. Pat. No. 6,995,669 discloses a system for enhancing the security of containers and the goods within the containers.
The disclosure provides a security material that may be used to protect from slash-and-go thefts. The material may be used to form merchandise containers and merchandise shipping containers. The material also may be used for container inserts, for wrapping containers, or for cushioning. The material is designed to provide for the safe transport of high value merchandise during shipment. The material includes at least one feature that resists cutting. The feature may be one or more of a layer of wire mesh, perforated metal (such as that used to protect loudspeakers), screen, plastic, and fabric. A wire material such as hexagonal wire mesh commonly referred to as chicken wire or chicken mesh may be used. The chicken wire material may be a galvanized iron wire or PVC coated wire. The security feature may be disposed on an outer or inner surface of the base material used to form the shipping container. The security feature may be secured with an adhesive, an interlocking connection, or mechanical fasteners. The security feature also may be disposed within the material or disposed between two layers of material. The base material may be a flexible material such as a plastic-based wrapping material or a flat foldable material such as a paper-based or polymer-based board materials such as that which are used to form boxes. The material may be a corrugated cardboard, a plastic wrap, a paper or paperboard sheet, a plastic board sheet, a protective packaging material with trapped air pockets such as that sold under the “Bubble Wrap” trademark, or a board-type material used to form boxes. The material may be supplied in rolls or sheets.
The material may be laminated with the security feature during the manufacturing process of the material. The security feature may be laminated between different layers of the material, connected with an adhesive, or secured with mechanical connectors such as staples or rivets.
The disclosure also provides a security laminate having a security feature and an adhesive that allows the laminate readily added to an existing container. The security feature is that resists cutting. The adhesive is used to connect the item to another section of packaging material. The adhesive may be protected with a release layer until it is ready to be used. The security laminate may be provided in sheets or rolls. A user may apply this security laminate to the inside of boxes to reduce the likelihood that a slash-and-go theft will be successful.
The disclosure provides a merchandise container having one or more security features that inhibit access to the container. The container may be a “D” container wherein one or more of the walls of the container include a feature that inhibits cutting. The container also may be sized for an individual item of merchandise. The feature may be integrated into the material of the container or added to the interior or the exterior of the container. The container having the security feature may be combined with a slip sheet or slip tray to allow the container to be readily moved with a forklift.
The disclosure provides a merchandise container wherein the walls of the container include an integrated security feature that resists cutting. The integrated security feature may be disposed on the exterior, the interior, or within the material that defines the walls of the container. In one configuration, the container is formed from double-wall thickness of standard container material with a security feature—such as an anti-cutting wire mesh—disposed between the two layers of material.
The disclosure provides a merchandise container wherein a security insert is disposed within a standard shipping container. The security insert includes one or more features that resist cutting. The security insert may be a four-sided insert, a five-sided insert, or a full six-sided insert. The seams or corners of the insert may be reinforced with an adhesive tape that itself carries a security feature such a wires or fibers. The seams or corners also may be reinforced by overlapping the sidewall materials to define double-thickness corners. The security inserts may be shipped to the user in a flat form that is erected to the condition where it is inserted into the container.
The disclosure provides a shipping configuration wherein a single container or a unitized load of containers is wrapped with a material that includes a security feature that inhibits cutting. These wrapped containers or loads may be combined with a slip sheet or slip tray that allows the unit to be readily moved with a forklift.
The disclosure provides a container with a lid or a top board that is secured with a cable seal that both makes it difficult to open the container and provides an indication that the lid has been opened. One example is a “D” container with a lid or top board that is held closed by a cable that is secured to the base of the container. The cable may be secured to the sidewalls, to the bottom of the container, or to both. The container itself may include a security feature that prevents the container from being accessed by cutting through a wall. The cable includes a seal that cinches the cable down on the lid after the lid is closed. The seal may be locked until broken or may be provided with a lock that is only openable with a specially configured key.
Exemplary configurations of security materials that may be used to protect merchandise from slash-and-go thefts are indicated generally by the numeral 10 in the accompanying drawings. A security material 10 may be used to form merchandise containers 12 and merchandise shipping containers 14 of a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Security material 10 also may be used for container inserts 60, for wrapping containers, or for cushioning. Security material 10 is designed to provide for the safe transport of high value merchandise during shipment. Security material 10 generally includes a base material 22 and at least one security feature 20 that resists cutting. Security feature 20 may be one or more of a layer of wire mesh (as shown in
Security feature 20 may be disposed on an outer or on an inner surface of base material 22 such as the corrugated cardboard depicted in
Security feature 20 may be secured with an adhesive, an interlocking connection, or mechanical fasteners such as staples, tie downs, and rivets. Material 10 may be manufactured by bringing together base material 22 and security feature 20 and securing the two together. The materials may be provided on rolls, unrolled and brought together to form material 10. Material 10 may then be rolled for shipment to the end user.
Base material 22 may be laminated with security feature 20 during the manufacturing process of base material 22. Security feature 20 may be laminated between different layers of material 22, connected with an adhesive, or secured with mechanical connectors such as staples or rivets.
Security feature 20 also may be provided as an add-on product that is secured to a container or a packaging material by the company packaging the high-value merchandise. In this configuration, security feature 20 is provided in the form of a security laminate 30 (
An exemplary merchandise container having one or more security features that inhibit access to the container is indicated generally by the numeral 50 in the accompanying drawings. Container 50 may be a “D” container or an individual merchandise container. A “D” container is used to hold a plurality of items 52 on a pallet or slip sheet or slip tray (generally indicated by numeral 54). The container has inside usable dimensions of 58″×41″×45″ and may include a removable wall panel for easy loading and unloading. The container may be fabricated from one of materials 10 such as the corrugated cardboard configurations.
A security insert is indicated generally by the numeral 60 in
A shipping configuration is depicted in
Cable 84 may be conductive or may carry a conductive wire that is electrically connected to a battery-powered alarm 90 configured to be triggered when cable 84 is cut. Another configuration provides an electric device 90 that records the time and date when an element of the container is broken. The element may be the cable 84 that holds down board 80, a cable disposed in material 10, or an additional cable provided in the container.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words “comprise” and “include” as well as variations of those words, such as “comprises,” “includes,” “comprising,” and “including” are not intended to exclude additives, components, integers, or steps.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/535,732 filed Sep. 16, 2011; the disclosures of this application are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61535732 | Sep 2011 | US |
