1. Technical Field
The invention relates to security systems for the display of items of merchandise in a retail establishment. More particularly, the invention relates to a security system which supplies power to a product displayed in a secured condition on a sensor supported on a display module for charging the internal battery of the product or supplying electricity for controlling other features of the displayed product. The invention furthermore relates to an individual display module which contains an internal alarm dedicated to protecting a single product secured to a sensor supported on the display module.
2. Background Information
Retail stores have had a difficult time protecting items of merchandise which the potential customer wishes to visually inspect and handle prior to making the decision to purchase the items. Often such items have been keep in a glass case under lock and key which does not allow a customer to handle the item without assistance of store personnel. In addition, while such items may be secured to a display shelf or base by a cable or the like, this does not necessarily prevent the theft of the item by cutting of the cable or detaching the product from the cable.
Therefore, various security systems and devices have been developed which include a unique display module secured to a support surface such as a display shelf, which supports a sensor that is attached to an item of merchandise and which is mechanically and electrically connected by a lanyard or power cord to the display module. This enables a potential customer to pick up and handle the item such as a cell phone, camera, mini DVDs, MP3 players and the like, prior to purchasing the item, while the item is maintained connected to the display module. These display modules and sensors are provided with switches which will actuate an alarm contained in the display module if the item is removed from the sensor, or the module removed from its support surface, or if a connecting power cord is severed or tampered with in an unauthorized manner. These security systems utilizing such display modules and sensors have proven satisfactory for many retail security applications.
However, one problem has developed in the display of various items of merchandise which require a source of power, usually provided by an internal battery, such as digital cameras, music players, cell phones, mini DVD players, MP3 players etc. After the product has been displayed for a period of time, the battery will loose charge resulting in the product being inoperable requiring constant recharging of the battery by store personnel.
Another problem with prior art security systems is that multiple display modules are connected to a central alarm system and power supply which makes it difficult to rapidly determine which display module or attached product caused the central alarm to be actuated. Furthermore, the alarm system has to be deactivated each time one of the display modules or product displayed thereon is being replaced or modified.
Therefore, the need exists for a security system, and in particular a display module therefore which contains its own alarm system and power supply, and which supports a security sensor which is attached to an item of merchandise, and in which electric power can be supplied to the protected item from a remote source of power to maintain a charge on the internal battery of the item or supply electric power to other components of the item of merchandise. Furthermore, there is a need for a display module which has a self-contained alarm which protects the product secured thereon enabling the display module to be placed at various locations without being attached to a central alarm system or remote source of electric power.
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a security system which includes a unique display module which supports a sensor that is attached to an item of merchandise with an alarm system being self-contained in the display module and which sounds an alarm should a thief attempt to remove the item of merchandise from the attached sensor or the display module from the display location.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a security system in which the display module has a power inlet port enabling electrical conductors to be easily connected to the power port and to a remote source of electricity so that electric power can be provided through the display module to the sensor for supplying electric power to the item of merchandise attached to the sensor for maintaining the charge on an internal battery of the item or for controlling other features of the protected item of merchandise requiring electric power, independent of the battery within the display module used to provide power for the alarm system.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide a security system in which either or both the display module and/or sensor has a visual indicator such as an LED, indicating to a clerk or potential thief that an alarm system is activated and that the displayed item of merchandise is protected by an alarm system.
Another aspect of the present invention is to enable the display module of the security system to be electrically and mechanically connected to the sensor by a lanyard or power cord which extends between the sensor and a power output port on the display module for supplying electric power through the sensor to the protected item of merchandise.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide either or both of the display module and sensor of the security system with a switch which is activated when the module is attached to a support structure and sensor attached to the item by automatically depressing a plunger switch to activate an internal alarm contained in the display module, which alarm is powered by a battery located within the display module.
Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a power input port on a base of the display module with a jack that is adapted to receive various types of connectors for supplying electric power to the item of merchandise through the security sensor from a remote source of electricity.
A further aspect of the present invention is that the power cord which connects the display module to the sensor contains a plurality of electrical conductors which are connected to the output port on the display module and to the internal alarm system with an easily attached removable connector to enable various sensors to be easily mounted on the display module, yet which will sound the internal alarm of the display module if the power cord is removed from the display module or the conductors thereof severed by a potential thief, and in which the power cord preferably contains six electrical conductors, two of which power a security plunger switch mounted within the sensor with two other of the conductors powering a visual indicator (LED) provided in the sensor, with the other two conductors being connected to a power output jack of the sensor from which electric power is supplied to the item of merchandise attached to the sensor.
Another feature of the invention is to provide the alarm module and sensor with a pair of magnets providing self-orientation of the displayed item when returned to the alarm module.
A further aspect of the invention is to provide the display module which displays a product in a secure position on a removable sensor mounted on the product with its own internal alarm system power by an internal battery to provide a one-to-one relationship, that is, each displayed product is protected by its own alarm system, even if an external source of electric power is not used to supply power to the displayed product.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide alarm circuitry in the display module in which an internal audible alarm is powered by an external power source connected to the display module and is automatically switched to an internal battery for powering the audible alarm in the event of a power failure or the unavailability of the external power source. This will extend the life of the internal battery and will provide another level of security to the security system of the present invention.
These objectives and features are obtained by the security system of the present invention for displaying and protecting a displayed product, the general nature of which may be stated as comprising a display module mounted on a support; a sensor removably mounted on the display module and connected to the displayed product; a remote source of electric power; a first power cord electrically connecting the display module to the source of electric power; a second power cord electrically and mechanically connecting the display module to the sensor; a third power cord electrically and mechanically connecting the sensor to the displayed product; wherein the first, second and third power cords provide an electrical path extending from the remote source of electric power through the display module and to the displayed product; and an alarm circuit contained in the display module having a self-contained power source providing sense loops through the second and third power cords and an audible alarm actuated upon the integrity of either of the second and third power cords being compromised.
A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
The security system of the present invention is indicated generally at 1, and is shown particularly in
Display module 3 is intended to be secured to a support 9 by a plurality of fasteners 11 and includes a base 13 and a support column or housing 15 extending upwardly therefrom. Housing 15 is mounted within an irregular-shaped recess 17 (
In accordance with one of the features of the invention, display module 3 contains an alarm circuitry (
In accordance with another of the features of the invention, a remote source of electric power 57 is connectable to display module 3 by a first power cord 59 which preferably contains a pair of conductors 60 and 61 and may include a pair of connectors 63 and 63A which connect cord sections 59A and 59B which combine to form power cord 59. Cord section 59B preferably extends through a hole 65 formed in support 9 and terminates in a plug 67 which has a terminal end connector 69 which extends into and is electrically connected to a power input jack 70 mounted in base 13. Power supply 57 preferably will be a usual 120V AC supply readily available throughout a retail store and usually will include a transformer 71 which will convert the 120V AC to a DC voltage, generally in the range of 3V to 9V DC, which voltage is supplied to most types of battery-powered equipment for recharging the internal battery of the type of item to be displayed on display module 3. However, this voltage can change without affecting the concept of the invention.
However, in accordance with another feature of the invention, the 120V AC power can be supplied directly to display module 3 which contains the appropriate circuitry for converting the AC voltage to a DC voltage for supplying the desired DC voltage to the displayed product as discussed further below with respect to
A power output jack 73 is mounted within housing 15 of display module 3 and receives a plug 75 therein which is mounted on one end of a second power cord 77. Power cord 77 preferably has a coiled extensional arrangement enabling it to extend outwardly when a customer is inspecting product 7 and will contain a plurality of electrical conductors. The other end of power cord 77 preferably is hardwired into sensor 5 as shown in
A power jack 85 is mounted within sensor 5 for receiving a terminal 87 of a plug 88 therein. Plug 88 is mounted on one end of a third power cord 89 which terminates at a second end in a plug 91. Plug 91 has an end terminal configuration 92 which is configured to match the electrical contacts in the receptacle or jack 93. A receptacle or jack 93 is provided on most types of powered products, of the type intended for display on module 3, in order to charge the internal battery of the product or provide power to other components of the displayed product. A particular power cord 89 will be chosen that has a plug 91 attached thereto that is compatible with the particular receptacle 93 of the particular product to be displayed on module 1. The contacts of receptacle 93 will vary depending upon the particular manufacturer of the product in which it is incorporated and the merchant will have several types of power cords 89 that have the particular configured plug 91 on one end thereof in order to be compatible with receptacle 93 of the particular product displayed on module 3. Plug 88 preferably is a standard type of a readily available plug having a cylindrical configured terminal 87 formed therein and can be used for connection to power jack 85 incorporated in sensor 5. However, if desired, power cord 89 can be hardwired to sensor 5 without affecting its operation and manner of use.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, power supply cord 59, and in particular section 59A extending between connector 63 and power supply transformer 71 will be the same as that usually supplied with the particular product 7 to be displayed on module 3 which will ensure that the correct amount of power (DC voltage) is supplied from power supply 57 to product power input jack 93. Therefore, the display module of the present invention, in addition to removably supporting sensor 5 thereon which is attached to the displayed product, provides electrical power from a remote source to the sensor, with the sensor being mechanically and electrically connected to display module 3 by power cord 77 in a simple effective manner. This connection to the remote source of electricity enables the battery contained within the displayed product to remain charged at all times and can be used to supply electricity to other components of the displayed product making it more attractive to a perspective customer since he/she is able to see the product in its full operating condition. It also avoids sales personnel from constantly checking to see if the displayed product is supplied with the necessary internal power for satisfactory operation of its various functions. Furthermore, plunger switch 16 will provide security against unauthorized removal of the alarm module from support 9, and in combination with plunger switch 79 in sensor 5 provides the additional protection for the displayed product.
Thus the security system of the present invention provides a system which supplies electric power from a remote source through a display module and sensor to a product attached to the sensor to ensure that an internal battery of the displayed product remains energized, as well as supplying power at the correct voltage to other electrical components of the displayed product. As indicated above and as shown in
Also, in accordance with another feature of the invention, the self-contained alarm system 39 which includes audible alarm 53 and battery 45 is mounted within display module 3 and is dedicated to protecting the single product 7 secured to sensor 5. This protection is provided whether display module 3 is or is not connected to the remote source of electricity. This enables the display module and sensor to be placed at various locations and the product attached to sensor 5 to be periodically replaced without disturbing adjacent displayed products and alarm systems.
It is readily understood that alarm circuitry 39 will sound alarm 53 upon actuation of plunger switch 79 upon the removal of product 7 from sensor 5 or upon actuation of plunger switch 16 upon removal of alarm module 3 from support 9. Likewise, the alarm circuitry provides a sense loop through power cords 77 and 89 which will sound an alarm if plug 91 is removed from product 7 or from sensor 5, or if plug 75 is removed from power output jack 73, or if either power cord 77 or 89 is severed. The alarm circuitry can be configured that upon removal of plug 67 from input jack 70 alarm 53 will sound, all of which provides additional security to the security system of the present invention. Likewise, LEDs 47 and 83 will be fully illuminated or blinking upon the alarm system being activated, which will notify the store personnel and a potential thief that the merchandise is protected by an active alarm system.
Alarm circuitry 102 is a standard alarm circuitry of the type used to protect displayed products wherein a sense loop is provided in one or more conductor cables attached to the protected product and/or attached sensor or to one or more plunger or pressure switches which connect the product to a sensor or a display module to a support structure. Likewise, alarm circuitry supplies power to various visual indicators 47 and 83 (LED) as discussed above or can be used to program security codes etc. into the system, some of which are not utilized in the present invention.
In normal operation, the 120V AC supply is used to supply the desired DC voltage to printed circuit board microprocessor 49 through linear regulators 105 and 107 and other circuit components. In the event of a power failure of the 120V AC power supply, switching diodes 108-111 will immediately switch the power supply for the alarm circuitry to battery 45 which then supplies the power to circuit board 49, the various sense loops, audible alarm 53 and the various safety pressure switches. The appropriate signal is then supplied through transistor 113 and conductor 115 to circuit board 49 as discussed above. This ensures that the displayed product is protected from theft and still can be supplied with the desired DC voltage for its operation by its own internal battery even when the main AC power source is interrupted. It also avoids using battery 45 until required to protect the displayed product by using the remote source of AC power.
The 4.6V DC output of linear regulator 105 preferably is used to supply the necessary voltage to LED 83 and to the piezo speaker 53 and which will always be greater than the supply voltage, for example the 3.3V for microprocessor 49. Also, the DC power supply from remote AC source, preferably will always be higher than the DC voltage of 4.6 provided by the output of linear regulator 105.
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. The term “mechanically connected” as used herein means that the power cord provides a physical attachment between the separate items or components in addition to providing an electrical path therebetween.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/880,115 filed Jan. 12, 2007 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/880,132 filed Jan. 12, 2007; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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