Patent Application
20130194096
1. Field of Invention
The current invention relates generally to apparatus, systems and methods for protecting merchandise items from theft. More particularly, the apparatus, systems and methods relate to attaching a cable to merchandise items that are on a display stand to allow the items to be handled and generate an alarm if the cable is removed. Specifically, the apparatus, systems and methods provide for attaching a cable with a standard connector with a switch within the standard connector that activates and alarms if the switch detects that the cable is removed from a merchandise item.
2. Description of Related Art
Merchants use a variety of methods to protect their merchandise from theft. A common approach to solving this problem is to attach electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags to merchandise in a variety of ways. Foil and/or paper EAS tags can be attached to merchandise items with adhesive so that they are not easy to remove. When these merchandise items are brought near a surveillance gate near an entrance to a store selling these items, they cause the security gate to sound alarms indicating a possible theft. However, for more expensive items such as laptop computers, cellular phones and other electronic equipment, thieves will take the time to find and carefully remove EAS tags before stealing the merchandise.
Another way merchants try to protect merchandise is to tether the merchandise to a display stand. For example, a mechanical tether that is difficult to cut can be locked onto a laptop computer or other electronic device. The laptop computer is then displayed so that it can be handled and viewed by a potential buyer. However, this tether must be mechanically strong to ensure that it cannot be removed or cut from the merchandise item with special tools, thus deterring thieves. However, using a heavy duty tether that is difficult to remove adds cost to the display. What is needed is a better way to display merchandise.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an alarm system for protecting a merchandise item. The alarm system is comprised of an alarm logic, a cable and a switch. The cable has first and second ends with the first end adapted to be plugged into the alarm system. The switch is located at the second end of the cable and indicates when the second end of the cable is attached to the merchandise item and when the second end of the cable is not connected to the merchandise item. The second end of the cable can be connected to a standard port located on the merchandise item. The second end of the cable may be connectable to standard port compatible with the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard, the USB type B standard, the Registered Jack-45 (RJ-45) standard or another standard connector. The alarm system generates an alarm when the second end of the cable is disconnected from the merchandise item. In some embodiments, the switch is mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). A light emitting diode can be mounted on the PCB configured to indicate when the connector housing is attached to the merchandise item. The switch can be a plunger type of switch.
In another configuration of the preferred embodiment, a connector housing is located at the second end of the cable with the switch at least partially within the connector housing. The connector housing can be connected to the standard port on the merchandise item. The PCB can be located at least partially in the connector housing.
In some configurations, an elongated foil strip with a first end can be attached to the housing and a second end can be attached to the merchandise item. The alarm logic generates an alarm when the elongated foil strip is severed or removed from the connector housing. An electrical conductor within the foil strip can form a loop between two ends of the conductor. The alarm logic generates an alarm when the loop is severed. A locking door with an open position and a closed position can be located on the housing. When the locking door is in the closed position it secures the foil strip to the connector housing.
Another configuration of the preferred embodiment is a method of protecting a merchandise item. The method connects a flexible strip between the alarm connector and the merchandise item. An alarm is generated when the flexible strip is severed or removed from the alarm connector.
In another configuration of the method, a flexible strip is connected between the alarm connector and the merchandise item. An alarm is generated when the flexible strip is severed or removed from the alarm connector.
One or more preferred embodiments that illustrate the best mode(s) are set forth in the drawings and in the following description. The appended claims particularly and distinctly point out and set forth the invention.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the invention. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale.
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
As discussed further below, the alarm connector 10 can be any standard connector such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0, USB 3.0, USB, USB type A, USB type B, USB type Mini-B, USB micro-AB, USB micro-B, Registered Jack-26X (RJ-26X), RJ-38X, RJ-45, RJ-45S, RJ-48X, or any other standard connector as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, as discussed further below and best seen in
“Logic”, as used herein, includes but is not limited to hardware, firmware, software and/or combinations of each to perform a function(s) or an action(s), and/or to cause a function or action from another logic, method, and/or system. For example, based on a desired application or need, logic may include a software controlled microprocessor, discrete logic like an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmed logic device, a memory device containing instructions, or the like. Logic may include one or more gates, combinations of gates, or other circuit components. Logic may also be fully embodied as software. Where multiple logical logics are described, it may be possible to incorporate the multiple logical logics into one physical logic. Similarly, where a single logical logic is described, it may be possible to distribute that single logical logic between multiple physical logics.
As illustrated in
As best seen in
In the preferred embodiment, alarm connector 10 includes a main housing 12 that includes a top wall 18. The main housing 12 also includes a housing portion 54 and an interior portion 38 of main housing 12 to form a circuitry housing portion 16 of the overall main housing portion 12. Housing portion 54 further includes a left housing portion 54A and a right housing portion 54B. Housing portions 54A and 54B are configured to house circuit board 41 with its switch 42 and form the shape of alarm connector 10 so that it is shaped as a standard connector that can fit into a standard socket. Housing 54 includes chamber 56 for receiving the switch 42, as well as clear windows 58 to allow the LEDs 46 to transmit light through. Also, alarm connector 10 can include a connector shield 60 such as a USB connector shield or another type of shield and the housing 12 is configured to mount this shield 60 with the circuit board 40 at least partly projecting into an opening of the shield 60.
In a second embodiment, the alarm connector 10 can include a flexible attachment device 80 as shown in
As best seen in
Having described the components of security system 1 and the alarm connector 10, their operation will now be described with reference to a method of protecting merchandise items. As shown in
The second embodiment includes removing protective layer 96 from the flexible attachment device 80 and attaching adhesive layer 94 to the merchandise item 13. As best seen in
We will now discuss the preferred embodiment configured as a method of protecting merchandise items. The example methods may be better appreciated with reference to flow diagrams. While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the illustrated methodologies are shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks can occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from that shown and described. Moreover, less than all the illustrated blocks may be required to implement an example methodology. Blocks may be combined or separated into multiple components. Furthermore, additional and/or alternative methodologies can employ additional, not illustrated blocks.
A determination is made, at 1004, if connector 10 is removed from the merchandise item 13. For example, if switch 42 was depressed while connector 10 was plugged into the merchandise item 13, but later the alarm logic 4 detects that it is no longer depressed, then the alarm logic 4 can determine that connector 10 has been removed from merchandise item 13. When method 1000 detects that connector 10 is removed from the merchandise item 13, an alarm is generated, at 1006. This alarm can be an audible alarm and/or other types of alarms as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.
In another configuration of method 1000, method 1000 can include attaching a flexible attachment device 80 to merchandise item 13. Flexible attachment device 80 can be attached to merchandise item 13 by removing a protective layer 96 and sticking it to the merchandise item 13. The other end of the flexible attachment device 80 is held in alarm connector 10 with a locking door 62 that is adapted to release the flexible attachment device 80 when sufficient force is applied to pull it from the door 62. Both ends of a conductive layer 84 within flexible attachment device 80 make contact with a PCB 40 within alarm connector 10 so that when the flexible attachment device 80 is severed or removed from the alarm connector, this configuration of method 1000 will generate an alarm.
Other configurations of method 1000 can include other useful features and actions. For example, method 1000 can illuminate an LED 46 to indicate alarm connector 10 and/or flexible attachment device 80 is attached to the merchandise item 13. An LED 46 or other indicator can indicate that the alarm connector 10 was the connector responsible for generating an alarm after it has been removed from the merchandise item 13.
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. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details, the representative embodiments, and illustrative examples shown and described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. References to “the preferred embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example”, “an example”, and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in the preferred embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may.
