1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to theft deterrent systems as used to prevent unauthorized removal of consumer goods.
2. Background
Those involved in the distribution of consumer goods are constantly seeking ways to prevent unauthorized removal of goods from display areas. The expense of security systems and personnel used to limit losses due to theft is generally recovered by raising the price of the goods to the consumer. In today's highly competitive market, the successful retailer thus seeks security systems that are both economically practical and effective.
Electronic theft deterrent systems have proven to be highly successful over the years. However, the use of an electronic security system is not always feasible. Sometimes, the cost of the goods to be monitored does not justify the investment in such a system. For other types of goods, such as belts, the quantity of goods displayed is such that it would be impractical to monitor each item, as by the use of a sensor thereon.
Further, highly portable goods such as belts, small hand tools, eyeglasses and sunglasses, USB flash drives, camera memory cards and printer ink cartridges, which are small, lightweight and often relatively expensive, can be easily removed from a premise before the breach of security is detected, even when electronic systems are used. Many stores are set up with display stands for such goods in close proximity to an exit door. The thief is often able to remove the article, exit promptly from the store through the adjacent exit, and become lost in crowds as are common in metropolitan areas and shopping malls.
It is known to confine a quantity of discrete articles in bulk upon a display stand. However, when this type of system is used for relatively small, lightweight articles, the thief may be able to remove and make off with the entire quantity of articles, together with the display stand.
As a result of the above problems, many purveyors of small, discrete objects, such as hand tools in hardware stores, belts and sunglasses in apparel stores, rackets and the like in sporting goods stores, USB flash drives and the like in electronics stores, etc. choose to hang this type of good unsecured on a mounting wall. In many stores, pegboard is used in conjunction with a projecting arm to support, a stack of such goods. For example, a number of printer cartridges are commonly seen in computer stores supported from a cantilevered arm on a vertical wall. In the case, of eyeglasses and sunglasses, such goods are often loosely displayed in either a rotating carousel or a wallmount display. In spite of the risk associated with these types of displays, many purveyors of goods such as the aforementioned have chosen to assume this risk rather than contend with the above problems.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Described herein is technology for, among other things, a theft deterrent apparatus for cooperation with an elongate member attached to and extending outwardly from a forward-facing side of an article display panel. The apparatus includes a housing defining an internal chamber. The housing includes a first aperture passing through the housing into the internal chamber for receiving the elongate member, a second aperture for receiving a magnetic key, and a locking member that has a magnetic portion and is movably disposed within the internal chamber. The locking member is adapted to selectively maintain the apparatus in locked and unlocked configurations in which the locking member respectively prevents or permits the elongate member from being at least partially withdrawn from the first aperture. Whether the locking member maintains the apparatus in the locked or unlocked configuration depends on whether or not the magnetic key is inserted into the second aperture.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a theft deterrent system for deterring theft of an apertured article and for attachment to a forward-facing side of a display panel. The theft deterrent system includes an upper elongate member that has an attachment end and an operating end, where the attachment end is attached to the forward-facing side of the display panel. The system also includes a lower elongate member for supporting the apertured article and having an attachment end and an operating end, where the attachment end is also attached to the forward-facing side of the display panel. The system also includes a magnetic key and a locking apparatus for selectively securing the article to the lower elongate member. The locking apparatus includes a housing defining an internal chamber and including a first aperture passing through the housing into the internal chamber for receiving the upper elongate member, and a second aperture adapted to receive the magnetic key. The locking apparatus also includes an engagement member extending outwardly from the main body engaging the lower elongate member and a locking member having a magnetic portion and movably disposed within the internal chamber. The locking member is adapted to selectively maintain the theft deterrent system in either a locked configuration or an unlocked configuration, depending on whether the magnetic key is inserted (unlocked) into the third aperture or not (locked). In the locked configuration, the locking member prevents longitudinal movement of the upper elongate member within the locking apparatus, and the engagement member and the lower elongate member cooperate to prevent the article from being removed from the lower elongate member. In the unlocked configuration, the locking member permits a degree of longitudinal movement of the upper elongate member within the locking apparatus such that the lower elongate member becomes disengaged from the engagement member to permit removal of the article from the lower elongate member. The lock apparatus also includes a magnetic shield disposed between the outer surface of the housing and the magnetic key when inserted into the second aperture. The magnetic shield substantially prevents a magnetic force that is external to the housing from interacting with the locking member.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a theft deterrent system for mounting to a side of a display panel and for deterring the theft of an article. The theft deterrent system includes a rigid article securement member that includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member and a connecting member connecting the first elongate member with the second elongate member, where the first and second elongate members are generally parallel to each other. The theft deterrent system also includes a locking apparatus that is adapted to be mounted to the rear-facing side of the display panel. The locking apparatus includes a housing defining an internal chamber and including a first aperture passing from an outer surface of the housing into the internal chamber and adapted to receive the first elongate member, a second aperture adapted to receive the second elongate member, and a third aperture adapted to receive a magnetic key. The locking apparatus also includes a locking member having a magnetic portion and movably disposed within the internal chamber. The locking member is adapted to selectively maintain the theft deterrent system in either a locked configuration or an unlocked configuration, depending on whether the magnetic key is inserted (unlocked) into the third aperture or not (locked). In the locked configuration, the locking member prevents the article securement member from being withdrawn from at least one of the first and second apertures, and the article securement member and the locking apparatus cooperate to secure the article to the display panel, when the magnetic key is not inserted into the second aperture. In the unlocked configuration, the locking member permits the first elongate member to be at least partially withdrawn from the first aperture and the second elongate member to be fully withdrawn from the second aperture to allow removal of the article from the display panel.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention:
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Furthermore, in the detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.
With reference to
Generally speaking, the theft deterrent system 10 includes a locking apparatus 400 that cooperates with a number of elongate members that are attached to a display panel 50 in a cantilever orientation. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking apparatus 400 cooperates with an upper elongate member 100 and a lower at elongate member 200, wherein an apertured article is hung from the lower elongate member 200. In a locked configuration, depicted in
In one embodiment, the elongate members 100 and 200 are configured to prevent a would-be shoplifter from simply removing the entire system 10 from the display panel 50, merchandise and all, and making off with the merchandise. As shown in
As shown, the locking apparatus 400 includes upper and lower engagement members 410 and 420, each having corresponding apertures 412 and 422 therethrough. The engagement members 410 and 420 and the apertures 412 and 422 are sized and spaced to engage the upper and lower elongate members 100 and 200, respectively. Further, as shown in
The locking apparatus 400 also includes a locking member 500, which is movably positioned within the internal chamber 440.
As shown in
During use/operation, the locking apparatus 400, by way of the locking member 500, is operable to selectively maintain the theft deterrent system 10 in locked and unlocked configurations. In the locked configuration, which corresponds to the magnetic key 700 not being positioned within chamber 432, the locking member 500 prevents the upper elongate member 100 from being withdrawn from aperture 412. In the unlocked configuration, which corresponds to the magnetic key 700 being inserted into chamber 432, the locking member 500 permits the upper elongate member 100 to be at least partially withdrawn from aperture 412.
As shown in
In one embodiment, once positioned within chamber 440, a pin 150 may be inserted through aperture 140 of the upper elongate member 100. Pin 150 serves to stabilize the upper elongate member 100 within the locking apparatus 400 and prevents the complete withdrawal of the upper elongate member 100 from the locking apparatus 400. In particular, the pin 150 is sized so that it abuts a face of the locking member or an internal face of the housing, thereby preventing complete withdrawal of the upper elongate member 100 from the locking apparatus 400. Additionally, the pin 150 may fit within the grooves 635 of protrusions 630 of the faceplate 600. Thus, rotation of the locking apparatus 400 about the upper elongate member 100 may also be prevented.
As mentioned earlier, the locking apparatus 400 may also include a magnetic shield 450 disposed within chamber 434, and thereby disposed between the outer surface of the housing and to the magnetic key 700, when inserted. By positioning the magnetic shield 450 as such, the magnetic shield can substantially prevent a magnetic force that is external to the housing, such as in the case where a shoplifter may attempt to unlock the locking apparatus 400 by pressing a handheld magnet up against the housing, from interacting with the locking member.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention are not limited solely to pegboard displays. Moreover, embodiments are also not limited to configurations in which rods are cantilevered from a display panel. For example,
In the illustrated embodiment, the eyeglasses 60 are secured to the locking apparatus 900 and the display panel 55 by securement portion 800. As shown in
The primary differences between the locking apparatus 900 and locking apparatus 400 are that locking apparatus 900 is mountable to a rear-facing side of a display panel and that the aperture 950 through which the magnetic key 700 is inserted is located on the opposite side of locking apparatus 900, such that the faceplate 1000 does not include an aperture. Otherwise, the locking apparatus 900 operates in much the same manner as locking apparatus 400. In particular, during use/operation, the locking apparatus 900, by way of the locking member 500, is similarly operable to selectively maintain the theft deterrent system 20 in locked and unlocked configurations. In the locked configuration, which corresponds to the magnetic key 700 not being positioned within chamber 932, the locking member 500 prevents the upper elongate portion 810 from being withdrawn from aperture 912. In the unlocked configuration, which corresponds to the magnetic key 700 being inserted into chamber 932, the locking member 500 permits the upper elongate portion 810 to be at least partially withdrawn from aperture 912.
As shown in
Locking apparatus 900 may also include a magnetic shield 450 disposed within chamber 934, and disposed between the outer surface of the housing and the magnetic key 700, when inserted, for preventing a magnetic force that is external to the housing, such as in the case where a shoplifter may attempt to unlock the locking apparatus 400 by pressing a handheld magnet up against the housing, from interacting with the locking member.
Thus, embodiments provide secure systems for deterring the theft of displayed articles. The various components of embodiments may vary in size and shape depending on the application. Moreover, because of the simple magnetic key design, retailers can quickly and easily remove an article from the display for a customer. Thus, retailers are able to cut down on the amount of theft, thereby enabling them to maintain lower prices.
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
The present Application for Patent is a divisional of patent application Ser. No. 12/476,346 entitled “Theft Deterrent System” filed Jun. 2, 2009, pending, and assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12476346 | Jun 2009 | US |
Child | 13339672 | US |