Abstract:
An anti-theft apparatus for gripping mobile phones and other handheld items to allow secure marketing display of the handheld products. The anti-theft device grips a handheld product in legs, which are manually screwed tight by rotating a specially shaped key that fits into a similarly shaped slot aligned on the axis of a draw pin. The draw pin tightens and loosens the legs around the handheld device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/481,486, filed Jul. 6, 2006, and incorporates by reference the subject matter thereof. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to security devices for allowing display of handheld products and, more particularly, to a universal clamping apparatus to prevent theft of handheld electronic devices without hindering customer inspection thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Retailers sell light weight wireless phones, handheld computers, radios, scanners, pagers, GPS systems, multimeters, cameras, music players, power tools, calculators, and similar electronic devices to the public in a range of shapes and sizes, with a range of functionality. Encouraging customers to pick up, hold, examine, and use the features of the devices is a valuable marketing technique employed by retailers. To decrease the risk of theft associated with this marketing strategy, retailers often further employ security measures to physically retain the electronic device within a short distance from its display location. Current security devices that allow customers to manipulate displayed electronic devices are often designed for specific types, brands, sizes, or shapes. Current security devices that claim to fit handheld electronics universally, in fact, do not. These security devices are bulky and obtrusive, blocking full customer inspection of features. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,382 issued Dec. 9, 2003 to Ryczek discloses a security device by which cell phones or similar handheld electronic devices can be fastened within a clamp and tethered to a display location. The clamp consists of an upper jaw and a lower jaw. A flange with a hole protrudes perpendicularly off the dorsal side of each jaw for a screw to pass through and tighten the jaws together. Up to six sides of an electronic device are thereby fastened within the upper and lower jaws. Other than the one-dimensional range of the screw&#39;s length, the security device is not adjustable to fit varying sizes and types of electronic devices. Multiple models must be designed for specific types, sizes, or shapes of electronic handheld devices. Additionally, clamping on up to six sides of electronic devices, including but not limited to slide and flip-top wireless phones, inhibits customer inspection of some features and functionality. 
     Some attempts have been made to devise anti-theft devices that allow functional use of items. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,183 issued on Sep. 21, 1993 to Leyden discloses an anti-theft device for use with television remote controls in locations such as hotels and motels. A flat disk at the end of a tether retracts to a base. Adhesive attaches the flat disk to a flat surface of the remote control. The attaching disk is not intended to be used with various types of items, and it is not intended for repeat attachment and detachment. 
     Other mobile phone clamps and holders are intended for repeat attachment and detachment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,645 issued May 11, 1999 to Tsay, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,302 issued Sep. 10, 1996 to Wang disclose devices that clamp cell phones on the sides. Each holder uses an easily and quickly releasable mechanism, such as a spring mechanism, to grip a cell phone on the sides. These devises are not intended to prevent theft, but rather to temporarily hold and facilitate use of a cell phone under certain conditions, such as driving. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,921 issued Dec. 14, 1999 to Pfahlert et al. discloses a lockable cradle for holding a radiotelephone. A radio signal is used to lock and unlock the arms that clamp around the sides of a phone. This anti-theft device is not intended to display or use the radiotelephone and all its features while locked in the cradle. It has a mating system to attach to a base, rendering a locked item unable to be held and manipulated while locked to a location. 
     It would be advantageous to provide a universal anti-theft device for electronics that mounts to an array of types, shapes, sizes, and brands thereof. 
     It would be advantageous to provide an anti-theft device that encourages handling and manipulation of electronic products. 
     It would be advantageous to provide an anti-theft device that minimizes restriction of gripped product features and functions during manipulation and inspection. 
     It would be advantageous to provide an anti-theft device that easily attaches and detaches from gripped products. 
     It would be advantageous to provide an anti-theft device that is perdurable. 
     It would be advantageous to provide an anti-theft device that attaches to existing retaining and positioning systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an anti-theft device for gripping handheld electronics and fastening them to a display location. A drive gear is powered manually by a special key, driving at least one axle gear. As the axle gears turn, the screwing motion contracts and expands legs to tighten and loosen their grip on the handheld devices. 
     Containing only three sides enables the anti-theft device to operate with a greater range of types, sizes, and shapes of handheld devices. The device may attach to a tether or other similar retracting and/or positioning system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the anti-theft device in accordance with the invention, with cell phone shown in proper alignment for attachment thereto; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a top view of the main housing body, absent the top plate; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a top view of the top plate; 
         FIG. 2   c  is a side view of the top plate; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a front view of the anti-theft device; 
         FIG. 3   b  is a front view of the device, with cell phone attached therein; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a side view of the device; 
         FIG. 4   b  is a side view of the device, with a cell phone attached therein; and 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the device. 
     
    
    
     For purposes of brevity and clarity, like components and elements of the apparatus of this invention will bear the same designations or numbering throughout the FIGURES. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the present invention, an anti-theft apparatus is provided for gripping mobile phones, cameras, computers, radios, scanners, pagers, GPS systems, and similar electronic devices to allow secure marketing display of the handheld products. The gripping device has a body with an upper surface, a first arm with a distal end and a second arm having a distal end. Also provided is a device for extending and retracting the first and second arms along an X-axis relative to respective first and second sides of the body. A leveling plate is movably connected to the body between the first and second arms. Also, the leveling plate can move along a Z-axis relative to the upper surface of the body. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , and as best seen in  FIG. 1 , the invention is shown to include a retention device  10  for securely holding a cell phone  8 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 3   a , retention device  10  comprises a moveable shim plate  14  and first moveable arm  16  and a second moveable arm  18 . Shim plate  14  moves vertically in alignment with the Z axis; first moveable arm  16  and second moveable arm  18  move horizontally in alignment with the X axis. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   a , the horizontal movement of first moveable arm  16  and second moveable arm  18  along the X axis is controlled by the rotation of draw pin  28 , which retains two threaded ends  34 ,  36 , each of which is machined with a thread pattern that is counter rotational to the other. Correspondingly, threaded hole  24  in arm base  20  and threaded hole  26  in arm base  22  are each machined with a thread pattern that is counter rotational to the other. Threaded end  36  is complementary to threaded hold  24 , while threaded end  34  is complementary to threaded hole  26 . Therefore, it is critical to function that threaded end  36  is inserted into threaded hole  24 , while threaded end  24  is inserted into threaded hole  26 . 
     A draw pin  28  extends through the center of housing body  12  via hole  29 . Draw pin  28  is held in place by lock washer  30 , which is attached at opposing end portions of draw pin  28  and so positioned to abut the side walls of housing body  12 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3   a  through  4   b , the rotation of draw pin  28  is controlled by inserting a suitable tool (not shown) into hex key hole  32  at the tip of threaded end  34  of draw pin  28 . Disposed with hex key hole  32  is a security pin  33  ( FIGS. 4   a ,  5 ) that can be turned by the suitable tool. When the hex key is inserted and rotated clockwise, draw pin  28  is simultaneously rotated in a clockwise direction. This screws the opposing threaded ends  34  and  36  into threaded holes  26  and  24 , respectively, which serves to draw first moveable arm  16  and second moveable arm  18  towards one another, and towards the center of housing body  12 . Conversely, when draw pin  20  is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, first moveable arm  16  and second moveable arm  18  are drawn away from each other, and away from the center of housing body  12 . In this fashion, first moveable arm  16  and second moveable arm  18 , as well as optional retention hooks  17  and  19 , can be infinitely adjusted to clamp onto and securely hold the sides and top edges of cell phone  8 . 
     While the width, or range, of lateral movement of first moveable arm  16  and second moveable arm  18  is arbitrarily dependent upon the electronic device that is to be retained, the range for the embodiment shown herein is approximately 3.125″ at the widest adjustment and approximately 0.702″ at the narrowest adjustment. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2   a , locator pins  38  and  40  are fixedly attached to arm bases  20  and  22 , respectively. Locator pin  38  extends through locator hole  39 ; locator pin  40  extends through locator hole  41 . Each pin  38 ,  40  is parallel to the axis of draw pin  28 , and in the same plane thereof. As draw pin  28  is rotated, thereby moving first moveable arm  16  and second moveable arm  18  into a wider or narrower adjustment state, locater pins  38  and  40  slide correspondingly through locator holes  39  and  41 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2   a  and  3   a , locator pins  38  and  40  function as stabilizer means to prevent arm bases  20  and  22  from deviating from their fixed alignment, which in turn maintains the perpendicular alignment of first moveable arm  16  and second moveable arm  18  as they move through various states of adjustment as described above. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2   b  through  4   b , the vertical movement of shim plate  14  along the Z axis is controlled by the rotation of one or more threaded shim pins  15 , which are fixedly attached to each end of shim plate  14 . Here, it is important to note that while shim pins  15  are fixedly attached to shim plate  14 , pins  15  are attached in a manner that allows the full and unencumbered rotation of threaded shim pins  15  in both clockwise and counter clockwise directions. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , the free end of each of shim pins  15 , not fixedly attached to shim plate  14 , retains hex key hole, retains a corresponding hex key hole  54 . When a hex key is inserted into one of hex key holes  54  and rotated, the corresponding shim pin  15  rotates clockwise or counter-clockwise. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , when shim pins  15  are rotated clockwise into threaded holes  13 , shim pins  15  rise along the threads of threaded holes  13 , thereby elevating the end of pins  15  that are fixedly attached to shim plate  14 . In this manner, shim plate  14  may be elevated in a gradual and controlled manner. Conversely, when threaded shim pins  15  are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, shim plate  14  is lowered along the threads of threaded holes  13  in a likewise gradual and controlled manner. While the elevating distance of shim plate  14  is arbitrarily dependent upon the size of the electronic device retained, the elevating distance for the embodiment described herein is approximately 0.65 inches. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , each end of shim plate  14  may be raised or lowered, by alternate turn in graduated increments, thereby raising or lowering plate  14  in a level manner. This allows shim plate  14  to function substantially as a screw type jack to elevate cell phone  8  and press it securely against optional retention hooks  17  and  19 , thereby holding cell phone  8  fixedly between shim plate  14  and retention hooks  17 ,  19 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 4   a  through  5 , attachment flanges  42  and  43  extend from the bottom portion of housing body  12 . Attachment flange  42  retains hole  46 ; attachment flange  43  retains threaded hole  48 . Threaded attachment pin  44  inserts freely through hole  46  and thence to threaded hole  48 . When threaded attachment pin  44  is fully seated in threaded hole  48 , means is provided to allow retention device  10  to be securely attached to any number or variation of display fixtures and systems that are commonly utilized by the retail trade to safeguard valuable goods. This security feature is enhanced by the fact that the head of attachment pin  44  retains a hex key hole  50 , thereby requiring a tool or key of certain size for removal, a specialty tool rarely carried by the average consumer, or even the average consumer inclined to shoplift goods from a retail establishment. Disposed with hex key hole  50  can be security pin  52 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , it is seen that retention device  10  is adjustable to accommodate the width and height of virtually any cell phone in use today, and to securely grip and hold virtually any cell phone in a manner that allows full use and inspection of all relevant features of the cell phone by consumers at a retail location where the cell phone is displayed for sale. 
     Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
     Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.