PILFERING INHIBITOR

Abstract: A pilfering inhibitor (1) particularly, although not exclusively, for use for displaying jewellery rings (11). The pilfering inhibitor (1) includes releasable holding means (13) and releasing means (51, 33, 21, 19 and 17). Items (21, 19 and 17) of the releasing means constitute a remote control, whereby the releasable holding means (13) can be released from a remote position from the pilfering inhibitor (1), thereby providing good security for the rings (11). When it is desired to insert a ring (11) into the pilfering inhibitor (1), the ring (11) can pass through an opening (7) and displace the releasable holding means (13) whereafter the releasable holding means (13) can move by spring biasing forces to securing the ring (11) to the pilfering inhibitor (1). In this way the remainder of the rings (11) need not be released by the releasable holding means (13) to permit insertion. Accordingly security is maximized.

Description: PILFERING INHIBITOR Background of the Invention This inventio .relates to a pilfering inhibitor and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to such for use in the jewellery fields. Description of Prior Art Hitherto pilfering inhibiting devices have been known, as for example in British Patent Specification No. 1101948 and U.S. Patent Specification Nos. 2321339, 1994363 and 1436233. These pilfering inhibiting devices have been used basically in jewellery shops for retaining rings or other looped like items of jewellery. Each of the prior art devices has been provided with a holding means whereby jewellery in the form of rings can be locked thereto by the holding means passing through the opening in the finger portion of each ring. In the prior art jewellery boxes the holding means can be released by direct manually operation at the jewellery box thereby allowing selected items of jewellery to be taken from the jewellery box. There are at least two disadvantages with the above prior art pilfering inhibiting devices. The first of these disadvantages is, that once an item of jewellery, such as a ring, is removed from the jewellery box, then the holding means must be maintained released to allow the jewellery to be reinserted and this is undesirable because it presents a security problem for all those other items of jewellery which are then unlocked. The second problem is, that the jewellery box itself contains the releasing mechanism for the holding means and by unscrupulous persons distracting a salesperson's attention, it is possible to operate the releasing means thereby enabling jewellery to be taken without the knowledge of the salesperson. The present invention attempts to overcome one or more of the a orementioned problems. The first problem is attempted to be overcome by providing the holding means with an automatic opening feature such that when an item is to be secured it can be done so without releasing the holding mechanism. The second problem is attempted to be overcome by providing a remote control feature whereby only the salesperson or some other person at a remote location, can have access to a releasing means for releasing the item from the pilfering inhibiting device. Statement of Invention Therefore in accordance with a first broad aspect of the present invention there may be provided a pilfering inhibitor comprising; a base member upon which an item can be displayed. at least one releasable holding means for securing said item to said base member, releasing means connected with said at least one releasable holding means whereby said item can be released from said base member, said releasable holding means being automatically returnable to an item secured position and being provided with an item securing capability, whereby an item can be secured to said base without releasing operation of said releasing means. Preferably the base member is generally planar and there are a plurality of releasable holding means for securing a plurality of items to said base member. It is preferred, although not essential, that there be individual releasable holding means for each of the items to be held to said base member. Desirably the base member has slot means therein so that a looped like item - such as a jewellery ring - can be inserted into the slot means and that the releasable holding means be on the opposite face of said base member from which the looped like item is passed through said slot means so that said releasable holding means can pass through the portion of the looped like item that projects through said slot. In this manner, items, such as jewellery, can be openly displayed on the pilfering inhibitor, and released for detailed inspection and can be replaced, such as by the customer if it is not the particular one required without reactivation of the releasing means. This, in turn, maintains high security for the remaining items on the base member. According to the further aspect of the present invention, there may be provided a pilfering inhibitor comprising; a base member upon which an item can be displayed, at least one releasable holding means for securing said item to said base member, releasing means connected with said at least one releasable holding means whereby said item can be released from said base member, said releasable holding means being activatable by a remote control means. Preferably said remote control means is a SIMPLEX remote control means such as an I.R. transmitter/receiver or a radio transmitter/receiver. By utilizing a remote control means, security of the item can be maximized because an initiating means of the transmitter part of the remote control means which is used to trigger operation of the releasing means can be maintained in a place of security, such as behind the display counter. In this manner, items such as expensive jewellery can be openly displayed on the pilfering inhibitor and released for detail inspection by a customer, only when a salesperson activates the initiating means of the transmitter. Preferably both pilfering inhibiting inventions are incorporated into a single pilfering inhibitor. Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained one preferred embodiment for use in displaying rings will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Figure 1 , is a top rear perspective view of- a preferred jewellery ring display box; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 (i.e. a plan view of the base portion of the jewellery box) ; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1 (i.e. an underneath view of of the top part of the jewellery box shown in Figure 1) ; Figure 4 is. a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a 'close-up 1 perspective view of part of releasable holding means shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 3; Figure 7 is a block schematic circuit diagram of a transmitter part of a remote control unit; and Figure 8 is a block schematic diagram of a receiver part of the remote control unit. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown a pilfering inhibitor 1 which includes a top part 3 and a base part 5. Top part 3 has a plurality of slots 7 therein into which looped items 11 can be placed. Desirably the items 11 are jewellery rings. The slots 7 are dimensioned so that the rings will partly seat within the slots 7 and so that a lowermost portion of the looped part of the ring which passes through the slot 7 will project from the undersurface of the top part 3. Desirably, the top part 3 is covered with a baize or felt covering 9 to enhance the displaying characteristics of the rings which are to be held by the pilfering inhibitor. This is clearly shown in Figure 4. Here the items 11 - the rings - are seen to protrude downwardly through the slot 7 so that a portion of the looped part of the items 11, extends below the underneath surface of the top part 3. A releasable holding means 13 (see Figure 4 and 5) is provided for co-operation with the part of the items 11 - the rings - which protrudes from the slot 7. In this manner, the ring is inhibited from being withdrawn .from the base 3 until the releasable holding means 13 is activated so that the goods 11 can be withdrawn from the slot 7. This will be explained in further detail in due course. Returning now to Figure 1 it can be seen that a SIMPLEX remote control means 15 is provided and the SIMPLEX remote control means 15 comprises a receiver 17, a transmitter 19 and an initiator means 21. The initiator means 21 includes a foot operatable switch (to be referred to later). The initiator means 21 and the transmitter 19 are interconnected by a cable 23. A jack plug socket 25 is provided on a rear end surface of the pilfering inhibitor 1 so that a jack plug (not shown) can be used to charge nickel cadmium batteries contained within the base part 5. The batteries are used for operating the receiver 17 and for also operating the releasing means (yet to be described) which operates the releasable holding means 13 to enable the item 11 to be removed from the slots 7. It can be observed from Figure 1 that the base part 5 has a large compartment 27 at the rear end. This compartment 27 contains the necessary batteries, electronics and the releasing means. The compartment 27 also serves to slightly slope the top part 3 towards an intending customer so that items 11 can be displayed to best advantage. The pilfering inhibitor 1 can be located within a jewellery cabinet or can be openly displayed in a shop. When it is desired for a customer to inspect a particular item 11 closely, then a sales attendant can be called to, in turn, operate the remote control means which, in the embodiment described, comprises the transmitter 19 and the initiator means 21, so that the receiver 17 will receive a signal causing the releasing means to operate to, in turn, move the releasable holding means 13 to a position where the items 11, can be withdrawn from the slots 7. Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a cross-sectional view taken along 2-2 of Figure 1 - a plan view of the base unit 5. Here it can be seen that the compartment 27 has a .battery containing portion 29 in* which, preferably, rechargable batteries are provided. The jack plug socket 25 is clearly shown in Figure 2. A releasing means 31 includes an electric motor 33 which carries an arm 35 thereon. On operation of the electric motor 33, the arm 35 is rotated either clockwise or anticlockwise depending on the polarity of the voltage supplied to the electric motor 33. Appropriate speed reduction gearing 37 is placed between the drive of the motor 33 and the arm 35, so that the arm 35 rotates at a considerably slower speed than that of the motor 33. Additionally, increased torque can be provided on the arm 35 relative to that of the motor 33 by virtue of the low gearing of the gearing 37. The electronic circuit in compartment 27 includes a relay switch 39 which switches power from the batteries in the battery compartment 29, to the appropriate polarity for driving the motor in the required direction. A microswitch 41 of the double acting double pole type is also included. The microswitch 41 has two operating arms 43 which co-operate with a finger 45 (which moves in unison with movement of the releasable holding means 13). The detail of the finger 45 will be described in due course. In use, the finger 45 trips 5 either one of the switches within the microswitch 41 to signal the end positions of travel of the releasable holding means 13. This will be described more clearly in due course. Accordingly, the pilfering inhibitor 1 includes an electric circuit which has a receiver 17 therein and an electric motor 10 33 which drives an arm 35. The arm 35 engages with the releasable holding means 13 to move them backwards and forwards as will be described in due course. Movement of the releasable holding means 13, in turn, causes movement of the finger 45 which, in turn, causes the microswitch 41 to trip at 15 either of the extreme end positions of travel to switch off the motor 33. Referring now to Figures 3, 5 and 6, the top part 3 is generally planar and is attached to the base 5 as by gluing around the peripheral edge surfaces, as shown generally by 20. glue line 47 in Figure 6. Figure 3 shows screw openings 49, through which, self tapping screws may be passed to hold the compartment 27 tightly to the base 5 to top part 3. Appropriate fingers on the underneath surface of the top part 3 (not shown) may engage in openings (not shown) on the 25 opposite end of the base 5 to that of compartment 27 so that by locating those fingers in the openings and then by fastening the screws through the screw openings 49, the top part 3 can be positively secured to the base part 5. The openings 7 have respective releasable holding 30 means 13 associated therewith and the releasable holding means 13 are carried integrally on a large plate 51 which is mounted to slide underneath the top part 3 and co-planar therewith. The arm 35 engages with a bracket member 53 which is fastened to the plate 51 by screws 55 in such a manner that the bracket 35 member 53 can be adjusted relative to the plate 51. This allows for appropriate alignment of components. The plate member 51 can be made to slide backwards and forwards underneath the top part 3, by the arm 35 engaging with the bracket member 53. Accordingly, as the motor 33 is driven it, in turn, drives the arm 35 which, in turn, pushes or pulls the plate 51 backwards and forwards relative to the top part 5 3. Because the plate 51 carries the releasable holding means 13, it enables the items 11 to be withdrawn from the slots 7 when it is appropriately operated. The* bracket member 53 has arms 57 on one side and the arm 35 locates therebetween. The releasable holding means 13 are shown quite 10 clearly in Figure 5. They include a tongue 59 which is used to pass through the items 11 - the rings - as the loop portion thereof passes through the slots 7. The tongues 59, in turn, have a rear box shaped part 61. The box shaped part 61 includes a rear slot 63. In use, the releasable holding means 15 13 is received on the plate 51 by locating the slot 63 across the trunk part 65 of a T-shaped upstanding projection 67. The T-shaped projection 67 has a foot 69 thereon. A spring means in the form of a compression spring 71 carried in the releasable holding means 13 engages with the foot 69. Thus, 20 the releasable holding means 13.can be held captive underneath the plate 51 and underneath the top part 3 so that it can travel backwards and forwardly co-planar with the plane of the surface of the plate 51 by sliding down the trunk 65 of the T-shaped projection 67. The spring means 71 provides a spring 25 biasing force to the releasable holding means 13 as will be described in due course. Accordingly, as the plate 51 moves backwards and forwards it carries the releasable holding means 13 therewith. The releasable holding means 13 can, in turn, independently move relative to the plate 51. 30 Referring now specifically to Figures '4 and 6 it can be seen that the top part 3 has an elongate moulded compartment 73 associated with each of the slots 7. The tongues 59 of the releasable holding means 13 are arranged to pass through respective openings 75 in each of the elongate 35 moulded compartments 73 so as to pass through the items 11 - through the rings. This, in turn, will allow the items 11 to be held captive to the pilfering inhibitor 1. The upper surface 77 of the tongues 59 is inclined, as shown in the drawings, and when it is required to insert an item 11 - a ring - into the slot 7 so as to make it secure in the pilfering inhibiting device 1, then (as shown on the right hand side of Figure 4) the downward force applied to the inclined upper surface 77 will cause the releasable holding means 13 to be displaced sideways to allow the items 11 - the rings - to pass. As the bottom end 79 of the looped part of the ring passes the tongue 59, the releasable holding means 13 is urged by the bias of the spring 71 to the position which is shown on the left hand side of Figure 4 i.e. the ring has passed well into the opening 7, into the elongate moulded compartment 73 and is held captive by the tongue 59 on the releasable holding means 13. This feature provides an item 11 securing capability so that the item 11 can be inserted into the pilfering inhibitor 1, without operation of the plate 51 or the motor 33 and without making any item 11 already secured to the base 1 insecure. The plate 51 is arranged for sliding movement relative to the undersurface of the top part 3 by engaging in cut-outs in each side edge of the elongate moulded compartment 73. This has not been clearly shown in the drawings in an attempt not to confuse the clarity thereof. However, it can be seen in Figure 3 that the elongate moulded compartments 73 each have extensions 81 at each side edge. The plate 51 has cut-outs 83 therein which correspond approximately with the position of each of the elongate moulded compartments 73 and the cut-outs 83 are shaped so that they can be placed over extensions 81 on the elongate moulded compartment 73 and then the plate 51 slid rearwardly and/or forwardly co-planar with the top part 3. Thus, the plate 51 is held captive relative to the top part 3 but can slide a limited amount relative thereto. Accordingly it can be seen that the releasable holding means 13 are releasable from holding items 11 by means of a releasing means which generally comprises, plate 51, motor 33, the initiating means 21, the transmitter 19 and the receiver 17.- The remote control circuitry will now be described. The transmitter shown in Figure 7 operates as follows. On operation of the button 85 on the initiator means 21, it activates the circuit so that a set of infra red light emitting diodes 87 give out pulsed I.R. light. The transmitter consists of a Cmos oscillator using a Schmitt trigger oscillator configuration. The oscillator is buffered and the output is used to drive a transistor 89. The transistor 89 controls the current flow through the I.R. light emitting diodes 87 which emit light at the frequency set by the variable resistor 91 in an oscillator circuit 93. The frequency is in the vicinity of 5 kilohertz. The transmitter is brought into operation on activation of the button 85 on the initiator means 21. The receiver 17 is mounted within the compartment 27 and includes a photodiode 95 for receiving ' incoming I.R. emitted from the I.R. light emitting diodes 87. The photodiode 95, in fact, consists of a Darlington photo transistor in common emitter mode which is capacitively coupled to a comparator 97. The comparator 97 is used to set an operating threshold so that noise and optical interference may be ignored. The output of the comparator 97 is connected to an integrator 99 which has a fast rise and a slow fall characteristic. This characteristic allows for the immediate release of the items 11, on activation of the initiator means 21, followed by an approximate 2 second delay following release of the initiating means 21, when the releasing means are then moved to secure items to the pilfering inhibitor device 1. In other words, the motor 33 drives the plate 51 to release the items 11, and after a two second delay following release of the button 85, the motor 33 drives the plate 51 in the opposite direction so that the items 11 are again secured to the pilfering inhibitor 1. The desired item 11 must be removed from the slot 7 in this period otherwise it will be resecured to the pilfering inhibitor 1. The integrator 99 is connected to a pair of comparators 101 with opposite input connections, giving effectively an open and a closed output. The open output is applied to a transistor 103 which activates the motor 33 while the closed output is applied to a transistor 105 which activates both the motor 33 and the relay switch 39 so as to apply reverse voltage to the motor 33. The usual back EMF protection is employed on all electro-magnetic parts. As previously described, the finger 45 on the plate 51 operates a respective switch in the microswitch 41 at the ends of travel. This disables the motor 33 preventing overrun and subsequent damage. Various modifications may be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the ambit of the invention. For example, the releasable holding means 13 may, in fact, comprise pin members which are articulated and spring biased to a normally outwardly extending position. In the normally outwardly extending position, the finger members can' protrude across the slot 7 so as to inhibit withdrawal of looped articles such as rings therefrom. To enable the rings to be automatically inserted without operation of the releasing means, the arm will suitable pivot about its point of articulation and then under the influence of the spring biasing force be urged back to the outwardly extending position, thereby holding the ring captive relative to the pilfering inhibitor 1. Instead of using an I.R. type remote control -means any other type of control means such as a radio control means may be used. Suitable coding may be employed on the transmitted signals so that only certain transmitter and receiver combinations can be utilized together. It is also considered appropriate that the remote control means be operable to release individual rings rather than all the rings - 12 - simultaneously. In order to enable this to occur there would need to be appropriate plates 51 and motors 33 and other related parts, for each of the required rings. These and other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A pilfering inhibitor comprising: a base member upon which an item can be displayed, at least one releasable holding means for securing said item to said base member, releasing means connected with said at least one releasable holding means whereby said item can be released from said base member, said releasable holding means being automatically returnable to an item secured position and being provided with an item securing capability, whereby an item can be secured to said base without releasing operation of said releasing means. 2. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in Claim 1, for displaying a plurality of items and wherein each item is securable to said base member by a respective releasable holding means. 3. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each of said releasable holding means is mounted on a common member which common member is operatively connected with said releasing means. 4 ' . A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said item securing capability is provided by said releasable holding means being mounted with biasing means whereby items can be pressed against said biasing means to cause it to move against the bias of said biasing means out of the path of pressing of the item, and then once it is not influenced by the pressing force it will move by the bias to the item secured position. 5. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said base member contains opening means through which at least a part of the item can pass, and wherein said releasable holding means is mounted behind said opening. 6. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said base is generally planar and said releasable holding means is mounted to move in a direction generally co-planar therewith when activated by said releasing means. 7. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said base is generally planar and said releasable holding means is mounted to move in a direction generally co-planar therewith against the bias of said biasing means whilst an item is to be inserted through said opening means to be held secured to said base. 8. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the surface of said releasable holding means which is adjacent said opening means is inclined to assist in the movement against the bias of said biasing means whilst an item is to be inserted through said opening means. 9. A pilfering inhibitor comprising; a base member upon which an item can be displayed, at least one releasable holding means for securing said item to said base member, releasing means connected with said at least one releasable holding means whereby said item can be released from said base member, and releasable holding means being activated by a remote control means. 10. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said remote control means is a SIMPLEX remote control means with a transmitter at a remote location and a receiver at the pilfering inhibitor location. 11. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein said remote control means includes a push button for operation of said releasing means at position remote from said pilfering inhibitor. 12. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, wherein said remote control means operates at a particular carrier frequency so that only signals received at that carrier frequency by said receiver can cause releasing of said releasable holding means. 13. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said remote control unit is an I.R. remote control unit. 14. A pilfering inhibitor as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to 8 when appended to any one of Claims 9 to 13.

Inventors: SOLDEN DONALD, SOLDEN, DONALD
Applicants: FINGRET EDWARD GEOFFREY, SOLDEN DONALD, FINGRET, EDWARD, GEOFFREY, SOLDEN, DONALD
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A47F7
IPC codes: A47F7