ANTITHEFT MEMBER

Abstract: An antitheft member which together with a counter member is to be attached onto articles, in particular textile articles, whereby a pin at one of the members is stuck through the article and inserted into the other member, and prevented from being removed by means of a lock in the first cavity of the second member. The second member further comprises a second cavity filled with fluid which at attempts of separating the antitheft member from the counter member without using the specially designed auxiliary means breaks and releases the fluid contained therein, the fluid-filled cavity being provided with predetermined breaking areas, protected against pins of other members. According to the invention the predetermined breaking areas (22) are protected by means of an outer bottom portion extending beyond the predetermined breaking areas (22) and thus covering these, the inner face of the outer bottom portion (8a) being provided with tapered parts (21) arranged essentially opposite the breaking areas (22) and capable of influencing the latter in case an unauthorized tool is inserted between the members.

Description: Title: Antitheft member Technical Field The invention relates to an antitheft member, which toge¬ ther with a counter member is to be attached onto arti- cles , in particular to texile articles, whereby a pin at one of the member is stuck through the article and inser¬ ted into the other member, and prevented from being removed by means of a lock in the first cavity of the second member, said second member further comprising a second cavity filled with fluid which at attempts of ' separating the anti-theft member from the counter member without using the specially designed auxiliary means breaks and releases the fluid contained therein, the fluid-filled cavity being provided with predetermined breaking areas, protected against pins of other members. Background Art It is known that pins of other antitheft members and counter members, when a large number of these are placed in a storage box, are easily damaged and thereby release the fluid in the box. In a known embodiment this problem has been remedied by arranging the breaking areas in such a manner that they are not directly accessible. However, it can be difficult to ensure that the member always breaks easily when an unauthorized tool means is inserted between the antitheft member and the counter member attached thereto, as the inserted tool does not affect the breaking areas directly. Disclosure of invention The object of the invention is thus to provide an anti- theft member, in which the fluid-filled cavity is protec- ted against pins of other members, and breaks easily in case an unathorized tool is inserted between an antitheft member and a counter member attached thereto . An antitheft member of the type stated in the introduc- tion is according to the invention characterised in that the predetermined breaking areas are protected by an outer bottom portion extending beyond the predetermined breaking areas and thus covering the latter, the inner face of the outer bottom portion being provided with tapered parts arranged essentially opposite the breaking areas and capable of influencing the latter in case an unauthorized tool is inserted between the members. The breaking areas are thereby inevitably affected in case an unauthorized tool is inserted between the mem— bers. As a result, it is guaranteed to an exceptionally high degree that the predetermined breaking areas are affected and break in case an unauthorised tool is inser¬ ted, although with great care, between the antitheft member and the counter member attached thereto. The bottom portion covering the predetermined breaking areas at the same time protects the latter against the effect of pins of other members, when a plurality of members is placed in the same box. Moreover, according to the invention the bottom portion may comprise two parts with an inner part showing the predetermined breaking areas and an outer part, said outer part covering the breaking areas with its edge area at the inner part. Brief Description of the drawings The invention in detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view through an antitheft member according to the invention having an integrated needle- shaped part, Fig. 2 is a sectional view through a counter member for the antitheft member of Fig. 1 having an integrated lock, and Fig. 3 illustrates a magnetic field device for releasing the counter member from the antitheft member. Best Mode for Carrying out the invention The antitheft member shown in Fig. 1 is together with a counter member attachable to an article, such as a texile article. A pin 1 of one of the members is stuck through the article and into the other member, wherein a lock retaining the pin 1 is arranged. The antitheft member shown in Fig. 1 comprises a cap- shaped upper portion 2 and a bottom portion 3. Between the upper portion 2 and the bottom portion 3 a cavity filled with a fluid, preferably a coloured fluid, is provided. The bottom portion 3 consists of two parts, an inner part 3a. and an outer part 3b.. Between the inner part 3a. and the outer part 3b. a cavity is defined for adopting a head 4 of a pin 1, a through-going hole 5 being provided in the outer portion 3b_, through which the pin 1 is led. The inner part 3a. is attached to the outer bottom part 3b. for instance by welding or glueing and provided with a circumferential predetermined breaking area 6 connected to an essentially circumferential, obliquely ingoing groove 7. The inner bottom part 3a. is of such a size that it covers the predetermined breaking areas 6. Due to their recessed position, the predeter¬ mined breaking areas 6 are protected against the effect from for instance a pin of another antitheft member. The member shown in Fig. 2 is can be used as a counter member for the antitheft member shown in Fig. 1. In principle, the member of Fig. 2 is designed as the member of Fig. 1; the only difference being that a lock is provided instead of a pin. The rod—shaped body of the pin 1 is inserted in a lock arranged in a cavity between the outer bottom part 8a. and inner bottom part 8b. of the member shown in Fig. 2. The lock comprises an essentially cylindrical housing. At the top of the cavity of the housing a loosely arranged disk 11 of magnetizable mate¬ rial is arranged. The disk 11 is provided with a hole in its middle. A number of loosely arranged balls 12 are placed below the disk 11. A third part in form of a cylindrical part 13 of magnetizable material is inserted below the loosely arranged balls 12. The cylindrical part 13 is provided with a through—going opening in its mid¬ dle. A resilient body 14 with an upward driving force is inserted below the cylindrical part 13 of magnetizable material. The resilient body 14 comprises an annular plastic member with inward, helical connecting parts connected to a centrally arranged, disk—shaped plastic member with an opening in the middle, said plastic member pressing against the cylindrical part in the cavity. The annular plastic member 14 is secured to a circumferential groove in the bottom of the housing of the lock by way of squeezing. The housing comprises two parts 15, 16 inter¬ connected by means of squeezing. The upper part 15 of the housing is made of brass, whereas the lower part 16 is made of plastics. The rod—shaped body 1 is released by the lock in the member of Fig. 2 being subjected to a very strong magnet from below, confer Fig. 3 with the result that the balls 12 are forced downwards. However, when being forced downward the balls 12 tend to remain in the cone-shaped cavity. The disk 11 of magnetizable material loosely arranged above the balls 12 serves as a remedy for this problem. The disk 12 is retained by an inward rim of the 5 brass part 15, and presses the balls 12 downwards by means of a magnetic field of a magnet field device. As a result, the pin 1 can be extracted easily provided that the magnetic field device is able to transfer the magne¬ tic field to the upper disk 11. Such a magnetic field 10 device is shown in Fig. 3 and comprises a strong, cylind¬ rical, permanent magnet and is inserted in an upwardly open, cylindrical, cup-shaped yoke 20 of soft iron. The cone angle in the cavity of the housing 15 is appro¬ ximately 6° and provides such a locking effect that the 15 more the pin 1 is retracted after being inserted in the cavity, the more the balls 12 are pressed together around said pin 1. A locking effect cannot be achieved without the conical cavity. The iron cylinder 13 below the balls 12 causes a release of the balls and presses the spring 20 14 downwards when subjected to a magnetic field. The iron cylinder 13 has to be of a certain thickness in order not to saturate, unless the magnetic filed is sufficiently strong. The use of a comparatively strong magnetic field to release the lock is desirable, as it is thereby avoi- 25 ded that unauthorized persons can open the lock by means of toy magnets. However, this situation can only be avoided, if the cylinder 12 and the spring 14 are of a suitable size and force, respectively. As stated above, the housing 15, 16 of the lock is made of a non-magnetiz- 30 able material. A part 16 of plastics is fastened on the outer side of the brass part 15. The plastic part 16 fastened to the brass part 15 by means of snap device. The resilient body 14 is placed at the bottom of the plastic part 16, said resilient body at the same time 35 forming the bottom part. Here the bottom part and the spring are formed in one piece, whereby the manufacture and assembling is considerably facilitated. Helical arms render it possible to provide a surface facing the cylin¬ der 13 , always being perpendicular to the symmetrical axis. When the bottom part is caused to press against the cylindrical body 13, the helical arms turn slightly. At least three helical arms are required in order to avoid a turning over. In the counter member shown in Fig. 2 the predetermined breaking areas are protected by means of an outer bottom portion extending beyond the predetermined breaking areas and thus covering these. The inner face of the outer bottom part 8a. is provided with tapered parts 21, which may circumferential, and arranged essentially opposite the breaking areas 22, said tapered parts 21 being cap¬ able of influencing the latter in case an unauthorized tool, such as a screw driver or a wire cutter, is inse¬ rted between the antitheft member and the counter member, in which case the retainer with the coloured fluid is broken and the fluid is released onto the article.

Claims: Claims 1. An antitheft member which together with a counter member is to be attached onto articles , in particular texile articles, whereby a pin at one of the members is stuck through the article and inserted into the other member, and prevented from being removed by means of a lock in the first cavity of the second member, said se¬ cond member further comprising a second cavity filled with fluid which at attempts of separating the anti-theft member from the counter member without using the speci¬ ally designed auxiliary means breaks and releases the "fluid contained therein, the fluid-filled cavity being provided with predetermined breaking areas, protected against pins of other members, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the predetermined breaking areas (22) are protec¬ ted by means of an outer bottom portion extending beyond the predetermined breaking areas (22) and thus covering these, the inner face of the outer bottom portion being provided with tapered parts (21) arranged essentially opposite the breaking areas (22) and capable of influen¬ cing the latter in case an unauthorized tool is inserted between the members . 2. Antitheft element according to claim 1, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d in that the bottom portion comprises two parts, an inner part (8b.) showing the predetermined breaking areas and an outer part (8a.), said outer part (8a.) covering the breaking areas (22) with its edge area at the inner part (8b.) . 3. Antitheft member according to claim 1 or 2 , c h a- r a c t e r i s e d in that the head (4) of a pin (1) is arranged between the outer and the inner bottom portion. 4. Antitheft member according to claim 1 or 2 , c h a- r a c t e r i s e d in that a lock for adopting and retaining the pin is arranged between the outer and the inner bottom portion.

Inventors: NIELSEN FREDE, NIELSEN, FREDE
Applicants: ACTRON DANMARK A S, ACTRON DANMARK A/S
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G09F3
IPC codes: E05B17, E05B39, E05B73, G09F3