Universal wrap security device

Abstract: A security device (1) adapted to be placed about an object (2) to prevent the object from being opened, including cable means (5) for placement about an object (2) to be secured, ratchet means (4) connected to the cable means (5) for tightening the cable means around the object, and locking means (3) comprising a base (8) and a fastener (7) that releasably engage in a snap-fit with each other for releasably locking the cable means (5) about the object. The base (8) and fastener (7) are each connected to the cable means.

Description: This invention relates to a security device. More particularly the invention relates to an adjustable security device which wraps around and secures a box, book, or other similarly structured article of indefinite size in a closed position. Even more particularly the invention relates to a universal wrap security device which includes cable means that wrap around the article and extend between ratchet means and locking means. Retail stores have a difficult time protecting boxes containing various expensive merchandise, books and other similarly structured packages or objects from being opened and the contents thereof being removed without authorization from store personnel or damaged while on display. Consumers often want to visually inspect the packaged expensive articles before deciding to purchase them. The store is faced with the problem of how to protect these expensive articles from theft while displaying them for sale. One method used to protect these packages and the articles contained therein is to enclose the article within a transparent glass display case which can only be accessed from behind a counter of the retail store. The consumer can view the article through the glass but is not able to handle the article or read any of the information about the article that may be printed on the box unless a store clerk removes the article from the case. However, in large retail stores, the problem then arises of getting the selected merchandise to the customer after the customer wishes to purchase the same without subjecting the merchandise to theft. One manner is to maintain a supply of the boxes containing the expensive articles or merchandise close at hand for delivery to or pick-up by the customer for subsequent taking to a check-out clerk. However this makes the boxes susceptible to theft. Another method used by retail stores is to list the article in a catalog and require consumers to place an order from the catalog. The article is delivered from a back storage area and the consumer must simultaneously pick up and pay for the merchandise at the same location to prevent unauthorized removal from the store. The consumer does not get to inspect the article before purchasing and if they are not satisfied they must undergo the hassle of returning the article for a refund. Boxes and box-like structures are also subjected to unauthorized openings while being shipped via a courier. These articles can be easily opened and resealed when packaged and taped-shut in the conventional manner without the recipient or the sender knowing of such actions. Shipped packages can be secured within a security container with a locking mechanism but these containers are expensive to purchase and add size and weight to the package making it more expensive to ship. Also, would-be thieves can gain unauthorized access to the contents of these containers by "picking" the locking mechanisms or possibly guessing the combination to a combination lock. Few prior art locking devices have adequately solved this problem of securing packages or objects in a closed condition while being displayed in retail stores or shipped from one location to another. Some prior art security devices include a wire which wraps around an article and is secured by some type of locking mechanism. For example, US-A-3/611,760 discloses a locking device which utilizes a retractable cable mounted in a housing, wherein the cable loops around an object to be secured, and is then locked in the housing by a combination lock. US-A-4,756,171 discloses a locking device having a cable which extends about the object to be secured, together with a take-up reel mounted in the lock member for tightening the cable by a crank handle in the lock member. US-A-4,896,517 discloses a locking device which has a cable with a locking head wound about a reel having a ratchet and pawl locking mechanism. The locking head engages the locking mechanism to secure the cable in a locked position. US-A-5,156,028 discloses a portable locking device according to the preamble of appended claim 1, using a ratchet-like retrieving reel, to which is connected a locking cable. Other prior art security devices have offered different methods to secure various articles. US-A-3,831,407 discloses a locking device consisting of a plurality of flexible wire-like members which extend about an object to be secured, with open ends of the chains being secured by a lock. US-A-4,418,551 discloses a security device which is mounted about a rectangular object, such as a vending machine. The device includes a strap structure extending around portions of the rectangular object, a door moveable between open and closed positions, and a locking mechanism to lock the door in the closed position. US-A-4,930,324 discloses a lockable buckle which has a rotatably mounted tumbler in a lock housing which locks a clasp member to the housing. Although these prior art devices are adequate for the purpose for which they were intended, none of these prior art devices include a portable lightweight device which has ratchet means which is operable to tighten cables or cable sections around box-like structures of various sizes, and which has a two-piece locking means the pieces of which snap-fit together and which can be released, e.g. by using an unlocking tool or key with magnetic arms to dismantle the two-piece locking means,- before the article contained within the box can be removed therefrom. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a security device which includes ratchet means, locking means and cable means extending between said the ratchet means and the locking means and around an object to be secured in a closed position. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a security device as claimed in the ensuing claim 1. Conveniently the security device is used to secure a right parallelepipedic package with the cable means enclosing the package on all six sides. The ratchet means is suitably a one-way ratchet which can be released only after the device has been removed from the package. The security device is intended to be reusable indefinitely, is not intended to add significant size or weight to the package, and which is readily adjustable for a variety of sized boxes or packages. The locking means conveniently requires the use of an unlocking tool to release the base and fastener from their snap-fit engagement. The ratchet means conveniently also requires a tool to tighten the cable means around the package being protected, Preferably the ratchet means includes a gear with a plurality of teeth and a one-way pawl which engages the teeth. Suitably the pawl can only be disengaged from the ratchet teeth only from a rear side of the ratchet means after the device has been removed from the package. Preferably the security device is made of high-strength plastics material which is not readily affected by chemicals and moisture. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the universal security wrap of the present invention mounted and secured on a package, portions of which are broken away; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the locking member of the security device in an unlocked position; FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 with the metal locking tines mounted within the base; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the locking member of FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the fastener snap-fit to the base in a locked position with the cover removed; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the locking member of FIGS. 2-4 fully assembled; FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the ratchet member of the security device of the present invention fully assembled with partial cables extending outwardly therefrom; FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the ratchet member of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ratchet gear of FIG. 7 in a flipped-over position; FIG. 9 is an exploded sectional view of the ratchet member of FIG. 7; FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the ratchet member taken along line 10-10, FIG. 13; FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the ratchet member taken along line 11-11, FIG. 13; FIG. 12 is a top sectional view of the ratchet member of FIG. 6 showing the ratchet pawl disengaged from the gear; FIG. 13 is a bottom elevational view of the ratchet member of FIG. 6 with a portion of a bottom plate broken away; FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the ratchet tool; and FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the unlocking tool for the locking member. Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. A universal wrap security device of the present invention is indicated generally at 1 and is shown locked to a package 2 in FIG. 1. The security device 1 includes a locking member 3, a ratchet member 4 and a plurality of connecting cables 5. The locking member 3 includes two main components, namely an oval-shaped base 8 and a fastener 7 (FIGS. 2-5) which is inserted and locks into the oval-shaped base 8. The fastener 7 has a leg 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3) integrally formed with and extending from an ear shaped lug 11. The leg 10 includes a rectangular-shaped centre post 13 intermediate two spaced, generally parallel, tangs 15 and 16. A U-shaped groove 14 is formed in a back side of the post 13. An end of each tang 15 and 16 is angled inwardly toward post 13, and the post 13 and tangs 15 and 16 are connected integrally at a free end 17 of the leg 10. The end 17 has rounded edges 18 which extend beyond the inwardly angled portions of the tangs 15 and 16 and form flat locking tabs 19. A circular opening 22 is formed in the lug 11 and allows cable 5 to extend therethrough. A pair of notches 23 is formed in each side of lug the 11 on a flat side thereof. These notches assist in guiding the fastener 7 into the base 8 and centrally stabilize the fastener 7 therein, as described below in further detail. The base 8 includes an oval-shaped bottom member 26 which has an upstanding curved side wall 27 extending partially around the perimeter of the bottom member 26, and a pair of end walls 28 extending inwardly from opposite ends of the wall 27. A pair of tapered prongs 29 extends inwardly perpendicularly from an end of each end wall 28. A pair of tabs 30 extends inwardly parallel to a tapered edge of the prongs 29 and further extends from the end walls 28 between the outer wall 27 and the prongs 29. A pair of substantially L-shaped metal tines 35 is inserted and secured between the prongs 29 and tabs 30. These tines extend angularly inwardly and terminate adjacent a second end wall 39 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The wall 39 is spaced from and is parallel to the end walls 28 and a third end wall 40 is spaced outwardly from and parallel to the second end wall 39 forming a channel 42 therebetween through which another portion of cable 5 extends. An elongated rib 34 is perpendicular to the wall 39 and extends inwardly partially across the longitudinal length of the bottom member 26 of base 8 and is received in the groove 14 of fastener 7 when the locking member 3 is in a locked position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. An oval shaped cover 44 (FIGS. 2-5) generally similar in size to the bottom member 26 encloses the base 8 and is seated upon a generally oval-shaped shoulder 45 formed inside of and extending along the side wall 26. In accordance with one of the features of the invention, the leg 10 of the fastener 7 slides between the prongs 29 when pressure is applied to the fastener 7 in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 4), and the groove 14 of the leg 10 receives and is guided by the rib 34. The rounded edges 18 of the end 17 deflect the tines 35 outwardly as the fastener 7 is inserted into the base 8. When the fastener 7 is fully inserted into the base 8, the lug 11 fills an open area 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the bottom member 26 and abuts the end walls 28. Notches 23 receive a pair of shoulders 37 which are formed on each end of the wall 27, and the resiliency of the metal tines 35 causes them to snap into a locked position adjacent to the angular outer portions of the tangs 15 and 16. The tines 35 cooperate with the tabs 19 of the leg 10 and prevent the fastener 7 from being removed from the base 8. The locking member 3, except for the metal tines 35, is preferably formed of a lightweight, high-strength plastics material which is relatively rust free and unaffected by chemicals and harsh environments to which it may be exposed, with the base 8 and cover plate 44 being moulded as one-piece members and subsequently secured together by an adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or other type of securement means. The ratchet member 4 is shown assembled in FIG. 6 and unassembled in FIG. 7. The ratchet member 4 includes a housing 50 which is separated into a generally circular compartment 51 and a smaller adjacent compartment 53 by a partition wall 55. A circular-shaped bearing member 54 and a circular-shaped gear 56 are housed within the compartment 51 and a pawl 52 is housed within the compartment 53. Both compartments 51 and 53 and the contents therein are enclosed by a bottom plate 58. A circular opening 60 is formed in a front wall 62 of the housing 50 and an annular groove or bearing surface 64 is formed around the circular opening 60. The side wall 65 of the housing 50 extends vertically upwardly from the front wall 62 and includes an outwardly extending lip or shoulder 66 upon which the bottom plate 58 sits when secured to the housing 50. Four U-shaped openings 68 are formed in the side wall 65 in a square-shaped configuration and allow four cable sections to pass therethrough, with each cable section being generally perpendicular to the adjacent two cable sections. The bottom plate 58 includes four flanges 69 with an arcuate shaped bottom, which align and cooperate with U-shaped openings 68 to form circular shaped openings 70 therebetween (FIG. 6). Another circular opening 73 is formed in the centre of bearing member 54 (FIG. 7) and an annular nub 75 (FIG. 9), which corresponds to and is received by bearing surface 64, is formed on a bottom surface of the bearing member 54. Four flexible projections 76 (FIGS. 7 and 9), which include outward extending latching tabs 77, extend orthogonally from the bearing member 54 and are arranged in a square-shaped configuration. The gear 56 is shown particularly in FIGS. 7 and 8 and releasably latches to bearing member 54 when the ratchet member 4 is assembled as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. A plurality of teeth 80 extend around an outside edge of the gear 56. The gear 56 further includes a disc-shaped plate 82 and a centre hub 84 which extends vertically from the plate 82. Four openings 85 are formed in the hub 84 for receiving and retaining an enlarged end 88 of each section of cable 5 as shown in FIG. 12. Four irregular-shaped holes 90 are formed in the hub 84 partially therethrough and four rectangular-shaped holes 91 which communicate with holes 90 are formed completely through the gear 56 (FIG. 12). The holes 91 receive projections 76 of the bearing member 54 and allow latching tabs 77 to secure the bearing member 54 to the gear 56 to form a cable-receiving reel 100. A bore 94 is formed through the centre of gear 56 and includes a seven sided surface 95 formed in the hub 84, a smaller circular opening 96 formed in an annular plate 99 concentrically with and adjacent to the seven sided surface 95 (FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 12) and a larger circular section 97 formed in the plate 82 concentrically with and adjacent to the circular opening 96 and annular plate 99. An annular nub 101 is formed on a top surface of the plate 82 of the gear 56 concentrically with the bore 94 and is received by a bearing surface 71 formed in the bottom plate 58 when the ratchet member 4 is assembled as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The pawl 52 has a cylindrical base 105 (FIG. 7), a smaller cylindrical section 106 which has a five-sided central opening 107 formed therein, a resilient spring 108 and a pawl catch 110, both of which extend from a side wall of the cylindrical section 105. The pawl 52 is mounted in the compartment 53 and is seated upon a circular boss 103 formed on the wall 62 (FIG. 11). The cylindrical section 106 extends through a complementary-shaped hole 59 formed in the bottom plate 58 (FIGS. 6 and 7) which clamps the pawl 52 within the housing 50. A resilient spring 108 applies pressure on the inside of the side wall 65 forcing catch 110 to extend through a rectangular-shaped opening 57 formed in the partition wall 55 and to selectively contact the teeth 80 of the gear 56 (FIG. 13). The gear 56, bearing member 54 and hub 84 form a reel 100 when snap-fitted together (FIG. 10) on which cables 5 are wound and unwound when ratchet member 4 is operated as described below. The bearing member 54 lies in the circular compartment 51 on the front wall 62 with the annular nub 75 sitting in the bearing surface 64. Two cables 5 are inserted into the hub 84 of the gear 56 with each enlarged end 88 of the cables secured in opposite openings 85 and with each end of the cables extending through opposite openings 70 oriented 90° with respect to the adjacent openings. The gear 56 is latched to the bearing member 54 as described above enclosing an open end of the hub 84 and locking the cables therein. The pawl 52 is placed in the compartment 53 and the bottom plate 58 sits on the lip 66 and is secured to the housing 50 enclosing the compartments 51 and 53. The annular nub 101 of the gear 56 sits in the bearing surface 71 of the bottom plate 58 and along with the annular nub 75 and bearing surface 64 allow the gear 56 and bearing member 54 to rotate when cable 5 is dispensed from or collected on the reel 100. In operation, the ratchet member 4 is placed against a side of the package 2 (FIG. 1) so that the bore 94 is exposed for receiving a seven-sided section 117 of a ratchet tool 115 (FIGS. 1 and 13). The fastener 7 and base 8 are snap-fitted together (arrow A, FIG. 4) securing the locking member 3 in a locked position and locking the universal wrap 1 around the package 2. The surface 117 of the tool 115 is inserted into the multi-sided surface 95 and the tool 115 is rotated to turn the gear 56 and bearing member 54 in the direction of arrows B (FIG. 13). The catch 110 of the pawl 52 catches in the teeth 80 of the gear 56 as the gear is rotated, preventing reel 100 from rotating in a direction opposite to that of arrow B. The cables 5 are tightened around the package 2 and are collected on the reel 100 as the tool 115 is turned in the direction of arrows B. The tool 115 is turned until the cables 5, locking member 3 and ratchet member 4 are firmly secured around and against the package 2, thus preventing the removal of the security device 1 from the package and preventing any unauthorized opening thereof. The universal wrap 1 is removed by placing a key or unlocking tool 120 adjacent the locking member 3 as shown by dot-dash lines in FIG. 15. The tool 120 includes a base 122 with a pair of angled magnet support arms 121 on which are mounted permanent magnets 123. A support rib 124 is formed on the base 122 and extends upwardly therefrom and extends between arms 121 for properly positioning and guiding the locking member 3 into position between the magnets 123. The magnetic field of the magnets 123 causes the metal tines 35 to move outwardly a sufficient distance to allow the end 17, and particularly the locking tabs 19 of the fastener 7, to pass therethrough, thus allowing the fastener 7 to be manually removed from its latched condition with the base 8. Once the locking member 3 has been unlocked and separated, the cable 5 is loose enough to allow the device 1 to be removed from the package 2. The five-sided section 118 of the ratchet tool 115 (FIG. 14) can then be inserted into the five-sided opening 107 of the pawl 52 after it has been removed from the package, and turned in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 12), releasing the catch 110 from the teeth 80 by compressing the spring 108 against the side wall 65, making the reel 100 freewheeling, as shown by arrows D. When the catch 110 is clear of the teeth 80, a lockout tab 61, which can be formed as a separate member or as a part of bottom plate 58, is pressed outwardly by a ramped end 109 of spring the 108. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the tab 61 will have a multi-ramped bottom section which when engaged by the ramped end 109 of the spring 108 will engage the outer edge 109a of the spring 108, moving the tab 61 into an extended position above the peripheral edge 67 of the side wall 65, as shown by dot-dash lines in FIG. 10. This then enables the cables 5 to be freely unwound for placement about another package, after which the multi-sided section 117 of the tool 115 is used to rotate the reel 100 and tighten the cables 5 about a different package. The lockout tab 61 is automatically released from the ramped end 109 of the spring 108 by placing the member 3 against a package which pushes tab 61 inwardly disengaging the spring 108 therefrom enabling the spring 108 to return to its operative position, as shown in solid lines in FIGS. 10, 11 and 13, and move the catch 110 into engagement with the teeth 80. The universal wrap is then ready to be secured around the package as described above. Accordingly, the security device 1 is wrapped and secured around the package 2, preventing the package from being opened. Cables 5 extend through the fastener 7 and the base 8 of the locking member 3 and the fastener and base are snap-fitted together. The metal tines 35 lock under the locking tabs 19 securing the fastener 7 to the base 8. The annular nubs 75 and 101 sit in the bearing surfaces 64 and 71, respectively, allowing the bearing reel 100 to rotate freely within the housing 50. Also, the catch 110 of the pawl 52 catches in the teeth 80 of the gear 56 allowing the reel to rotate in only one direction. Moreover, the seven-sided key 117 of the tool 115 rotates the reel tightening and securing the cables 5 and thus the universal wrap 1 around the package 2. Further, the magnets 123 of the unlocking tool 120 cause the metal tines 35 to deflect outwardly allowing the fastener 7 to be dismantled from the base 8 and further allowing the security device 1 to be removed from the package 2. The tool 115 is used to disengage the pawl 52 from the teeth 80, as well as to tighten cables 5 about an object. The lockout device 61 also allows the cables 5 to be wound and stored on the reel for future use of the security device. It is readily understood that the cables 5 could be replaced with other flexible members made of plastics, chains, fibres, and similar materials, and will be covered by the term "cables" as used in the above description. Furthermore, the locking member 3 will be formed of a high-strength plastics material, with the exception of the metal tines 35, thereby rendering it unaffected by moisture, chemicals and other harsh environments in which it may be used, and will prevent it from marring the objects on which it is mounted. Likewise, the ratchet member 4 is constructed of a similar high-strength plastics material, providing similar advantages as those discussed above with respect to the locking member 3. Also, an electronic article surveillance tag (EAS) 112 can be mounted on the rear surface of the locking member 3, as shown in FIG. 1, or on the rear surface of the ratchet member 4, when used in a retail store having an EAS security system at the exit, to prevent unauthorized removal of the package. Thus, the security device 1 can be used to securely retain a package or object in a closed position, as well as preventing its removal from a retail store having such EAS security systems. Also, even should a prospective thief insert an object into the hub opening 94, it will only permit tightening of the cables instead of loosening them on the package, since the opening 107 of locking member 3, which is used to release the locking pawl, is inaccessible since it is pressed against the package. Accordingly, the improved security device is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

Claims: A security device (1) adapted to be placed about an object (2) to prevent the object from being opened, the device including: cable means (5) for placement about an object (2) to be secured; ratchet means (4) connected to the cable means (5) for tightening the cable means around the object; and locking means (3) comprising a base (8) and a fastener (7) each connected to the cable means and being releasably engageable in a snap-fit with each other for releasably locking the cable means (5) about the object, characterised in that the base (8) and the fastener (7) of said locking means form a locking member (3) which is spaced apart, and separate, from the ratchet means (4). A security device according to claim 1, characterised in that the fastener (7) includes tabs (15, 16) and the base (8) includes metal tines (35) that cooperate with the locking tabs (15, 16) of the fastener to releasably secure the fastener (7) to the base (8). A security device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it further comprises an unlocking tool (120) including magnets (123) for disengaging the metal tines (35) from the locking tabs (15, 16) of the fastener (7). A security device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ratchet means (4) includes a housing (50), a reel (100) rotatably mounted within the housing (50) for supporting the cable means (5), and a pawl (52) which operatively engages the reel (100) to ratchet the reel (100) in a fixed position to maintain the cable means (5) tightened around the object. A security device according to claim 4, characterised in that the reel (100) includes a hub (84) and spaced first and second end flanges (56, 54), the first flange (56) having a plurality of teeth (80) formed around an outside edge thereof, and a plurality of openings (85) being formed in the hub (84) for receiving enlarged ends (88) of the cable means (5) to secure the cable means to the hub.

Inventors: ALFORD WILLIAM G, GALLAGHER CHRISTOPHER G, MARSILIO RONALD M, WEISBURN JAMES T, YEAGER LAWRENCE R, ALFORD, WILLIAM G., GALLAGHER, CHRISTOPHER G., MARSILIO, RONALD M., WEISBURN, JAMES T., YEAGER, LAWRENCE R.
Applicants: ALPHA ENTPR INC, ALPHA ENTERPRISES, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E05B65
IPC codes: A47F3, E05B35, E05B67, E05B65, B65D63, E05B73, A45C13