ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR OBJECTS HAVING TUBULAR OR OTHERWISE SUBSTA NTIALLY CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS

Abstract: An anti-theft device for items having tubular or otherwise substantially cylindrical portions having a strap which is adapted to close irreversibly in a noose-like fashion on an application portion of the item to be protected against theft, the strap having a seat for accomodating an electronic signaling component which can be excited by the presence of electromagnetic fields.

Description: ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR OBJECTS HAVING TUBULAR OR OTHERWISE SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS Technical Field The present invention relates to an anti-theft device which is particularly but not exclusively useful for objects having tubular or otherwise substantially cylindrical portions. Background art It is known that currently anti-theft devices are increasingly widespread which have an electronic component adapted to emit an acoustic and/or luminous signal when it is placed in an electromagnetic field normally generated in the presence of a guided exit of the shop or other premises in which said devices are used. These devices are attached irreversibly to the item to be protected against theft and are separated from it by breaking or by removal by means of special tools, usually when the item is correctly purchased. These devices are currently used in particular for items such as records, compact discs, clothing, books, eyeglasses and others. However, particularly important categories of goods, such as for example quality wine bottles, currently remain unprotected. In particular and generally speaking, items which have tubular or otherwise substantially cylindrical portions, to which it is practically impossible to apply commercially available devices, are excluded from the application of such an anti-theft protection. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft device which can be applied to items having tubular or otherwise substantially cylindrical portions, assuredly providing such items with adequate protection against shoplifting. Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device which is easy to apply and equally easy to separate by breaking or by means of dedicated tools. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which has an extremely low cost, is particularly safe from the point of view of functionality and is competitive in terms of purchase and running costs with respect to alternative anti-theft methods. Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft device which can be applied even by personnel having no particular technical expertise. Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft device which can be manufactured with known technologies and equipment. This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an anti-theft device for items having tubular or otherwise substantially cylindrical portions, characterized in that it comprises a strap which is suitable to close irreversibly in a noose-like fashion on an application portion of the item to be protected against theft, said strap having a seat for accommodating an electronic signaling component which can be excited by the presence of electromagnetic fields. Brief description of the drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 , applied to the neck of a bottle; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3a is a perspective view of a component of the device of Figure 1 ; Figure 3b is a perspective sectional view of the component of Figure 3a; Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of the device of Figure 1 ; Figures 5, 6 and 7 are different sectional views of different states of a same detail of the device of Figure 1 ; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tool dedicated to the device of Figure 1. Ways of carrying out the Invention With reference to Figures 1 to 7, an anti-theft device for items having tubular or otherwise substantially cylindrical portions, according to the invention, is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. In particular, in this case the device 10 is applied to the neck 13 of a bottle 11. The device 10 comprises a strap 12 which in this case is made of plastics and is adapted to close irreversibly in a noose-like fashion, in this case to the neck 13 of the bottle 11, so as to protect it against theft. The strap 12 has, as described in greater detail hereinafter, a seat for accommodating an electronic signaling component 40, which can be excited by the presence of electromagnetic fields generated by equipment which is not shown and is in any case known per se. The seat, in this case, is constituted by a box 14 which is fixed to a median region of the strap 12. The box 14 can also be fixed to the strap 12 by rivets or other equivalent means. The strap 12 comprises a first end 15 which is shaped so as to define a hollow enlarged box-like portion 16 which is adapted to provide part of the closure of the device 10. The device 10 comprises, in this embodiment, a closure element 17 provided with a central monolithic tongue 18 with mutually opposite elastic wings 19, each of which has, at its end. a corresponding engagement tooth 20 which is directed outward and is stably inserted during assembly in a corresponding first through hole 21 provided at the corresponding wall of the enlarged portion 16. The element 17 also has, at the tongue 18, a sawtooth portion 22 which is adapted to irreversibly couple to a corresponding sawtooth portion 23 related to a second end 24 of the strap 12, which can be inserted in the hollow enlarged portion 16. In this embodiment, the strap 12 also has a contoured external raised portion 25 which is available to the user's actuation for the insertion of the second end 24 in the enlarged portion 16. Moreover, the internal surface of the enlarged portion 16 is shaped so as to define two mutually opposite slots 26 for the guided insertion of the second end 24. The strap 12 further has a plurality of studs 27 arranged on its internal surface, along part of its length; depending on the applications, the studs are adapted to fit within corresponding slots provided on the neck of the bottle or to rest on the closure or on the tucked-in region thereof, further ensuring the locking of the device 10. With reference to Figure 8, a tool is shown which is generally designated by the reference numeral 28 and is adapted to disconnect the device 10 from the bottle 11 without breaking the strap 12. In particular, the tool 28 is provided with a pincer-like body having appropriately shaped jaws. In particular, a first jaw, designated by the reference numeral 29, is shaped so as to form a recess 30 for accommodating the hollow enlarged portion 16, while a second jaw 34 has a pin 31 which is adapted to pass through the recess 30 and enter second through holes 32 provided in mutually opposite walls of the enlarged portion 16 and corresponding third holes 33 provided in the respective wings 19, so as to raise, by elastic deformation, the element 17 (see Figure 6), disconnecting the sawtooth portion 22 thereof from the sawtooth portion 23 of the second end 24 without breaking the strap 12. In particular, the tool 28 allows to recover and reuse the device 10. It has been observed that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects. In particular, it should be observed that the device according to the invention is applied particularly advantageously to all items having a tubular or otherwise substantially cylindrical portion or portions provided with enlarged portions at the end. In particular, it should be noted that the effectiveness of the anchoring of the device to the application portion is matched by its very quick application; however, as mentioned, the device can also be just as quickly detached so that it can be reused thanks to simple dedicated tools. Attention is also drawn to the structural simplicity of the device according to the invention, which can be effectively mass-manufactured at particularly low costs. It should also be noted that the device according to the invention, thanks to its compact dimensions, does not penalize in any way the buyer's possibility to evaluate the item to which it is applied. The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. The constructive details can be replaced with other technically equivalent means. The materials and the dimensions may be any according to requirements.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An anti-theft device for items having tubular or otherwise substantially cylindrical portions, characterized in that it comprises a strap which is adapted to close irreversibly in a noose-like fashion on an application portion of the item to be protected against theft, said strap having a seat for accommodating an electronic signaling component which can be excited by the presence of electromagnetic fields. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said seat is constituted by a box which is fixed to a middle region of said strap. 3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that said box is fixed to said strap with one or more rivets. 4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said strap has a first end which is shaped so as to define a hollow enlarged portion which is adapted to provide part of the closure of the device. 5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a closure element provided with a monolithic central tongue with mutually opposite elastic wings, each of which is provided, at its ends, with a corresponding engagement tooth which is directed outward and is stably inserted upon assembly in a corresponding first through hole formed at a corresponding wall of said enlarged portion. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that said element has, at said tongue, a sawtooth portion which is adapted to irreversibly couple to a corresponding saw-tooth portion of a second end of said strap which can be inserted in said enlarged portion. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that said strap has a contoured external raised portion which is available to the user's action in order to insert said second end in said enlarged portion. 8. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that said enlarged portion has internal surfaces which are shaped so as to define two mutually opposite slots for guided insertion of said second end. 9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said strap has a plurality of studs arranged on its internal surface along part of its length, said studs being adapted, to fit in corresponding slots provided on the neck of the item to which it is applied or to rest on tucked-in folds thereof, further ensuring the locking of said device. 10. A tool particularly for an anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a pincer-like body which is provided with two jaws, a first jaw being shaped so as to define a recess in which said hollow enlarged portion is rested and being provided with a pin which can be inserted in second through holes provided in opposite walls of said enlarged portion and in corresponding third holes provided in said corresponding wings, so as to raise said element by elastic deformation, disconnecting the corresponding sawtooth portion from the sawtooth portion of said second end without breaking the strap, said tool further comprising a second jaw for counterthrust with respect to said first jaw.

Inventors: COSTA EMILIO, COSTA, EMILIO
Applicants: COSTA EMILIO, COSTA, EMILIO
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E05B73
IPC codes: B65D55, E05B73