Abstract:
A theft deterrent device allows a customer to handle an item of merchandise to which the device is connected. The device is configured to protect items of merchandise having first and second pieces each of which are sufficiently valuable to warrant such protection. The device includes a base mountable on a support structure, an audible alarm, first and second connectors which attach respectively to the first and second pieces of the item of merchandise, lanyards for connecting the base to the first and second connectors and a removal sensor for sensing removal of one or both of connectors from the first and second pieces of the item of merchandise so that the alarm is activated when the connector or connectors are removed from the item of merchandise. The lanyards provide electrical communication between the alarm and the connectors, which may include plunger switches which serve as removal sensors.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to theft deterrent devices for retail establishments. More particularly, the invention relates to a security device which attaches to an item of merchandise. Specifically, the invention relates to such a security device which attaches to an item of merchandise which having two pieces each of which are protected by the security device.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     Retail stores have had a difficult time in protecting items of merchandise which the potential customer wishes to visually inspect and handle prior to making the decision to purchase the item. Often, such items of merchandise have been kept in a glass case under lock and key, which does not allow the customer to handle the item without the assistance of store personnel. In addition, while such items may be secured to a foundation or base by a cable or the like, this does not necessarily prevent the theft of the item by the cutting of the cable. Thus, there is a need in the art for security devices which allow for the handling of the item and which will alarm should someone try to steal the item. Certain items of merchandise have two pieces which are removably connected to one another and each of which are sufficiently valuable for the retailer to desire protection against theft of either piece of the merchandise.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a theft deterrent device comprising a base adapted to mount on a support structure; an audible alarm; a first connector movable between attached and removed positions; wherein the first connector is adapted to attach to a first piece of an item of merchandise in the attached position and be removed therefrom in the removed position; a second connector movable between attached and removed positions; wherein the second connector is adapted to attach to a second piece of the item of merchandise in its attached position and be removed therefrom in its removed position; at least one lanyard for connecting the base to each of the first and second connectors; at least one removal sensor for sensing movement of at least one of the first and second connectors from its respective attached position to its respective removed position; wherein the alarm is activated when the at least one connector moves from its respective attached position to its respective removed position.  
         [0006]     The present invention further provides a security device comprising a base adapted to mount on a support structure; an audible alarm; a first connector movable between attached and removed positions; wherein the first connector is adapted to attach to a first piece of an item of merchandise in the attached position and be removed therefrom in the removed position; a second connector movable between attached and removed positions; wherein the second connector is adapted to attach to a second piece of the item of merchandise in its attached position and be removed therefrom in its removed position; at least one lanyard which provides electrical communication between the alarm and each of the first and second connectors; wherein movement of one of the first and second connectors from its respective attached position to its respective removed position activates the alarm. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention attached to a battery powered drill.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lanyard assembly of the first embodiment.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the lanyard assembly showing the first connector disassembled.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of first connector of the first embodiment with the bottom wall removed.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the first connector of the first embodiment taken from the side.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the lanyard assembly of the present invention with portions cut away.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view similar to  FIG. 4  showing the first connector of the second embodiment.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 5  of the first connector of the second embodiment.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view similar to  FIG. 6  showing a third embodiment of the lanyard assembly of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a bottom view similar to  FIGS. 4 and 7  showing the connector of the third embodiment.  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view similar to  FIGS. 5 and 8  of the connector of the third embodiment. 
     
    
       [0018]     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     A first embodiment of the security device of the present invention is indicated generally at  10  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; a second embodiment is indicated generally at  100  in  FIG. 6 ; and the third embodiment is indicated generally at  200  in  FIG. 9 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , device  10  is shown mounted on an item of merchandise  1  in the form of a battery powered drill which has first and second pieces  2  and  3 . First piece  2  is more particularly the drill body and second piece  3  is the rechargeable battery which provides power to body  2  in order to operate drill  1 . First and second pieces  2  and  3  are removably connected to one another and are sufficiently valuable to make it desirable to protect each piece  2  and  3  from theft. Device  10  is configured to set off an alarm should the theft of either piece  2  and  3  be attempted.  
         [0020]     Device  10  includes an alarming station or member  12  which is securely mounted on a wall or other support structure  4 . Alarming member  12  is described in co-pending provisional patent application having Ser. No. 60/644,206, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Item  1  of merchandise is seated on a display surface  5 . A lanyard assembly  14  is connected to each of alarm member  12  and item  1  of merchandise.  
         [0021]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , lanyard assembly  14  includes first and second lanyards  16  and  18  and first and second connectors  20  and  22 . First lanyard  16  is in the form of an alarming cable which is connected to alarm member  12  via a removable plug  24  and to first connector  20 , which is shown attached in  FIG. 1  to first piece  2  of item  1  of merchandise. Second lanyard  18  extends between and is connected to first and second connectors  20  and  22 . Second connector  22  is shown in  FIG. 1  attached to second piece  3  of item  1  of merchandise. In the exemplary embodiment, first and second connectors  20  and  22  are attached to first and second pieces  2  and  3  via an adhesive although other attachment mechanisms may be used. An adhesive connection provides a mechanism for preventing marring of the item of merchandise while allowing the item to be handled easily by the potential customer.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , first and second connectors  20  and  22  have respective removal sensors  26  and  28  in the form of plunger switches having respective first and second plungers  30  and  32  which are shown in an extended, non-depressed or removed position associated with being removed from item  1  of merchandise. When either one of plungers  30  and  32  are in the extended or removed position, alarm  12  will emit an audible alarm. However, alternate removal sensors may be utilized in place of plunger switches  26  and  28 . Thus, device  10  is configured so that first and second connectors  20  and  22  attach to pieces  2  and  3  of item  1  of merchandise in a reasonably secure manner, but without being locked thereto. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment, there is no locking mechanism for locking device  10  to item  1  of merchandise and thus no key for the removal thereof. Thus, while connectors  20  and  22  may be pried off of item  1  of merchandise with some difficulty, the result is the sounding of the alarm of alarm member  12 .  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , first connector  20  includes a housing  34  comprising first and second housing members  36  and  38 . First housing member  36  defines an interior chamber  40  and first and second entrance openings  42  and  44  which communicate therewith. Second housing member  38  is in the form of a substantially flat oval-shaped bottom wall which is securely mounted to first housing member  36 . Second housing member  38  defines an opening  46  for receiving plunger  30  of switch  26  therethrough. Interior chamber  40  of first housing member  36  is configured to receive a body  48  of switch  26  with portions of first and second lanyards  16  and  18  extending respectively through first and second entrance openings  42  and  44 . Interior chamber  40  is also configured to receive other related structures such as structure  50  which may be for example, a magnet or an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag. Use of an EAS tag may allow for the sounding of an alarm other than alarm member  12  should alarm member  12  somehow be nonfunctional. First connector  20  further includes a mounting mechanism in the form of an adhesive pad  52  which defines an opening  54  for receiving therethrough plunger  30  of switch  26 . Second connector  22  likewise has a housing  64  and an adhesive pad  66  which defines an opening  68  for receiving therethrough plunger  32  of switch  28 . Second connector  22  is thus adhered to second piece  3  of the item of merchandise via adhesive pads  66 . As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , entrance openings  42  and  44  are disposed adjacent one end of first housing member  36  so that first and second lanyards  16  and  18  extend generally from that end of housing member  36 .  
         [0024]     Alarming cable  16  includes four wires  56 A,  58 A,  60 A and  62 A. Second alarming cable  18  likewise includes four wires  56 B,  58 B,  60 B and  62 B which may or may not be continuous with wires  56 A- 62 A of first cable  16 . These wires provide respective electrical communication between plug  24  and each of switches  26  and  28  to form respective electrical circuits which are either open or closed when plungers  30  and  32  are respectively depressed.  
         [0025]     Device  10  is thus configured to sound an alarm of alarm member  12  if a potential thief attempts to steal either piece  2  and  3  of item  1  of merchandise by removing either of first and second connectors  20  and  22  from said pieces  2  and  3 . More particularly, when plunger  30  of switch  26  is in a depressed position associated with the attached position of member  20  on first piece  2  of the article of merchandise ( FIGS. 1 and 5 ), alarm member  12  will not sound an alarm. Second switch  28  of second connector  22  is likewise configured. Removal of either of first and second connectors  20  and  22  will respectively allow plunger  30  and  32  to extend and thus either open or close the respective electrical circuit which will cause alarm member  12  to sound an alarm. These circuits may be sense loops which if compromised cause the alarm of alarm member  12  to sound. For example, if plug  24  is removed from alarm member  12  or if one of lanyards  16  and  18  is severed, alarm member  12  will sound the alarm. In addition, as previously noted, should alarm member  12  somehow be nonfunctional, an EAS tag  50  or the like may allow for the sounding of an alarm should a connector  20  or  22  carrying such a tag remain attached to the item as it moves near or through a security gate. These various alarming characteristics and in particular used with a security gate are described in greater detail in co-pending patent application entitled Electronic Security Device and System for Article of Merchandise, filed on or about Dec. 20, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Said application claims priority from provisional patent application having Ser. No. 60/639,770, filed on Dec. 28, 2004, the contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0026]     With reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , security device  100  is described. Security device  100  is similar to security device  10  and operates in the same manner except that it has a lanyard assembly  102  which varies from lanyard assembly  14  of device  10 . More particularly, lanyard assembly  102  includes first and second lanyards  104  and  106  which are similar to lanyards  16  and  18 . In addition, assembly  102  includes a first connector  108  and second connector  22 . The primary distinction between lanyard assembly  102  and lanyard assembly  14  is that assembly  102  allows for first and second lanyards  104  and  106  to extend from opposite ends of first connector  108 . To that effect, first connector  108  defines an interior chamber  110  and first and second entrance openings  112  and  114  which communicate therewith and are formed on opposite ends of connector  108 . First and second entrance openings  112  and  114  respectively receive portions of first and second lanyards  104  and  106  which are in electrical communication with switch  26  mounted within interior chamber  110 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that the wiring configuration of lanyards  104  and  106  may vary as required in order to provide the electrical communication which provides the alarming characteristics described with respect to device  10 .  
         [0027]     With reference to  FIGS. 9-11 , security device  200  is described. Device  200  is similar to devices  10  and  100  except that it utilizes a single connector for attaching to an item of merchandise. More particularly, device  200  includes a lanyard assembly  200  which utilizes a single lanyard  104  and a single connector  208 . Connector  208  is similar to connectors  20  and  108  except for it defines an interior chamber  210  having a single entrance opening  212  for receiving therein a portion of lanyard  104  to provide electrical communication between switch  26  and plug  24 . Security device  200  thus is configured to attach to an item of merchandise at one location instead of the two locations provided by the first and second connectors of devices  10  and  100 . However, devices  200  similarly provides the removal sensor in the form of plunger switch  26  which provides for the sounding of alarm member  12  should connector  208  be removed from the item of merchandise.  
         [0028]     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.  
         [0029]     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.