Abstract:
The invention described here is an improved retail display. The display includes an anchored mount (“anchor”) attached to a base portion of a display stand or countertop surface. The display includes a clamshell holder that provides a security puck. The security puck is connected to an under-side surface of an electronic product offered for sale to the public. A coiled power cord interconnects the anchor and the puck and thus tethers the product to the display as it is lifted from and returned to the clamshell holder during the course of a consumer&#39;s examination of the product. The coiled power cord has a continuous spring steel coil embedded therein, which makes it difficult to cut the power cord.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to security/alarm systems that protect against theft in retail environments where large numbers of electronic hand-held products (smart phones, tablet devices, etc.) are offered for sale. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Large numbers of electronic hand-held products are typically offered for sale at various retail locations (i.e., “big box” retailers, cell phone stores, etc.). The products are generally displayed in an array, sometimes on a countertop, sometimes as a wall-mounted display. It is common practice for the products to be tethered via a reeled power cord, a coiled cord (“curly-Q”), or sometimes a braided steel cable. 
         [0003]    A reeled power cord tether is often a multi-conductor cable (conductors covered with an exterior sheath) that provides wiring for product power and power for security sensors and other desired functions. The curly-Q cord provides similar functionality, except tether extension and retraction is respectively handled by the cord&#39;s coils. Braided steel cables are well-known security tethers—sometimes they are on a reel; sometimes they are not. 
         [0004]    The invention described here is an improved tethered display for use in the retail environment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention is an improved display for use in selling an electronic product in a large store environment. 
         [0006]    The improved display includes an anchor portion, or anchor mount, that is typically fixed to a display surface (i.e., a countertop or the like). Also included as part of the display is a movable product mount, or “puck,” that is typically attached or fixed to the electronic product that is offered for sale to consumers. 
         [0007]    A coiled cord interconnects the anchor mount and the puck. The coiled cord includes at least one conductor for transmitting power between the anchor mount and the puck, although it would not be unusual to include a number of conductors for different kinds of functions. The coiled cord serves as a physical tether between puck and anchor mount. 
         [0008]    Next, a clamshell holder is also included as part of the overall display design. The clamshell holder is shaped to define a normal resting place for the puck and the attached product. 
         [0009]    The puck rests in the clamshell holder when the product is not being examined by a consumer. However, it enables easy lift and removal of the puck (and attached product) so that the product can be examined, while keeping the puck tethered to the anchor mount via the coiled cord. 
         [0010]    There are different implementations for the clamshell holder. For example, it may be mounted directly to a display surface, spaced apart from the location of the anchor mount. In this implementation, the clamshell holder simply defines a spot on the display surface for resting the electronic product when it is not being handled. 
         [0011]    As an alternative, the clamshell holder can be mounted to a vertical riser, or the like. Depending on what the retailer wants the display to look like, the riser, in this instance, may or may not serve as the anchor mount at the same time. The riser is preferably angled to provide the consumer with a better view of the product. 
         [0012]    Also, depending on the implementation wanted by the retailer, the clamshell holder may include underlying vertical supports for supporting the clamshell portion a distance above the display surface (for surface mount applications, in particular). In this version, the clamshell portion includes a central opening surrounded by the supports for providing a ventilation/sound passageway between the puck and the display surface. In some situations, the puck will have an audible alarm system that is triggered during a theft event or the like. In such case, the clamshell portion has structural openings for providing sound to pass. 
         [0013]    The system described above can be integrated with a stand-alone retail display stand as an alternative means for implementing the above combination of anchor mount, puck, and clamshell holder. The integrated display stand includes a base that rests flush upon a retail display surface. It has a forward part, or forward portion, connected to the base. The forward portion angles up and back relative to the retail display for creating an angled surface that faces the consumer. 
         [0014]    A rear portion of the display provides a place for supporting a visual display. The anchor mount described above may be fixed to an upper surface of the stand&#39;s base. The clamshell holder described above may be placed on the forward portion of the display stand, with a coiled cord interconnecting the anchor mount and the puck. 
         [0015]    Alternatively, a portion of the stand&#39;s base may be molded or shaped to hold the puck in lieu of the clamshell holder, thus enabling a part of the stand to act equivalently to the clamshell holder. As an example, the forward portion can be constructed with a cup-shaped opening that is shaped so that the material making up the stand acts as a holder. 
         [0016]    The various parts or portions of the stand described above may be integrated together as a single member, or single piece of material. All may be molded from plexiglass or a similar material, for example 
         [0017]    The invention as summarized above will become better understood upon consideration of the following description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    In the drawings, like reference numbers and letters refer to like parts throughout the various views, and wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a display stand constructed in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a frontal view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , and illustrates a “puck” removed from a clamshell holder portion of the embodiment, the puck being connected to the back-side of an electronic product, like a tablet device, for example; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but shows a different embodiment with the clamshell holder mounted to a display surface, but separated from the location of the anchor mount on a display surface; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a view of an anchor mount and puck interconnected by a coiled power/security cord; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is an interior view of the puck member; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is an interior view of the anchor mount; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a pictorial view of another embodiment showing a stand that carries the anchor mount and puck, these two components interconnected by a power/security cord, including a rear portion that supports a visual display; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a view like  FIGS. 9 and 10 , but shows the electronic product removed from the stand; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a view of another embodiment, illustrating an improved power/security cord; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the anchor mount; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the anchor mount, but with a different means of attaching the mount to a display stand surface; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is a pictorial view of the puck resting in the clamshell holder; 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is an exploded view of the puck member relative to the clamshell holder, and illustrates openings in the clamshell holder for allowing air ventilation or sound passage; 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  is a pictorial view of the under-side of the clamshell holder with the puck resting in the clamshell holder; 
           [0036]      FIG. 18  shows an improved power/security cord; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the power/security cord shown in  FIG. 18 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    Referring now to the drawings, and first to  FIG. 1 , shown generally at  10  is a product display constructed in accordance with one embodiment. The display  10  supports an electronic hand-held product  12  (i.e., a tablet device, smart phone, or the like). 
         [0039]    The various parts of the display  10  are better seen in  FIG. 3 . Directing attention there, the display  10  includes a riser stand  14  that is mounted, via base  16 , to a display surface (indicated by plane  18  in  FIG. 1 ). In this case, the riser stand  14  serves as the “anchor mount” described above. 
         [0040]    The riser stand  14  has a clamshell holder, generally indicated at  20 . The clamshell holder  20  may be fixed in position relative to the riser stand  14  (i.e., no movement) or rotationally mounted in different ways. For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , an exploded view of the clamshell holder  20  is shown relative to an underlying rotational mount  22  that is received in an opening  24  in the angled riser  14 . 
         [0041]    The clamshell holder  20  also has a plurality of vertical supports or “feet” indicated at  26 . These feet  26  may be mounted by various means to corresponding surfaces  28  on riser stand mount part  22  (see,  FIG. 5 ). The clamshell holder feet  26  are primarily intended to space the holder from an underlying surface, as further described below. 
         [0042]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the first embodiment further includes a puck, indicated generally at  30 . The puck  30  is attached, via conventional means, to the back-side or under-side  32  of the electronic product  12 . The clamshell holder  20  is sized to receive the shape of the puck  30  in a resting position on top of the riser  14 . This is also shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0043]    At this point it should be understood that the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  does not show the puck  30  attached directly to the angled riser  14  via a tether, although that is a possible implementation. Instead, this embodiment uses a separate anchor mount  36  that is fixed to display surface  18  as a unit that is independent of the riser  14 . 
         [0044]    A consumer who wishes to inspect the electronic product  12  may easily lift it, along with the puck  30 , from the clamshell holder  20  on the riser  14 . A coiled power/security cord  34  (described later) interconnects the puck  30  and an anchor mount  36 . 
         [0045]    The anchor mount  36 , power/security cord  34  and puck  30  all exist as separate units from the riser stand  14  in this example. In other words, the clamshell holder  20  provides a separate resting place not directly connected to a tether or the like. 
         [0046]    An alternative version or embodiment is shown in  FIG. 4 , which lacks the riser  14 . There, the clamshell holder  20  is mounted directly to the display surface  18 . There are certain kinds of retail display situations where alternative footprints of this kind are more desirable relative to using the angled riser stand  14  (illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 ). However, as is apparent from  FIGS. 1-3 , and  FIG. 1 , in particular, the angled riser stand  14  helps orient the surface of the electronic product  12  in a way that is friendlier to the consumer. Many of the electronic products currently sold using a post-type display (e.g., tablet devices) where it is desirable to orient the screen so it is easier for the consumer to see screen content as he or she passes by. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the puck  30  is relatively conventional in design in that it will have or carry the electronics necessary to power up the electronic product  12  and/or operate secondary security sensors or provide other functions (described below). It may have a mechanical security sensor/switch  38  that triggers an alarm if the product  12  is removed from the puck  30 . 
         [0048]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 , it is possible to daisy-chain a series of different power/security cords  34  or different security sensors  40 ,  42  from the same anchor mount  36 . As discussed previously, the puck  30  may be adapted to provide a secondary security sensor  34  (which is common in the industry) or a USB security key  46 . In the latter case, the USB security key  46  is used to provide puck-level functions like security system activation/deactivation while products are swapped, etc. 
         [0049]    As indicated above, in the  FIG. 6  embodiment, it is envisioned that the other cords  40 ,  42  could be used as secondary security sensors that support complementary products on the display. For example, the riser-type display illustrated in the  FIG. 1  embodiment may carry a tablet device  12 . It may be desirable to support the tablet with another device such as, for example, a keyboard/docking station. In such case, one or more security sensor cables  40 ,  42  can be used to secure the other device as well, except the other device is tethered to anchor mount  36  while resting separately on display surface  18 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the puck  30  is hollow and carries an electronics control board (“ECB”)  48 . The ECB will typically carry an alarm that can output an audible sound/alarm when a theft/security event occurs. Item  50  in  FIG. 7  generally illustrates a device power adaptor cable coming from the ECB  48 , which is also a common feature. The secondary security sensor is indicated at  44 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 8  illustrates another ECB  52  inside anchor mount  36 . Depending on the embodiment, the second ECB  52  conveys power and security to the puck  30  and/or ties the anchor mount  36  to other security cabling  40 ,  42 ,  34 , as described above. 
         [0052]    Still another embodiment of the invention is generally indicated at  56  in  FIG. 9 . This embodiment  56  involves a display stand having a base  58  that rests flush on display surface  18 . The anchor mount  36  is connected to an upper surface  60  of the base  58 . 
         [0053]    The display  56  has a forward portion  62  that is angled relative to the display surface  18  and base  58 . The purpose of the angle is to provide a similar viewing angle for the consumer, as described before. Next, a rearward portion  64  of the stand provides a support for a visual display  66 . The visual display could be a flat screen display, or something simpler, like print media. 
         [0054]    The forward portion  62  provides a flat surface  68  for mounting the clamshell holder  20  previously described. As an alternative, it may be possible to integrate a holder into the forward portion  62  by creating an appropriately sized recess in the material making up the forward portion. Dashed lines  69  in  FIG. 11  illustrate the location for a half-moon-shaped cut-out that could be sized to cradle the puck  30  portion of the display  56 . 
         [0055]    At this point, it is to be appreciated that the various components of display  56  can be integrated as a single piece of molded material such as plexiglass, for example. This material is easy to mold into a visually attractive display. The transparent nature of the material may be attractive to the retailer as well. 
         [0056]    Referring now to  FIGS. 12 ,  18  and  19 , the power/security cord  34  is an improved “curly-Q” cord that is more difficult to cut relative to conventional designs. In this instance, the cord  34  has conventional, internal conductor wires for transmitting electrical power and security signals back and forth between the puck  30  and mount  36 . However, the power/security cord  34  has a continuous length of coiled spring steel  70  that is adjacent to the conductor  72  (see  FIG. 18  for illustration of coils;  FIG. 19  for arrangement of steel with conductors). 
         [0057]    One possible cross-sectional representation of the coiled power/security cord  34  is illustrated in  FIG. 19 . Item  70  represents the steel part (or multiple strands) with items  72  respectively indicating a multi-conductor cable within the cord. These parts are respectively surrounded by a sheath  74 . This arrangement could be altered depending on the desired mix of cut resistance and conductors needed. Further details of the coiled power/security cord  34  are described in a co-pending patent application 
         [0058]    As suggested above, the anchor mount  36  and clamshell holder  20  may be mounted to display surfaces and electronic products in a variety of ways.  FIG. 13  illustrates one design where the puck  30  is clipped via members  76 ,  78  to the back-side of the electronic product  12 .  FIG. 14  illustrates the mount connected to display surface  18  via an adhesive material  80 . 
         [0059]    The clamshell holder  20  has a clamshell portion  82  sized and shaped for holding the puck  30 . Referring to  FIG. 16 , for example, the clamshell portion  82  includes a central opening  84  for ventilating the puck and/or for enabling sound to pass through the holder  82  during an alarm event. For those embodiments that involve resting the clamshell holder  20  directly on the display surface  18 , the vertical supports or legs  26  space the clamshell holder portion  82  a certain distance above the display surface  18 . They may be joined to the display surface by adhesive surfaces indicated at  86  in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0060]    Other kinds of security alarms may also be incorporated in the puck  30  or mount  36 . For example, it is possible to manufacture the puck housing with an LED ring located generally at  84  in  FIG. 15 . The LED ring simply goes active or blinks when an alarm or other event occurs. Light signals can be used to indicate a wide variety of things such as a theft, a malfunction, an inactive display post, or a display that is functioning normally. This is commonly done by selecting steady lighting, blinking lights, or lights that blink at different rates to indicate different conditions. Not only could an LED ring be placed in the puck  30  but it would be equally possible to configure the anchor mount  36  with a similar light (e.g., at location  86 ) for all of the same reasons. 
         [0061]    The foregoing description is intended to provide illustrative embodiments only. The foregoing description is not intended to limit the scope of the patent coverage. Instead, the scope of coverage is to be limited only by the subjoined claim or claims that follow below.