Patent Publication Number: US-6987455-B2

Title: Article surveillance unit and assemblies therewith

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to security from shoplifting of articles of manufacture and pertains more particularly to electronic article surveillance (EAS) marker assemblies for use with articles of manufacture. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   One form of electronic article surveillance (EAS) marker in widespread use is in the form of a flat, thin, flexible, rectangular member which is applied adhesively to flat or curved exterior surfaces of articles. One shortcoming of such exterior surface application is that, while often covered by a bar code label, the presence of the EAS marker nonetheless is evident since it is visible from the sides of the bar code label. Still further, the EAS marker is accessible to a customer. 
   In commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,462, a garment hanger is disclosed which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages. Therein, a garment hanger is set forth which is comprised of a one-piece body having a hook portion for the receipt of a display rod, a central portion depending from the hook portion and a lower portion for engagement with an article to be displayed. The central portion defines a recess opening into an exterior surface of the central portion, the recess being of dimensions suited for residence of an EAS marker in the hanger. A bar code label or like recess closure member is affixed to the central portion exterior surface in contiguous overlying relation therewith and enclosing the resident EAS marker. 
   Other solutions to the above-noted problem provide for the EAS marker to be contained in a housings securable to articles of manufacture, wherein the housings render the EAS marker not viewable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has as its primary object the provision of improved EAS marker application to articles of manufacture. 
   A more particular object of the invention is to provide EAS marker-containing housings which blend with articles of manufacture and accordingly are less noticeable. 
   In attaining the foregoing and other objects, in one aspect, the invention provides, in combination, an article of manufacture having an exterior surface of a given color and an EAS marker-containing housing secured to the article and defining an exterior surface of the given color. 
   In another aspect, the invention provides in combination, an article of manufacture having an exterior surface with a surface section of a given configuration and an EAS marker-containing housing secured to the article and defining an exterior surface having surface section contiguous with the article surface section and of the given configuration. 
   More particularly, in such other aspect, the invention provides, in combination, in combination, an article of manufacture having an exterior surface defining successive first and second intersecting surface sections and an EAS marker-containing housing secured to the article and defining an exterior surface defining first and second successive intersecting surface sections, the housing first surface section being continuous with the article first surface section, the housing second surface section being in facing relation to the article second surface section. 
   The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will be further evident from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof and from the drawings in which like components are identified by like reference numerals throughout. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation of an electric drill equipped with an EAS member-containing housing in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a right side elevation of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a elevation of the housing of  FIGS. 1 and 2  standing on an end thereof. 
       FIG. 4  is a right side elevation of FIG.  3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the  FIG. 3  housing as would be seen from plane V—V of FIG.  3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a rear elevation of FIG.  3 . 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the  FIG. 3  housing as would be seen from plane VII—VII of FIG.  6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevation of an electric screwdriver equipped with an EAS member-containing housing in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a right side elevation of FIG.  8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a elevation of the housing of  FIGS. 8 and 9  standing on an end thereof. 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the  FIG. 10  housing as would be seen from plane XI—XI of FIG.  10 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND PRACTICES 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , electric drill  10  includes housing  12  defining handle  14 , bottom plate  16 , drive shaft  18  and saw tooth securement member  20 . Bottom plate  16  is secured to housing base  22  by bottom plate flanges  16   a  and  16   b . Electrical cable  24  furnishes power to drill  10 . 
   Housing base  22  includes inwardly tapered surfaces  26  and  28  and a lowermost part  30  extending downwardly of surfaces  26  and  28  to abut bottom plate  16 . Components  12 - 30  are present in commercially-available electrical drills, e.g., as in a Black &amp; Decker drill—Variable Jig Saw—, the housing of which is colored throughout in orange. 
   EAS member-containing housing  32  is applied adhesively to surface  26  (or surface  28 ) and is configured such that exterior surface  34  of housing  32  is rectilinearly continuous with front wall  10   a  of drill  10 . Further, per the invention, housing  32  is preferably of common color with the drill housing color, e.g., orange in the case of the referenced commercially-available drill. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3-7 , housing  32  is a generally solid body of molded plastic defining recess  36  accessible through rear surface  38  of housing  32 . EAS member  38  is secured by adhesive layer  40  to surface  42  of housing  32 , i.e., the ceiling of recess  36 . As is seen in  FIG. 4 , housing  32  is of triangular configuration with surface  34   a  and  34   b  intersecting one another at apex  34   b.    
   Turning to  FIGS. 8-11 , electric screwdriver  44  includes housing  46 , drive shaft  48  and screwdriving bit  50  and is electrically powered through cable  52 . As is seen in  FIG. 9 , housing  46  has outer circular segments  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  and circular indentations  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68  formed to assist gripping of housing  46 . 
   Per the invention, EAS member-containing housing  70  is seated in indentation  62  and is adhesively secured therein by adhesive layer  72 . Housing  70  is a generally solid body of molded plastic defining recess  74  accessible through the rear surface of housing  70 . Adhesive layer  76  secures EAS member  78  to the interior surface of recess  74 . 
   Exterior surface  80  of housing  70  is circularly continuous with circular segments  54  and  56  of screwdriver housing  46 . Surface  82  of housing  70  will be seen to be in intersecting relation with surface  80  of housing  70 . 
   Further, per the invention, housing  70  is preferably of common color with the screwdriver housing color, e.g., green. 
   As will be seen generally from the foregoing and by way of introduction to the ensuing claims, the invention provides in combination, an article of manufacture having an exterior surface defining successive first and second intersecting surface sections and an EAS marker-containing housing secured to the article and defining an exterior surface defining first and second successive intersecting surface sections. The housing first surface section is continuous with the article first surface section and the housing second surface section is in facing relation to the article second surface section. 
   The article first surface section may be a rectilinearly-extending surface section and the housing first surface section then extends rectilinearly with the article first surface section. The article second surface section is then a rectilinearly-extending surface section and the housing second surface section then extends rectilinearly in facing relation with the article second surface section. 
   The article first surface section may be a circularly-extending surface section and the housing first surface section then extends circularly with the article first surface section. The article second surface section is then a circularly-extending surface section and the housing second surface section then extends circularly in facing relation with the article second surface section. 
   Various changes to the particularly disclosed embodiments and practices may evidently be introduced without departing from the invention. For example, the article of manufacture may define a rectangular trough, with the EAS member-containing housing of like rectangular configuration, with the exterior surfaces of the article and the EAS member-containing housing in contiguous alignment. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the particularly discussed and depicted preferred embodiments and practices of the invention are intended in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The true spirit and scope of the invention are set forth in the ensuing claims.