Patent Abstract:
A bottle security device includes a housing with an electronic surveillance article tag therein and a ratchet strap which extends from the housing and loops around the bottle neck to secure the device thereto. The strap has one-way locking teeth which are lockably engaged by a locking mechanism in the housing when the strap is inserted therein to secure the strap in a locked position. The housing has first and second opposed outer surfaces which taper radially outwardly and toward one another in a manner which makes the housing difficult to grasp manually or otherwise, thus helping prevent the breakage and removal of the device from the bottle. The tapered outer surfaces also serve to deflect impact forces to the housing to help prevent unauthorized removal of the device. An arcuate channel of the housing receives and aligns the strap for improved locking capability.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/758,686 filed Jan. 13, 2006; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The invention relates to anti-shoplifting devices, and more particularly to an anti-shoplifting device for merchandise having a substantially cylindrical surface and in particular, for bottles having a cylindrical neck. The invention provides a security device that holds an electronic article surveillance tag (EAS tag) which is concealed within a rigid housing which is secured by a ratchet strap around the neck of the bottle. The housing has opposed outer surfaces which are tapered toward one another to make it difficult to grasp the housing or otherwise force the housing to pry the device off of the bottle neck. The housing further includes an arcuate channel for receiving and guiding the strap within the housing.  
         [0004]     2. Background Information  
         [0005]     Many types of theft deterrent devices have been developed for protecting various types of merchandise. Many of these devices include EAS tags which are typically hidden from the potential thief and which will sound an alarm when removed from the store. Amongst these security devices are bottle security devices which are specifically configured to connect to the neck of a bottle in a manner that is difficult to remove without breaking the neck of the bottle.  
         [0006]     In addition, various types of security devices utilize a ratchet-type strap which is secured around an object to prevent removal of the device from an item of merchandise. Many of these devices use a flat plastic strap which is either attached to or formed as part of the latching mechanism. However, many of these types of devices do not include a lock or contain an EAS tag. One of the problems that bottle security devices seek to overcome is the removal by a thief of the security device from the neck of a bottle. Attempts at such removal may involve manual manipulation of the device, gripping of the device with pliers or other like tools, prying with a screwdriver or the like and hitting the security device on a rigid structure such as a shelf or corner of a table in order to either break the device or pry it loose from the bottle neck. Thus, there is a need in the art to produce a bottle security device having a ratchet strap which is more difficult to remove from the bottle neck without breaking the bottle.  
         [0007]     In addition, there is a need in the art to lock the ratchet strap to a housing to which it is attached in a simple and effective manner while providing a locking mechanism which may be easily unlocked by store personnel during the purchase of the bottle and contents thereof. The present invention addresses these and other problems.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides a security device for attaching around a generally annular article to be protected from theft, said device comprising a rigid housing defining an interior chamber with an entry port; wherein the housing has a concave inner perimeter and an outer perimeter; a ratchet strap which is connected to and extends outwardly from the housing and has a series of one-way locking teeth formed thereon; an EAS tag disposed within the housing; a locking mechanism disposed in the interior chamber for lockably engaging one of the locking teeth when the strap is inserted through the entry port to secure the strap in a locked position in which the strap and inner perimeter of the housing define therebetween an article-receiving space adapted to receive the generally annular article; wherein the strap and inner perimeter of the housing together assume a generally circular configuration which is substantially concentric about a longitudinal axis; and wherein the housing has first and second opposed outer surfaces which taper radially outwardly and longitudinally toward one another from adjacent the inner perimeter to adjacent the outer perimeter.  
         [0009]     The present invention further provides in combination a generally annular article and a security device attached around the article to protect the article from theft, the security device comprising a rigid housing defining an interior chamber with an entry port; a ratchet strap extending outwardly from the housing and having a series of one-way locking teeth formed thereon; an EAS tag disposed within the housing; and a locking mechanism disposed within the interior chamber for lockably engaging one of the locking teeth when the strap is inserted through the entry port to secure the strap in a locked position in which the strap forms a loop around the generally annular article; wherein a portion of the article is disposed within the loop and the article extends longitudinally in opposite directions from said portion beyond the loop; wherein the housing has first and second opposed outer surfaces which taper radially outwardly and longitudinally toward one another from adjacent the article to adjacent an outer perimeter of the housing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the bottle security device of the present invention in an unlocked position adjacent a neck of a bottle.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the device and bottle neck shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  showing the internal structure of the housing of the security device.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 1  and shows the security device in a locked position on the bottle neck.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 2  and shows the security device locked on the bottle neck.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken on line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 6A  is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of  FIG. 6  showing the locking mechanism in greater detail.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6B  is a sectional view taken on line  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  showing a hand with fingers in contact with the anti-grasping surfaces of the housing.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7  and shows the fingers of the hand having slipped off of the anti-grasping surfaces. 
     
    
       [0020]     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     The bottle security device of the present invention is indicated generally at  10  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in which device  10  is shown in an unlocked position adjacent a substantially cylindrical neck  12  of a bottle  14 . Neck  12  has an outer surface  13  and includes an outwardly projecting annular bead  16 .  
         [0022]     Device  10  includes a rigid housing  18  and a ratchet strap  20  which is connected to housing  18  and extends outwardly therefrom. Each of housing  18  and  20  has inwardly projecting tabs  22  which are circumferentially spaced from one another and are configured to contact a lower surface of bead  16  of neck  12  to prevent removal of device  10  from neck  12  when device  10  is locked thereon. Strap  20  is formed of a material having a sufficient stiffness to provide a preset curvature to the strap. Strap  20  is connected to housing  18  adjacent a first end thereof and includes a plurality of one way locking teeth  24  extending along a portion  26  of strap  20  adjacent a second opposed end thereof. Locking teeth  24  extend outwardly from a substantially flat body  28  of strap  20 . A finger tab  30  also extends outwardly from body  28  to facilitate insertion of portion  26  of strap  20  into housing  18 . Portion  26  of strap  20  is in the form of an arc which lies along a substantially circular path.  
         [0023]     Housing  18  has first and second ends  32  and  34  which are circumferentially spaced from one another by a concave inner surface or perimeter  36  of housing  18  which is in the form of an arc which lies along a substantially circular path. Housing  18  has a convex outer perimeter  38  which is generally U-shaped and extends from first end  32  to second end  34  of housing  18 . Housing  18  includes first and second opposed outer anti-grasping or deflecting surfaces  40  and  42  which taper outwardly from adjacent inner perimeter  36  toward one another to closely adjacent inner perimeter  36 . Surfaces  40  and  42  are preferably smooth and slippery to help prevent manual or other grasping thereof. For purposes of description herein, outer surface  40  may be considered an upper surface and outer surface  42  may be considered a lower surface. Upper surface  40  tapers outwardly and downwardly from adjacent inner perimeter  36  to adjacent outer perimeter  38  and lower surface  42  tapers outwardly and upwardly from adjacent inner perimeter  36  to adjacent outer perimeter  38 . Each of surfaces  40  and  42  extend circumferentially from adjacent first end  32  to adjacent second end  34  of housing  18 . Each of surfaces  40  and  42  are generally frustoconical while varying somewhat from a true frustoconical shape in light of the U-shaped outer perimeter  38  of housing  18 . Housing  18  further defines a pair of spaced key alignment indentations  44  which respectively extend inwardly from surfaces  40  and  42 . Indentations  44  are utilized to align a magnetic key such as that shown and described in co-pending patent application having Ser. No. 11/022,084, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Said application also shows and describes a locking mechanism similar to that of the present invention.  
         [0024]     With reference to  FIG. 3 , housing  18  defines an interior chamber  46  which serves to house an EAS tag  48  and a locking mechanism  50  which lockably engages locking teeth  24  of strap  20  when strap  20  is in a locked position to prevent removal of strap  20  from housing  18  and to secure device  10  to bottle neck  12 . Locking mechanism  50  includes a locking pawl  52  and a spring biased actuation strip  54  which biases locking pawl  52  to a locked position shown in  FIG. 3 . Locking pawl  52  is formed of a metal, is pivotally mounted within interior chamber  46  and has a bent free end  56  which lockably engages locking teeth  24  when strap  20  is in a locked position. Actuation strip  54  is formed of a spring metal and includes a spring finger  58  which is cantilevered from adjacent an outer wall  60  of housing  18  and includes a free end  62  which engages locking pawl  52  to spring bias locking pawl  52  into its locked position. Housing  18  defines an entry port  64  adjacent second end  34  thereof for receiving the free end of strap  20 . Free end  56  of locking pawl  52  extends generally away from entry port  64  and free end  62  of locking finger  58  extends generally toward entry port  64 .  
         [0025]     Housing  18  defines an arcuate channel  66  which communicates with entry port  64  and is configured to receive portion  26  of strap  20 . Channel  66  has an arcuate path which is complimentary to the arcuate shape of portion  26  of strap  20  to facilitate the insertion and removal of portion  26  into and out of channel  66 . More particularly, channel  66  is an arc which lies along a substantially circular path. Channel  66  is bounded by an arcuate inner wall  68  of housing  18 . More particularly, inner wall  68  has a convex arcuate surface  70  which bounds channel  66  opposite of inner perimeter  36  of housing  18 . Channel  66  extends from entry port  64  to adjacent the first end of strap  20  which is disposed within interior chamber  46  adjacent first end  32  of housing  18 . Channel  66  is described in greater detail further below.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 4-6  show device  10  in the locked position in which it is lockably secured to bottle neck  12  with tabs  34  disposed below bead  16 . In the locked position of device  10 , inner perimeter  36  is in contact with the outer surface of neck  12 , in particular in contact with bead  16 . Thus, when locked onto bottle  14 , anti-grasping surfaces  40  and  42  taper outwardly toward one another from closely adjacent neck  12 , thus providing a minimal amount of surface which may be easily grasped in an attempt to force device  10  off of bottle neck  12 . To move from the unlocked to the locked position of device  10 , strap  20  is inserted as shown at Arrow A in  FIG. 6  through entry port  64  and into arcuate channel  66  so that bent free end  56  of locking pawl  52  lockably engages one of locking teeth  24  of strap  20 . In the locked position, strap  20  cannot be removed from housing  18  without the appropriate key and device  10  is securely attached to bottle neck  12 . Should a potential thief move bottle  14  and device  10  to an unauthorized area, EAS tag  48  will cause an audible alarm to sound to warn store personnel of the potential theft.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , bottle neck  12  is substantially concentric about a longitudinal axis X which passes centrally through bottle  14  and is substantially vertical when bottle  14  is in an upright position as shown in  FIG. 5 . Outer surface  13  of bottle neck  12  is substantially parallel to axis X. When device  10  is locked onto bottle neck  12  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , inner wall  68  of housing  18  and strap  20  form a substantially circular configuration which is substantially concentric about axis X. Strap  20  and housing  18  are spaced radially outwardly of axis X and disposed substantially along a plane P which is perpendicular to axis X. Upper tapered surface  40  of housing  18  is angled with respect to plane P as indicate at angle Y and with respect to axis X as indicated at angle Z. Typically, lower tapered surface  42  has the same respective angles Y and Z as indicated in  FIG. 5  although this may vary somewhat. The lines in  FIG. 4  which are numbered as surfaces  40  and  42  represent respective linear intersections with a plane in which the axis X lies.  
         [0028]     It is noted that the angle of surfaces  40  and  42  with respect to such a perpendicular plane as plane P may vary as one moves circumferentially along said surfaces  40  and  42 . Thus, for instance, the angle of surface  40  with respect to plane P adjacent second end  34  of housing  18  may be different than the angle represented at Y in  FIG. 5 , which is along surface  40  intermediate first and second ends  32  and  34  of housing  18 . Each of surfaces  40  and  42  thus may represent a variable angle surface as one travels circumferentially around housing  18 . Having said this, angle Y and corresponding angles with respect to a plane such as plane P needs to be sufficiently large to provide the anti-grasping end and other characteristics described further below. In the exemplary embodiment, angle Y is approximately 30° and angle Z is approximately 60°. However, these angles may vary. Angle Y is typically at least 25°, more preferably at least  300 . In general, the greater that angle Y is, the more effective surfaces  40  and  42  may be in creating anti-grasping characteristics and other characteristics subsequently described herein. However, it is preferred to keep angle Y as small as possible while producing these desired characteristics in order to produce a housing  18  which has a size which is as small as possible for the purpose.  
         [0029]     With reference to  FIG. 6B , arcuate channel  66  is further detailed. Channel  66  has a T-shaped cross-sectional configuration as does strap  20  along portion  26  thereof. More particularly, a pair of opposed intermediate walls  72  and  74  are disposed within interior chamber  46  of housing  18  and are substantially parallel to inner and outer walls  68  and  60  of housing  18 . Walls  72  and  74  are spaced outwardly from inner wall  68  a distance which is slightly larger than the thickness of body  28  of strap  20  so that the inner surface of strap  20  along portion  26  thereof abuts the outer surface of inner wall  68  when in a locked position and the outer surface of portion  26  adjacent first and second opposed edges  76  and  78  thereof is respectively closely adjacent or in abutment with walls  72  and  74 . Each of walls  72  and  74  is arcuate and more particularly is an arc lying along a circular path. Walls  72  and  74  are respectively cantilevered from upper and lower tapered walls  80  and  82  of housing  18 . The free ends of walls  72  and  74  extend toward one another and define therebetween a portion of slot  66  in which locking teeth  24  are disposed when in the locked position. Bent free end  56  of locking pawl  52  extends into this portion of slot  66  in its locked position, as shown in  FIG. 6A .  
         [0030]     Arcuate channel  66  has a curvature which mates with that of portion  26  of strap  20  to facilitate easy insertion and withdrawal of strap  20 . Channel  66  also positions portion  26  of strap  20  more precisely than in known prior art devices to accurately align locking teeth  24  with bent free end  56  of locking pawl  52 . This greater precision of positioning and alignment allows strap  20  to perform more effectively than in known prior art devices while allowing for a loosening of tolerances in the manufacture of strap  20 , especially in portion  26  thereof. This reduction in tolerance requirements allows for less expensive manufacture of strap  20  in particular.  
         [0031]     Once device  10  is locked onto bottle neck  12  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , anti-grasping surfaces  40  and  42  make it more difficult to grasp housing  18  in a manner which would promote the prying or breaking of housing  18  from strap  20  in order to remove device  10  from bottle neck  12 . For instance,  FIG. 7  shows a hand with a thumb and finger respectively in contact with outer surfaces  40  and  42  in an effort to grasp housing  18  to break housing  18 , strap  20  or the connection therebetween in order to remove device  10  from bottle neck  12 . However, the tapered nature of surfaces  40  and  42  tends to make the thumb and finger slide off of housing  18  as shown respectively at Arrows B and C in  FIG. 8 . In the known prior art devices which utilize a ratchet strap and housing, the housing typically provides an upper and/or lower surface which is substantially perpendicular to axis X, thus providing surfaces which are easily grasped manually and which are easily impacted by forces substantially parallel to axis X, as indicated at Arrows D and E in  FIG. 8 , which have been found to sometimes defeat such typical prior art devices. By contrast, tapered surfaces  40  and  42  of housing  18  tend to deflect such forces and reduce their effectiveness in compromising the integrity of device  10  so that device  10  remains secured to bottle neck  12 . Thus, when a potential thief moves bottle  14  in a direction indicated at Arrow E in order to impact surface  40  on a structure such as a shelf, table or the like to create a force represented by Arrow D on surface  40 , the tapered nature of surface  40  deflects the impact and thus reduces the amount of force applied in the direction of Arrow D by changing the force vector to angle inwardly towards bottle neck  12  as represented generally at Arrow F. Similarly, a force applied to surface  42  as indicated along a force vector indicated at Arrow E will similarly be deflected to a force vector indicated at Arrow G. In short, housing  18  of device  10  is configured to make it more difficult to break device  10  off of bottle neck  12  without breaking bottle neck  12 .  
         [0032]     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.  
         [0033]     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4