Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7239244?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=%22frederick+douglis%22
Timestamp: 2014-03-10 17:24:15
Document Index: 727922337

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 68', 'art 78', 'art 68', 'art 78', 'art 78', 'art 68', 'arts 68', 'art 68', 'art 78', 'art 68', 'arts 68']

Patent US7239244 - System and method for monitoring a portable article - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA system for monitoring a portable article. The system has a housing, a detectable signal generator on the housing, a detection circuit on the housing, and a jumper element having first and second ends. The jumper element has a) an operative state wherein the first and second jumper element ends are...http://www.google.com/patents/US7239244?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7239244 - System and method for monitoring a portable articleAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7239244 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/112,384Publication dateJul 3, 2007Filing dateApr 22, 2005Priority dateApr 22, 2005Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS20060238343Publication number11112384, 112384, US 7239244 B2, US 7239244B2, US-B2-7239244, US7239244 B2, US7239244B2InventorsRoger J. Leyden, Michael ParentOriginal AssigneeSe-Kure Controls, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (15), Referenced by (3), Classifications (13), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSystem and method for monitoring a portable articleUS 7239244 B2Abstract A system for monitoring a portable article. The system has a housing, a detectable signal generator on the housing, a detection circuit on the housing, and a jumper element having first and second ends. The jumper element has a) an operative state wherein the first and second jumper element ends are electrically connected to the detection circuit at first and second locations and the jumper element defines a conductive path electrically connecting between the first and second locations on the detection circuit and b) a disabled state. In the disabled state, one of i) the first end of the jumper element is disconnected from the detection circuit at the first location ii) the second end of the jumper element is disconnected from the detection circuit at the second location and iii) the jumper element is severed between the first and second ends, so that the conductive path between the first and second locations is interrupted. The first and second ends of the jumper element are releasably connectable to the detection circuit to allow the jumper element to be selectively removed and either reinstalled or replaced by another jumper element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form, the invention is directed to a system for monitoring a portable article. The system has a housing, a detectable signal generator on the housing, a detection circuit on the housing, and a jumper element having first and second ends. The jumper element has a) an operative state wherein the first and second jumper element ends are electrically connected to the detection circuit at first and second locations and the jumper element defines a conductive path electrically connecting between the first and second locations on the detection circuit and b) a disabled state. In the disabled state, one of i) the first end of the jumper element is disconnected from the detection circuit at the first location ii) the second end of the jumper element is disconnected from the detection circuit at the second location and iii) the jumper element is severed between the first and second ends, so that the conductive path between the first and second locations is interrupted. The first and second ends of the jumper element are releasably connectable to the detection circuit to allow the jumper element to be selectively removed and either reinstalled or replaced by another jumper element.
In one form, the system further includes an Electronic Article Surveillance (�EAS�) tag on the housing that is detectable by a scanner to determine that the system has moved past the scanner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system for monitoring a portable article, according to the present invention, and including a housing with components therein that are electrically interactive through a separable jumper element;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the monitoring system taken along line 4�4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the monitoring system taken along line 5�5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the monitoring system taken along line 6�6 of FIG. 5 and showing a locking system with cooperating locking assemblies on the housing and jumper element;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In FIG. 1, a schematic representation of a system for monitoring a portable article, according to the present invention, is shown at 10. The article 12 may be, for example, any portable article that is susceptible to being removed from a prescribed area by an unauthorized individual. The nature of the article 12 is not otherwise limited.
Details of one exemplary form of the system 10 are shown in FIGS. 2 through 12. The housing 14 is shown constructed with two cup-shaped housing halves 36 38. Stepped, free edges 40, 42 of the housing halves 36, 38 are matched in shape and configuration and can be suitably joined, as by use of an adhesive, spin welding, etc., to produce a substantially closed, cylindrical chamber 44 within which certain of the system components reside. In this embodiment, the primary components consist of the detection circuit 16, the detectable signal generator 22, the power supply 18, and the EAS tag 30. The closed, cylindrical configuration for the housing 14 is exemplary, as virtually a limitless number of different shapes could be used as an alternative to that shown. The two-part housing construction is likewise optional and facilitates assembly of the components within the chamber 44. That is, the components can be assembled in each housing half 36, 38, after which the housing halves 36, 38 can be united to complete assembly of the housing 14 and operative positioning of the components in the chamber 44. In this particular construction, a baffle 46 provides a component support and becomes an integral part of the housing 14, as does a printed circuit board 48 upon which the detection circuit 16 is formed. These components will be considered as part of the �housing� in the description and claims herein.
The connecting part 68 on the end fitting 62 is electrically and mechanically connected to the circuit board 48 at the first location 52 through a cooperating connecting part 78. The connecting part 68′ on the end fitting 64 is connected through a like connecting part 78′ on the circuit board 48. As seen in FIG. 10, the exemplary connecting part 78 is constructed in a generally �crown� shape with a series of spaced, deflectable fingers 80, extending around an axis 82. The connecting part 68 has a free end 84 dimensioned so that as the connecting parts 68, 78, are moved axially, one against the other, the free end 84 causes the fingers 80 to deflect radially outwardly until the connecting part 68 fully seats in the connecting part 78, whereupon the fingers 80 spring back inwardly towards an undeformed state to cooperatively capture the connecting part 68. The connecting parts 68, 78 are similar to those used conventionally to make an electrical connection on a nine volt household battery. Through this construction, by a simple press fit step, the end fitting 62 can be releasably frictionally maintained mechanically connected to the housing 14 and electrically connected to the circuit board 48.
As noted above, the system 10 can be used to tether an article 12 relative to a support 28. Alternatively, the system 10 can be used to be transportable with the article 12. In the latter case, the EAS tag 30 will be detectable by the scanner 32 in the event that a would-be thief attempts to exit from a prescribed area with the article 12 with the system 10 thereon. It should be understood that the term �EAS tag� 30 as used herein, is intended to encompass any type of element or assembly that would be detectable by a scanner to produce a signal, that either directly or indirectly causes the production of a detectable signal to alert a supervisor of the premises that there has been a breach. While not required, it is preferred that the EAS tag 30 be permanently maintained in a state wherein it can be detected by the scanner 32. Consequently, the only way to circumvent the scanner 32 is to remove the system 10 from the article 12. This can be accomplished by inserting the control key 104 and, by manipulating the control key 104 thereby changing the state of the locking system 86 and detection circuit 16, and thereafter separating the ends of the jumper element 20 from the housing 14, and disconnecting the jumper element ends from the printed circuit board 48.
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