Abstract:
A security device includes a carrier for a tell-tale provision having electro-magnetic characteristics. The device is adapted to be releasably secured to an article to be protected, in particular to the shaft of a golf club, in a tamper-resilient manner and to retain the tell-tale provision in a spaced relationship from the article. In this way any adverse magnetic effects on the tell-tale provision by ferromagnetic parts of the article are avoided. Preferably, the tell-tale provision is spaced at least 3 mm from the article to which the device is secured.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not applicable. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a security device such as may be used to tag articles to provide a protection against theft where such articles are on display for handling by prospective purchasers. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention arises from a particular consideration of anti-theft security for golf clubs. Hitherto, known security devices of tell-tale tag type requiring removal were not effective for golf clubs where comfortable trial swings are seen as essential for most golfers considering purchase. 
   Accordingly, this invention is predicated on the concept of providing a device capable of snug-fitting to an article so as to be unobstructive to handling as desired, such device resisting all but authorized removal. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention there is provided a security device comprising a carrier for a tell-tale provision having electromagnetic characteristics, the device being capable of being releasably secured to an article to be protected in a tamper-resilient manner, and characterized in that the carrier is adapted to retain the tell-tale provision in a spaced relationship from the article such that any adverse magnetic effects on the tell-tale provision by ferromagnetic parts of the article are avoided. 
   Preferably, the tell-tale provision is spaced at least 3 mm from an article to which the device is secured. 
   Preferably also, the carrier retains the tell-tale provision in a position such that it is also spaced from any adverse magnetic effects arising from proximity to another article external to the device. 
   Shielding is preferably also provided to further protect the tell-tale provision from any adverse magnetic effects by ferromagnetic parts of the article. 
   Advantageously, the device comprises two inter-engaging body parts that can be releasably secured to one another around the or part of the article, preferably by being hinged together to close around and clasp a part of the article to be protected. 
   Preferably also, each of the body parts defines a half-cylindrical sleeve that together define a cylindrical sleeve that fits about a cylindrical portion of the article when the body parts are secured together. 
   Preferably also, the half-sleeves are provided with cushioning compliance in order that the device can be snug-fitted to articles in a range of sizes. 
   It is also an advantage if the interior edge parts of the half-cylindrical sleeves define recesses that create weak or break points so that the edge parts will break off before the body parts can be pried open by levering down the cylindrical sleeve. 
   Preferably also, the inter-engaging body parts can only be released by means of a tool or a key. 
   Preferably also, the inter-engaging body parts resiliently engage with one another in a snap-fit manner. 
   Preferably also, each body part comprises at least two integral projections shaped such that they resiliently inter-engage respectively with complimentary projections provided on the other body part. 
   Preferably also, each of the projections of one body part defines an outwardly extending tooth that snap-fits around a similar tooth defined by its complimentary projection of the other body part. Three sets of snap-fitting teeth are preferably provided in an orthogonal arrangement. 
   Preferably also, each of the projections of one body part is provided with a projecting rib that can itself be engaged by a prong of an opening tool that can be inserted through a hole provided in a face of the other body part. 
   Preferably also, the prong acts on the projecting rib to cause a resilient deflection of the projection sufficient to enable the tooth defined by the projection to be disengaged from the tooth of the complimentary projection of the other body part. 
   Preferably also, the edges of the body parts  21  and  22  are provided with rib and groove formations  38  and  39  respectively in complementary matching relation to inter-engage on closure of the body parts  21  and  22 . 
   Advantageously, the rib and groove formations define a labyrinthine pathway therebetween. Such an arrangement frustrates attempts to lever the two body parts apart. 
   As applicable to golf clubs, a device in accordance with the present invention may fit snugly about a golf club shaft at a localized position between its head and grip, preferably with a locating action that is tolerant of a range of shaft diameters, say with compliant gripping. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIGS. 1 and 1   a  are perspective and detail views of a golf club fitted with a first embodiment of security device in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of the security device when closed and with a cover plate removed in proximity to a tool for use in opening the device. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the device shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is an front view of the device shown in  FIG. 3  in the direction of arrow IV. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views from slightly different direction of the device when opened to reveal interior detail thereof. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along the line VII—VII in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along the line VIII—VIII in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are transverse cross-sectional views along the lines IX—IX and X—X in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a modified security device in accordance with the invention, shown in a closed position. 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view along the line XII—XII in  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a security device  20  according to the invention is particularly adapted for fitment at a localized position of a shaft  12  of a golf club  10 , just below a grip  13  at the top of the shaft  12 . The device  20  has two body parts  21 ,  22  respectively defining resilient half-cylindrical sleeves  23 ,  24  that form an cylindrical sleeve that fits snugly about the shaft  12 , preferably with compliant gripping, such as cushioning. The cushioning can be provided by rubber or foam cushions  25  that fit into recesses defined in the sleeves  23 ,  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . However, the cushions  25  have been omitted from the other figures for the sake of clarity. Preferably, the body parts  21  and  22  are each integrally formed by moulding from a suitable resilient material, for example polypropylene, nylon, and acetyl plastics materials. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the body parts  21 ,  22  are hinged together by a hinge pin  26  that passes through intercalating hinge-lug formations  27 . It should be appreciated, that the hinge between the parts  21  and  33  may be formed in many other ways, for example the two parts can be integrally formed in an integrated clam-shell moulding with a integral hinge formation formed by a thinning of the constituent material as suited to such moulding. It is important, however, that regardless of the particular form of construction that the hinge is resistant to tampering and cannot be easily broken apart. 
   In a box portion adjoining the sleeve  24 , the body part  21  is provided with three integral internal toothed projections  28   a ,  29   a ,  30   a  that resiliently inter-engage respectively with complimentary integral internal toothed projections  28   b ,  29   b ,  30   b  provided on the other body part  22 . Preferably, the pairs of inter-engaging projections are arranged such that they inter-engage orthogonally. In the present example, each of the projections  28   a    29   a  and  30   a  has outwardly extending teeth  31   a  that snap-fit around teeth  31   b  provided on the projections  28   b ,  29   b ,  30   b  of the part  22  when the parts  21  and  22  are pressed together. In addition, each of the projections  28   b ,  29   b ,  30   b  is provided with a projecting mushroom-section rib  28   c ,  29   c ,  30   c  respectively. When the teeth  31   a  and  31   b  are inter-engaged, the ribs  28   c  and  29   c  locate between recesses formed respectively in the projections  28   a  and  29   a . The ribs  28   c ,  29   c , and  30   c  project outwardly from the inter-engaged projections and can themselves be engaged by one of three prongs  32  provided on a special opening tool  33  (see  FIG. 2 ) that are spaced so that they can be inserted through respectively through holes  28   d ,  29   d , and  30   d  provided in an extension side face  34  of the body part  21 . The prongs  32  act on the convex heads of the mushroom-shaped ribs  28   c ,  29   c , and  30   c    28   c  and resiliently deflect the projections  28   b ,  29   b ,  30   b  sufficiently to enable the teeth  31   a  and  31   b  to be disengaged from one another in order that the body parts  21  and  22  can be hinged open. 
   It will be appreciated that this arrangement of resiliently inter-engaging parts which lock the body parts  21  and  22  together is simply one of many arrangements which could be adopted. However, it is important that any arrangement adopted can only be disengaged using a specially designed tool or key to prevent readily available tools such as screwdrivers and the like being used illegally to remove the device  20  from the article  10 . Similarly, it is advantageous that at least two, and preferably three orthogonally arranged, sets of inter-engaging formations are provided in order to make their disengagement difficult and thereby to deter tampering. 
   Another hole or holes  35  in the same side face  34  serve in securing a cover plate  36  by an interference fitting integral peg or pegs (not shown). This serves to hide the entry points for the tool or key as an additional deterrence against tampering. 
   The edges of the body parts  21  and  22  are provided with rib and groove formations  38  and  39  respectively in complementary matching relation to inter-engage on closure of the body parts  21  and  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the overlapping mouldings forming the rib and groove formations  38 ,  39  define a labyrinthine pathway therebetween that deflects any probing tools that may be used in an attempt to prise the parts  21  and  22  apart. 
   In a modified embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the edges of the sleeves  23 ,  24  are provided with castellations  40  and recesses  41  that create weak or break points. This means that if a tool such as a screwdriver or similar is pushed down the cylindrical sleeve defined by the sleeves  23 ,  24  when the device is attached to a golf club in an attempt to lever the parts  21  and  22  apart, the castellations  40  and edge parts of the sleeves  23  and  24  will break off before the parts  21  and  22  can be pried open. 
   The sleeves  23  and  24  are provided with locating engagement with compliant gripping to a range of shaft diameters by way of deformable internal ribs  42  located in spaced relation towards each end of each sleeve  23  and  24 . These may be provided in addition to the cushions  25 . Alternatively, both the ribs  42  and the cushions  25  could be replaced by pre-formed rubber mouldings (not shown) or by self-adhesive foam pads (not shown) fixed within the sleeves  23 ,  24 . 
   As shown particularly in  FIG. 12 , a tell-tale provision is provided by means of a planar member  43  having electromagnetic characteristics that can be sensed at exit from premises if the device  20  has not been removed from the article to which it has been attached. The member  43  is located internally of the device  20  in a chamber  44  provided in the body part  22 . The chamber  44  is provided with grooves or other means for the location of the member  43  in a spaced relationship from the article, typically a golf club shaft  12  that passes through the cylinder defined by the half-sleeves  23 , 24 . Preferably, the size of the chamber  44  and the position of the member  43  is such that the latter can be located at least 3 mm and preferably at least 5 mm away from the article in order that any adverse magnetic effects on the tell-tale provision by ferromagnetic parts of the article, such as the shaft  12  itself, are avoided. In addition, a shielding material  45  covering one side of the member  43  may also be interposed between the part of article, i.e. the shaft  12 , passing through the sleeves  23  and  24  and the tell-tale provision  43  in order to block adverse magnetic effects from the shaft  12 . It will also be appreciated that the provision  43  is located within the chamber  44  such that it is also spaced from any ferromagnetic articles exterior to the device  20  that could be pressed against the device with a view to fooling a sensor for detecting the presence of the device  20 . 
   The chamber  44  may also define an additional semi-cylindrical void  46  at one side which can be used to accommodate other conventional devices or tags  47 , such as an RF device or similar.