Patent ID: 8094019

Claim:
A system including a splitter box having a plurality of jacks having cavities for receiving connector plugs operatively connected to sensors for attaching to products and having conductors for sending signals to a warning indicator when the sensors are tampered with for preventing theft of one or more products operably connected to the system by generating a signal to indicate that unauthorized removal from the system is being attempted, the system comprising: circuitry; a sensor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the sensor is operably attached to one of the one or more products; the jacks being operably attached to the circuitry, wherein the sensor is operably connectable to one of the jacks at the second end; a plurality of jack contacts operably connected to the circuitry and extending into each of the cavities of the jacks; and a plurality of nail contacts operably connected to the circuitry, each nail contact having a resilient leg member that extends into one of the cavities of the jacks and is normally biased to operatively contact the jack contact to automatically form a first closed circuit when the second end of the sensor is not inserted in the cavity of the jack without the need for a shunt plug; wherein insertion of the second end of the sensor into the cavity of the jack allows the end of the sensor to operatively move the nail contact from a first position contacting the jack contact to a deflected position to automatically form a second closed circuit with the warning indicator so that tampering with the sensor or removing the second end of the sensor from the cavity of the jack automatically open the second closed circuit to activate the warning indicator.