Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-12
2002-04-30
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S568100, C340S568400, C340S568800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06380855
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for safeguarding a merchandise item against theft, having a safeguarding part for fixing to the merchandise item and having a connecting cord for connecting the safeguarding part to an object which is not at risk of theft.
Apparatuses of this type are known for example from DE 295 07 157 U1. They are used principally in stores for radio and television sets, video equipment, telephone systems, etc. In the stores, a great deal of display equipment is kept ready for operation and ready for test use for the customers. In order to avoid losses of equipment and, in particular, of the associated remote controls due to theft, safeguarding parts are usually fitted to the merchandise items which are at risk of theft, which safeguarding parts are in turn connected to an object which is not at risk of theft, for example to a display shelf or a display case. The merchandise item which is at risk of theft is thus safeguarded against theft by means of the connecting cord, test use of the safeguarded merchandise item by the customer nonetheless being made possible.
Apparatuses of this type have proved successful for safeguarding merchandise items with a planar surface. However, particularly comparatively small merchandise items, for example remote controls and mobile radio transceivers, usually have a curved surface, to which the safeguarding part can often be fixed only inadequately. Therefore, it has already been proposed (EP 0 663 656 A1), for the purpose of safeguarding the merchandise item, to use a monitoring sensor having a very flat, flexible housing made of a rubber-elastic material, with the result that the housing can be adapted to a domed or curved surface of the merchandise item and fixed by means of an adhesive layer. Although monitoring sensors of this type allow improved safeguarding of the merchandise item against theft, in many cases the presentation of the merchandise item is adversely affected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to develop an apparatus of the type in question for safeguarding a merchandise item against theft in such a way that it allows improved presentation of the merchandise item.
In the case of an apparatus of the type mentioned in the introduction, this object is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that the safeguarding part comprises a substantially rigid base part and also a fixing part, which can be fixed to the merchandise item and can be adapted to the form of the merchandise item at least in a partial region of its surface associated with the merchandise item. A configuration of this type makes it possible, on the one hand, for the safeguarding part to be reliably fixed even to a merchandise item having a curved surface, in that the fixing part can be adapted to the form of the merchandise item at least in a partial region of its surface associated with the merchandise item. On the other hand, the merchandise item can be presented advantageously. To that end, the safeguarding part comprises a rigid base part which, by way of example, may serve as a support for the merchandise item to be presented.
In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the fixing part is configured in a deformable manner at least in a partial region of its surface associated with the merchandise item. Thus, in this region, said fixing part may be produced from a plastically deformable material, for example. This enables the fixing part to be optimally adapted even to a complicated shape of the merchandise item to be safeguarded.
It is particularly favorable if that region of the fixing part which can firstly be adapted to the form of the merchandise item solidifies when applied to the merchandise item, that is to say subsequently retains the form that it has adopted in the first instance. The solidification of that region of the fixing part which can be adapted to the form of the merchandise item when fitted to the merchandise item has the advantage, in particular, that the solidified fixing part can be held in a particularly reliable manner on the merchandise item, for example by means of a flexible adhesive pad disposed on that surface of the fixing part which faces the merchandise item. As adhesive pad, there can be used, for example, a double-sided adhesive tape.
In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, it is provided that the fixing part comprises a deformable casing surrounding a flowable fixing agent which solidifies under pressure loading. The fixing part is thus formed in the manner of a pad, with a flowable fixing agent. If the safeguarding part is pressed onto the merchandise item, which may have a curved form, then the fixing part is adapted to the form of the merchandise item on account of the flowable fixing agent, the fixing agent solidifying, on account of the pressure loading acting on it, within a short time, for example within less than 30 seconds, preferably within from 10 to 20 seconds, and subsequently withstanding even high mechanical loads.
The fixing agent may advantageously have at least two fixing components which can be mixed together under pressure loading. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the casing comprises at least two chambers, each for accommodating a fixing component, the chambers being separated from one another by a partition, which breaks open under pressure loading. If a pressure is exerted on the casing when the safeguarding part is fitted to the merchandise item, then the consequence of this is that the partition breaks open, with the result that the two fixing components are mixed together and the fixing part subsequently solidifies.
It is advantageous if the partition has preset breaking 10 points, since it can thereby be ensured, in a simple manner, that the partition breaks open when the safeguarding part is fitted to the merchandise item.
In an embodiment which can be produced in a particularly cost-effective manner, the fixing components comprise an adhesive and also a curing agent. This has the advantage that the period of time within which the fixing part solidifies when fitted to the merchandise item can be influenced in a simple manner by the choice of mixing ratio between adhesive and curing agent.
It is advantageous if the fixing part can be connected to the base part in a releasable manner. This affords the possibility of multiple recycling of the base part for monitoring different merchandise items, in that a fixing part that may have solidified is released from the base part and an unused fixing part is fitted.
In an alternative configuration of the apparatus according to the invention, it is provided that the fixing part comprises at least two contact elements which can be applied to the merchandise item, at least one contact element being held in a manner that allows it to pivot about at least one pivot axis. The pivotable mounting enables the contact elements to be oriented in an inclined manner with respect to one another, it being possible for the relative orientation of the contact elements to be adapted to the curvature of the surface of the merchandise item to be monitored. This ensures that the safeguarding part can be fixed reliably even to merchandise items having a curved surface, but moreover, the safeguarding part can have a configuration which is suitable for optimum presentation in each case. The use of safeguarding parts having at least two contact elements which are disposed at a spacing from one another, at least one of the contact elements being able to be pivoted, has proved successful in particular for reliably safeguarding mobile telephones, which mainly have a curved surface.
It is particularly favorable if at least two contact elements are each held in a manner that allows them to pivot, since this simplifies the fitting of the safeguarding part to merchandise items having a curved surface.
In this case, it is particularly favorable if the contact elements are held in a manner that allows them to pivot about pivot axes w
Hofsass Jeffery
Lipsitz Barry R.
McAllister Douglas M.
Previl Daniel
LandOfFree
Apparatus for safeguarding a merchandise item against theft does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for safeguarding a merchandise item against theft, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for safeguarding a merchandise item against theft will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2829466