Abstract
The invention relates to a product anti-theft device, which is designed to be attached to products that are to be protected, in particular textile products, the anti-theft device comprising a housing and a locking mechanism, which locking mechanism comprises a needle, the needle being movable between an engaged position, in which it engages with the product that is to be protected, and a release position, in which it allows the product anti-theft device to be released and removed from the product that is to be protected.
Claims
1. Product anti-theft device which is designed to be attached to products that are to be protected, the anti-theft device comprising: a housing; and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising a needle, the needle being movable between an engaged position, in which it engages with the product that is to be protected, and a release position, in which it allows the product anti-theft device to be released and removed from the product that is to be protected, wherein: the housing has a substantially flat form with a main plane; and the locking mechanism also comprises a needle-receiving element attached to the housing, on which needle-receiving element the needle is fixedly held and which needle-receiving element is displaceable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main plane of the housing in order to transfer the needle from the engaged position into the release position and from the release position into the engaged position, the needle-receiving element being substantially fully accommodated in the housing when the needle is in the engaged position.
2. Product anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism also comprises a locking element, which is designed in such a way that it can be brought into a releasable engagement connection with the needle-receiving element, so that the needle is fixedly held in the engaged position, and in that upon actuation by a release element operatively connected to the locking element, the engagement connection is released, so that a displacement of the needle-receiving element and thus the transfer of the needle into the release position are permitted.
3. Product anti-theft device according to claim 2, wherein the release element is at least partially made of a shape memory alloy.
4. Product anti-theft device according to claim 2, wherein the locking element has at least one depression and/or at least one projection which is formed counter-shaped to at least one corresponding depression and/or at least one corresponding projection on the needle-receiving element.
5. Product anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the needle-receiving element is also designed in such a way that when the needle is in the release position, the needle-receiving element protrudes outwards from the housing in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main plane of the housing and, upon manual actuation by an operator, can be substantially fully accommodated in the housing so that the needle is transferred into the engaged position.
6. Product anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the needle-receiving element and thus the needle are preloaded in the direction of the release position.
7. Product anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the housing also has a recess which is designed and intended to receive a free end of the needle when the needle is in the engaged position.
8. Product anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a substantially circular and/or elliptical and/or teardrop-shaped or polygonal contour.
9. Product anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the housing also has a cut-out designed to receive at least part of the product that is to be protected.
10. Product anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the product anti-theft device also comprises an energy storage unit.
11. Product anti-theft device according to claim 10, wherein the anti-theft device also comprises a signal-receiving unit, the product anti-theft device being designed to transfer the needle into the release position upon receipt of a release initiation signal by the signal-receiving unit.
12. Product anti-theft device according to claim 10, wherein the product anti-theft device also comprises a memory device the product anti-theft device also being designed to receive a product information signal and to store it on the memory device.
13. Product anti-theft device according to claim 10, wherein the product anti-theft device also comprises a signal-transmitting unit designed to transmit a product information signal to a mobile terminal in response to a product information request process.
14. Product anti-theft device according to claim 10, wherein the product anti-theft device also comprises an alarm-generating device which is designed to emit an acoustic and/or visual alarm signal in response to attempted unauthorised removal of the product anti-theft device from the product that is to be protected.
15. Product anti-theft device according to claim 10, wherein the product anti-theft device also comprises a sensor unit attached to the housing which sensor unit is designed and intended to detect a position and/or a displacement of the needle and/or of the needle-receiving element, and/or in that the product anti-theft device also comprises a photodiode attached to an inner portion of the housing and/or to an outer portion of the housing.
16. Product anti-theft device according to claim 2, wherein the locking element is a slide.
17. Product anti-theft device according to claim 6, wherein the needle-receiving element and thus the needle are preloaded in the direction of the release position by a spring.
18. Product anti-theft device according to claim 7, wherein the recess has an insert made of an electrically conductive material.
19. Product anti-theft device according to claim 9, wherein the cut-out extends radially.
20. Product anti-theft device according to claim 10, wherein the energy storage unit is a battery and/or a capacitor.
21. Product anti-theft device according to claim 15, wherein the sensor unit is a Hall sensor unit.
Description
[0038] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a product anti-theft device according to the invention in a locked state,
[0040] FIGS. 2a and 2b are each a perspective view of the embodiment of the product anti-theft device according to the invention in a locked (2a) or an unlocked (2b) state,
[0041] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the embodiment of the product anti-theft device according to the invention, to explain the functioning of the locking mechanism, and
[0042] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of part of an alternative embodiment of the locking mechanism from FIG. 3.
[0043] In FIG. 1, a product anti-theft device according to the invention is generally designated by 100. The product anti-theft device 100 comprises a housing 102 which, in the embodiment shown, has an upper housing half 102a and a lower housing half 102b. Furthermore, the product anti-theft device 100 comprises a locking mechanism 104, of which, however, only the needle-receiving element 106 can be seen in FIG. 1, which needle-receiving element is displaceably attached to the upper housing half 102a. The locking mechanism 104 is in a locked state in FIG. 1, which locked state can be seen from the fact that the needle-receiving element 106 is substantially fully accommodated in the upper housing half 102a. The locking mechanism 104 will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. To accommodate a part of a product that is to be protected (not shown in FIG. 1), for example a part of a textile product, the product anti-theft device also comprises a cut-out 108 which extends substantially radially. In the embodiment shown, the cut-out is in the form of an incision along a sectional plane substantially parallel to a main plane of the housing 102. Finally, FIG. 1 also shows an LED light source 110 arranged on an outer surface of the upper housing half 102a, which LED light source can be designed as a coloured LED light source and is designed, for example, to display a status of the product anti-theft device 100. For example, the LED light source 110 can light up red when the product anti-theft device 100 is in a locked state, while it can light up green, for example, when the product anti-theft device 100 is in an unlocked state.
[0044] FIG. 2a shows the product anti-theft device 100 according to the invention from FIG. 1, but from a different perspective. As can also be seen in FIG. 2a, the locking mechanism 104 comprises a needle 112 attached to the needle-receiving element 106. In FIG. 2a, the needle 112 is in an engaged position in which it pierces the part of a product that is to be protected, for example the part of a textile product received in the cut-out 108, so that the product anti-theft device 100 can be securely connected to the product that is to be protected. As long as the needle 112 is in the engaged position, the product that is to be protected and the product anti-theft device 100 consequently cannot be separated from one another, or at least not without at least partially destroying the product that is to be protected.
[0045] FIG. 2b now shows the product anti-theft device 100 according to the invention from FIG. 2a, after it has been transferred into an unlocked state. In order to transfer the product anti-theft device 100 from the locked state shown in FIG. 2a into the unlocked state shown in FIG. 2b, the needle-receiving element 106 displaceably attached to the upper housing half 102a is moved out of the housing 102 in the opening direction θ indicated in FIG. 2b, preferably supported by a spring accommodated in the upper housing half 102 and connected to the needle-receiving element 106, so that the needle-receiving element protrudes outward from the housing 102 in a direction substantially orthogonal to a main plane of the housing 102. As a result, the needle 112, which is fixedly connected to the needle-receiving element 106, is raised in such a way that the cut-out 108 is substantially fully released. In FIG. 2b, the needle 112 is consequently in a release position in which the product anti-theft device 100 can be released and removed from the product that is to be protected. In the release position, the needle 112 is preferably fully accommodated within the upper housing half 102a, so that any possible catching of the product that is to be protected on a pointed end of the needle 112 when the product anti-theft device 100 is removed is prevented.
[0046] If the product anti-theft device 100 is to be transferred from the unlocked state shown in FIG. 2b into the locked state shown in FIG. 2a, this can be done, for example, by again sinking the needle-receiving element 106 substantially fully in the upper housing half 102a by manual actuation according to a closing direction S indicated in FIG. 2b, so that the needle 112 connected to the needle-receiving element 106 again assumes the engaged position shown in FIG. 2a and preferably latches into said engaged position.
[0047] With reference to FIG. 3, which is a schematic sectional view of the embodiment of the product anti-theft device 100 according to the invention, the mode of operation of the locking mechanism 104 will now be explained in more detail. In order to be able to ensure that the needle-receiving element 106 and thus the needle 112 can be securely held in the engaged position when the product anti-theft device 100 is in the locked state, the locking mechanism 104 also comprises a slide 114 which is axially displaceable in the upper housing half 102a and is designed to engage with a groove 106a provided on the needle-receiving element 106. The slide 114 is preloaded in the direction of the groove 106a by means of a spring 116, so that the slide 114 can engage with its free end 114a with the groove 106a as soon as the needle-receiving element 106 has assumed its locking position shown here. To open the product anti-theft device 100, the slide 114 is also connected to a release element 118 which, in the embodiment shown, is designed as a wire 118 made of a shape memory alloy. The wire 118 is in turn connected to a chip unit 120. If the wire 118 is heated by the chip unit 120, for example by applying an electrical voltage, the wire contracts, so that the slide 114 is moved in the direction of the chip unit 120 and out of the groove 106a. As soon as the slide 114 and the needle-receiving element 106 have been disengaged, the needle-receiving element 106 can thus move upwards out of the upper housing half 102a, as a result of which the needle 112 is transferred into its release position.
[0048] The energy required for heating the wire 118 can be provided, for example, by a battery (not shown in FIG. 3), which battery can be integrated into the chip unit 120 and/or operatively connected thereto and likewise accommodated in the housing 102. The movement of the needle-receiving element 106 out of the upper housing half 102a can be supported by a spring 122. The spring 122 can be fixedly connected at its lower end to the upper housing half 102a and at its upper end to the needle-receiving element 106, so that the needle-receiving element 106, which is displaceably attached in the upper housing half 102a, can be prevented from falling out. After the heating of the wire 118 is stopped again, the slide 114 can again be moved, assisted by the spring 116, in the direction of the needle-receiving element 106.
[0049] As long as the needle 112 is in the release position, the slide 114 can remain in contact with an outer wall 106b of the needle-receiving element 106. As soon as the needle-receiving element 106 is again sunk into the upper housing half 102a in order to transfer the needle 112 into its engaged position, the slide 114, supported by the spring 116, can finally move back into the groove 106a and engage with said groove in such a way that the needle-receiving element 106 and thus the needle 112 can be securely held in the engaged position.
[0050] Alternatively, a further groove (not shown in FIG. 3) can also be provided below the groove 106a, which groove can substantially correspond to the groove 106a in terms of its shape. The further groove can be provided so that the needle-receiving element 106 and thus the needle 112 can also be locked in the release position, in that the slide 114, supported by the spring 116, moves into the further groove as soon as the heating of the wire 118 is stopped again. Consequently, the needle-receiving element 106 and the needle 112 can only be transferred back into the engaged position when the wire 118 is heated again and the slide 114 is moved out of the further groove.
[0051] It should also be added that a recess 124 can also be provided on the lower housing half 102b, which recess is designed to receive a free end of the needle 112 when the needle 112 is in the engaged position. The recess 124 can be provided with an electrically conductive insert 126. The insert 126 can in turn be connected to the chip unit 120 in an electrically conductive manner, as is only shown schematically in FIG. 3 by means of a dashed line. If the needle 112 is also connected to the chip unit 120 via the needle-receiving element 106, the slide 114 and the wire 118, a closed circuit is created when the needle 112 is in its engaged position, i.e. in contact with the electrically conductive insert 126 of the recess 124. As a result, it becomes possible to use the chip unit 120 to detect whether the needle 112 is in its engaged position or not. In addition, the chip unit 120 can also comprise an alarm-generating device, which can be arranged on the chip unit 120 or at a suitable location in or on the housing 102, so that an alarm signal can be emitted if the needle 112 is opened without authorisation and/or by force.
[0052] In order to be able to counteract attempts at manipulation on the housing 102 itself, the chip unit 120 can also be operatively connected to a photodiode 128 accommodated in the housing 102, so that it can be detected if the housing halves 102a and 102b are separated from one another without authorisation, whereupon a corresponding alarm signal can likewise be emitted by the alarm-generating device.
[0053] Additionally or alternatively, the chip unit 120 can also be operatively connected to an external photodiode 130 in order to be able to detect when the product anti-theft device 100 is packed together with the protected product in a “booster bag”, i.e. in a bag lined with an aluminium foil, without authorisation, whereupon in turn, the corresponding alarm signal can be emitted by the alarm-generating device.
[0054] It is also conceivable that the product anti-theft device 100 comprises a sensor unit 132, for example a Hall sensor unit, which is also operatively connected to the chip unit 120 and is designed and intended to detect a position and/or a displacement of the needle 112. In this way, an unauthorised displacement and/or manipulation of the needle can also be detected and the corresponding alarm signal can be emitted by the alarm-generating device.
[0055] The chip unit 120 can also be equipped with a signal-receiving unit and/or a signal-transmitting unit which is/are designed to preferably communicate with a customer's mobile terminal. For example, it is possible for the chip unit 120 to cause the wire 118 to be heated only after the signal-receiving unit comprised in the chip unit 120 has received a release initiation signal. The release initiation signal is preferably only sent by the mobile terminal to the signal-receiving unit when the customer has successfully completed a payment process.
[0056] Finally, the chip unit 120 can also have a memory unit which is preferably integrated into the chip unit and which memory unit is designed to store product information relating to the product that is to be protected, among other things. In order to display this product information, the product anti-theft device 100 can also comprise a display 134, indicated only schematically in FIG. 1, which display can preferably be arranged on an outer surface of the upper housing half 102a.
[0057] It should also be added that the product anti-theft device 100 can also comprise an electronic article surveillance element (EAS element for short), not shown, which EAS element is preferably also accommodated in the housing 102 and is designed to interact with an electronic article surveillance system, also not shown, so that if a customer tries to remove a protected product to which the product anti-theft device 100 is attached without authorisation, for example from a department store, the alarm signal is emitted as soon as the product is passed through a detector unit assigned to the electronic article surveillance system.
[0058] Finally, FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of part of an alternative embodiment of the locking mechanism 104 from FIG. 3. The alternative locking mechanism 104′ comprises a slide 114′ on which a toothing 114a′ is formed. The toothing 114a′ is provided to engage with a corresponding counter-toothing of a needle-receiving element (not shown in FIG. 4). This needle-receiving element can substantially correspond to the needle-receiving element 106 from FIG. 3, but the groove 106a is to be replaced by the corresponding counter-toothing. The slide 114′ is displaceably arranged in a guide element 115′ which is preferably fixedly mounted in the housing 102, which is indicated in FIG. 4 by a double arrow. To move the slide 114′, the locking mechanism 104′ also comprises a wire 118′, which is also made of a shape memory alloy. The wire 118′ has a positive and a negative pole and runs through the slide 114′ or is operatively connected thereto in such a way that a shortening of the wire 118′ leads to a displacement of the slide 114′ within the guide element 115′ in the direction the positive or negative pole. The slide 114′ can additionally be guided along the direction of displacement on a guide 115a′ of the guide element 115′. As a result, the toothing 114a′ of the slide 114′ and the corresponding counter-toothing on the needle-receiving element are disengaged, whereupon the needle-receiving element can be moved together with the needle in the manner described above and thus the product anti-theft device can be opened. To control the heating and thus the shortening of the wire 118′, the wire 118′ can be connected to the chip unit 120 in an analogous manner. After the heating of the wire 118′ is stopped again, the slide 114′ can be moved back into its starting position, again supported by a spring 116′, which is supported on one end on the slide 114′ and on the other end on the guide element 115′, in which the toothing 114a′ can engage with the corresponding counter-toothing of the needle-receiving element. It should also be mentioned that the toothing 114a′ in the illustrated embodiment is designed in such a way that a movement of the needle-receiving element interacting with this toothing starting from the release position into the engaged position (downward in FIG. 4) is always permitted, whereas a movement of the needle-receiving element interacting with this toothing starting from the engaged position into the release position (upwards in FIG. 4) is only permitted if the toothing 114a′ and the corresponding counter-toothing are disengaged, i.e. the slide 114′ is shifted in the direction of the positive or the negative pole.
