ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR CARDBOARD BOXES

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti-theft device configured to be attached to merchandise to be protected, preferably to cardboard boxes, the anti-theft device comprising a housing, which comprises a winding apparatus rotatably mounted therein, at least one securing-loop arrangement, the securing-loop arrangement being designed to loop around the merchandise to be protected such that the anti-theft device can be securely connected to the merchandise to be protected, and a winding apparatus locking mechanism configured to prevent the rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus in the housing, if the winding apparatus locking mechanism is engaged with the winding apparatus.

Claims

1. An anti-theft device configured to be attached to merchandise to be protected, the anti-theft device comprising: a housing, which comprises a winding apparatus rotatably mounted therein; at least one securing-loop arrangement, which comprises one or more securing loops, each having at least one securing cord connected to the winding apparatus, the at least one securing cord being windable onto the winding apparatus in response to a rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus, and being unwindable from the winding apparatus in response to a rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus, the securing-loop arrangement being designed to loop around the merchandise to be protected such that the anti-theft device can be securely connected to the merchandise to be protected; and a winding apparatus locking mechanism, which is engageable with the winding apparatus, the winding apparatus locking mechanism being configured to prevent the rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus in the housing, if the winding apparatus locking mechanism is engaged with the winding apparatus, wherein the anti-theft device further comprises: a further locking mechanism associated with the housing, the further locking mechanism having an unlocked state, in which the anti-theft device is detachable from the merchandise to be protected, and a locked state, in which the anti-theft device is fixedly connectable to the merchandise to be protected, wherein the further locking mechanism is operatively decoupled from the winding apparatus locking mechanism.

2. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the anti-theft device further comprises: a first housing part receiving the winding apparatus; and a second housing part, receiving the winding apparatus locking mechanism and the further locking mechanism, wherein in the unlocked state of the further locking mechanism, the first and the second housing part are disengageable from each other, so that the anti-theft device is detachable from the merchandise to be protected, and in the locked state of the further locking mechanism, the first and the second housing part are not disengageable from each other, so that the anti-theft device is securely connectable to the merchandise to be protected.

3. The anti-theft device according to claim 2, wherein the further locking mechanism comprises a locking pawl arrangement including at least one locking pawl, which is configured to take a position, in which it engages with a corresponding recess formed in the first housing part, if the further locking mechanism is in the locked state.

4. The anti-theft device according to claim 3, wherein the locking pawl arrangement includes a pair of locking pawls facing away from each other, which are configured to take a position, in which they engage with a corresponding pair of recesses formed in the first housing part, if the further locking mechanism is in the locked state, wherein the pair of locking pawls is connected via a biasing element such that the pair of locking pawls is biased to a position corresponding to the unlocked state of the further locking mechanism.

5. The anti-theft device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one locking pawl or each locking pawl of the pair of locking pawls has a shape corresponding or similar to a dovetail joint.

6. The anti-theft device according to claim 2, wherein the further locking mechanism comprises a locking button, which is configured to be operated by a user and to selectively take an operated position, which corresponds to the locked state of the further locking mechanism, and a non-operated position, which corresponds to the unlocked state of the further locking mechanism.

7. The anti-theft device according to claim 6, wherein the locking button has an operating portion, which is configured to be operated by a user, and a functional portion facing away from the operating portion and configured to engage with the locking pawl arrangement, such that the locking pawl arrangement is transferred to the position, which corresponds to the locked state of the further locking mechanism, if the locking button is in its operated position.

8. The anti-theft device according to claim 6, wherein the further locking mechanism further comprises a release element, which is made at least in part of a shape-memory alloy and is configured to cause the further locking mechanism to be transferred from the locked state to the unlocked state when the shape-memory alloy of the release element is in an excited state.

9. The anti-theft device according to claim 8, wherein the further locking mechanism comprises a slide, which is designed to be mounted translatable in the second housing part, wherein the slide is configured to be operatively connected to the release element as well as to the locking button, wherein the further locking mechanism is configured such that the locking button transitions from its operated position to its non-operated position, if the shape-memory alloy of the release element is in its excited state.

10. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the winding apparatus locking mechanism further comprises a first teething that is configured to be engaged with a second teething, which corresponds to the first teething and is fixedly coupled with the winding apparatus.

11. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the winding apparatus locking mechanism is further configured so as to permit the rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus, even if the winding apparatus locking mechanism is engaged with the winding apparatus.

12. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the anti-theft device further comprises an alarm generation apparatus configured to emit an acoustic and/or optical alarm signal in response to an attempt to remove the anti-theft device from the merchandise to be protected without authorization.

13. The anti-theft device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one securing cord of the securing-loop arrangement is made at least in part of an electrically conductive material and is operatively connected to the alarm generation apparatus.

14. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the anti-theft device further comprises a signal-receiving unit, the anti-theft device being configured to cause the further locking mechanism to be transferred to the unlocked state when the signal-receiving unit receives a release-initiation signal.

15. The anti-theft device according to claim 1, wherein the anti-theft device further comprises a signal-transmitting unit, which is configured to transmit a product information signal to a mobile terminal in response to a product-information request operation.

16. An anti-theft device configured to be attached to merchandise to be protected, the anti-theft device comprising: a housing, which comprises a winding apparatus rotatably mounted therein; at least one securing-loop arrangement, which comprises one or more securing loops, each having at least one securing cord connected to the winding apparatus, the at least one securing cord being windable onto the winding apparatus in response to a rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus, and being unwindable from the winding apparatus in response to a rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus, the securing-loop arrangement being designed and intended to loop around the merchandise to be protected such that the anti-theft device can be securely connected to the merchandise to be protected; and a winding apparatus locking mechanism, which is engageable with the winding apparatus, the winding apparatus locking mechanism being configured to prevent the rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus in the housing, if the winding apparatus locking mechanism is engaged with the winding apparatus, wherein the housing of anti-theft device further comprises: a first housing part receiving the winding apparatus; and a second housing part receiving the winding apparatus locking mechanism, wherein in an unlocked state of the winding apparatus locking mechanism, the first and the second housing part are disengageable from each other, so that the anti-theft device is detachable from the merchandise to be protected, and in a locked state of the winding apparatus locking mechanism, the first and the second housing part are not disengageable from each other, so that the anti-theft device is securely connectable to the merchandise to be protected.

Description

[0031] The invention will be described below in more detail on the basis of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of an anti-theft device according to the invention in a state corresponding to the anti-theft device being attached to merchandise to be protected,

[0033] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the anti-theft device according to FIG. 1A, with a first housing part and a second housing part of a housing of the anti-theft device being separated from each other,

[0034] FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a winding apparatus locking mechanism and a further locking mechanism of the anti-theft device according to the embodiment, with the first housing part and the second housing part being omitted,

[0035] FIG. 2B shows the winding apparatus locking mechanism and the further locking mechanism of FIG. 2A, but in a perspective view as seen from below,

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a detailed perspective view of a part of the further locking mechanism shown in FIG. 2B, with one locking pawl of a pair of locking pawls being omitted, and

[0037] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first housing part of the housing of the anti-theft device of the embodiment including a pair of recesses associated with the further locking mechanism of the anti-theft device.

[0038] In FIG. 1A an anti-theft device according to an embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated by reference sign 100. The anti-theft device 100 comprises a housing 102, which in the present embodiment is composed of a first housing part 102a and a second housing part 102b. Furthermore, the anti-theft device 100 comprises a securing loop arrangement 104, which comprises securing loops 106, wherein each securing loop 106 has one securing cord 108, which is connected to a winding apparatus 110 of the anti-theft device 100.

[0039] In FIG. 1A, the anti-theft device 100 is shown in a position corresponding to a state, in which the anti-theft device 100 is attached to merchandise to be protected (not shown in FIG. 1A). The merchandise to be protected, for which the anti-theft device 100 of the present embodiment is preferably intended to be used with, are for example cardboard boxes or the like. However, it should be noted at this point that the anti-theft device 100 according to the invention can be attached not only to cardboard boxes, but also to unpacked products, tools, crates or the like.

[0040] To facilitate the attachment of the anti-theft device 100, in particular the securing loop arrangement 104, the anti-theft device 100 may further comprise an anti-theft device counter element 112, which is connected to each securing loop 106 of the securing loop arrangement 104. In the present embodiment, each securing cord 108 of the securing loops 106 is guided through the anti-theft device counter element 112, so that a securing cord 106, which exits the first housing part 102a at an opening 102a1 of the first housing part 102a is guided through the anti-theft device counter element 112 and extended further to the second housing part 102b, to which it is preferably fixedly connected.

[0041] The winding apparatus 110 is mounted rotatably in the first housing part 102a so that the securing cords 108 are windable onto the winding apparatus 110 in response to a rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus, and are unwindable from the winding apparatus 110 in response to a rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus 110.

[0042] FIG. 1B now shows the anti-theft device 100 in a state, in which it is detached from merchandise to be protected. For this reason, the first housing part 102a and the second housing part 102b are separated from each other. However, to detach the anti-theft device 100 from merchandise to be protected, it is not necessarily required to separate the two housing parts 102a and 102b from each other, but it is also conceivable to perform the rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus 110 to an amount, which is sufficient to remove the merchandise to be protected through the securing loop arrangement 104 that is looped around the merchandise to be protected.

[0043] To prevent unauthorized detachment of the anti-theft device 100 from merchandise to be protected, the anti-theft device 100 of the present embodiment comprises a winding apparatus locking mechanism, which is engageable with the winding apparatus 110, and a further locking mechanism associated with the housing, in particular the two housing parts 102a and 102b, which will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3 and 4.

[0044] In FIG. 2A, the anti-theft device 100 is shown with the two housing parts 102a and 102b of the housing 102 being omitted. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, in FIG. 2A, the securing cords 108 constituting the securing loops 106 of the securing loop arrangement 104 are shown only in some parts thereof.

[0045] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A, the anti-theft device 100 comprises a winding apparatus locking mechanism 114, which is engageable with the winding apparatus 110, and configured to prevent the rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus 110 in the housing 102, in particular the first housing part 102a. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the anti-theft device 100 further comprises a further locking mechanism 116 having an unlocked state, in which the anti-theft device 100 is detachable from the merchandise to be protected, and a locked state, in which the anti-theft device 100 is fixedly connectable to the merchandise to be protected.

[0046] In the present embodiment, the further locking mechanism 116 is associated with the second housing part 102b. To be able to fixedly and securely engage the second housing part 102b with the first housing part 102a, the further locking mechanism 116 comprises a locking pawl arrangement 118.

[0047] As can be better seen from FIG. 2B, showing the further locking mechanism 116 from below, the locking pawl arrangement 118 comprises a pair of locking pawls 118a and 118b, facing away from each other. The pair of locking pawls is connected via a biasing element in the form of a spring 120, so that the pair of locking pawls 118a and 118b is biased to a position corresponding to an unlocked state of the further locking mechanism 116. To fixedly engage the first housing part 102a with the second housing part 102b, each locking pawl of the pair of locking pawls 118a and 118b comprises locking pawl projections, which are indicated by reference signs 118a1 and 118b1, respectively. In the present embodiment, the locking pawl projections 118a1 and 118b1 have a shape corresponding or similar to a dovetail joint, so that the locking pawl projections 118a1 and 118b1 are suitable to engage with a corresponding pair of recesses 122a and 122b, which are shown in FIG. 4, for example, which are counter-shaped to the locking pawl projections 118a1 and 118b1 and are formed on opposite sides within the first housing part 102a.

[0048] To transfer the further locking mechanism 116 from an unlocked state into a locked state, the anti-theft device 100 further comprises a locking button 124, which is configured to be operated by a user and to selectively take an operated position (as shown in FIG. 1A, for example), which corresponds to the locked state of the further locking mechanism 116, and a non-operated position (as shown in FIG. 1B, for example), which corresponds to the unlocked state of the further locking mechanism 116.

[0049] The interaction of the locking button 124 and the locking pawl arrangement 118 can be best seen from FIG. 3, in which, for a better understanding, the locking pawl 118a of the locking pawl arrangement 118 has been omitted. As can be seen from FIGS. 2A and 3, for example, the locking button 124 has an operating portion 124a, which is configured to be operated by the user, and a functional portion 124b, facing away from the operating portion 124a and configured to engage with the locking pawl arrangement 118. In this context, the shape of the functional portion 124b of the locking button 124 is configured such that, upon operating the locking button 124 into its operated position, the functional portion 124b interacts with a correspondingly shaped surface of the locking pawls 118a and 118b, respectively, so that the locking pawls 118a and 118b are moved away from each other, against the biasing force of the spring 120, to engage with the recesses 122a and 122b, respectively, of the first housing part 102a. Thus, after the locking button 124 has been operated in the above-described manner, the further locking mechanism 116 is in the locked state, so that the housing parts 102a and 102b are fixedly coupled to each other.

[0050] To ensure that the locking button 124 remains it its operated position and is not transferred back to its unoperated position by the force of the spring 120, the locking button comprises a locking button projection 124c, which interacts with a corresponding slide projection 126a of a slide 126 of the further locking mechanism 116, which slide 126 is translatable supported in the second housing part 102b.

[0051] To transfer the further locking mechanism 116 from its locked state into its unlocked state, the further locking mechanism 116 of this embodiment further comprises a release element in the form of a shape memory alloy wire 128, which is wrapped around the slide 126 and, at both ends 128a and 128b, connected to a chip unit 130. If the shape memory alloy wire 128 is transferred in its excited state, for example by supplying energy from the chip unit 130, which in turn may be connected to a battery or a similar energy supply device (not shown), the shape memory alloy wire contracts in such a way that the slide 126 is moved according to a direction, which substantially corresponds to direction R indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3. As a result, the slide projection 126a is being disengaged from the locking button projection 124c, so that the locking button 124 can be transferred again in its unoperated position, by the force induced by the spring 120, transferring the further locking mechanism 116 in its unlocked state. In other words, after transferring the locking button 124 from its operated position into its unoperated position by transferring the shape memory alloy wire 128 in its excited state, the locking pawls 118a and 118b of the locking pawl arrangement 118 are disengaged from the recesses 122a and 122b of the first housing part 102a, so that the first housing part 102a and the second housing part 102b can be separated from each other. After a separating movement of the first housing part 102a and the second housing part 102b by a small amount in a direction away from each other, a first teething 136 of the winding apparatus locking mechanism 114 and a second teething 138 of the winding apparatus 110, which are to be described below, are disengaged from each other, so that the rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus 110 is allowed.

[0052] To ensure that the slide 126, after an translation along the direction R induced by the shape memory alloy wire 128, can be transferred back to its unoperated position, the further locking mechanism 116 may further comprise a slide spring 132 (as shown in FIG. 2A), which on one side is supported by the slide 126 and on its other side by a locking mechanism receiving part 134 of the second housing part 102b, which locking mechanism receiving part 134 is configured to receive movable parts of the further locking mechanism 116 and the winding apparatus locking mechanism 114.

[0053] With respect to the last mentioned winding apparatus locking mechanism 114, it should be mentioned that according to the present embodiment, the winding apparatus locking mechanism 114 is configured so as to permit the rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus 110 even if the winding apparatus locking mechanism 114 is engaged with the winding apparatus 110. To achieve this function, the winding apparatus locking mechanism 114 comprises the first teething 136 that is configured to engage with the second teething 138, which corresponds to the first teething 136 and is fixedly coupled with the winding apparatus 110, as can be best seen from FIG. 2B for example. In this context, the first teething 136 may constitute a slip-through mechanism which is configured such that the first teething 136 is connected with the locking mechanism receiving part 134 via a teething biasing element in the form of a teething spring 140, which can be seen in FIG. 3, so that the rotational winding movement of the winding apparatus 110 is permitted, while preventing the rotational unwinding movement of the winding apparatus 110, if the winding apparatus locking mechanism 114 is engaged with the winding apparatus 110. It goes without saying that to achieve the last mentioned effect, likewise the teeth of the first teething 136 and the second teething 138, respectively, have to be configured with a suitable shape and/or orientation.

[0054] Finally, it should be mentioned that the anti-theft device 100 may further comprise an alarm generation apparatus configured to emit an acoustic and/or optical alarm signal in response to an attempt to remove the anti-theft device 100 from the merchandise to be protected without authorization. The alarm generation apparatus may be integrated in the chip unit 130.

[0055] Also integrated with said chip unit 130, the anti-theft device 100 may further comprise a signal-receiving unit that is configured to receive a release initiation signal, and a signal-transmitting unit, which is preferably configured to transmit a product information signal to a mobile terminal in response to a product information request operation.

[0056] It should be added that the anti-theft device 100 can further comprise an electronic article surveillance element (EAS element) (not shown in the Figures) which is configured to interact with an electronic article surveillance system (not shown either) such that when a customer attempts to remove protected merchandise to which the anti-theft device 100 is attached from a store, for example, without authorization, the alarm signal is output as soon as the merchandise passes a detector unit associated with the electronic article surveillance system.