Checkpoint Systems, Inc.

Lee H Eckert

Gary Mark Shafer

Brian Vincent Conti

James G Wyatt, Jr

Michael Mercier

Andrew W Moock

Lance F Weeden

Brian Wiese

Dennis D Belden, Jr

William Jacob Kozlowski, Jr

Matthew R Shute

Ningsheng Zhang

David P Christianson

Lawrence R Yeager

Timothy M Gates

Stephen A Orbach

Michael J Cornelison

A security apparatus and method for protecting merchandise items is presented. In the preferred embodiment, a merchandise security device includes a housing with an access door that has an open position and a closed position, a primary power source, a secondary power source and alarm system. The alarm system determines when a voltage of the primary power source drops below a threshold value. When the voltage drops below the threshold value, the alarm system switches to the secondary power source for its power. When the alarm system is in a standby mode, it will not generate alarms when operating on the secondary power source. However, when the alarm system has not been placed into a standby mode, the alarm system will generate alarms when operating on the secondary power source and the access door is in the open position.

Method and apparatus for powering a security device

According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for monitoring articles, such as in a commercial environment.

Retail product tracking system, method, and apparatus

Electronic article surveillance security gate

Exemplary systems, methods and other means for providing a key device that may be used with a monitoring system are discussed herein. The key device may be configured to communicate with one or more other devices, silence an alarm, commission a tag, decommission a tag, unlock a tag from an item, among other things. The key device may include rules that permit particular functionality based on, for example, time and/or location.

Key device for monitoring systems

An anti-theft security system that utilizes an electronic article surveillance (EAS) beacon that emits an electromagnetic field that a corresponding security tag transponder detects in determining whether to set off onboard transponder alarms or to remain dormant. The EAS beacon is a self-contained beacon that can be easily installed at any desired location and can utilize local utility power or revert to battery power. Among other things, this avoids the large installation, calibration and maintenance costs and tasks of conventional EAS pedestals. The EAS beacon includes coil panels that are secured to an elongated housing that can be flexed to avoid or minimize damage should something or someone come into contact with the panels. An audible/visible alarm is activated when such flexing or tampering occurs. A passive infrared detector is provided to reduce power consumption when the EAS beacon is operating on battery power. The EAS beacon may also be used in existing EAS and RFID anti-theft security systems wherein the associated security transponder also includes passive EAS and/or RFID security elements. A wireless disable key can also be used to shut off an alarming transponder.

Transmit-only electronic article surveillance system and method

A theft deterrent device includes a carrier having a pivotally mounted pin and an alarm tag for receiving the pin to secure the carrier and alarm tag together when secured on an item of merchandise by an adhesive pad on the carrier. Spaced electrical contacts within the alarm tag receive the pin therebetween to complete an electrical path to close an electrical circuit which turns the device on. The security device is configured to sound an onboard alarm in response to prying of the carrier from the alarm tag or cutting of the pin of the carrier, or if an EAS tag receives a wireless signal from a security gate. The carrier remains on the purchased merchandise for subsequent disposal after removal of the alarm tag from the carrier by the use of a magnetic key to unlock a locking mechanism which engages the pin.

Theft deterrent device

According to some example embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are provided for triggering an alarm. In this regard, one example apparatus includes means for receiving an instruction to alarm a security gate device, and means for tuning a security resonator at a location such that a field generated by the security gate device interacts with the security resonator to cause the security gate device to trigger an alarm in response to at least receiving the instruction to alarm the security gate device.

System, method, and apparatus for triggering an alarm

A theft deterrent device includes a carrier having a pivotally mounted pin and an alarm tag for receiving the pin to secure the carrier and alarm tag together when secured on an item of merchandise by an adhesive pad on the carrier. Spaced electrical contacts within the alarm tag receive the pin therebetween to provide an electrical path between the contacts to close a first electrical circuit which turns the device on. A flexibly mounted projection on the carrier depresses a plunger switch to arm the device when the carrier is attached to an item of merchandise. The security device is configured to sound an onboard alarm in response to prying of the carrier from the alarm tag or cutting of the pin of the carrier, or if an EAS tag receives a wireless signal from a security gate. Security gate alarms also sound if the tag moves through the gate or within a predetermined distance thereof. The carrier can remain on the purchased merchandise for subsequent disposal after removal of the alarm tag from the carrier by the use of a magnetic key to unlock a spring biased ball detent locking mechanism which engages the pin to lock the carrier to the alarm tag.

A security device for attachment to an article to deter theft of the article has a housing containing an alarm system including an audible alarm with a defeat mechanism having a two-part connector that attaches to both a cable and a locking mechanism. The connector includes a mechanical fuse (e.g., two-step ferrule holder) that provides defeat prevention of the alarm device. The locked device alarms if pulled too hard from twisting the cable without releasing the primary lock. The connector is preferably shaped as a generally elliptic cylindrical bayonet having an oval transverse cross-section and a truncated oblique cone-shaped distal end. This enables the plug to be inserted into a locking channel of the locking mechanism in either of two directions facilitating the locking of the attached cable about an article of merchandise. Moreover, the oval shape takes up less space than a round bayonet while providing greater strength through longer latch engagement area on the wider side of the bayonet, especially as opposed to a circular cross-section bayonet.

Cable lock closure with defeat prevention

A theft deterrent device includes a carrier having a pivotally mounted pin and an alarm tag for receiving the pin to secure the carrier and alarm tag together when secured on an item of merchandise by an adhesive pad on the carrier. Spaced electrical contacts within the alarm tag receive the pin therebetween to provide an electrical path between the contacts to close a first electrical circuit which turns the device on. A flexibly mounted projection on the carrier depresses a plunger switch to arm the device. The security device is configured to sound an onboard alarm in response to prying of the carrier from the alarm tag or cutting of the pin of the carrier, or if an EAS tag receives a wireless signal from a security gate. The carrier can remain on the purchased merchandise for subsequent disposal.

A security device for attachment to an article to deter theft has a housing containing an alarm system including an audible alarm speaker. The alarm system includes a conductor located within the housing which forms a loop that extends at least partially about the alarm speaker or about the periphery of the housing. The conductor which can be an electrical conductor, fiber optic conductor, light pipe, etc., when severed by a thief will actuate the audible alarm. In another embodiment, the conductor forms a loop about a simulated speaker grille formed in the housing to prevent tampering, wherein the audible alarm is located in the housing remote from the simulated speaker grille.

Growing community of inventors

Waxhaw, NC, United States of America

Lee H Eckert