EP0562491A1

EP0562491A1 - Anti-theft device for valuable products such as compact discs or the like

Info

Publication number: EP0562491A1
Application number: EP93104568A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emilio Costa
Original assignee: International Plast Di Costa Emilio & C Snc Of Gaspari G Pierobon G A Costa E
Current assignee: International Plast Di Costa Emilio & C Snc Of Gaspari G Pierobon G A Costa E
Priority date: 1992-03-23
Filing date: 1993-03-19
Publication date: 1993-09-29
Also published as: BR9301255A; AR247641A1; JPH0652455A; CA2092163A1

Abstract

Anti-theft device for valuable products such as compact discs or the like, including a containment body (10) which is able to enclose one or more of the valuable products (11) arranged side by side, leaving exposed regions thereof which allow to identify them. The body includes two portions (10a,10b) which are mutually articulated in a peripheral region and are provided with elements (16) for mutual locking in closed condition. At least one of the portions (19) contains an electronic element able to activate an alarm circuit. A release punch (18) is provided which is able to disengage the mutual locking elements.

Description

The present invention relates to an anti-theft device for valuable products such as compact discs or the like.
It is known that compacts discs are gradually superseding known vinyl records.
However, currently no device which eliminates the risk of their theft is available for them.
Their small size makes them easy to conceal, and the confusion which generally exists in the most intensely visited record shops makes them easy to steal.
The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a device which inhibits the possibility of thefts of compact discs or the like.
A consequent primary object is to provide an anti-theft device which can also be produced to protect other similar valuable products.
Another important object is to provide a device which is simple to use.
Another object is to provide a device which can be reused.
Another object is to provide a device which can be manufactured with conventional equipment and facilities.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an anti-theft device for valuable products such as compact discs or the like, characterized in that it comprises a containment body for accommodating one or more of said products arranged side by side so as to leave exposed identification regions of said products, said body comprising at least two portions which are mutually articulated in a peripheral region and are provided with means for mutual locking of said two portions in closed condition, at least one of said portions containing electronic means for activating an alarm circuit, release means for unblocking said mutual locking means being provided.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of two embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the anti-theft device according to the invention, in open condition;
figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the device of figure 1, which contains a compact disc, in closed and open condition respectively;
figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of the region where the elements which compose the device according to the preceding figures are mutually coupled;
figures 5 and 6 are sectional detail views, taken along a plane at right angles to the plane of figure 4, of the articulation region, respectively with the articulation locking means activated and deactivated;
figure 7 is a perspective view of two devices according to the invention stacked when not in use;
figure 8 is a rear view of a further aspect of the present invention related to the release means;
figure 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the anti-theft device according to the present invention which includes the containment body for the valuable products and the fixture for the release of the containment body from said products;
figure 10 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the device during release;
figure 11 is a partially sectional side view of the release fixture of the second embodiment;
figure 12 is a sectional view of an internal detail of the release fixture of figure 11 in inactive condition;
figure 13 is a view of the detail of figure 12, with the fixture in release condition;
figure 14 is a perspective view of a tool which is comprised within the fixture of figures 11, 12 and 13 and is able to perform release;
figure 15 is a perspective view of the complete device of figure 9 during the release and extraction of the valuable product;
figure 16 is a sectional view of the body of the second embodiment of the device for containing the valuable products in locked condition;
figure 17 is a partially sectional enlarged-scale detail view of the containment body, taken along the plane XVII-XVII of figure 16;
figure 18 is a sectional view of the containment body and of the release fixture during release according to the second embodiment of the device of the present invention;
figure 19 is a partially sectional enlarged-scale detail view, taken along the plane XIX-XIX of figure 10.

With reference to the above figures 1 to 8, a first embodiment of the anti-theft device according to the present invention comprises a containment body, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which is able to enclose one or more compact discs 11 arranged side by side.
Said containment body 10 is made of rigid and non-deformable materials, so that it is not possible to extract the compact discs 11 from it when it is in closed condition.
The containment body 10 comprises two portions, respectively a main portion 10a and a secondary portion 10b, which are mutually articulated by means of a pivot 12.
The portion 10a in fact extends with two wings 10c in which the end of the portion 10b is arranged and the pivot 12 is coupled; conveniently, the ends of said pivot 12 are riveted.
The portion 10a is constituted by an L-shaped box-like element which encloses the edges of the compact discs 11 on three sides.
Conveniently, one of the three sides is shorter than the other two sides and only partially affects the box-like element, thereby leaving lateral regions of the products exposed to allow their identification.
The portion 10b is constituted by a linear box-like element which, when in closed position, at least partially affects the fourth side of the compact disc 11; articulation is provided in a corner region of the portion 10b.
At this point it should be stressed that the pivot 12 is inserted in a tubular part 13 of the portion 10b, which is externally provided with a recessed annular sector 14 in which complementarily shaped ends 15 of fins 16 are able to enter; said fins are formed between the opposite walls of the portion 10a from which the wings 10c extend.
In particular, said fins 16 are usually arranged co-planar with respect to the related walls, and the ends 15 are inclined inward so that they are accommodated in the recessed sector 14 (figure 5), thereby to block the secondary portion in its closed position.
In the rear part of the portion 10a there is a hole 17 in which the complementarily shaped end of a release punch 18 can be inserted.
Release occurs by virtue of the fact that the end 18a of the punch 18 is provided with chamfers which, by being inserted between the ends 15 of the fins 16, gradually space them apart, as shown in figure 6, laterally disengaging them from the recessed sector 14 and allowing the pivoting of the portion 10b into an open unblocked position.
Naturally, the angular position of said recessed sector 14 in the tubular part 13 is such that said ends 15 can enter it when the portion 10b forms the containment body 10 in closed condition.
With reference now to figure 8, the punch insertion hole, now designated by the reference numeral 17a, can have particular shaped portions so that the punch can be inserted in it only in one position.
According to the invention, a tab 19 extends from said portion 10b and encloses an electronic means 20 which is able to activate an alarm circuit.
Said electronic means 20 is constituted by a high-frequency diode which, when placed in an electric field, starts to vibrate.
This vibration, detected by the same electric field, activates a known alarm system.
As regards operation, the compact discs 11 are displayed for sale as shown in figure 2, i.e. inside the containment body 10.
When sale occurs, the punch 18 is inserted in the hole 17 and allows to rotate the portion 10b and extract the compact disc 11.
If the entire containment body 10, together with the compact discs 11, is concealed, when the thief passes through an electric field conveniently placed at the access to the shop the alarm system is activated.
It should also be stressed that the containment bodies 10 may be conveniently be reused; when not in use, they may be stacked on top of each other, occupying little space.
With reference now to figures 9 to 19, a second embodiment of the anti-theft device according to the invention comprises a containment body, generally designated by the reference numeral 110, which is able to enclose one or more compact discs 111 arranged side by side.
The containment body 110 is made of rigid and non-deformable materials so that it is not possible to extract the compact disks 111 from it when it is in closed condition.
The body comprises two portions, respectively a main portion 110a and a secondary portion 110b, which are mutually articulated by means of a pivot 112.
The portion 110a in fact extends at the coupling region with two wings 110c, between which a tapered end 110d of the portion 110b is arranged.
The pivot 112 is inserted in adapted holes of the wings 110c and of the end 110d and its edges are conveniently riveted.
The main portion 110a is constituted by a box-like element which encloses on three sides the edges of the compact discs 111, leaving regions exposed for their identification.
The portion 110b is also constituted by a box-like element which partially affects the fourth side of the compact discs 111; the articulation of said portion 110b with the portion 110a is provided in a corner region.
At this point it should be stressed that the main portion 110a of the body 110 on the side affected by the coupling to the secondary portion 110b is provided with a longitudinal box-like part 113 which is externally closed; an extension of said box-like part 113 forms the wings 110c.
A first wall portion of the box-like part 113 is formed by the base 114, from which a tab 115 extends inside said box-like part 113; said tab encloses an electronic means, not shown in the figures, which is able to activate an alarm circuit.
Said electronic means is preferably constituted by a high-frequency diode which vibrates when placed in an electric field.
This vibration, detected by the same electric field, activates a known alarm system.
Said base 114 is integrated with the rest of the box-like part 113 by being glued, welded or joined thereto with another fixing means.
Second and third wall portions of the box-like part 113, adjacent to the ends of the pivot 112, are formed by corresponding surfaces of a block 116 which is inserted in a corresponding seat of the box-like part 113 and is internally shaped so as to form two parallel elastic fins 117 which, in an unloaded position, are substantially aligned with the end 110d of the secondary portion 110b of the body 110.
When the body 110 is in closed condition, said fins 117 rest with their flat ends 118 against a corresponding flat region 119 of the end 110d and prevent the rotation of the secondary portion 110b.
Said flat region 119 is provided, in a central position, with a ridge 120 which is able to keep the two fins 117 spaced.
Conveniently, the block 116 is joined to the box-like part 113 by welding, glueing or other equivalent fixing means.
The fins 117 can be spaced apart, freeing the end 110d and thus the secondary portion 110b, which can be opened, releasing the compact disc 111.
When the body 110 is in open condition, the fins 117 can enter corresponding grooves which may be provided externally on the end 110d so that said fins resume an inactive condition and thus are not subject to tension.
The grooves may have inclined portions which allow the rotation of the secondary portion 110b in order to perform closure by spacing the fins 117 apart.
An opening 122 is provided between the base 114 of the tab 115 and the block 116 on the box-like part 113 and allows access to a tool, as more clearly described hereinafter, so as to space apart the fins 117 and release the secondary portion 110.
Said opening 122 is thus spaced from the fins 117 and is at right angles to them, so that access to them is indirect.
In order to perform release there is a fixture, included in the anti-theft device according to the invention, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 123, and which comprises a base 124 from which two parallel wings 125 extend; an arm 127 is articulated between said wings by means of an end pivot 126.
A cylindrical helical spring 128 is arranged between said base 124 and said arm 127, and its ends are accommodated in adapted seats 129 and 130 respectively of said arm and said base.
A box-like support 131 is fixed on said arm 127 and is able to accommodate said containment body 110 with the box-like part 113 arranged parallel to the lever arm 127.
In order to avoid positioning errors, the containment body 110 has, on its main portion 110a, guiding grooves 132 and 133 for corresponding ridges 134 and 135 which extend inside the box-like support 131.
Said grooves 132 and 133 and said ridges 134 and 135 are straight and extend at right angles to the arm 127.
A metallic tool 137 is articulated by means of a pivot 136 to the lower part of the box-like support 131, below the region where the block 116 is located; said tool is constituted by a pointed arm 137a which is shaped like an arc of a circle and is joined to the pivot 136 by means of a radial linking element 137b.
The radius of the point 137a is such that it can enter through the opening 122 and have its end arranged between the fins 117, spacing them apart, by rotating about the pivot 136 (figure 19).
In a region of the linking element 137b which is spaced from the pivot 136 there is a transverse pin 138 fixed to the tool 137; the ends of said pin, which are conveniently contained within plain bearings 139, are slidably accommodated within corresponding guiding grooves 140 of the wings 125.
Consequently, a groove 141 allowing the movement of the pin 138 is also provided between the box-like support 131 and the arm 127.
By virtue of the thrust of the spring 128, in the inactive condition the arm 127 is in a raised stroke limit position defined by the ends of the grooves 141.
In this position, the point 137a is in a rotated position and is fully accommodated between the box-like support 131 and the arm 127.
The end of said point is at the region where the opening 122 is located.
By inserting the body 110 in the appropriate position defined by the guiding grooves 132 and 133 and by the ridges 134 and 135, and by then applying pressure on the body 110 so as to lower the arm 127, the tool 137 is rotated and, by entering the box-like element 113, spaces the wings 117 apart, freeing the secondary portion 110b from the main portion 110a.
In this manner it is possible to release the compact discs 111 from the body 110 when they are sold.
If the entire containment body 110, together with the compact discs 111, is concealed, when the thief passes through the electric field, which is appropriately located at the access to the shop, the alarm system is activated.
In practice it has been observed that the intended aim and objects of the present invention have been achieved.
The device thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.
All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

Anti-theft device for valuable products such as compact discs or the like, characterized in that it comprises a containment body (10;110) for accommodating one or more of said products arranged side by side so as to leave exposed identification regions of said products, said body comprising at least two portions (10a,10b;110a,110b) which are mutually articulated in a peripheral region and are provided with means (14-16;116-119) for mutual locking of said two portions in closed condition, at least one of said portions containing electronic means (20) for activating an alarm circuit, release means (18;137) for unblocking said mutual locking means being provided.
Anti-theft device according to claim 1, characterized in that said mutually articulated portions are constituted by box-like elements which generally enclose the edges of said valuable products, the extension of said portions being such as to block the extraction of said valuable products in a closed position of said box-like elements.
Anti-theft device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for the mutual locking of said mutually articulated portions in closed condition are constituted by at least one elastic fin (16) which extends from one portion and enters a corresponding seat (14) of the other portion when said containment body is in closed condition.
Anti-theft device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said release means comprise an end (18a) of a punch (18) which is able to enter a complementarily shaped hole (17;17a) of the portion provided with said at least one fin, said end having a flared portion which is able to gradually space, upon insertion, said fin from the seat of the other portion in which it is inserted.
Anti-theft device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic means able to activate an alarm circuit comprises a high-frequency diode which vibrates when passed through an electric field, said vibration being detectable by the same electric field, activating an alarm circuit, said diode having no electric power supply.
Anti-theft device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containment body comprises a main portion (10a,110a), which encloses on three sides one or more of said compact discs, and by a secondary portion (10b,110b), which affects at least one portion of the fourth side, articulation being provided in a corner region.
Anti-theft device according to claim 1, characterized in that said mutual locking means comprise at least one elastic fin (117) which is enclosed in one of said portions and is able to interact with the other portion (119) when said body is in closed condition, an opening (122) being provided for indirect access to said at least one elastic fin for its release by means of a tool (137).
Anti-theft device according to claim 7, characterized in that said access opening (122) is substantially at right angles to said at least one fin (117) and is spaced therefrom.
Anti-theft device according to one or more of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that said main portion (110a) of said body has, on the side affected by the coupling to said secondary portion (110b), a box-like part (113) which is externally closed and on which said opening (122) is located.
Anti-theft device according to claim 9, characterized in that a first wall portion of said box-like part is defined by a base (114) from which a tab (115) extends inside said box-like element, said tab enclosing said electronic means able to activate an alarm circuit, and said base being integrated with the rest of said box-like part by being glued, welded or joined thereto by virtue of another fixing means.
Anti-theft device according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that other wall portions of said box-like part, which are adjacent to the pivot for articulation between said two mutually articulated portions, are defined by corresponding surfaces of a block (116) which is inserted in a corresponding seat of said box-like part, said block being shaped internally so as to form said at least one fin (117) and being joined to said box-like part by glueing, welding or other fixing means.
Anti-theft device according to one or more of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that there are two parallel specimens of said at least one fin (117), when the body is in closed condition, said specimens rest with their flat ends against a corresponding flat region (119) of the corresponding articulation end of said secondary portion, said fins can be spaced apart to release said secondary portion by virtue of said tool through said opening.
Anti-theft device according to one or more of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that when the body is in open condition, said fins enter corresponding grooves of said articulation end (110d) of said secondary portion and return to an inactive condition and are thus not subjected to elastic tension, said grooves having inclined portions which allow the rotation of said secondary portion to perform closure by spacing said fins apart.
Anti-theft device according to one or more of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a fixture (123) which comprises a base (124) from which two parallel wings (125) extend, an arm (127) being articulated between said wings by means of an end pivot (126), a cylindrical helical spring (128) being arranged between said base and said arm, the ends of said spring being accommodated in adapted seats (129,130) of said base and of said arm.
Anti-theft device according to claim 14, characterized in that a box-like support (131) is fixed on said arm and is able to accommodate said containment body so that said box-like element which contains said electronic means is arranged parallel to said lever element.
Anti-theft device according to claims 14 and 15, characterized in that said containment body has, on its main portion, guiding grooves (132,133) for corresponding ridges (134,135) which extend inside said box-like support, said grooves and said ridges extending in a straight line and at right angles to said arm.
Anti-theft device according to one or more of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that a tool (137) is articulated by means of a pivot (136) to the lower part of said box-like support, below the region where said block which contains said fins is located, said tool comprising a pointed arm (137a) which is shaped like an arc of a circle and is joined to said pivot by means of a radial linking element (137b), the radius of said point being such that it can enter through said opening and have its end arranged between said fins, spacing them apart.
Anti-theft device according to one or more of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that a transverse pin (138) is fixed to said tool in a region of said radial linking element of said tool which is spaced from said rotation pivot, the ends of said pin being slideably accommodated in corresponding guiding grooves (140) of said wings which extend from said base, a groove (141) able to allow the movement of said pin being also provided between said box-like support and said arm.