GB2205426A

GB2205426A - Shoplifting preventing device

Info

Publication number: GB2205426A
Application number: GB08722494A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kozo Yamada
Original assignee: MAGRY SYSTEMS
Current assignee: MAGRY SYSTEMS
Priority date: 1987-06-03
Filing date: 1987-09-24
Publication date: 1988-12-07
Also published as: AU586356B2; FR2616255B3; GB8722494D0; AU7868487A; KR890013596A; FR2616255A1; DE3736884A1; CH674427A5; DE3736884C2

Description

1 M&C FOLTO: 230P55057 SHOPLIFTING PREVENTING DEVICE This invention

relates to a shoplifting preventing device to prevent displayed commodities from being stolen.

As a conventional way to prevent stealing of displayed commodity like shoplifting. a tag provided wit.h a compact transmitter is mounted on a commodity. while there is provided at the entrance a sensing gate which raises an alarm when it receives a transmitted wave. whereby the alarm is raised from the gate when the stolen commodities pass the sensing gate.

However. in such a device. if the tag is removed and a commodLty only is taken out from the shop. it is impossible to catch the shoplifter. Further, even if an alarm i.s raised. it is difficult to identify the shoplifter it a number of persons are passing the sensing gate. As a result, there may occur such a trouble as a violation of human rights.

What is desired is a shoplifting preventing device by which it is always possible to identify the shoplifter at the sensing gate. and also in the case of a commodi.ty only being tried to be taken out after being separated from a warning device (tag) in the shop. raising of an alarm is assured. Preferably. a remotely 2 receivable wave for alarm is transmitted as well as an audible alarm sound.

The invention, in a preferred embodiment, provides a shoplifting preventing device comprising a warning device to be mounted on or otherwise connected to a displayed commodity, a sensing gate transmitting radio wave of a given frequency which is to be received at the above warning device and a receiver which gives notice, receiving a warning radio wave transmitted from said warning device. in which both an alarm sound and warning radio wave are raised from said warning device, either when said warning device senses a radio wave transmitted from the sensing gate or when said warning device is removed from a displayed commodity.

A warning device which raises an alarm sound, enables one to identify the shoplifter immediately. Further, it is possible to catch the shoplifter even when he tries to take out a commodity only by separating the warning device from the commodity. because an ala rm is raised at the very time when the warning device is removed from the commodity. Additionally, the warning device may not only raise an alarm sound but also send a warning radio wave (or other remotely receivable wave) to be received at a receiver which also makes it possible to warn of the shoplifting.

The invention will be described further. by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which:

1 3 Figure 1 is a block diagram of a shoplifting preventing system including a shoplifting preventing device; Figtire 2 is a circuit diagram of the warning device; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the shoplifting preventing device; Figure 4 is an elevational view showing a condition of the devi.ce shown in Figure 3 encasing a commodity; Figure 5 is an elevational view showing another embodiment of the shoplifting preventing device; and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the warning device.

Tn Figure 3. a shoplifting preventing device 1 for displaying an encased commodity 6 comprises a commodity case 2 made of transparent material. such as a plastics material, and a warning device 3 fixed on one side of the case 2. The upper portion of the case 2 has an opening 4 through which the commodity 6 such as cassette tape, video tape. compact disc (CD). or gramophone record is put into the case.

The warning device 3. as shown in Figures 1 and 2. comprises: a switching circuit 24 which turns a power eireuit 23 ON which it receives radio wave of a given frequency transmitted from a sensing exit gate 35 and is maintained in ON state by supplied power from the power eircuit 23 by ON operation thereof; a buzzer circuit 25 which raises an audible alarm sound. being supplied with 4 elect.ric power from a small cell 22 incorporated in the power circuit 23; an FM transmitting circuit 27 which sends an electromagnetic warning wave of a given frequency from a crystal oscillator 26 receiving electri. e power due to ON state of the switching circuit 24; arid a transmitting antenna 28. The switching circuit 24 is connected to a multiple winding 29 through a half-wave rectifier circuit 31 consisting of two diode Di and Di. for obtaining base current of a transistor T1, which is a switching element, from magnetic current which is generated in the multiple winding 29.

A separation sensor 20 senses the position of an operating terminal 5. The operating terminal 5 is projeclably and retractably pivotable on the side of the warning devi.ce 3 facing to the inside of the commodity case 2 and i.s urged towards the inside of the case 2 by elastic means (not shown). When the operating terminal 5, as shown in Figure 3. is in a position where it projects to the inside of the case 2. said separation sensor 20 senses this and turns the switching circuit 24 ON, whereby the buzzer circuit 25 and the transmitting circuit 27 are operated to emit an audible alarm sound and a warning electromagnetic wave. Contrarily. as shown in Figure 4. in such state that the commodity 6 is encased in the case 2 and the operating terminal 5 is pushed to the side of the warning device 3. the switching circuit 24 is turned OFF, and accordingly. neither an alarm sound nor a warning wave is emitted.

Further. on.the upper surface of the warning device 3. there is provided a key hole 7 in such construction that aft-or a given key has been inserted into this hole and then withdrawn once. the switching circuit 24 becomes turned OFF, rendering it impossible to give any alarm sound or warning wave in all cases.

As described above. the warning device 3 is const.rucLed such that an alarm sound and a warning wave are generated only when the operating terminal 5 is. projected or when the switching circuit 24 senses a transmitted wave from the sensing gate 35.

A receiver 40 to be mounted behind a cash register. or in another room than the shop. receives a warning wave Iransmitted from the transmitting circuit 27 and raises an alarm from a loudspeaker 41. Alternatively or addiLionally, a portable receiver 42 emits an alarm sound upon receiving a warning wave transmitted from the transmitting circuit 27.

As mentioned above. if a -shoplifter tries to pull out the displayed commodity 6 (C1) in Figure 4) from the case 2, the operating terminal 5 projects towards the inside of the case 2 due to the urging force of elastic means and the separation sensor 2 senses this and causes Itte swit.ching circuit 24 to be turned ON, whereupon the warr)ing device 3 transmits a warning wave as well as raises an alarm sound, so that the receiver 40 receives this wave lo give a warning by the loudspeaker 41.

6 Accordingly. it- is possible to notice a shoplifting even in a shop with very few shop assistants or in a wide shop.

Further. if a shoplifter tries to leave the shop with a commodity encased in the shoplifting preventing device 1, the warning device 3 senses a transmitted wave from the serisIng exit gate 35 placed at the entrance of the shop and turns the switching circuit 24 ON, whereupon an alarm sound and a warning wave are generated. Tn this construction. it is not the sensing gat.e but Ihe warning alarm 1 itself that generates such alarm sound and warning wave. Therefore. even if there are a number of persons who are passing the sensing gate, 11 is easy to identify the shoplifter.

Additionally. even if a shoplifter hides the shoplift-ing preventing device 1 in his bag or clothes so as to muffle the alarm sound. a warning wave from the warning alarm 1 is transmitted to the receiver 40. which gives an alarm by speaker 41. it being possible to identify the shoplifter by bringing the above-mentioned portable receiver 42 near the shoplifter.

Tn case where normal sales are made. a shop a.;.;!,,1.anL Inserts a given key into the key hole 7 of the warning device 3 and pulls it out. thus preventing ge-neration of an alarm sound and warning wave when the commodity 6 is taken out of the case 2.

1 7 FI.gure 5 shows another embodiment of shoplifting prevent-ing device according to this invention. This shop lift.Ing preventing device 11 is modified by reducing its width T. in such manner that a warning device 13. similar in construction to the above warning device 3, is fixed t-o the lower side of the commodity case 12. The other construction such as the inner construction of the warning device 13. an operating termianl 15. and a key hole 17. and the mode of operation are the same as the precedent embodiment; therefore. additional description is unnecessary.

Ftirthpr. the warning device 3 may be used, as shown in Figtire 6. with a special wire 50 connected to a commodily, wherein the wire is made a short circuit of wire lead between collector and base of a transistor in the swit.ching circuit 24. Accordingly. if the cord is cut with a knife or the like. the switching circuit is turned ON, whereby an alarm sound and a warning wave are generated.

As apparent from the above description, using the shoplifting preventing device. when a shoplifter passes the nensing gate. the warning device itself generates an alarm sound and a warning wave. whereby it is possible to identify the shoplifter without causing any trouble such as a violation of human rights. Further. the moment. a commodlLy is removed from the warning device an alarm sound is immediately raised to prevent a shoplifting.

8 Furthermore. in either case. not only an alarm sound is raised, but also a warning wave is transmitted to a receiver. which allows one to notice a shoplifting, especially if the shoplifting preventing device encasing a commodity is hid so as not to be noticed or in a very large shop.

f 1 9

Claims

Claims:-

1. A shoplifting preventing device comprising a warning devIce adapted to be placed in contact with a commodity. the warning device having means for receiving a wave of a given frequency from an exit gate and having means for deteeling separation of the commodity from the warning device, the warning device being adapted to give a warning when the said wave of a given frequency is received and when separation of the commodity from the warning device is detected.

2. A;hopli.fLi-ng preventing device as claimed in claim 1. in which the warning device is mounted on a case for holding the commodity and has an oper.ating element which projecLs into the case to detect separation of the commodity from the warning device.

3. A shoplifting preventing device as claimed in claim 2. in which the case is made of transparent material.

4. A shopli.fting preventing device as claimed in any preceding claim. in which the said warning comprises the emission of an audible alarm.

5. A shoplifting preventing device as claimed in any preceding claim. in which the said warning comprises the transmission of a remotely receivable wave.

6. A shoplifting preventing device substantially as described herein with reference to any of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A shopli.fting preventing system comprising a shoplifti.ng preventing device as claimed in any preceding claim. and an exit gate which transmits the said wave of a given frequency.

8. A shoplifting preventing system as claimed in claim 7. in which the shoplifting preventing device is as claimed in claim 5. the system including at least one receiver for receiving the wave transmitted by the warning device.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66.171 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87.