GB2424741A

GB2424741A - Trolley based supermarket anti-theft alarm system

Info

Publication number: GB2424741A
Application number: GB0506507A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Bee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-31
Filing date: 2005-03-31
Publication date: 2006-10-04
Also published as: GB0506507D0

Abstract

A security system for a superstore comprises a shopping trolley fitted with an alarm system that is activated when the shopping cart enters the store, the alarm being triggered if the trolley leaves the shop without the alarm being deactivated by passing through a payment point. The alarm may be activated and deactivated by a light beam and the trolley may have two sensors, one at the front for activation of the system and another at the back for deactivation. Triggering of the alarm may cause an audible warning or the closing of a door towards which the trolley is heading. Indicators may be fitted to show whether the system is active or inactive and the alarm may be activated or deactivated remotely. The shopping cart may be fitted with a tracking device. A shopping trolley incorporating two electronic devices is also disclosed.

Description

SHOPPING SECURITY SYSTEMS

This invention relates to electronic security systems for use in shopping environments. In particular the invention relates to security systems that may be used on a shopping trolley.

Research over a seven-year period in supermarket security has presented statistics of two supermarket trolleys per day per superstore being pushed out of the store without payment for goods. The average trolley holds 100 work of groceries, which equates to losses of 200 per day, 6, 200 per month, 73,000 per annum for one superstore alone. Whilst it is known to provide alerting systems on particular items in shops which will activate an alarm if the item is removed without payment these items require physical removal of the alerting system from the item at the time of purchase and they are also used only in relation to single items.

The present invention therefore provides a shopping container provided with an alarm system which may be activated when the container is moved to within the shopping environment and which will be triggered if the container is removed from the shopping environment without deactivation of the alarm system.

The container may be a shopping basket or trolley such as those typically used in supermarkets although they may equally be containers used for collecting a plurality of purchases in any store. For example the invention may be used in multipurpose stores and warehouses, garden centres, do-it-yourself materials suppliers and in a variety of similar outlets. In most of these shopping environments the shopper will collect a container such as a basket or a trolley at the entrance to the shop or store.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the container is provided with an alarm device that is automatically activated as the shopper collects the container or enters the shopping environment with the container. For example the device may be activated by a beam through which the container must pass as it is moved into the shopping environment.

The alarm device then remains activated for so long as the container remains within the shopping environment. The device is however deactivated once the goods within the container have been purchased. Various methods may be used for deactivation for instance deactivating sensors may be provided in the device which detect a signal, such as a light beam at the end of the check out or alternatively the deactivating means may be a link from the cash till to the alarm system provided on the container.

In a preferred embodiment the alarm device is an electrical device which is attached to or is part of the container and is activated by sensors which detect a light beam through which the container must pass as it moves into the shopping environment.

The alarm device may then be deactivated by sensors which detect a light beam at the end of the checkout when the purchase has been completed. In a preferred system where the container is a trolley such as a supermarket trolley two sensors may be positioned on the trolley, one at the front of the trolley which is the sensor that activates the alarm device and one at the back which deactivates the alarm device.

The alarm device may be of any suitable form. For example it may produce an audible noise, it may cause flashing lights or a combination of both. Alternatively it...

could be such that it applies an automatic brake to the trolley. In a further embodiment the device may cause the door of the store to which the activated container is heading to close.

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Accordingly in a preferred embodiment the present invention provides a trolley having two electronic devices fixed to the trolley, one at the front and one at the rear, the one at the front will be activated when walking into the store via sensors ** positioned at the entrance/exit of the store and the one at the back deactivated by sensors positioned at the end of the checkout once the goods are paid for. The devices should be securely fixed to the trolley to prevent removal.

The implementation of this security device will help to reduce the losses companies are suffering. A trolley that is pushed towards the entrance/exit door sensors without being deactivated will trigger a light and noise alarm alerting security staff that the goods have not been paid for at the checkout.

In a further embodiment the device incorporates an indicator to show that the alarm device is activated or deactivated. The indicator is preferably a light, a coloured light, red or green, being most convenient.

In a further embodiment the container may be provided with a transmitter which emits a signal if the container is removed from the shopping environment without payment this can act as a tracker to enable the location of the container to be determined.

This may be particularly useful if the activated container is taken into a vehicle and driven away from the store.

In a further embodiment the alarm system may additionally be activated or deactivated remotely. For example with a remote hand held device/sensor. This can allow security staff to monitor the activation or deactivation of the system on individual containers.

The invention will now be illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings: 0* * * 0 S * Figure 1 shows a supermarket trolley provided with two electronic devices, one to the front of the trolley and one to the rear. *.S 5 I,..

Figure 2 shows the electronic device on the front of the trolley. *.:. S.. .

Figure 3 shows the electronic device on the rear of the trolley.

Figure 4 shows the entrance/exit sensor to be positioned either sides of the doorway.

Figure 5 shows the checkout sensor to be positioned either side of the checkout aisles.

Figure 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the invention.

In Figure 1, a shopping trolley has two electronic devices (1) permanently fixed to front and rear ends of the trolley. The electronic devices will be activated by way of pushing the trolley through the entrance/exit doors engaging light sensors (4).

Figure 2 shows the position of the electronic device (1) on the front of the shopping trolley, which is activated when picked up by sensors (4) as the trolley, is wheeled through the entrance/exit doors and deactivated once the checkout process is completed and the trolley is wheeled past sensors located at the end of the checkout (5).

Figure 3 shows the position of the electronic device on the rear of the shopping trolley, which is activated when picked up by sensors (4) as the trolley, is wheeled through the entrance/exit doors and deactivated once the checkout process is completed and the trolley is wheeled past sensors located at the end of the checkout (5).

Figure 4 shows the position of the entrance or exit door sensors (4). One to be positioned on the left and the other on the right of the aperture.

Figure 5 shows the position of the checkout sensors (5). One to be positioned on the left and the other on the right of the checkout aisle.

The present invention further provides a shop security system employing the various embodiments of the invention previously described and in particular provides a shop * ** * security system for the detection of the removal of containers containing goods without payment comprising a combination of: * * ** * * S i) a container provided with an alarm system, ii) means to activate the alarm system when the container is brought into the shopping environment, iii) means to deactivate the alarm system when the goods have been purchased, iv) means to trigger the alarm if the container is removed from the shopping environment without payment for the goods contained therein.

Claims

1. A shopping container provided with an alarm system which may be activated when the container is moved to within the shopping environment and which will be triggered if the container is removed from the shopping environment without deactivation of the alarm system.

2. A container according to Claim 1 comprising a trolley.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 provided with an alarm device that is automatically activated as the shopper collects the container or enters the shopping environment.

4. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the device may be activated by a beam through which the container passes as it is moved into the shopping environment.

5. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the device is deactivated once the goods within the container have been purchased.

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6. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the device is deactivated by sensors which detect a signal at the end of the check out. *.oS

7. A container according to Claim 6 in which the signal is a light beam. :

8. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the deactivating means is a link from the cash till to the alarm system provided on the container.

9. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the alarm device is an electrical device which is attached to or is part of the container and is activated by sensors which detect a light beam through which the container passes as it moves into the shopping environment.

10. A supermarket trolley provided with two sensors be positioned on the trolley, one at the front of the trolley which is the sensor that activates the alarm device and one at the back which deactivates the alarm device.

11. A container according to any of the preceding claims wherein the alarm is triggered if the container is moved towards or through the entrance/exit of the shopping environment while the alarm system is activated.

12. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the alarm produces an audible noise.

13. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the activated alarm causes the door to which the container is approaching to close.

14. A trolley having two electronic devices permanently fixed to the trolley, one at the front and one at the rear, the one at the front will be activated when moving into the shopping environment by sensors positioned at the

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entrance/exit of the shopping environment and the one at the back deactivated by sensors positioned at the end of the checkout once the goods are paid for. * : * Se. * *se

15. A container according to any of the preceding claims incorporating an * * indicator to indicate if the alarm device is activated or deactivated. * *S* * ** SI *

16. A container according to Claim 15 in which the indication is a coloured light.

17. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the alarm system may additionally be activated or deactivated remotely.

18. A container according to any of the preceding claims provided with a tracking device.

19. A shop security system for the detection of the removal of containers containing goods without payment comprising a combination of: i) a container provided with an alarm system, ii) means to activate the alarm system when the container is brought into a shopping environment, iii) means to deactivate the alarm system when the goods have been purchased, iv) means to trigger the alarm if the container is removed from the shopping environment without payment for the goods contained therein.

20. A shop security system according to Claim 19 wherein the container comprises a trolley.

21. A shop security system according to Claim 19 or Claim 20 in which the alarm system comprises a device integral with the container and which when triggered issues an audible noise and/or produces flashing lights.

22. A shop security system according to any of Claims 19 to 21 in which the means to activate the alarm system comprises a sensor that detects a signal I...

as the container is moved into the shopping environment. *S.

23. A shop security system according to Claim 22 in which the signal is a light beam. *.**

24. A shop security system according to any of Claims 19 to 23 in which the means to deactivate the alarm system comprises a sensor that detects a signal as the container passes out of the checkout.

25. A shop security system according to Claim 24 in which the signal is a light beam.

26. A shop security system according to any of Claims 20 to 25 in which the sensor that operates to deactivate the alarm system is on the rear of the trolley.

27. A shop security system according to any of Claims 19 to 26 in which the means to trigger the alarm system comprises a sensor positioned at the entrance and/or St of the shopping environment which detects that the alarm system is active. ** * * S. *555 * * I.. * *s* *SS * S... *iS* * *eSS * .** * ** **