JP2000285329A - Theft prevention element for theft prevention device and ampule inclduing staining material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a theft prevention element and an ampule of staining material designed to be included in the theft prevention element in a theft prevention device designed to be attached to an article tempting to be stolen in such a manner that it can be removed from the article only by using a special releasing device. SOLUTION: This theft prevention element includes an ampule of staining material which includes staining material and is also arranged in the theft prevention element so as to be crushed, broken, damaged or opened to emit the staining material in the case someone tries to remove a theft prevention device from an article tempting to be stolen without using special releasing device. The ampule (2) encloses 1st staining materials (B; D; G) having special staining characteristics and at least one of 2nd staining materials (C; E, F; H) having staining characteristics different from the staining characteristics of the 1st staining materials. The respective chemical compositions of the 1st and 2nd staining materials are ones whose staining materials (B, D, G; C, E, F, H) are not dissolved into one another.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an anti-theft element for use in an anti-theft device intended to be attached to a theft-inviting item, the device being detached from said item only with the aid of a special release device. The invention relates to an anti-theft element for use in an anti-theft device intended to be attached to an article in such a way as to be able to do so. Anti-theft elements include ampoules containing so-called soiling substances such as, for example, stains, corrosive substances, foul-smelling substances or any other substance that detracts from the appearance of the article and those that spoil the article. The ampoule must be free of material that breaks, crushes, or is destroyed, or is otherwise opened and soiled, whenever the antitheft device is removed from the theft-inducing item without the use of a release device. Placed within the anti-theft element to be released.
The invention also relates to an ampoule of a soiling substance intended to be included in an anti-theft element.

[0002] Anti-theft or anti-theft devices of this type are attached to, and attached to, theft-inducing items, such as clothing, suitcases, and other readily portable items sold in shops or similar facilities. Used to prevent or deter theft. Such a device is intended to be attached to an article in such a way that the device can only be detached using a special release device, which is not available to potential thieves. Is assumed. Attempts to remove the anti-theft device from an article without the assistance of the release device will cause the article to tear, or the ampule will break and release the soiling material, causing the article to become colored, corroded, or damaged. When the article is contaminated with the contaminant contained in the ampule, the article becomes practically unusable. Thus, as a theft deterrent, this type of antitheft device colors various types of goods and materials, such as clothing cloth, shoes or suitcase leather, handbags, or other materials from which articles are made. And thereby render the article virtually unusable.

[0003] Anti-theft devices are known which include ampoules containing a soiling substance having a given soiling effect. For example, U
See S5,438,738. For example, the polluting substance encapsulated in the ampoule is stain, which contains a distinct pigment, which may be light, for example yellow, or dark, for example blue.
It has the effect of soiling or coloring the article when the color of the stain is sufficiently far from the color or tone of the fabric, leather or material from which the article is made. If the color of the stain is not significantly different from the color of the article to which the device is attached, the antitheft device will lose its stopping power along with the visible ampoule enclosing the stain.

[0004] Anti-theft devices including several ampoules containing contaminants are also known. For example, US5,2
75, 122. Such known anti-theft devices include an anti-theft element comprising a double ampoule, which is arranged on each side of the connection element, which connection element provides for irregular handling of the device. Sensitive to the article and sewed through or through the article to connect both elements of the anti-theft device to each other. Anti-theft elements of this type include, for example, an ampoule containing light stain and thus coloring a dark cloth or material, and a second ampoule containing dark stain and thus coloring a light cloth or material. May be included. One of the disadvantages of this type of anti-theft device is that it is expensive to manufacture, since it involves double ampoules, the cost of which is a major part of the overall manufacturing cost of the anti-theft device. It is expensive.
Another disadvantage is that an unauthorized person can operate the anti-theft device so that only one of the two ampules is broken. This means that, as described above for the single ampule solution, the stain contained in the broken ampoule will not be sufficiently far from the color of the material from which the article is made, making the article unusable. It means you can't make it possible.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-theft device including an ampoule containing a polluting substance, capable of reducing the manufacturing cost and weight of the device to a competitive level, and Theft that is more effective in soiling or marking items that would otherwise be stolen in a more distinct manner and rendering the items unusable when the device is operated in an irregular manner The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem by providing a prevention device.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the present invention by an anti-theft element in an anti-theft device and an ampoule of a contaminating substance having the features described in the claims.

[0007] One of the advantages provided by the anti-theft device of the present invention is anti-theft for all types of theft-inducing products, regardless of the type of product of interest, its color, and the material from which the product is made. It can be used very effectively as a product. This device has the further advantage of being simple and stable in construction, resulting in low production costs and a low weight. These advantages are achieved by an anti-theft device adapted to a single ampoule containing at least two different polluting substances that do not readily or completely dissolve each other. The polluting substances have different polluting properties, which means that if one of these polluting substances is not sufficiently distinguishable from the theft-inducing article, it will be released at the same time as this substance, eg a different color It means that it is ensured that the article is rendered unusable by the remaining substances having different soiling properties. It is therefore not possible to operate the anti-theft device of the invention in an irregular manner without releasing a plurality of polluting substances having different properties, for example stains.

The cost of an ampoule in an anti-theft device of this type is a major part of the overall manufacturing cost of this device, with a single ampoule solution being about 40%,
With about 60-75% for the two ampoule solution, the anti-theft device of the present invention has a competitive advantage over the known multiple ampoule solution due to its low manufacturing cost. I can say. Also, the simplicity of the anti-theft device of the present invention allows for the manufacture of a lightweight device, which reduces damage to articles when handling the anti-theft device in a typical manner in a store.

According to the invention, the ampoule containing the polluting substance is clearly visible from one side of the antitheft device, so that the polluting substances in the ampoule do not mix with one another and are stolen in an irregular manner. Attempting to remove the anti-theft device from the item will result in the item being colored, disfigured, or similarly soiled, regardless of the particular characteristics of the individual theft-inducing item, making it unusable. The fact that it clearly indicates that it has become theft has been enhanced.

According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the phases of the fouling substance enclosed in the ampoule are of different densities, so that the substances form a layer and have a clear boundary between adjacent phases. The lines clearly demarcate in the ampoule.

The terms "ampoule" and "ampoule of polluting substance" as used in this context thus refer to an ampoule that is a separately manufactured unit that can be mounted within an anti-theft element. However, these terms are also used within the scope of the invention to refer to ampoules formed by the anti-theft element, forming part of the structure of the anti-theft element, and defining a cavity for containing the contaminating substance. For example, when attempting to remove the antitheft device by force and in an irregular manner, the cavity breaks open, for example, along a cracked weakened portion of the cavity wall, and the encapsulated soiling material Will be released.

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the figures, corresponding component parts are denoted by the same reference symbols.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c) there is shown a tubular cylindrical ampule 2 made of glass or another brittle material such as a plastics material and containing a polluting substance. In the illustrated example, the substance in ampoule 2 is a stain intended to discolor or otherwise negate the article in contact therewith. Whether the internal pressure of the ampoule is higher than or equal to atmospheric pressure,
Alternatively, the pressure may be lower than the atmospheric pressure.

In FIG. 1 (a), an ampoule of a first soiling substance according to the invention is shown in an upright position. The ampoule 2 illustrated has a given volume, preferably 20-30
It contains a volume% of air A and two different polluting substances, a first coloring substance B and a second coloring substance C. In this embodiment, the two substances B and C are in two liquid phases of different colors, thus producing a stain which is distinguished from one another. For example, substance B may consist of a light-colored, oil-soluble pigment or oil-based solution with a colorant, eg, yellow, and substance C may be a dark-colored, water-soluble pigment, eg, a dark blue colorant. Alternatively, it may be composed of an aqueous liquid phase having a colorant. According to this embodiment, the distinct liquid phases B and C are of different densities, so that they are separated into different layers and have distinct phase boundaries therebetween.

The heavier phase (bottom phase) consists of the aqueous coloring substance C, and the lighter phase (top phase) consists of the oil-based coloring substance B.

FIG. 1 (b) shows a second embodiment of the ampoule of the present invention containing a soiling substance. In addition to containing air A, the illustrated ampoule 2 comprises three different stains D, E and F that form three different colored liquid phases that do not readily dissolve or even dissolve at all. Stain D has the lowest density and thus forms the upper phase of the ampoule. Since the stains E and F of the illustrated embodiment have substantially the same density, liquid phase E and liquid phase F form the bottom phase and stain D
Has a phase boundary. The stains E and F are immiscible with each other, but produce bubbles in a known manner, as schematically shown in FIG. 1 (b). Different stains D, E
And F have different fouling properties and may contain different pigments or colorants. Stain D may be in the form of an aqueous phase containing a water-soluble coloring agent, and stains E and F are respectively a fatty acid-based phase showing a coloring agent soluble in fatty acids and a coloring agent soluble in silicone oil. And a phase based on silicone oil containing The respective densities of the fatty acid and silicone oil based phases are about the same and lower than the aqueous phase density.

The liquid phase E and the liquid phase F may, of course, form liquid phases of different densities, thereby forming different layers having intermediate phase boundaries. The oleic acid-based water-insoluble top phase, the silicone oil-based intermediate phase, and the aqueous bottom phase are different from each other and are not readily soluble or completely insoluble in each other 3 is an example of three different liquid phases having densities.

FIG. 1 (c) shows another embodiment of the ampoule of the present invention, shown in a horizontal position. In addition to the air A, the ampoule 2 further comprises two different stains G and H, which are different liquid phases, and an alarm element 8. The alarm element 8 is sensed by an electronic alarm system usually installed on the premises of the store. The alarm element 8 is enclosed in the ampoule with the stain and will not be affected externally unless the ampoule is broken, crushed or otherwise destroyed to release the stain.
Ampoules containing stains also enclosing an alarm element are described in further detail in WO 97/5066, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, at least one of the polluting substances may have different properties than the others, for example, having a strong odorous property or a strong corrosive property. You may have. Alternatively, one of the polluting substances may consist of a liquid phase consisting of a chemical mixture containing trace elements for identification purposes, such as trace substances that can identify a particular manufacturer. The trace material may include colorants or chemicals not normally found in other contaminants such as, for example, magnetic liquids.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show, for example, FIG.
1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an anti-theft device provided with an ampoule 2 containing contaminants according to the embodiment of the ampoule shown in FIG.

The anti-theft device comprises a first anti-theft element 10 having a base element 12 and an elongated connecting element 14 projecting from the base element and intended to be inserted into the article 6 to be protected. The second element 16 (shown only schematically in FIG. 3) is adapted to be mounted on the connecting element 14, so that it is fixed on the connecting element 14 against movement away from the base element 12, preventing theft The device is held firmly on the article 6. One of the elements includes a theft deterrent and, in the illustrated case, is contained within the anti-theft element 10.

According to the invention, the anti-theft element comprises a fragile ampoule containing a soiling substance, which may be of the type shown in FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c). The ampoule 2 is transparent and arranged, for example, so that it can be easily seen from the outside of the antitheft device. Thus, when the anti-theft device is secured to the theft-inducing article, potential theft can be identified by looking at the contents of the ampoule. For this reason, if the ampoule breaks, it has a clear anti-theft effect because it can be clearly seen from the outside of the anti-theft device that the dirty substance enclosed in the ampule makes the article unusable. Will be.

If the second element 16 is to be forcibly loosened from the connecting element 14, the element 16 and thus the connecting element 14
And the ampoule 2 is broken by the tensile and / or lateral forces on the base element 12. If the ampoule breaks, its contents are scattered around the article 6, damaging said article and rendering it unusable.

The ampoule 2 shown in FIG. 1 (c) breaks in a similar manner when trying to deactivate the alarm element 8 in an irregular manner, the contents of which damage the article 6.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described and shown above, but that several variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, in addition to encapsulating materials having different fouling properties, the ampoule may further enclose a fragile internal ampule, preferably a thin wall ampule. The internal ampoule is intended to be broken or crushed at the same time as the ampoule containing the contaminating substance, and includes a substance that, when contacted with the contaminating substance, reacts with the substance in a suitable manner. For example, the internal ampoule may carry a catalyst that causes the polluting substances of interest to react with each other, or may carry a curing agent that cures the polluting substances and is permanently fixed to the theft-inducing article. Is also good. The inner ampule may also include additional fouling substances, such as colorants, with different properties than the fouling substance in the outer ampule.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 shows different embodiments of the polluting substance ampoule of the invention, wherein (a) and (b) show an upright ampule and (c) shows an ampule in a lying position. FIG.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the anti-theft device of the present invention viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the anti-theft device shown in FIG. 12 along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ampoules, 6 articles, 8 alarm elements, 10 first anti-theft element, 12 base elements, 14 connection elements, 16
Second element.

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An anti-theft element for an anti-theft device, which can be attached to said article in such a manner that said anti-theft device can be detached from an article inviting theft only by using a special release device. Intended, the anti-theft element includes an ampoule containing a soiling substance, and releasing the anti-theft device from the theft-inducing article without using the special release device releases the polluting substance encapsulated in the ampoule. Disposed within said anti-theft element so as to be broken, crushed, broken or otherwise opened in such a manner that the ampoule (2) has a first soiling property with special soiling properties A substance (B; D; G) and the first polluting substance (B; D;
At least one second polluting substance (C; E, F; H) having a polluting property different from the polluting property of G), each of the first polluting substances (B; D; G). And the chemical composition of the second polluting substance (C; E, F; H) is such that said substances (B, D, G; C, E, F; H) do not dissolve in each other, theft Prevention element. 2. A polluting substance (B, D, G; C, E, F,
2. The anti-theft element according to claim 1, wherein H) are stains of different colors. 3. Stain (B, D, G; C, E, F,
Theft according to claim 2, characterized in that one of H) has a dark hue and the other stain (C, E, F, H; B, D, G) has a light hue. Prevention element. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the density of the first pollutant (B; D; G) is different from the density of the second pollutant (C; E, F; H). Theft prevention element according to any of the above. 5. The one pollutant (B; D; G) is based on oil and the other pollutant (C; E, F;
5. The anti-theft element according to claim 4, wherein H) is aqueous. 6. The ampoule (2) has a third polluting property having a polluting property different from the polluting properties of the first polluting substance (B; D; G) and the second polluting substance (C; E; H). The substance (F) is encapsulated, and the chemical composition of the third polluting substance (F) is the same as that of the first substance (B; D; G) and the second substance (C;
The anti-theft element according to claim 1, characterized in that the third substance is also insoluble in E; H). 7. The ampoule (2) can be sensed by an electronic alarm system, wherein the ampoule (2) is broken or crushed so that polluting substances (BH) are released,
Or enclosing an alarm element (8) that is not externally affected unless destroyed in some other way,
An anti-theft element according to claim 1. 8. Anti-theft element according to claim 1, wherein the ampoule (2) is made of a glass or plastic material. 9. The ampoule (2) also encapsulates a fragile internal ampoule containing a substance that affects or supplements at least one of the surrounding polluting substances,
An anti-theft element according to claim 1. 10. An ampoule containing a soiling substance, intended to be attached to the theft-inducing article in such a manner that the anti-theft article can be removed from the theft-inducing article only by means of a special release device. An ampoule containing a fouling substance intended to be attached to an anti-theft element in the anti-theft apparatus, wherein the ampoule encloses the fouling substance and steals the anti-theft apparatus without using the special release device. The ampoule (2) is specially arranged in such a way that it is broken, crushed, broken or opened in such a way that it releases the polluting substance enclosed in said ampoule when it is removed from the inviting article. A first polluting substance (B; D; G) having a polluting property and at least one second polluting substance having a polluting property different from that of the first polluting substance (B; D; G). Be material (C; E, F; H) and is sealed,
The chemical composition of each of the first pollutant (B; D; G) and the second pollutant (C; E, F; H) is the same as the substance (B, D, G; C, E, F; H) ampoules of polluting substances, characterized in that they do not dissolve in each other. 11. A polluting substance (B, D, G; C, E, F,
11. An ampoule of soiling substance according to claim 10, wherein H) are stains of different colors. 12. The stain (B, D, G; C, E,
12. F, H), wherein one of the stains (C, E, F, H; B, D, G) has a light hue. Ampoules of polluting substances. 13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the density of the first polluting substance (B; D; G) is different from the density of the second polluting substance (C; E, F; H). An ampoule of the polluting substance according to any of the above. 14. A pollutant (B; D; G) based on oil and another pollutant (C; E, F;
14. A polluting substance ampoule according to claim 13, wherein H) is aqueous. 15. An ampoule (2) comprising said first soiling substance (B; D; G) and said second soiling substance (C; E;
A third polluting substance (F) having a polluting property different from the polluting property of H) is encapsulated, and the chemical composition of the third polluting substance (F) is the first polluting substance (B; D; G). An ampoule of a soiling substance according to claim 10, characterized in that it is insoluble in the second substance (C; E; H). 16. The ampoule (2) is made of glass or plastic material.
16. An ampoule of a soiling substance according to any of claims 15 to 15. 17. The ampoule according to claim 10, wherein the ampoule (2) also encapsulates a fragile internal ampoule containing a substance that affects or supplements at least one of the surrounding polluting substances. Ampoules of any of the polluting substances described in any of the above.