JP4048221B2 - Attached unit and merchandise theft monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an attachment unit attached to a product to be monitored and a product theft monitoring device for a product theft monitoring device for preventing and deterring product theft.

  Various merchandise theft monitoring devices have been proposed for preventing and deterring theft of merchandise displayed at stores. Among them, an attachment unit attached to the monitored product, the attachment unit including a detection unit for detecting whether or not the attachment unit is attached to the product, and the attachment unit from the detection unit is a product There is a merchandise theft monitoring device provided with an alarm device that issues an alarm based on detection information indicating that it is not attached to the device.

  As the attachment unit, a unit including a detection unit including a switch having an open / close contact and a mover that is spring-biased in a protruding direction so as to be pushed in is known. The switch is a switch that closes when the mover is pushed in when the attached unit is correctly attached to the product, and opens when the mover is released when the attached unit is removed from the product.

  In such an attachment unit, a switch such as a micro switch is used as a switch having an opening / closing contact of the detection unit.

An attachment unit of this type and a merchandise theft monitoring apparatus using the attachment unit are described in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3706820.
Japanese Patent No. 3706820

  However, an attachment unit having a switch such as a conventional micro switch is large to attach to a product displayed or displayed at a store because of the size of the switch, and becomes bulky when attached to a product. For products that are small and compact like today's products such as digital cameras, installing such a bulky attachment unit is an obstacle when customers see the product in their hands. Prone.

Therefore, the present invention is an attachment unit attached to a product and includes an attachment unit including a detection unit for detecting whether or not the product is attached to the product, and the attachment unit from the detection unit is not attached to the product. It is the attached unit for the merchandise theft monitoring device provided with an alarm device that issues an alarm based on the detection information indicating that it can be made compact and downsized as compared with the conventional attached unit of the same type not bulky be attached to the merchandise, less noticeable, also, miniaturization, be attached to the compacted products, the products the customer is an object of the present invention is to provide an attached unit which is not too disturbing when looking for the hand .

In addition, the present invention is an attachment unit attached to a product, the attachment unit including a detection unit for detecting whether or not the product is attached to the product, and the attachment unit from the detection unit is not attached to the product It is a commodity theft monitoring apparatus provided with an alarm device that issues an alarm based on detection information indicating that it is easy to apply to various products such as miniaturized and compact products. And

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have conducted research and have come to know the following.
That is, if a tact switch known as a small and compact switch is used instead of a bulky switch such as a microswitch, the attached unit can be made smaller and more compact accordingly.

However, the tact switch can be operated with a small pressing force, and may be damaged if a large force is applied excessively in order to reliably operate the contact.
On the other hand, the switch mounted on the attached unit is not used for monitoring unless the predetermined contact state is reliably maintained when the attached unit is attached to the monitoring target product and the pressing force is reliably applied.

  In addition, since the tact switch has a small amount of operation for opening and closing the contact, simply replacing the switch with the tact switch in the conventional attachment unit allows the attachment unit to be attached to the product. Even if the mover moves slightly, for example, when the display state of the product is changed or the customer picks up the product and looks at it, the switch contact is the same as when the attached unit is removed from the product. It moves and alerts the students.

  Therefore, further research has been conducted, and the tactile switch has been adopted to reduce the size and size of the attached unit, and when the attached unit is attached to the product, the desired switch contact can be made securely and without fear of damage to the switch due to the pressing force. It has been found that the state can be maintained, and further, the following can be performed to prevent the desired switch contact state from being released.

  That is, a compressible elastic member (for example, a sponge member, a rubber member, etc.) is arranged on the tact switch so that the tact switch is elastically supported from the back by the elastic member, and the activation part of the tact switch is connected via a spring. What is necessary is just to enable it to press with a needle | mover.

  In this way, when the attachment unit is attached to the product, the tact switch activation unit is pressed by the spring that is deformed as the mover is pushed by the product, and the elastic member is compressed and deformed while being pressed by the tact switch. Accordingly, the tact switch is maintained in a desired contact state safely without fear of damage while being supported by the elastic member while absorbing excessive switch pressing force due to the deformation of the spring and the compression deformation of the elastic member. The

  Further, the pushing amount for the switch pressing operation of the mover can be increased by the deformation of the spring and the compression of the elastic member, and the moving amount of the mover required for releasing the pressing operation of the switch can be increased by the return deformation and elasticity of the spring. It can be increased by the return deformation of the member, so that it is possible to prevent an alarm from being issued in the merchandise theft monitoring apparatus using the attached unit.

Based on the above findings, the present invention provides the following attached unit and commodity theft monitoring device.
(1) and attached units attached unit is a by which the attached units attached to attached units products include detection section for detecting whether or not attached to the product, is the attached unit from the detection unit to the product An attachment unit for a merchandise theft monitoring device comprising an alarm device that issues an alarm based on detection information indicating that it is not attached,
A switch housing case having a product abutting surface that abuts on the product, and a male thread portion projecting from the product abutting surface;
The detector is
A tact switch built in the switch storage case and a tact switch overlaid on the tact switch, and an elastic member that can be compressed by being pressed by the tact switch;
A mover loaded in a hole formed in the male screw part along the rotation axis direction of the male screw part so that a protruding amount from the hole is variable,
A spring loaded into the male screw hole so that one end is supported by the mover;
The tact switch and the elastic member are incorporated in the storage case so that the tact switch is positioned on the male screw portion side in a state of being overlapped with the elastic member, and the start portion of the switch can be pressed by the other end of the spring. And
The switch storage case is a state in which the movable element is pushed inward of the hole by the product against the spring by screwing the male screw portion into a female screw portion provided in the product. Can be attached to the product with
In the tact switch, when the switch storage case is not attached to the product, and the movable element is biased by the spring in a direction protruding from the male screw hole, the contact is opened, and the switch storage case When attached to the product by screwing the male screw portion into the female thread portion of the product, the elastic member is pressed by the spring that is elastically deformed as the mover is pushed by the product and compresses the elastic member. An attached unit that moves and closes contacts.

(2) Commodity theft monitoring device Attached unit according to the present invention,
An alarm device that issues an alarm based on detection information indicating that the attachment unit from the detection unit of the attachment unit is not attached to the product;
The alarm device is a merchandise theft monitoring device that issues an alarm when the contact of the tact switch of the attached unit is opened.

  The attachment unit according to the present invention and the attachment unit in the merchandise theft monitoring apparatus according to the present invention are configured such that the male screw portion of the switch storage case is screwed into the female screw portion provided in the monitored product so that the movable element is The product can be attached to the product while being pushed inward of the hole by the product against the spring.

  In the tact switch of the detection unit, the contact is opened when the switch housing case is not attached to the product and the movable element is biased by the spring in the direction protruding from the male screw hole.

  The tact switch is pressed by the spring that is elastically deformed as the mover is pushed in by the product when the switch storage case is attached to the product by screwing the male screw part into the female thread part of the product. Then, the elastic member is moved in the compressing direction and the contact is closed.

  At this time, the tact switch activation unit is pressed by the spring that is deformed as the mover is pushed by the product, and the elastic member is compressed and deformed while being pressed by the tact switch. Thereby, the tact switch is maintained in the closed contact state safely without fear of damage while being supported by the elastic member while the excessive switch pressing force is absorbed by the deformation of the spring and the compression deformation of the elastic member. .

  In addition, the amount of push-in for the switch pressing operation of the mover becomes larger than the amount of operation required for the switch activation part itself for closing the tact switch due to the deformation of the spring and the compression of the elastic member, which is required for the switch opening. The amount of movement of the mover is greater than the amount of operation required for the switch activation part itself for opening the switch due to the return deformation of the spring and the return deformation of the elastic member, and thus the attached unit was used. It is possible to prevent an alarm from being issued to the person in the merchandise theft monitoring device.

  Since the attached unit according to the present invention employs a tact switch as a switch of its detection unit, it can be made smaller and more compact, bulky even when attached to a product, less noticeable, and smaller and more compact. Even if it is attached to the product, it does not get in the way when the customer sees the product for the hand.

Since the commodity theft monitoring device according to the present invention employs the attachment unit according to the present invention as its attachment unit, the product, etc. that has been downsized and compacted with the safety of the detection unit switch of the attachment unit being enhanced. It is easy to apply to various products.

  The tact switch in the attached unit according to the present invention and the attached unit in the merchandise theft monitoring device according to the present invention is typically a surface mount type tact switch in order to reduce the size and size of the attached unit. be able to.

  The alarm device issues an alarm based on the detection information of the detector of the attached unit. Furthermore, an alarm is issued based on detection information indicating that the attached unit from the detection unit is not attached to the product.

  In this case, the “detection information indicating that the attached unit is not attached to the product” includes information indicating that the attached unit has been completely removed from the product, but the attached unit is still attached to the product. However, it may also include information indicating that the tactile switch has been opened because the tactile switch is not properly installed and is about to be removed.

  After the detection unit detects that the attached unit has been removed from the product, the alarm device may continue to issue an alarm even if the attached unit is attached to the product again. For example, the alarm device may issue an alarm at least when the contact of the tact switch is open.

  As the alarm, for example, various alarms such as a buzzer for generating an alarm by sound, a lamp for generating an alarm by light, and the like can be adopted. Alarm elements such as a buzzer and a lamp may be arranged in the attached unit.

  Examples of the product provided with the female screw portion for screwing the male screw portion of the attachment unit include, but are not limited to, a camera (including a digital camera) and a video camera (including a digital video camera). Many cameras and video cameras have a female thread for attaching a tripod to support it. By attaching the male screw portion of the attached unit to the female screw portion for attaching the tripod of the camera or video camera, the attached unit can be easily attached to the product (camera or video camera). In this case, the merchandise theft monitoring device can be used for theft monitoring of cameras and video cameras.

  The male thread portion of the attachment unit may be a screw that can be screwed into the female screw portion of the product from the beginning, or may be a male screw that can be screwed into the product screw while being threaded by the female screw portion of the product. . In this case, the male thread portion of the attachment unit can be rephrased as a portion or member that can be screwed into the female thread portion of the product.

  In this way, the attachment unit can be attached to the product by screwing the external thread portion of the attachment unit into the internal thread portion of the product regardless of the pitch of the internal thread portion of the product.

As described above, according to the present invention, an attachment unit attached to a product and including an attachment unit that detects whether or not the product is attached to the product, and the attachment unit from the detection unit is a product. The attachment unit for a merchandise theft monitoring device comprising an alarm device that issues an alarm based on detection information indicating that it is not attached to the device, and is more compact and smaller than a conventional attachment unit of the same type It is possible to provide an attachment unit that can be bulky even if attached to a product, is inconspicuous, and does not get in the way when a customer sees the product for a hand even if it is attached to a compact and compact product. be able to.

Moreover, according to the present invention, the attached unit comprising a detection unit for detecting whether or not attached to merchandise A attached units attached to the product, is the attached unit from the detection unit is attached to the product A product theft monitoring device including an alarm device that issues an alarm based on detection information indicating that there is no information, and provides a product theft monitoring device that can be easily applied to various types of products such as miniaturized and compact products. it can.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an example of a merchandise theft monitoring device.

  The merchandise theft monitoring device A1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an alarm device AD and an attachment unit AU1. The merchandise theft monitoring device A1 includes two auxiliary units AU1 in this example.

  A schematic cross-sectional view of the attachment unit AU1 is shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state where the attachment unit AU1 is attached to the product.

  The attached unit AU1 is attached to products (monitored products) G1 and G2 to be monitored so as not to be stolen or shoplifted.

  The monitoring target products G1 and G2 are a camera and a video camera, respectively, in this example. The camera G1, which is a product to be monitored, has a female thread portion G1s for attaching a tripod. Similarly, the video camera G2 also has a female thread portion G2s for mounting a tripod. As will be described in detail later, the attachment unit AU1 is attached to the monitored product using a female screw portion provided in the monitored product.

  The alarm device AD can issue an alarm based on information detected by the attached unit AU1. Furthermore, the alarm device AD does not issue an alarm when the attachment unit AU1 is attached to the product and a contact of a tact switch 41 described later is closed. However, the alarm device AD issues an alarm when the attached unit AU1 is removed from the product or is greatly lifted and a contact of a tact switch 41 described later is opened. This warning can suppress theft and shoplifting of goods. The detection information of the attached unit AU1 is transmitted to the alarm device AD by the code 2 extending from the attached unit.

The auxiliary unit AU1 is configured as follows.
The attachment unit AU1 includes a product abutting surface 31 that abuts against a product, includes a switch storage case 3 in which a male screw portion 32 protrudes from the product abutting surface, and includes a detection unit 4. ing. The case 3 has a substantially circular shape when viewed from above, and the peripheral surface is a non-slip uneven surface (not shown).

  The detection unit 4 includes a tact switch 41 built in the switch storage case 3 and an elastic member 42 that is disposed on the tact switch and is compressed by being pressed by the tact switch. The detection unit 4 further includes a mover 43 loaded in a hole 321 formed in the male screw portion 32 along the direction of the rotation axis, and a compression coil spring 44 that urges the mover 43.

  The tact switch 41 is a surface mount type thin tact switch. For example, a surface mount type 0.6 (H) mm thin tact switch (P / N SKRRAAE010) manufactured by Alps Electric Co., Ltd. can be used. A cord 2 is connected to the switch 41, and the cord 2 is drawn out of the case.

  In this example, the elastic member 42 is made of an elastically deformable sponge material, but may be made of another elastically deformable material made of rubber or the like. The elastic member 42 may be a sheet-like member laminated on the tact switch 41, but here is a cylindrical member. By making the elastic member 42 into a cylindrical shape such as a cylindrical shape in this way, when the tact switch 41 is pushed by the spring 44 and moves in the direction of compressing the elastic member 42 as will be described later, the resistance by the elastic member The amount of movement of the switch can be increased with a moderate value.

  The mover 43 is loaded in the male screw hole 321 so that the amount of protrusion from the hole is variable. A portion of the mover 43 inserted into the male screw hole 321 is composed of a large diameter portion 431 and a spring fitting portion 432 provided continuously therewith. The mover 43 is prevented from coming off from the hole 321 by the large diameter portion 431.

  The tact switch 41 and the elastic member 42 are accommodated in the case 3 with the tact switch directed toward the male threaded portion 32, and when the attachment unit AU1 is not attached to the product as shown in FIG. The member 42 is in contact with the inner surface of the case lower wall 34. It is also possible to move toward the case ceiling wall 33 while compressing the elastic member 42. The end of the elastic member 42 opposite to the switch 41 is in contact with the inner surface of the case ceiling wall 33.

The activation part 411 of the tact switch 41 faces the male screw hole 321. The starting part 411 has a spring fitting part 411a.
The compression coil spring 44 is built in the male screw hole 321, and one end of the compression coil spring 44 is fitted to the spring fitting part 432 of the mover 43 so as to be supported by the large diameter part 431 of the mover. The end portion is fitted into the spring fitting portion 411a of the activation portion 411 of the tact switch 41 and is supported by the activation portion.

  In the attachment unit AU1 described above, the movable element 43 is pushed by the spring 44 and protrudes from the male screw hole 321 when not attached to the product as shown in FIG. The switch contacts the inner surface of the case lower wall 34 and the contact of the switch is open.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the attachment unit AU1 includes a male threaded portion 32 screwed into a female threaded portion G1s (G2s) provided in the monitored product G1 (G2) so that the product contact surface 31 of the case 3 It can be attached as it comes into contact with the product.

  When the attachment unit AU1 is attached to the product in this way, the mover 43 is pushed inward of the male screw hole 321 at the female thread bottom b of the product against the spring 44.

  Then, the tact switch activation unit 411 is pressed by the spring 44 that is deformed as the movable element 43 is pushed by the product, and the elastic member 42 is compressed and deformed while being pressed by the tact switch 41. As a result, the tact switch 41 is in a closed contact state safely with no fear of damage while being supported by the elastic member 42 while absorbing excessive switch pressing force due to deformation of the spring 44 and compression deformation of the elastic member 42. Maintained.

  Further, the pressing amount for the switch pressing operation of the mover 43 is larger than the operation amount required for the switch activation part 411 itself for closing the tact switch due to the deformation of the spring 44 and the compression of the elastic member 42.

When the attachment unit AU1 is removed from the commodity G1 (G2), the attachment unit AU1 returns to the state shown in FIG. 2 by the elastic restoring force of the spring 44 and the elastic member 42, and the contact of the switch 41 is opened.
At this time, the amount of movement of the mover required for opening the switch is greater than the amount of operation required for the switch activation unit 411 itself for opening the switch due to the return deformation of the spring 44 and the return deformation of the elastic member 42.

  Therefore, for example, a store clerk changes the display state of the product while the attached unit AU1 is attached to the product, or the mover 43 slightly moves when the customer picks up the product and looks at it. Even when it is not in a state where an alarm should be originally issued, the switch contact is opened in the same manner as when the attached unit AU1 is removed from the product, and the occurrence of a situation where an alarm is automatically issued is prevented.

  In addition, the attached unit AU1 employs a tact switch 41 as a switch of the detecting unit 4, so that it can be reduced in size and size, and is bulky even when attached to a product, is not noticeable, and is also reduced in size and size. Even if it is attached to a product, it does not get in the way when the customer sees the product.

  In addition, since the product theft monitoring device A1 employs the attached unit AU1 as the attached unit, it is possible to reduce the size, size, etc. of the attached unit with the safety of the detection unit switch being increased. Easy to apply to various products.

Next, an example of a circuit of the alarm device AD will be described with reference to FIG.
The alarm device AD includes a buzzer BZ1 and a light emitting diode lamp LP1 as an alarm device (alarm element), and a drive circuit for driving the alarm device based on information sent from the attached unit AU1.

  The alarm device AD has five female connectors 81 for connecting the cord 2 extending from the attachment unit AU1 in this example. A male connector (not shown) corresponding to the female connector 81 of the alarm device AD is provided at the end of the cord 2 on the side connected to the alarm device AD, so that the cord 2 can be easily connected to the alarm device AD. it can. The short circuit wire 82 is connected to the connector 81 to which the cord 2 is not connected.

  In the alarm device AD, the excitation state of the relay coil RC and the on / off state of the transistor Tr1 are controlled based on the switch contact state of each attached unit AU1. Thereby, the open / close state of the relay contacts RS1 and RS2 is controlled, and voltage application from the power source PS to the alarm is controlled. The relay contacts RS1 and RS2 both open and close according to the excitation state of the relay coil RC.

  The relay contact RS1 has three terminals RS1a, RS1b, and RS1c, and the terminal RS1c is a common terminal. A normally open contact is constituted by the terminals RS1a and RS1c. Moreover, the normally closed contact is comprised by terminal RS1b and RS1c. The other relay contact RS2 is a normally open contact.

  When the alarm device AD is used, each attachment unit AU1 is attached to the product, the contact 4c (see FIG. 4) of the tact switch 41 is closed, and then the main switch MSW is closed. In this initial state, the transistor Tr1 is off, the relay coil RC is not excited, and the relay contact RS2 is open. Therefore, no voltage is applied from the power source PS to the buzzer BZ1 and the lamp LP1, which are alarm devices, and no alarm is issued.

  When the contact 4c in at least one attached unit is opened from the initial state, the transistor Tr1 is turned on, the relay coil RC is excited, the relay contact RS2 is closed, and a voltage is applied to the buzzer BZ1 and the lamp LP1. As a result, the buzzer BZ1 and the lamp LP1, which are alarm devices, issue an alarm. Once the relay coil RC is energized, the excited state is maintained by the self-contact RS2 connected in series with the power source PS. Therefore, even if the transistor Tr1 is turned off, the buzzer BZ1 and the lamp LP1 continue to issue an alarm. . This alarm continues until the main switch MSW is turned off.

  An alarm is also generated when the lead wire 21 or (and) 22 of the cable 2 is cut from the initial state, or when the cable 2 is pulled out from the connector 81 of the alarm device AD.

  An alarm device (in this example, a buzzer BZ2) may be connected in parallel with the switch contact 4c as in the attachment unit AU1 on the right side of FIG. In this way, when the contact 4c is closed, no voltage is applied to the buzzer BZ2, and no alarm is issued. When the contact 4c is opened, a voltage is applied to the buzzer BZ2 from the power source PS via the resistor R2, and an alarm is issued from the buzzer BZ2.

  If the alarm device is arranged in the attached unit in this way, an alarm is issued at the site where theft and shoplifting are performed. Furthermore, an alarm is issued at the thief who removed the attached unit from the product. In some cases, it is possible to suppress theft and shoplifting when the alarm is issued at the thief's hand, rather than at a position as far as possible from the thief's hand. This alarm can also inform the thief that the thief has found an attempt to steal the item.

  Of course, the alarm may be issued at a place where the thief is not aware that the alarm has been issued (for example, a place away from the display place of the product).

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used to provide a merchandise theft monitoring device that can be used to prevent theft of merchandise such as merchandise displayed at a store.

It is a schematic block diagram of an example of the goods theft monitoring apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing of an attachment unit. It is a figure which shows a mode that the attachment unit was attached to goods. It is a circuit diagram of an example of an alarm device.

Explanation of symbols

A1 Commodity theft monitoring device AU1 Attached unit 2 Cord (cable)
21 and 22 Lead wire 3 of code 2 Case 31 Product contact surface 32 Male thread portion 33 Case ceiling wall 34 Case lower wall 4 Detection portion 41 Tact switch 411 Switch activation portion 411a Spring fitting portion 42 Elastic member 43 Movable element 431 Movable Large diameter portion of child 432 Spring fitting portion G1, G2 Product G1s, G2s Product female screw part b Female screw part bottom AD Alarm device BZ1, BZ2 Buzzer LP1 Light-emitting diode lamp 81 Connector 82 Short-circuit RC Relay coil Tr1 Transistors RS1, RS2 Relay contact 4c Tactile switch contact

Claims (4)

An attachment unit attached to the product, the attachment unit including a detection unit for detecting whether or not the attachment unit is attached to the product, and the attachment unit from the detection unit is not attached to the product a the attached unit for product theft monitoring device and a warning device for issuing an alarm based on the detection information indicating,
A switch housing case having a product abutting surface that abuts on the product, and a male thread portion projecting from the product abutting surface;
The detector is
A tact switch built in the switch storage case and a tact switch overlaid on the tact switch, and an elastic member that can be compressed by being pressed by the tact switch;
A mover loaded in a hole formed in the male screw part along the rotation axis direction of the male screw part so that a protruding amount from the hole is variable,
A spring loaded into the male screw hole so that one end is supported by the mover;
The tact switch and the elastic member are built in the storage case so that the tact switch is positioned on the male screw portion side in a state of being overlapped with the elastic member, and the activation part of the switch can be pressed by the other end of the spring. And
The switch storage case is a state in which the movable element is pushed inward of the hole by the product against the spring by screwing the male screw portion into a female screw portion provided in the product. Can be attached to the product with
In the tact switch, when the switch storage case is not attached to the product, and the movable element is biased by the spring in a direction protruding from the male screw hole, the contact is opened, and the switch storage case When the male thread portion is attached to the product by screwing the male thread portion into the female thread portion of the product, the elastic member is compressed and deformed by being pressed by the spring that is elastically deformed as the mover is pushed by the product. The contact is closed when the mover is pushed and the amount of pushing operation of the mover is larger than the amount of operation of the tact switch of the starting unit required for the switch starting unit itself to close the tact switch. When the male screw part screwed into the female screw part is detached from the product female screw part, the movable element is elastically deformed by the spring and elastic member by the elastic return deformation. Protruding from the male screw portion hole by and, that the projecting operation amount, to contacts opened by greater than the operating amount of the tact switch of the said activation unit required for the switch start unit itself for the tact switch open A featured attachment unit.   The attachment unit according to claim 1, wherein the tact switch is a surface mount type tact switch. The elastic member is a cylindrical member, and is arranged with respect to the tact switch so that compressive deformation by the tact switch occurs in the central axis direction of the cylindrical member and is built in the switch storage case. Attached unit according to 2 . Attached unit according to claim 1, 2, or 3,
An alarm device that issues an alarm based on detection information indicating that the attachment unit from the detection unit of the attachment unit is not attached to the product;
The commodity theft monitoring apparatus, wherein the alarm device issues an alarm when a contact of a tact switch of the attached unit is opened.