WO2008144952A1

WO2008144952A1 - Container for protecting an object against theft, and tool and method for opening the container

Info

Publication number: WO2008144952A1
Application number: PCT/CH2008/000237
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cornel BRÜHWILER
Original assignee: Pataco Ag
Priority date: 2007-06-01
Filing date: 2008-05-27
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: EP2158369A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a closable container (10) for protecting an object against theft, wherein the closure of the container has a displaceable lock (50) which prevents the container from being opened when the container is closed and the lock is in a locking position, and wherein the displacement of the lock from the locking position into an unlocking position is possible only from the outside by utilizing a special tool (80). It is proposed according to the invention that the lock can be displaced from the locking position into the unlocking position by means of a threaded spindle (60) which is rotatably mounted in the container, and a spindle nut which is threaded onto the spindle and connected to the lock. The spindle is provided with a magnet, the polar axis of which is oriented perpendicular to the spindle axis. According to the invention, it is suggested that the special tool (80) for opening the container (10) have two electromagnets (84, 85) which can be arranged at the corner of two walls (32, 38) of the container which are perpendicular to each other, and an electronic controller (86) which applies current of a suitable polarity and phase to the electromagnets from a current source (87), for the purpose of generating a magnetic rotary field. For opening the container, the union of the tool according to the invention and the container according to the invention produces a step motor, with the two electromagnets of the tool as the stator, and with the spindle and the connected magnet of the container as the rotor.

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE

Container for theft prevention of an object and tool and method for opening the container

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a closable container for theft prevention of an article, wherein the closure of the container has an adjustable latch, which in a closed container

Locking position prevents opening of the container and wherein the adjustment of the bolt from the locking position into an unlocked position from the outside is possible only with the aid of a special tool.

Such known as "safer" containers are used in shops that are equipped with an electronic anti-theft security system, with the detected by the security system and in a theft attempt to trigger an alarm circuits, e.g. enclosed in the form of so-called tags together with the object to be secured inside the container and thereby arranged inaccessible to the customer. So that the objects to be sold are visible in the containers, they usually consist of a transparent plastic material.

If a product is properly paid for, it will be removed from the container by the sales staff using the special tool available to it and can then be taken from the store by the customer without triggering an alarm. The container remains in the store and can be returned filled with a new object back into the display. STATE OF THE ART

Securing containers of the type mentioned above are e.g. from EP 0 616 103 B1 or EP 1 496 179 A1. In the known containers a likewise cup-shaped bottom part is hinged to a cup-shaped cover part by means of hinges. The adjustable latch is in a narrow compartment between the

Front wall of the lid part and a partition wall is housed in this part. When the container is closed, the bolt engages behind in its locking position in EP 0 616 103 with projecting lugs projecting contours on the bottom part. In EP 1 496 179 he intervenes in this position in overlapping eyelets on the lid and on the bottom part.

To secure the bolt in its locking position against adjustment in its unlocked position in the known storage containers in the said compartment fixedly arranged metal band with three resilient tongues present, which engage in recesses of the bolt in the locking position of the bolt. In order to release the engagement of the spring tongues, a special mechanical key with three angled hooks, as described in EP 0 616 103 B1, is required as a special tool.

EP 0 508 201 B1 discloses a theft deterrent device comprising a container and a movable in the container, the object to be secured with a bracket embracing latch made of a magnetic material which in its locking position with a arranged on a resilient leg locking lug in a Locking slot of the container engages. This lock can be solved with a force acting on the resilient leg from the outside through the wall of the container through the magnet as a special tool.

In addition to the aforementioned a variety of other anti-theft devices with mechanical and / or magnetic locks are known and in practical use.

It has been found that the known training no longer fully meet the increased safety requirements. On the one hand, meanwhile, sufficiently strong but quite small permanent magnets are relatively easily available, with which the magnetic locks can be unlocked. On the other hand, mechanical keys can fall into the wrong hands and be made if necessary.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a container of the type mentioned above, which is safer against unauthorized opening, in which the opening with a special tool still in a simple manner and without the need for special knowledge or skill can perform.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a container having the features specified in claim 1. The inventive container is therefore characterized in that the bolt is adjustable by means of a rotatably mounted in the container threaded spindle and threaded thereon and connected to the bolt spindle nut from the locking position to the unlocked position, wherein the spindle is provided with a magnet, the polar axis perpendicular aligned with the spindle axis.

The unlocking takes place here magnetically from the outside without mechanical intervention in the container, wherein the spindle is rotated by interaction between the magnet, with which it is provided and an external rotating magnetic field and the bolt is thereby displaced. The security of this solution results from the fact that without special equipment it is difficult to produce a suitable external rotating magnetic field, especially when a plurality of revolutions of the spindle is required to effect the unlocking.

A particularly suitable for opening the inventive container, also belonging to invention tool is given in claim 7. This tool is therefore characterized in that it comprises two arranged at a corner with their poles perpendicular to each other, can be applied to two mutually perpendicular walls of the container electromagnets and an electronic control, which the electromagnets from a current source with current of suitable polarity and phase to produce a magnetic rotating field applied. Finally, the invention also relates to a method for opening a container according to the invention with a tool according to the invention as specified in claim 15. The method is accordingly characterized in that by bringing the tool and the container together, a stepping motor is produced with the two electromagnets of the tool as stator and with the spindle and the magnet of the container connected to it as rotor.

The features characterized in the respective subclaims define preferred embodiments which are advantageous for the function and / or handling of the container according to the invention, its closure and the tool according to the invention provided for unlocking the closure or have a favorable effect on the method according to the invention. In particular, it is therefore envisaged that the inventive mechanism not only for unlocking but also to reverse the effect of reversing the container closure form and use.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 in section (A - A) constructed from a cup-shaped bottom part and a pivotally hinged thereto cup-shaped cover part inventive container under a) in the closed and under b) in the unfolded state;

Fig. 2 shows the lid part of the container of Figure 1 in plan view also its inside with the closure contained therein.

3 shows a perspective detail enlargement of the closure region of the cover part;

4 is a perspective view of the spindle provided with a magnet of the closure with its spindle nut. Fig. 5 in section (B -B) the closure of the inventive container under a) in the unlocked and unfolded and under b) in the closed and locked state;

6 shows a container according to the invention and a tool according to the invention attached thereto for locking or unlocking under a) in side view and under b) in plan view;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section (C - C) through the container and the tool of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section (D-D) through the container and the tool of Fig. 6; and

9 shows a diagram of the time course of the excitation currents of the electromagnets present in the tool according to the invention.

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The container 10 shown in the figures serves to secure an object, which in principle may be of any kind and is not shown in the figures. The object to be secured, possibly including its packaging, must be able to be picked up by the container 10. With regard to its size and shape, the container is preferably adapted to the object to be secured in order to apply as little as possible to it. A typical dimension for the container is e.g. a length of 20 - 30 cm, a width of 10 - 20 cm and a thickness of 2 - 5 cm. So that the object is visible in the container, this is made of a transparent plastic material.

Denoted 70 in FIG. 2 is a tag of an electronic article surveillance (EAS) disposed in the container which is detectable at the exit of a retail store equipped with such a security system in a theft attempt. In case of such an attempt, an alarm will be triggered. The container 10 has a cup-shaped bottom part 20 and a likewise cup-shaped cover part 30, which are articulated by joints 40 in the region of their rear walls 21 and 31 pivotally to each other.

In the cover part 30 is at a distance from its front wall 32, a partition 33 is provided, through which a narrow compartment 34 is delimited. In the compartment 34, a latch 50 is provided as a functional part of the container closure. The bolt 50 is made of a sheet material punching and / or embossing technology and has two protruding lugs 51. In the compartment 34 of the cover part of the latch 50 is held by one hand, two formed on the partition 33 cam 35 in two

Recesses 52 engage the bolt 50 and on the other hand on the front wall 32 of the cover member 30 integrally formed against the partition wall 33 projecting ribs 36 hold the latch 50 in abutment against the partition wall 33 and thus in engagement with the cam 35. As further functional parts of the container closure 22 hooks 23 are formed on the bottom part 20 behind the front wall.

The latch 50 is adjustable in the compartment 34 between an unlocking and a locking position. The two recesses 52 of the bolt are designed as longitudinal slots. Figures 2, 3, 5b) and 8 show the bolt 50 in its locking position. Only Fig. 5a) shows the latch 50 in its unlocked position.

When the container 10 is closed and the latch 50 engages in its locking position, the two hooks 23 on the bottom part 20 engage behind the lugs 51 on the latch 50, as can be seen in FIG. 5 b), so that opening of the container 10 is not possible , Only when the latch 50 is brought into its unlocked position, the hooks 23 are no longer in engagement with the lugs 51 and the container 10 can be opened.

To adjust the bolt 50 is a fixed in the compartment 34 of the cover member 30 but rotatably mounted threaded spindle 60 which is passed with a permanent magnet 61 and on which a spindle nut 62 is threaded. The polar axis of the electromagnet 61, ie its north-south direction is perpendicular to the spindle axis aligned. The spindle nut 62 is firmly connected to the bolt. Therefore, the latch 50 can only move when the spindle nut rotates.

The displacement between the locking position and the unlocked position is e.g. 7 mm. The threaded spindle 60 may in this case be a commercially available screw with a standard thread of type M3 with a pitch of 0.5 mm. For the mentioned adjustment then 14 revolutions are needed. This number is only an example. For safety reasons, the number of required revolutions should not be less than 3 and, preferably, greater than 10. It can be chosen by using a threaded spindle with a fine thread quite well greater than 50.

When the container is closed, the spindle nut 60 is not accessible. To turn them from outside the container, a special tool is required. Such a tool 80 is shown in FIGS. 6-8. With the tool 80, the spindle 60 is rotated by magnetic interaction with the magnet 61 attached thereto. The tool 80 functionally forms the stator of a stepping motor whose rotor is formed by the spindle.

The tool 80 is designed as a handheld device and has a correspondingly shaped housing 81. The housing 81 is provided with a recessed corner formed by two mutually perpendicular walls 82 and 83. In the interior of the housing, two electromagnets 84 and 85 are arranged on these walls 82, 83 over corner and with their poles perpendicular to these walls. Connected are the electromagnets 84, 85 with an electronic controller 86, which is powered by a battery or a battery 87 with electrical energy. It would also be possible to connect the tool 80 via a cable to an external power source.

Due to the described geometry, the tool 80, as shown in Figures 6-8, with its recessed corner on one of the edges of the container 10, for example, the front outer edge 37 of the cover member 30, are applied so that the wall 82 in abutment the cover plate 38 and the wall 83 comes to rest in abutment with the front wall 32 of the cover part 30, which is perpendicular to the cover plate 38. Here, the two electromagnets 84 and 85, only separated by the walls 82 and 83, come to rest against these walls of the container 10.

In the compartment 34 of the cover part 30, the threaded spindle 60 is arranged with its spindle axis parallel to these walls 32 and 38 as well as approximately the same distance from them. The threaded spindle 60 is thereby arranged with the tool 80 with its spindle axis perpendicular to the polar axis of the two electromagnets 84, 85 and also approximately the same distance to them.

For the function of the tool 80, it is favorable if this is applied to the container such that the pole axes of the two electromagnets 84, 85 come to lie approximately at the level of the spindle magnet 61. Such positioning of the tool can also be forced by e.g. a projecting on the tool 80 pin when the tool on the container 10 engages in an opening thereof. A corresponding opening in the cover part 30 of the container 10 can be seen in Figures 2 and 3 and designated 39.

With the tool 80, the threaded spindle is set in rotation by the two electromagnets 84, 85 are energized by the controller 86 so that cutting area of their pole axes and thus in the region of the spindle magnet 61 produces a magnetic rotating field. FIG. 9 shows the time profile of two suitable excitation currents 11 and 12, wherein the scale of rotation of the spindle magnet 61 is used as a scale along the time axis. The value "0" corresponds approximately to a rotational position of the spindle magnet 61, in which its polar axis is aligned at an angle of 45 ° to the pole axes of two electromagnets 84, 85. The two currents 11 and 12 change their polarity and are phase-shifted by about 90 ° in accordance with the arrangement of the electromagnets on the corner. By changing the polarity or changing the phase shift, the direction of rotation of the rotating field and thus the threaded spindle 60 can be changed.

As can be seen in Figure 7, the rear end of the cores of the electromagnets 84, 85 is formed each bevelled. This ensures that the field lines of the magnets the other magnet as good as not enforce, creating a lower mutual interference of the two magnets and an improved rotating field is achieved.

In the above-mentioned dimensioning of the threaded spindle 60 and the adjustment of the bolt 50, the polarity change of the currents at a frequency in the range between about 5 - 20 Herz low, where it is additionally favorable to increase the frequency during an adjustment process. For the adjustment of the bolt 50 is needed about 1 sec.

The tool 80 is further preferably provided with at least one actuating button 88, by actuation of which the control 86 and via this the electromagnets 84, 85 are activated and an adjustment of the bolt 50 is triggered.

Of course, the controller 86 must know each which direction of rotation is required for an adjustment of the bolt 50 depending on its respective position. That could be communicated by the user, for example, by two, the different directions of rotation associated actuating buttons 88 are provided. Preferably, however, means are provided with which the controller 86 can determine the required direction of rotation itself.

As such means, the slider 50 could be provided with a small position magnet 53 and the tool with a sensor for this magnet e.g. be provided in the form of a Hall probe (not shown). The position of the bolt then results from the relative position of the position magnet 53 to the sensor, which, however, assumes that the tool 80 is always applied in approximately the same position on the container 10. As described above, this can be easily ensured.

As another means for determining the respective required direction of rotation, an RFID tag could be provided in the container 10 and a read and write head (not shown) in the tool 80 for such an RFID tag. In this case, it would be particularly appropriate to form the already mentioned tag 70 as an RFID tag. In the RFID tag, the information about the current position of the bolt 50 could be stored electronically and with the read and write head in front of each Adjustment be read out. After each successful adjustment, the RFID tag would have to be rewritten with the read and write head.

The use of an RFID tag 70 in the container 10 and at least one read head for such a tag in the tool 80 would have the further advantage that a code could be electronically stored in the RFID tag. In particular, this code could be read from the RFID tag before each unlocking with the read head and compared by the controller with a code stored in it. Only if both codes match then the unlocking could be performed. In this way, a particular tool 80 could be functionally linked to a group of e.g. in a given store existing containers 10 are assigned and e.g. to prevent these containers from being mixed with another, e.g. can be opened from another store or even copied tool.

Means could also be provided in the tool 80 for detecting the rotation of the lead screw and, e.g. to signal a fault when the spindle is locked. As a motion sensor for the spindle, e.g. an induction coil (not shown) connected to the control can be provided in the region between the two electromagnets, in which voltage pulses caused by the spindle magnet are induced during its rotation. As a means for signaling a fault, a signal lamp 89 could be attached to the tool 80, which, however, could also be used to signal other disturbances and / or conversely to signal a successful function.

To complicate a replica of the tool whose housing 81 could also be poured with a potting compound.

The handling of the tool 80 according to the invention for unlocking the container according to the invention is, in particular if use is made of the above-described preferred embodiments, very simple and requires no particular skill of the operator. Therefore, the inventive system of container 10 and tool 80 is particularly suitable to be served by the customers of a shop if necessary even, after they have properly paid the goods contained in the container at a cash register.

In the embodiment described above, the bolt is adjusted in both directions between its locking position and its unlocked position by means of the spindle. However, it would also be possible to perform only the release on this and provide a different mechanism for locking.

It would also be possible, in kinematic reversal of the above-described closure principle, to turn a screw in a thread which is fixed in the container and thus to tighten the container as it were.

NAME LIST

J container

20 bottom part

21 rear wall of the bottom part

22 front wall of the bottom part

23 hooks

30 lid part

31 Rear wall of the cover part

32 front wall of the lid part

33 Partition in the lid part

34 compartment in the lid part

35 cams

36 ribs

37 front outer edge of the lid part 30

38 cover plate 38 of the lid part

39 opening in the lid part 30th

40 joints

50 bars

51 noses on the latch

52 recesses of the bolt

53 Position magnet on the bolt 50

60 threaded spindle

61 permanent magnet

62 spindle nut

70 EAS tag or RFID tag

80 tool

81 housing of the tool 80

82 Wall of the housing 81

83 walls of the housing 81

84 electromagnet

85 electromagn

86 electronic control

87 Battery or rechargeable battery

88 operating button

89 signal lamp

11, 12 excitation currents

Claims

1. A closable container for theft prevention of an object, wherein the closure of the container has an adjustable latch which prevents opening of the container with the container closed in a locking position and wherein the adjustment of the bolt from the locking position to an unlocked position from the outside only with the aid of a special Tool is possible, characterized in that the bolt is adjustable by means of a rotatably mounted in the container threaded spindle and threaded thereon and connected to the bolt spindle nut from the locking position to the unlocked position, wherein the spindle is provided with a magnet whose pole axis perpendicular to Spindle axis is aligned.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that for adjusting the bolt from the locking position into the unlocking position, a plurality of

Revolutions of the spindle is required, preferably more than three revolutions, but more preferably more than ten revolutions.

3. Container according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the spindle is arranged in the container with its spindle axis parallel to two mutually perpendicular walls and preferably with approximately the same distance to these walls.

4. Container according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the bolt by means of the threaded spindle and the spindle nut also from the

Unlocking position is adjustable in the locked position.

5. Container according to one of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that in the container an RFID tag is arranged.

6. Container according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the slide is provided with a position magnet.

7. Tool for opening the container according to one of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that it comprises two arranged at a corner with their poles, can be applied to two mutually perpendicular walls of the container electromagnets and an electronic control, which the electromagnets from a power source applied with current of suitable polarity and phase for generating a magnetic rotating field.

8. Tool according to claim 7, characterized in that it is provided with an actuating knob, by actuation of which the control and via this the electromagnets are activated.

9. Tool according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that it is provided with electronic means for signaling its operating state and / or a fault.

10. Tool according to one of claims 7 - 9, characterized in that it is provided with a control circuit connected to the induction coil as a movement sensor for the spindle of the container.

11. Tool according to one of claims 7 - 10, characterized in that it is equipped with a writing and / or reading head for the RFID tag according to claim 5.

12. Tool according to one of claims 7 - 11, characterized in that it is provided with a sensor connected to the magnetic sensor.

13. Tool according to one of claims 7- 12, characterized in that it is integrated in a durable housing in the hand.

14. Tool according to claim 13, characterized in that the housing is poured with a potting compound.

15. A method for opening a container according to any one of claims 1-6 with a tool according to one of claims 7 - 14, characterized in that by bringing the tool and the container together, a stepping motor is produced with the two electromagnets of the tool as a stator and with the spindle and the magnet of the container connected to it as a rotor.

16. The method of claim 15 using a tool according to

Claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the movement of the spindle is detected with the induction coil as a motion sensor and a failure is signaled in the absence of movement with the electronic means for signaling.

17. The method according to any one of claims 15 or 16 for opening a container according to claim 5 with a tool according to claim 11 with RFI D read head, characterized in that in the RFID tag, a code is stored electronically, which before each opening with the Read head is read out of the RFID tag and compared by the controller with a code stored in it and that only when both codes match an opening is executed by the controller.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 - 17 for opening or closing a container according to claims 4 and 5 with a tool according to claim 11 with RFID read and write head, characterized in that the RFID tag after each opening and closing with the writing and reading head is described with information about the current position of the bolt that determines the current position of the bolt before each opening and closing by reading this information with the read and write head and executed depending on an opening or closing by the controller becomes.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15 -17 for opening and closing a container according to claim 6 with a tool according to claim 12, characterized in that the container and the tool are brought into a certain relative position to each other that with the magnetic sensor of

Detected position magnet and above the current position of the bolt determined and that depending on an opening or closing is performed by the controller.