GB2199172A - Security device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is for securing articles, particularly carpets, textile materials and the like, against undetected interference or pilfering and comprises a housing 10 conveniently containing an alarm circuit and power battery, provided with at least one main needle 16, pref. surrounded by guard needles 32, projecting from its base and mounted for limited axial displacement relative to the base. When the needle is thrust into an article or stack of articles, e.g. carpets, until the base abuts them, the main needle(s) is/are retained against resilient loading 28 at a retracted position keeping the alarm circuit de-activated. Any disturbance or attempt to withdraw the main needle(s) will displace the latter in the housing causing the alarm to operate e.g. by means of a microswitch 26. Additional and subsidiary devices for further security are also described. One of these devices comprises a separate static needle device, Fig 2 (not shown) which can be thrust through an article(s) to be protected and a connector for attachment to a distal end part of the needle device after it has been so thrust to complete a circuit. Other devices may include a motion detector responsive to vibration and/or tilting of the protected article. <IMAGE>

Description

Security Device This invention relates to security devices for securing goods such as stock in a shop or warehouse against undetected interference or pilfering.

Various types of electrical or electronic security devices;are known, usually involving the sounding of an audible alarm when activited. In one type of device a security tag is attached to an article of stock which will cause-an alarm to sound if the tagged article is taken past a detector e.g.

at the doorway of a shop. In another system a loop of wire in circuit with the alarm is linked through parts of the articles so that they cannot be removed without breaking the loop.

While these methods are useful in some circumstances they are not suitable for all kinds of merchandise and/or do not provide adequate security for high value articles such as carpets, textile materials and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a security device which is particularly easy to install and operate yet which is reliable in use and proof against unauthorised tampering or interference.

According to the invention there is provided a security device including a housing having one or more main needles projecting from its base, the or each said needle being mounted for limited axial displacement relative to the base whereby when the main needle or needles are operatively thrust into an article or stack of articles to be protected using the cap or housing until said base abuts a face of the article or stack, the engagement of the needle or needles therein will retain it or them at a retracted position against resiliant loading within the housing, an alarm circuit to which the device is connected in use being activated on any disturbance of the article or articles or the device which causes the or any of the main needles to be displaced from said retracted position.

Preferably the device further includes a plurality of secondary needles in parallel spaced relationship around the main needle or needles or each of them to prevent ready access to the main needle shank or shanks immediately adjacent to the housing.

These secondary needles may themselves be operatively connected into the alarm circuit so that interference with them, e.g. shorting of adjacent secondary needles due to insertion of a knife blade or other metal object, will activate the circuit.

The device may further include a battery or other power source operatively located within housing for powering the alarm circuit, preferably access to the power source, e.g. in a compartment for a battery, can only be obtained by way of the base of the housing to prevent undetected interference with the power source when the device is positioned and activated.

Further security devices maybe provided interconnected with the alarm circuit, for example a conventional closed loop type of cable could be connected into the alarm circuit for protecting further articles and this might include a separate static needle device (which may also be provided with secondary guard needles as referred to above) which can be thrust through e.g. an individual carpet, for example when displayed on a wall, the ring circuit being closed by attaching a connector to the distal end part of the main needle after it has been thrust through the carpet or other article.

An example of the invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional side elevation of a security device for use with stacked carpets or other like articles.

Figure 2 is a diagram of a subsidiary detector for use with the above device.

Referring to the drawings the security device includes a box-like operatively enclosed housing 10 containing a printed circuit board 12 mounting the components of an electronic alarm circuit. The circuit itself is generally of known construction and is not shown or described in detail. It is preferably powered from a long life battery (not shown) contained in housing 10, access to the battery compartment being by way of a closure in a base panel 14 of the housing spaced below board 12.

A sharp metal main needle 16 projects from base panel 14 its distal end point extending preferably at least 50mm outwards. The needle shank passes through a clearance hole in panel 14 its proximal end being secured in a plunger head 18 in sliding engagement through a bush 20 mounted in board 12.

A collar 22 attached to the end part of head 18 remote from board 12 co-acts with an operating arm 24 of a micro switch 26 mounted on board 12. A compression spring 28 acts between the top 30 of the housing and collar 22 to urge main needle 16 outwardly of the housing base.

Main needle 16 is surrounded by a ring of secondary or guard needles 32 which are shorter and finer than needle 16. The shanks of the guard needles are located in base panel 14 and their proximal headed ends are anchored in circuit board 12.

In use, e.g. to protect a stack of handmade or other valuable carpets or rugs in a shop or warehouse the main needle is simply thrust downwardly into the stack by pressing on housing 10 until its base panel 14 abuts the upper face of the stack. In applying this pressure the main needle 16 will be shifted to a retracted position with spring 28 compressed and this will shift arm 24 of micro switch 26 to a position at which it sets the alarm circuit.

The frictional grip of the carpets on main needle 16 is sufficient to resi-st the force of spring 28, thus the needle is held in the retracted position and the circuit remains inactive. Any attempt to disturb the stack e.g. by lifting one or more carpets off the top, or to remove the security device, e.g. by pulling needle 16 out will cause spring 28 to urge needle 16 outwardly of the housing operating switch 26 and causing the alarm to sound.

The guard needles 32 give added security in that any attempt to slip a knife blade or the like between the top of the stack and housing 10 in an attempt to jam main needle 16 in place will-be resisted.

Moreover the guard needles 32 themselves may be connected into the alarm circuit, conveniently alternate needles in the ring are connected to positive and negative sides of the circuit any bridging or shorting between them causing activation and again sounding the alarm.

As there is only a very small power requirement to maintain the alarm circuit in its detection condition pending activation the long life batteries normally used will give a period of protection of up to 18/24 months or more without needing maintenance or replacement.

It is to be understood that more than one main needle could be provided, and that each such needle may be arranged to be independently displaceable relative to the housing. Each said needle may have its own associated ring or group of guard needles or a ring of guard needles may enclose two or more main needles in common.

The housing may further include a motion detecting device which will respond to activate the alarm circuit if there is vibration in either or both horizontal planes and/or tilting from horizontal in either plane. This will detect any attempt to remove the stack of carpet or other articles as a whole e.g. by rolling the carpets up with the device in position.

Various other subsidiary detector and alarm devices may be incorporated, for example figure 2 shows an auxillary closed loop type of detector e.g.

for use with a single or a small number of carpets or possibly light weight fabrics or the like such as knitted goods which would not provide an adequate grip on main needle 16 of the main device.

In arrangement shown in figure 2 a main needle 40 is fixed into a disc like handle 42 so that its pointed end can be thrust into or through the article or articles to be protected. The proximal end of needle 40 is electrically connected to a flexible lead 44 leading to the main device in use and connected into the alarm circuit and is also in use connected to a loop lead 46 which is provided with a clip or connector 48 which can be pushed or clamped onto the distal end part of needle 40 after it has been pushed through the article or articles.

A ring of secondary or guard needles 50 may be provided around needle 40 and may be connected into the circuit as described with reference to the main device.

Claims (14)

1. A security device including a housing having one or more main needles projecting from its base, the or each said needle being mounted for limited axial displacement relative to the base whereby when the main needle or needles are operatively thrust into an article or stack of articles to be protected using the cap or housing until said base abuts a face of the article or stack, the engagement of the needle or needles therein will retain it or them at a retracted position against resilient loading within the housing, an alarm circuit to which the device is connected in use being activated on any disturbance of the article or articles or the device which causes the or any of the main needles to be displaced from said retracted position.

2. A device as in Claim 1 including a plurality of secondary needles in parallel spaced relationship around the main needle or needles or each of them.

3. A device as in Claim 2 wherein the secondary needles are operatively connected into the alarm circuit.

4. A device as in Claim 3 wherein the connection is such that shorting of adjacent secondary needles will activate the circuit.

5. A device as in any preceding claim wherein the alarm circuit is contained in the housing.

6. A device as in any preceding claim including a battery or other power source operatively located within the housing for powering the alarm circuit.

7. A device as in Claim 6 wherein access to a battery compartment or otherwise to the power source can only be obtained by way of the base of the housing sb that undetected access thereto is prevented when the device is positioned and activated.

8. A security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A security system including a security device as in any preceding claim.

10. A security system as in Claim 9 further including one or more additional security devices operatively interconnected with the alarm circuit.

11. A system as in Claim 10 wherein said further security device or devices include a separate static needle device which can be thrust through an article or articles to be protected and a connector for attachment to a distal end part of the needle device after it has been so thrust through to complete the alarm circuit or part thereof.

12. A system as in Claim 11 wherein the static needle device includes secondary guard needles around a main needle or needles of said device.

13. A device or system as in any preceding claim further including a motion detecting device responsive to vibration and/or tilting of the protected article or articles in use to activate the alarm circuit.

14. A security system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.