The present invention relates to an anti-theft device for preventing theft of a commodity, such as a mobile phone. Further, the present invention relates to a clamp for use in the anti-theft device.

BACKGROUND

To prevent a mobile phone (or any other commodity) from being stolen, store owners can secure the mobile phone by means of a display security to, e.g., a display placed in the store. The display security typically comprises a display mount, an attachment member and a cable. The attachment member is adapted for attachment to the mobile phone and to be mounted releasably on the display mount. The cable is attached to the attachment member and to a pull box for pulling the cable, when attached to the mobile phone, through the display mount .

When a person wants to steal the mobile phone, this person only has to cut the cable and subsequently the mobile phone is no longer attached to the display or any security system. Cutting the cable often does not attract attention from store personnel as it does not make much noise and can be performed quickly.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved anti-theft device for preventing theft of commodities such as a mobile phone .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides for an improved anti-theft device for preventing theft of a commodity, such as a mobile phone .

According to an aspect of the invention an anti-theft device is proposed comprising a lock with a housing having an opening to receive a bolt and having arranged therein a locking member for locking the bolt, wherein the locking member is operable electrically. The anti-theft device further comprises a holding means connected or connectable to the bolt, wherein the holding means is adapted to hold the commodity, such that theft of the commodity is prevented.

The holding means holds the commodity with respect to the lock, such that the commodity cannot be moved away from the lock undesirablely for example by a shoplifter. It is further advantageous that the locking member is operable electrically, such that store personnel may easily release the bolt from the lock in order to provide a customer with the possibility to hold the commodity (possibly with the holding means still attached to the commodity) .

In an embodiment the holding means comprises a clamp comprising two clamping arms connected or connectable to the bolt, which clamping arms are situated opposite each other.

One end of each clamping arm together are adapted to clamp the commodity between the clamping ends of the clamping arms, the clamping arms are moveable with respect to the bolt for adjusting a distance between the clamping ends of the clamping arms .

Thus, a commodity such as a mobile phone may be clamped by means of the clamp between the clamping arms such that is very difficult or even impossible to guickly remove the mobile phone from the clamp. The clamp with e.g. the mobile phone is connected to the lock by pushing the bolt into the opening of the housing. Accordingly, the bolt is locked by means of the locking member accommodated in the housing of the lock. When the bolt is locked by means of the locking member it is substantially impossible to remove the clamp with the mobile phone from the lock without making noise or attracting attention from the store personnel. Store personnel may open the lock remotely.

In the remote field of electromechanical locks for cabinets, showcases and drawers a lock is found that may be used as a lock in the present invention. This

electromechanical lock for cabinets, showcases and drawers is described in patent application WO 2013/068036, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In an embodiment the holding means comprises a cable for holding the commodity, such as a bag.

In an embodiment the holding means is provided with screw-thread to be connected to the holding means .

In an embodiment each clamping arm comprises a clamping hook at or near the clamping end thereof. The clamping hooks advantageously prevent e.g. the mobile phone from moving in a direction transversal to the clamping direction .

In an embodiment each clamping arm is comprised of two parts being moveable to each other for adjusting the distance between the clamping ends of the clamping arms, preferably being slideablely moveable to each other.

In an embodiment each clamping arm comprises a fixing means for fixing the two parts with respect to each other in order to prevent the commodity from being taken out of the anti-theft device. It is, therefore, possible to adjust the distance between the clamping ends of the clamping arms in accordance with the dimensions of e.g. the mobile phone to be clamped. After clamping the mobile phone, the two parts of each clamping arm may be fixed to each other, such that it is no longer possible to remove the mobile phone from the clamp.

In an embodiment the fixing means comprises a screw assembly for fixing one part of the clamping arm to the other part thereof. The parts of each clamping may be fixed to each other on a reliable and simple manner by means of the screw assembly .

In an embodiment each clamping arm comprises a spring assembly for moving the clamping ends of the clamping arms towards each other under influence of spring forces. According to this aspect, the distance between the clamping ends of the clamping are is automatically adjusted by the spring forces, which spring forces also functions as clamping forces

according to this aspect. In an embodiment a pushing element is provided, which is adapted to push the commodity into the clamping hooks for clamping of the commodity by means of the pushing element and the clamping hooks, wherein the pushing element is connected or connectable to the bolt. Further, the pushing element is adapted to push and/or to be moveable in a direction

substantially transversal to the clamping direction and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bolt. It is therefore possible to adjust the distance between the pushing element and the clamping hooks or at least part thereof, in order to adjust the distance to the thickness of e.g. the mobile phone. The mobile phone is pushed against the clamping hooks of the clamping arms by the pushing element and, therefore, the mobile phone is clamped in an additional direction.

In an embodiment the pushing element comprises a engagement member adapted to engage the commodity, preferably a back side of the commodity. Advantageously, the engagement member is provided with an adhesive for adhesion to the commodity. The adhesive provides an additional connection between the clamp and e.g. the mobile phone due to which it is even more difficult to remove the mobile phone from the anti- theft device .

In an embodiment the pushing element comprises a connecting member adapted to connect the pushing element to the bolt. It is, thereby, advantageous that the connecting member comprises screw-thread at an outer surface thereof, and the bolt comprises an aperture provided with screw-thread at an inner surface thereof and adapted to receive the connecting member.

In an embodiment a spring assembly is provided for pushing at least the engagement member in a direction away from the bolt .

In an embodiment at least one orientating element is provided for orientating the clamp with respect to the lock, wherein the orientating element is provided at the bolt of the clamp. It is, therefore, advantageous that the lock comprises an additional opening adapted to receive the orientating element. When displaying e.g. a mobile phone, it is usually desirable to display the mobile phone in an orientation corresponding to an orientation in which a user uses the mobile phone. This is accomplished by means of the orientating element orientating the clamp with a mobile phone in a desired orientation .

In an embodiment the clamping arms are connected or connectable to the bolt by means of a connecting element. It is, thereby, advantageous that the connecting element

comprises screw-thread at an outer surface thereof, and the bolt comprises an aperture for each connecting element

provided with screw-thread at an inner surface thereof and adapted to receive the connecting element. In this embodiment, it is possible to adjust the distance between the clamping ends for example by screwing the connecting element further into or out of the bolt.

In an embodiment an operating means is provided adapted to operate the locking member. It may be possible for a user to operate the locking member remotely by providing the operating means .

According to another aspect of the invention a clamp is proposed for use in an anti-theft device according to the invention .

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in further detail. It should be appreciated, however, that these embodiments may not be construed as limiting the scope of protection for the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to exemplary embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the clamp;

Fig. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the clamp shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the lock; Fig. 4 shows the anti-theft device with a mobile phone ;

Fig.5 schematically shows elements of a lock, including a switch, of an exemplary embodiment of the lock;

Figs.6A-6D schematically show elements of a lock, including various orientations of a locking member, of an exemplary embodiment of the lock;

Fig.7 shows elements of a lock, including a locking member and a spring, of an exemplary embodiment of the lock;

Fig.8 schematically shows elements of a lock, including a spring and a coil for rotating a locking member, of an exemplary embodiment of the lock; and

Fig.9 schematically shows a security system of an exemplary embodiment of the lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Shoplifting leads to economic losses for shop owners due to the stolen commodities and sometimes damage to a part of the shop, such as a display, caused by a shoplifter. Shop owners, therefore, have a strong desire to prevent their commodities from being stolen. The present invention provides an anti-theft solution for commodities such as mobile phones.

Figs . 1 and 2 show a clamp 1 for holding a commodity, such as a mobile phone, in order to prevent the good from being stolen. The clamp 1 comprises two clamp arms 2, 3, which are connected to a bolt 4. To clamp arms 2, 3 are adapted to be moveable with respect to the bolt 4, such that a distance between the two clamp arms 2, 3 may be adjusted in order to firmly clamp e.g. a mobile phone (not shown) between the two clamp arms 2, 3.

As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, both clamping arms 2,3 may be provided with a clamping hook 10. The clamping hooks 10 prevent the mobile phone (not shown) from moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the clamping

direction, as indicated by arrow C. For example, during engaging the mobile phone by reducing the distance between the clamping arms 2, 3 a clamping force is applied to the mobile phone .

Due to the clamping force, the mobile phone may move in a direction perpendicular to or different from the clamping direction, as indicated with arrow C. The clamping hooks 10 prevent the mobile phone from moving in a direction such as indicated by arrow C.

The clamp 1 may further be provided with a pushing element with an engagement member 5 connected to the bolt 4. The engagement member 5 is moveable with respect to the bolt 4 in a direction indicated by arrow C. By moving the pushing element 5 in direction C the distance between the engagement member 5 and the clamping hooks 10 is changed. The distance between the clamping hooks 10 and the pushing elements 5 substantially has to correspond to the thickness of a mobile phone to be clamped by the clamp 1. In use, the mobile phone is clamped in direction D by the clamping arms 2, 3 and in direction C by the pushing element 5 and the clamping hooks 10.

The pushing element may be provided with a connecting member 9 with screw-thread at an outer surface thereof. The connecting member 9 is typically placed in an aperture in the bolt provided with screw-thread at an inner surface thereof. It is possible to adjust the distance between the clamping hooks 10 and the engagement member 5 by screwing the

connecting member 9 further into or out of the aperture in the bolt .

The engagement member 5 may further be provided with an adhesive 6 for attachment to a back of the mobile phone 17, as can be seen in Fig. 4. The adhesive 6 serves to hold the mobile phone 17 in a position and/or orientation in which the user of the anti-theft device has placed the mobile phone 17. The adhesive 6 further serves for fixing the mobile phone 17 with respect to the engagement member 1 and thus the clamp 1 and the lock 14. Thereby it becomes more difficult for a person to pull the mobile phone 17 out of the anti-theft device, since the adhesive 6 provides an extra fixation of the mobile phone 17 with respect to the anti-theft device in addition to the clamping force applied to the mobile phone 17.

Examples of the adhesive 6 are double-sided tape, Velcro® or the like. It is intended that the adhesive is not easily releasable, since it has it contribute to the

prevention of theft of the mobile phone 17 placed in the anti- theft device.

In Fig. 1, the clamping arms 2, 3 are connected to the bolt 4 by means of a connecting element 7, 8. The

connecting element 7, 8 may be at least partly provided with screw-thread at an outer surface thereof. The bolt 4 may be provided with an aperture for each connecting element 7, 8. The aperture for each connecting element 7, 8 may be provided with screw-thread at an inner surface thereof, such that the connecting element 7,8 can be screwed into the aperture. The depth of screwing the connecting element 7, 8 determines the distance between the clamping arms 2, 3. The farther the connecting element 7, 8 is screwed into the aperture, the shorter the distance between the clamping arms 2, 3.

Another possibility is that the passage of the clamping arms 2, 3 is provided with screw-thread at the inner surface thereof and are adapted to engage the screw-thread of the connecting element 7, 8. The distance between the clamping arms 2, 3 may be adjusted by screwing the locking arms 2, 3 towards or away from the bolt .

Further, it is possible that connecting elements 7, 8 with various lengths are available and the user has to choose the right length of the connecting element 7, 8, such that e.g. the mobile phone 17 becomes properly clamped between the clamping arms 2, 3.

In practice the clamping arms 2, 3 and the mobile phone 17 may be positioned firstly and thereafter the

connecting elements 7, 8 may be introduced through the

clamping arms 2, 3 into the apertures in the bolt as indicated by arrows A and B. By screwing the connecting elements 7, 8 into the apertures of the bolt 4, the mobile phone 17 becomes clamped by the clamping arms 2, 3. Since the connecting elements 7, 8 are put through the clamping arms 2, 3, the clamping arms 2, 3 typically have a passage therethrough. One end of this passage may remain open after the connecting element 7, 8 has been introduced. The open end may be closed by a cap (not shown) . The cap is intended to prevent for example shoplifters from gaining access to the connecting elements 7 , 8.

In Fig. 2, an alternative embodiment of the clamping arms 2, 3 is shown. In this embodiment the clamping arms are comprised of two parts, which parts are moveable with respect to each other. By moving the parts with respect to each other, it is possible to adjust the distance between the clamping arms 2, 3 in order to comply with a dimension of the mobile telephone 17. After positioning the two parts of each of the clamping arms 2, 3, the parts may be fixed to each other, e.g. by means of a screw assembly, such that the distance between the clamping arms 2, 3 stays substantially the same when the mobile phone 17 is placed between them.

It is noted that the distance between the clamping ends of the clamping arms 2, 3 may be adjusted by means of one screw 7, 8, since the one screw connects both arms 7, 8 to the bolt 4 and extends through both clamping arms 2, 3. For example in relation to Fig. 1, it is possible that one screw 7, 8 extends through connecting arms 2, 3 and the bolt 4. A user may adjust the distance between the clamping end via for example only the opening indicated with arrow A or arrow B.

It is also noted that in another embodiment the clamping arms 2, 3 may be biased by a spring assembly, such that the clamping arms 2, 3 move towards each other by the spring force. A user can move the clamping arms 2, 3 away from each other in order to place the mobile phone 17 between the clamping arms. Thereafter, the clamping arms 2, 3 may be released gently and e.g. the mobile phone 17 becomes clamped by the clamping arms 2, 3 inter alia under influence of the spring force applied to the clamping arms 2, 3.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the bolt comprises an elongated bolt body 4, a chamfered head end 12 and a recess part 13 in the elongated bolt body 4 behind the chamfered head end 13. The bolt 4 may be adapted to be placed into an opening 15 of the lock 14.

An example of the bolt 4 and the lock 14 is described in WO 2013/068036 lying in the remote field of

electromechanical locks for cabinets, showcases and drawers, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Additionally, the bolt 4 may be provided with orientating elements 11 for orientating the clamp 1 with respect to the lock 14. The orientating elements 11 are introduced in the openings 16 provided in the lock 14. The orientating elements 11 are intended for orientating the clamp 1 and thus e.g. the mobile phone 17, such that a customer of a shop can see the mobile phone 17 in an orientation in which it is intended to be used.

The orientating elements 11 may further prevent the bolt 4 from being removed from the housing without operating the locking member.

Fig. 4 shows an example of the anti-theft device with a mobile phone 17 clamped by the clamping arms 2, 3 and the clamp 1 attached to the lock 14. As can be seen, the

engagement member 5 with the adhesive 6 is attached to the back of the mobile phone 17, and the clamping arms 2, 3 with clamping hooks 10 are placed around the mobile phone 17. The lock 14 may be attached to a surface, e.g. of a display, in a shop, such that theft of the mobile phone 17 is prevented or at least the risk of theft is significantly reduced.

The invention is not restricted to the above- described embodiments, which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims. It is, for example possible that the clamping arms form a closed structure when they are clamping a commodity. Further, in the foregoing a mobile phone is used to describe the working of the anti-theft device.

However, it has to be understood that is also possible to hold/clamp other commodities, such as electric tools, bags, watches, tablets, jewellery and computers with the anti-theft device . In order to fully understand the working of the lock, reference is made to Figs. 5-8. How the bolt 4 is locked and unlocked inside the housing 14 is schematically shown in

Figs.6A-6D. The bolt 4 has an elongated body 30 with a

chamfered head end 12. The head end 12 is chamfered to ease insertion of the bolt 1, as will be explained with fig.6B, and is e.g. substantially hemispherical or with slanted slides. Furthermore, the bolt 4 has a recess part 13 behind the head end 12. The recess part 13 is shaped such that a part of a locking member 22 can hold the head end 12 inside the housing 14 to thereby lock the bolt 4. This will be explained with Fig.6C.

Inside the housing the locking member 22 is the element that effectively locks the bolt . The locking member, which is e.g. a metal plate, has a bended first end 23 that fits, at least partly, inside the recess part 13 to hold the bolt 4 in place when locked. The first end 23 is not

necessarily bended in an acute angle, as shown in the figures, but may be curved and/or bended to another angle. The locking member is rotatably provided inside the housing, which is abstractly indicated by the pivot element 40. It is to be understood that the pivot element 40 may not be physically part of the housing and it merely indicates the rotatability of the locking member 22. In case the locking member 22 is straight, a pivot 40 in any form can be used to enable the rotation. Preferably the locking member 22 is bended at an inflection point 27 resulting in the locking member 22 having a kinked second end 26. A pivot 40 is then not needed as the locking member 22 can rotate around the inflection point 27. The maximum angle of rotation of the locking member 22 is typically small, i.e. just enough to lock and release the bolt 1, as will be explained.

In Fig.6B the bolt 4 is being inserted into the housing, i.e. through the opening 15 shown in Fig.3. The chamfered head 12 pushes the first end 23 up, which is

indicated by the arrow pointing upwards, resulting in the locking member 22 to be tilted. In Fig.6C the bolt 4 is inserted into the housing 14 to the locking position. In this position the first end 23 of the locking member 22 snaps into the recess part 13 of the bolt 4, as indicated by the arrow, resulting in the bolt 4 being locked inside the housing. A spring 24 may be used to provide the required force to tilt the locking member 22 into the first orientation wherein the bolt 4 is locked, as will be explained with Figs .7 and 8.

The width of the recess part 13 is at least the thickness of the first end 23 of the locking member 22 for the first end 23 to fit behind the head end 12 of the bolt 4. It is possible that the recess part covers whole of the elongated body 30 behind the head end 12.

To release the bolt 4 from the housing 14 the locking member 22 is tilted to a second orientation as shown in

Fig.6D. In this orientation the first end 23 is lifted by pulling the second end 26 of the locking member, as indicated by the arrow pointing downwards, to thereby enable the bolt 4 to be removed in the direction of the arrow pointing to the left. A coil 25 may be used to provide a magnetic force to the second end 26 to tilt the locking member 22 into the second orientation, as will be explained with Fig.8.

It may be desirable to detect whether or not a bolt 4 is inserted into the housing 14. Hereto a switch 28 can be part of the housing 14, as schematically shown in Fig.5. The switch 28 is e.g. in the form of a dip switch that switches between an on-state and an off-state depending on the bolt 4 pressing or depressing the switch 28. In Fig.5 the bolt 4 is fully inserted into the housing 14 resulting in the locking member 22 locking the bolt 4 and the switch being pressed to the on-state. The detection of the bolt 4 can e.g. be used to trigger an alarm when the bolt 4 is released from the lock 14 or to log opening and closing of the lock. Hereto the lock 14 is typically connected to a security system that received the state of the switch 28 and performs actions based on the received state. Preferably the locking member 22 defaults to the first orientation wherein the bolt 6 would be locked when inserted into the housing 14. In Fig.7 a housing 14 is shown where a cover is removed to access the locking member 22 inside the housing 14. Screw holes 29 are also shown. On top of the locking member 22 a spring 24 is positioned to provide spring force to the bended first end 23 of the locking member 23. In the example of Fig.7 the spring is fixed to the housing 14 at one side of the locking member 22. Any other spring configurations can be used for providing spring force to the bended first end 23.

Fig.8 schematically shows how forces can be applied to the locking member 22 for tilting into first and second orientations. As indicated by the left arrow, the spring 24 pushes the bended first end 23 of the locking member 22 to the first orientation wherein a bolt 4 can be locked. The housing 14 typically supports the locking member 22 in the first orientation to prevent the locking member 22 from tilting too far and thereby making it impossible to insert the bolt 4. This is abstractly indicated by blocking element 41, which is to be understood to be a part of the housing 14. A coil 25 is located in the housing 14 at the second end 26 of the locking member 22. When a current is provided from an external power source to the coil 25, the coil produces a magnetic field resulting in a magnetic force larger than the spring force and pulling the second end 26 of the locking member 22 to the second orientation wherein a bolt can be removed. When power is cut from the lock 14, the coil 25 is deactivated and the lock 14 snaps back into locked position.

The housing 14 is typically provided with power through a cable. The cable can also be used to communicate the state of the switch 28 to external systems.

The lock 14 can be used in a security system that conditionally unlocks the lock. Fig.9 shows an example of a security system, wherein a power source 31 is coupled to the lock 14 through an unlocking switch 32. An unlocking device 33 is also connected to the unlocking switch 32. The unlocking device 33 is capable of detecting an identity to authorize a user to open the lock 14. Examples of unlocking devices 33 are tag readers, fingerprint readers or keypads for entering a code. The unlocking device 33 can be an intelligent device that performs the actual authorization and sends an unlocking command to the unlocking switch 32. In this case the unlocking switch 32 will provide a current from the power supply 31 to the lock 14 when the unlocking command is received.

Alternatively the unlocking device 33 is an identity reader that sends the received identity to the unlocking switch 32. In this case the unlocking switch 32 performs the actual authorization before providing the current to the lock 14.

Optionally a computer system 34 is connected to the unlocking switch 32 to perform part or whole of the

authorization and/or control the unlocking switch 32. In the latter case more sophisticated authorization, e.g. based on the time of the day or a number of previous unlocking

attempts, and monitoring of unlocking attempts can be

performed .

Multiple locks 14 can be connected to the unlocking switch 32. Typically all locks 14 connected to a single switch 32 are unlocked simultaneously after authorization. To prevent others from opening locks while the authorized person is opening one of the locks, the unlocking switch 32 can be configured to close the locks 14 upon opening the first lock. The switch 28 can be used to detect the opening of the first lock. Other security measures can be configured in the

unlocking switch 32, such as e.g. closing all locks 14 after a predetermined time period, e.g. 10 seconds, 1 minute or 30 minutes, to prevent the locks from remaining unlocked when the authorized user forgets to close the locks again.

It is to be understood that the unlocking device 33 can also be used to close the locks 14, e.g. by performing the same authorization when the locks 14 are in unlocked state.

A lock 14 is optionally provided with an electronic circuit wherein a processor is programmed with a data pattern to be recognized before unlocking the lock 14. The data pattern is transmitted from the unlocking switch 32 to the lock 14 in a data signal and may originate from a computer system 34 connected to the unlocking switch 32. This enables individual locks 14 connected to the unlocking switch 32 to be controlled instead of all at once. Moreover, an identity stored in the lock 14 can be read by the unlocking switch 32 or the computer system 34 for e.g. logging purposes.