Security Apparatus for Attachment to a Portable Article

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 . Field of the Invention The present invention relates in general to security apparatus, and, more particularly, to a security apparatus for attachment to a portable article.

2. Background of the Invention

The theft of portable articles displayed for sale in retail stores, is a widespread and costly problem presented to many retailers. Relatively small portable articles, such as eyeglasses or sunglasses, jewelry and the like, are particularly vulnerable to shoplifters, in that they may be readily concealed, or, alternatively, may be surreptitiously worn by a shoplifter when exiting the retailer's establishment.

One example of a prior art security apparatus for attachment to eyeglasses or the like is disclosed within U.S. Patent No. 4,991 ,41 3 to Arnaldo. Arnaldo '41 3 discloses a security apparatus which is key-actuated, has a plurality of pivoting members, and which is not readily operable to define an open region immediately between two outer members, for easy insertion of a portable article therebetween.

Another prior art example of a prior art security apparatus for attachment to eyeglasses or the like is the BEST-brand product manufactured in Australia. While this product includes a magnetically releasable locking mechanism, it requires an additional coil spring, apart from the locking mechanism, to prompt automatic opening of the product following release of the magnetic locking mechanism. Moreover, use of this product requires inserting a portion of the protected article through a slot in the body of the product, rather than providing a fully open region for insertion of a portable article.

Attaching a security apparatus to the portable article, wherein the security apparatus is removable only through the use of a special tool in the possession of the retailer, may substantially preclude retail theft of the portable article, inasmuch as the benefit to the shoplifter of the portable article may be substantially denied while the security apparatus remains attached to a stolen article. Moreover, the visible security apparatus reduces the likelihood that the portable article can be surreptitiously worn by a shoplifter when exiting a retail store. Further, such a benefit denial device may include a signalling transducer to activate an alarm at a store exit.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a security apparatus for attachment to a portable article, wherein unauthorized separation of the

attached security apparatus from the portable article is substantially precluded.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reusable security apparatus which is easily and readily attachable in a fully exposed opening, to a portable article having an elongated member. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a security apparatus for attachment to a portable article, wherein the security apparatus is automatically released and separated from the portable article upon facilitated unlocking of the security apparatus.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a security apparatus for attachment to at least a portion of a portable article. The security apparatus comprises a base member, and a cap member pivotally attached to the base member for pivotal movement relative thereto. The cap member is pivotable from a substantially open position, describing an open region, to a substantially closed position relative to the base member. At least a portion of the portable article is insertable into the open region, positioned immediately between the base member and the cap member, when the cap member is in its substantially open position. The portion of the portable article is securely clamped between the base member and cap member when the cap member is in its substantially closed position. Locking means, associated with the base member and cap member, are provided for releasably locking the cap member in the substantially closed position relative to the base member. Release means are provided for releasing the locking means to, in turn, unlock the cap member from the base member. Opening means, associated with at least one of the cap member and base member, are provided for automatically prompting movement of the cap member from the substantially closed position towards the substantially open position following the release of the locking means by the release means, to describe the open region for introduction and removal of the portion of the portable article. In the preferred embodiment, the locking means comprises a rack associated with at least one of the base member and a cap member, and a pawl associated with the other of the base member and the cap member. The rack engages the pawl to provide ratcheted, adjustable locking of the cap member in the substantially closed position, upon movement of the cap member from the substantially open position towards the substantially closed position.

The locking means is preferably released by placement of an approximate magnetic field proximate the locking means, the release of the locking means by the release means unlocking the cap member from the base member, and permitting movement of the cap member back towards the substantially open position by the opening means.

The release means preferably comprises at least one of the rack and pawl being constructed from a substantially magnetic-responsive material, so as to be capable of being repositioned in the presence of a substantial magnetic field, to, in turn,

disengage and unlock the rack from the pawl.

In the preferred embodiment, the pawl is constructed of a substantially magnetic-responsive material. The magnetic field proximate the pawl causes the pawl to be disengaged from the rack following engagement of the rack by the pawl, thereby unlocking the cap member from the base member, and permitting the movement of the cap member back towards the substantially open position by the opening means. In the preferred embodiment, the security apparatus further includes at least one resilient pad operably attached to at least one of the base member and the cap member. The at least one resilient pad engages the portion of the portable article upon secure clamping of the portion between the base member and the cap member, to, in turn, substantially preclude inadvertent damage to the portion of the portable article. The at least one resilient pad preferably comprises a first resilient pad operably attached to the base member and a second resilient pad operably attached to the cap member. Each of the first and second resilient pads is substantially aligned, relative to the other, when the cap member is in its substantially closed position, such that both the first and second resilient pads securely engage the portable article upon clamping of the portable article between the base member and the cap member.

The opening means preferably comprise a spring member spring-biased against at least a portion of the cap member upon movement of the cap member to the substantially closed position. This spring-biasing serves to automatically prompt movement of the cap member from its substantially closed position toward its substantially open position, following release of the locking means by the release means, so as to describe the open region for introduction and removal of the portion of the portable article. Also, in the preferred embodiment, at least one of the rack and pawl is operably integrated with the opening means. The opening means preferably comprises a spring member operably integrated with the pawl, and spring-biased against at least a portion of the cap member upon movement of the cap member to the substantially closed position. This spring-biasing serves to automatically prompt movement of the cap member from its substantially closed position toward its substantially open position, following release of the locking means by the release means, to describe the open region for introduction and removal of the portion of the portable article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 of the drawings is an exploded perspective view of the present security apparatus;

Fig. 2 of the drawings is a perspective view of the present security apparatus, showing, in particular, the security apparatus attached to a portable article;

Fig. 3 of the drawings is a cut-away top plan view of the present security apparatus;

Fig. 4 of the drawings is a sectional side view of the present security apparatus, taken generally along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing, in particular, the cap member in its substantially closed position;

Fig. 5 of the drawings is a sectional front view of the present security apparatus, taken generally along lines 5-5 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 of the drawings is a sectional rear view of the present security apparatus, taken generally along lines 6-6 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 7 of the drawings is a sectional side view of the present security apparatus as shown in Fig. 4, showing, in particular, the cap member in its substantially open position.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, one primary embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

The present security apparatus 20 is shown in Figs. 1 and 3-7 as comprising base member 30, cap member 60, cover member 70, spring member 80, and resilient pads 90 and 90'. As shown in Fig. 1 , cover member 70 includes two opposing tab members 71 , proximate the front of cover member 70, and two opposing slots 72, proximate the rear of cover member 70. Cap member 60 includes two opposing slots 64, proximate the rear of cap member 60, and two opposing slotted recesses 65, proximate the front of cap member 60. Cover member 70 is accordingly snap-fit to cap member 60, with slots 72 operably receiving corresponding tab members 64, and with slotted recesses 65 operably receiving tab members 71 . A suitable adhesive may additionally be applied in further affixing cover 70 to cap member 60. Cover 70 is accordingly attached to cap member 60, and fit for rotation with cap member 60, with respect to base member 30.

Base member 30 is shown in Fig. 4 as comprising top base member 40 and bottom base member 50. As shown in Figs. 3-7, top base member 40 is operably attached to bottom base member 50, with spring member 80 secured therebetween. Referring to Fig. 1 , bottom base member 50 includes four upwardly-projecting studs 51 , and further includes ridge 53, substantially surrounding the outer periphery of bottom base member 50. A base region 84 of spring member 80 includes 4 apertures 83 therethrough. Each aperture 83 receives, and is seated around, a corresponding stud 51 , such that base region 84 abuts the upper surface of bottom base member 50. Top base member 40 includes four downwardly-projecting sockets 42. Each socket 42 operably receives a corresponding stud 51 . Moreover, the bottom surface of top base member 40 further includes groove 46 (Fig. 4), substantially surrounding the bottom periphery of top base member 40. Groove 46 operably receives ridge 53. Accordingly, top base member 40 is operably attached to bottom base member 50, through a press-fit of studs 51 to sockets 42, and ridge 53 to groove 46. Adhesives or sonic welding may additionally be employed to further secure top base member 40

to bottom base member 50. Spring member 80 is accordingly secured between top base member 40 and bottom base member 50, with pawl region 81 of spring member 80 projecting upwardly through front aperture 43 of top base member 40, and with spring region 82 of spring member 80 projecting upwardly through rear aperture 44 of top base member 40.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, cap member 60, and, in turn, cover member 70, are fixedly and rotatably attached to base member 30. As shown in Fig. 1 , cap member 60 includes two opposing hinge pintles 63, proximate the rear of cap member 60. Top base member 40 includes two corresponding hinge gudgeon recesses 41 , for operably receiving corresponding pintles 63. Each hinge gudgeon recess 41 is closed by a corresponding hinge gudgeon closure member 52, projecting upwardly from bottom base member 50, upon attachment of bottom base member 50 to top base member 40. Through the rotation of pintles 63, with respect to gudgeons 41 , cap member 60, and, in turn, cover member 70, are rotatable from a substantially open position (Fig. 7) to a substantially closed position (Fig. 4) with respect to base member 30. When cap member 60 is in its substantially open position, an open region is defined immediately between the cap member and the base member, for introduction and removal of a portion of the portable article to be secured.

As shown in Fig. 1 , cap member 60 includes rack region 61 , proximate the front of cap member 60. Spring member 80 includes pawl region 81 , proximate the front of spring member 80. As shown in Fig. 4, pawl region 81 of spring member 80 and rack region 61 of cap member 60 cooperate so as to provide adjustable, ratcheted locking of cap member 60 to base member 30. Movement of cap member 60 from its substantially open position (Fig. 7) to its substantially closed position (Fig. 4), in turn causes pawl region 81 to engage rack region 61 . This, in turn, substantially precludes a return movement of cap member 60 from its substantially closed orientation to its substantially open orientation, inasmuch as pawl region 81 remains spring-biased against rack region 61 . As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, pawl region 81 is enshrouded between cap member 60 and a portion of cover 70, upon movement of cap member 60 to its substantially closed position, so as to substantially preclude tampering with pawl region 81 , and, in turn, to substantially preclude unauthorized opening of security apparatus 20. Pawl region 81 and rack region 61 accordingly collectively form locking means for releasably locking cap member 60 in its

substantially closed position relative to base member 30.

Although, in the illustrated embodiment, rack region 61 is associated with cap member 60 and pawl region 81 is associated with spring member 80, other configurations are also contemplated. For example, spring member 80 may include an associated rack, while cap member 60 may include an associated pawl.

As shown in Fig. 1 , cap member 60 includes lever arm 62, proximate the rear of cap member 60. Spring member 80 includes spring region 82, proximate the rear of spring member 80. As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, spring region 82 is operably biased against lever arm 62, so as to prompt movement of cap member 60 from its substantially closed orientation to its substantially open orientation. Spring member 80, including pawl region 81 , is preferably constructed from a magnetically-responsive material, such as iron or steel. Base member 30, including top base member 40 and bottom base member 50, are preferably constructed from a magnetically-inert material, such as a high-impact plastic material. Placement of a powerful magnetic field, generated by a magnet or an electromagnet, proximate the front of security device 20, causes pawl region 81 to be pulled towards the magnet or electromagnet, disengaging pawl region 81 from rack region 61 . Inasmuch as spring region 82 is spring-biased against lever arm 62 when cap member 60 is in its substantially closed position, disengagement of pawl region 81 from rack region 61 in turn causes spring region 82 to automatically prompt movement of lever arm 62, and, in turn, cap member 60, from its substantially closed position back towards its substantially open position.

Accordingly, the magnetic-responsive construction of pawl member 81 provides release means for releasing the locking means. Moreover, the cooperation of spring region 82 and lever arm 62 provides opening means for automatically prompting movement of cap member 60 from its substantially closed position towards its substantially open position following release of the locking means by the release means.

Although, in the illustrated embodiment, pawl region 61 is constructed from a magnetically-responsive material and is pulled towards a proximate magnetic field, other constructions are also contemplated. For example, rack region 61 may instead be constructed from a magnetically-responsive material, with a proximate magnetic field pulling the rack region away from a cooperating pawl region, so as to disengage the rack from the pawl.

Moreover, while, in the illustrated embodiment, spring region 82 is associated with base member 30 and lever arm 62 is associated with cap member 60, other configurations are also contemplated. For example, spring region 82 may instead be associated and fixed for rotation with cap member 60, so as to be spring-biased against a portion of base member 30, such as a lever arm, when cap member 60 is in its substantially closed position.

As shown in Fig. 7, resilient pad 90 is operably attached to the lower surface of cap member 60 via adhesive 91 . Resilient 90' is similarly attached to the top surface of bottom base member 50 via adhesive 92. Resilient pads 90 are preferably constructed from a resilient material, such as rubber, and substantially preclude damage to the portable article when a portion of the portable article is securely clamped between cap member 60 and base member 30.

Security apparatus 20 is shown attached to a portable article 10 in Fig. 2. Portable article 10 may comprise a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses, as shown in Fig. 2, including earpieces, elongated arm member 1 1 . To attach security apparatus 20 to portable article 10, a portion of the portable article, such as elongated arm member 1 1 , is placed in the open region between cap member 60 and base member 30, and between resilient pads 90 and 90', when security apparatus 20 is in its substantially open position (Fig. 7). Next, cap member 60 is moved to its substantially closed position (Fig. 4), with elongated arm member 1 1 firmly and securely clamped between resilient pads 90 and 90', and within center recess region 45 (Fig. 1 ) of top base member 40. The engagement of rack region 61 by pawl region 81 substantially precludes unauthorized separation of security apparatus 20 from portable article 10, inasmuch as subsequent disengagement of pawl region 81 from rack region 81 requires the placement of a powerful magnetic field proximate pawl region 81 .

Attachment of security apparatus 20 to portable article 10 accordingly provides a disincentive to the theft of portable article 10, inasmuch as the powerful magnet or electromagnet necessary to remove security apparatus 20 from portable article 10 is neither commonly available to, nor readily transportable by, potential shoplifters. Attachment of security apparatus 20 to portable article 10 reduces the likelihood that portable article 10 can be surreptitiously worn by a shoplifter when exiting a store in which portable article 10 is displayed. Moreover, inasmuch as unauthorized removal of security apparatus 20 from portable article 10 is substantially precluded without the

requisite powerful magnetic field, the likelihood that portable article 10 will be stolen is substantially reduced, inasmuch as the benefit, or use of portable article 10 to a potential shoplifter is substantially denied while security apparatus 20 is attached. If desired, signaling means may additionally be provided for signalling an unauthorized asportation of the portable article. For example, as shown in Fig. 1 , conventional anti-theft electronic transducer 73, comprising, for example, a conventional diode and antenna arrangement, may be embedded within or operably attached to security apparatus 20, such as by embedding within cover member 70, (as shown in Fig. 1 ), or cap member 60, within base member 30, such as by securement between top base member 40 and bottom base member 50. Such transducers typically generate characteristic disturbances to signals at microwave frequencies, which may be detected by conventional corresponding alarm sensors proximate the exits to an establishment in which portable article 10 is displayed. Accordingly, unauthorized asportation of portable article 10, and, in turn, attached security apparatus 20 through an exit sensor will resultantly trigger a theft alarm.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.