GB2613059A

GB2613059A - Improvements to security device, packages or items with which the said devices are associated, and a method of use thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2613059A
Application number: GB2213601.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bullock Christopher
Original assignee: ACTIVE TAGGING Ltd
Current assignee: ACTIVE TAGGING Ltd
Priority date: 2021-09-20
Filing date: 2022-09-16
Publication date: 2023-05-24
Also published as: GB202213601D0; WO2023041922A1

Abstract

A security device (8,fig.1) is provided for use with a package or item (2,fig.1) including an interior cavity (6,fig.5f). The security device includes a light detector such as a photosensor 36 located in a housing (10,fig.2a). The security device can be attached to a surface of the package or item (2,fig.1) via an adhesive layer 32 such that the light detector 36 is aligned with an aperture or port (40,fig.5d) in a wall of the package or item (2,fig.5d) which leads to the interior cavity thereof. A change in light in the interior cavity is detected by the light detector 36 and allows the generation of an alert and/or a location signal if predetermined light conditions are detected. The device may comprise a housing 10 including a battery 24, a PCB 26, and a motion/movement sensor 38 such as an accelerometer. The device may further include a protruding portion 18 including an opening 20 wherein the protruding portion (18,fig.5f) may extend into the package or item in use.

Description

Improvements to Security Device Packages or Items with which the said Devices are associated, and a Method of Use Thereof The invention to which this application relates is a device which can be selectively attached to an ankle and particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to a package containing one or more items so as to allow unauthorised attempts to remove them from the package and move the package with the item inside from a controlled environment to be detected and send data indicative of this to a monitoring service and/or trigger an alarm so as to allow measures to be taken to prevent the removal of the article and/or retrieve the article.

The theft of articles and/or items within the article from commercial environments, in particular retail environments, is well-known and is generally referred to by the term "shoplifting" in which a person or persons attempt to remove the item or article from the controlled environment without paying for the same. Conventionally, many millions of pounds of articles are lost without payment in this way each year. To attempt to reduce this, it is known to provide security measures within and/or at the perimeter of the controlled commercial environment. One form are security guards who have the task of attempting to identify persons who are, or may be inclined, to shoplift and/or if shoplifting events occurs, to prevent the person and article from leaving the environment and/or chasing after a person once they have left the environment.

However, this method of security, while it can be effective, is prone to human error and restrictions due to regulations with regard to as and when action can be taken during a shoplifting event. As a result, more commonly, there is provided a combination of manual security guards and the use of security devices which can be selectively attached to packaging in which relatively high-value items are held.

In One embodiment, the security device is provided on or within the package such that when the device passes a location for detecting the presence of a security device, an alarm is triggered. Alternatively, a device known as a spider security device or passive RI-ID tag can be attached so as to extend around the external surface of the package and used. the spider device comprises a body and a series of wires which extend around the package at spaced locations such tha.t if one of the wires is broken, for example in an attempt to remove an item from the pa.ckage and then steal the item, therein, the breakage of the wire triggers an alarm in the body of the device.

However, both of these forms of security device are found to be prone to problems and can be overcome so that the theft of items and packages, even when fitted with the security devices, still occur as these devices are reactive and therefore the time between the alarm triering and action being taken to attempt to prevent the theft is too great and so the thief can escape with the package and/or item.

It is also known for the item to be removed from the package with the security device remaining intact on the package and so the theft is not immediately detected. A further problem is that these known security devices are not visible to the security detection system of the retail envir* onment until the devices are moved close to an exit or the wire is cut/ta.mpered with and at which point the alarm is triggered.

It is therefore an aim' of the present invention to provide an Unproved form of security device, and package including the same, which allows a more proactive approach to be taken to prevent a shoplifting event from occulting and/or allows an intervention to be made at an earlier stage during the shoplifting event and therefore increase the effectiveness of prevention of the shoplifting event.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a security device, said device including a housing, a. power supply to allow operation of the device, a. light detection means to detect a change in light conditions and wherein the said device is provided to be retained on an item or package and the light detection means is provided so as to detect a change in condition of the light in the environment in which the light detection means is located.

In one embodiment said environment is an ulterior cavity of the said package or item.

In one embodiment when the device is attached to a lid of the package the change in light conditions is caused by movement of the lid from a closed to an opened position. This movement typically allows brighter, external light to enter the cavity in the package and so allow the light detection means to detect and react to the brighter light conditions.

In addition, or alternatively, the change in light conditions is caused by the removal of part of a wall of the package or item so as to allow brighter light to pass into the interior cavity of the package or item In one embodiment, the said light detection means is mounted in the device and the device is aligned with a channel of the device housing so as to allow light conditions external of the device to be detected.

In one embodiment, the light detection means is a photocell including or positioned with respect to, a light detection channel which passes through an aperture in the wall of the device housing.

In one embodiment, the wall of the device in which the aperture is located, is that which is to be placed against a surface of the package or item.

Typically, the device includes a retention means which can be positioned intermediate the device and the said surface and which retains the device in position with the package or item surface.

In one embodiment, the said retention means includes first and second layers of adhesive to allow the device to be adhered to a first adhesive layer and the wall to bc adhered to the second adhesive layer in order to allow the device to be placed in contact and to be retained on the surface of said package or item.

Typically the said first and second adhesive layers arc provided on opposing surfaces of a substrate of the retention means.

In one embodiment the adhesive of the first adhesive layer has a lower tack value than the adhesive of the second adhesive layer.

In one embodiment, the device includes movement detection means, and the retention means is provided such that an attempt to remove the device from the said surface once the same has been placed in position thereon, is detected by the movement detection means and/or light detection means of the device.

In one embodiment, movement of the device and hence the package or item to which the device is located, is detected.

Typically, a change in condition of the movement means and/or light detection means causes the emission of a signal from the device to one or more remote receiving locations which identify the event which has occulted and/or creates an alarm which is visibly and/or audibly detectable and/or trigger an alarm signal to a member of staff. 't his allows action to be taken prior to or early upon the item or package being attempting to being removed from a controlled environment and therefore allows attempts to be made to prevent the shoplifting event occurring at an earlier time during the event, then is conventionally possible.

S

In one embodiment the transmission of data signals representative of detection of a change of light conditions, movement and/or other change a.re sent via a radio transmitter provided as part of the device. Thus, when the device detects a. motion or senses a change in the condition of light, such as to a light level above a predetermined threshold value, a specific data signal is transmitted via the radio transmitter to a receiver which in turn raises an alarm and/or instructs actions based on the data signal it receives.

In one embodiment the design of the housing of the device and/or the location of the device on the package or item is selected so as to have no or mthUnal impact on the package or item design.

Typically the light detection means passes into an aperture from the surface on which the device is retained and into a cavity in which the light can.

Tri a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a security device, said device including a housing, a power supply to allow operation of the device, a movement detection means, wherein the said device is provided to be secured to an item or package and the movement detection means is provided so as to detect a movement of the package or item.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a security assembly including a package or item, said package or item including an interior cavity; a security device including light detection means located in a housing therein, said security device provided with retention means to allow the same to be retained in position on a surface of the package or item and wherein the said package or item includes an aperture therein which leads from the external surface to the said interior cavity, and said light detection means aligned with said aperture such that a change in light condition in the said interior cavity is detectable by the light detection means of the security device.

Thus, if an attempt is made to open the package or item to gain access to the interior cavity, this will cause a. change in the light condition in the interior cavity and, in turn, the said change in light condition is detected by the light detection means of the device which generates a signal indicative of the change in condition.

typically, the light detection means is a photocell.

Typically, a movement detection means is provided as part of the security deuce.

Typically, the movement detection means is provided in the form of an accelerometer.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing security for a package or item, said method comprising the steps of providing a security device including a housing with a.t least one aperture therein, light detection means and a power source, using retention means to attach the security device to a surface of the package or item, wherein the light detection means is aligned with an aperture in the surface and retaining the security device in position on said surface so as to allow the light detection means to detect a. change in the condition of light in an interior cavity of the package or item to which the aperture leads.

In one embodiment the said device generates a sign-al to indicate a detected change in the said light condition.

In one embodiment, a portion of the light detection means protrudes through the aperture in said device housing and into the aperture in the wall of said package or item.

In one embodiment, the light detection means also protrudes through the aperture in said package or item and into the interior cavity.

In one embodiment, the said package is a box in which one or more iten-is are located, and the provision of the security device located on said package is provided to prevent the theft of the package and item in combination or the removal of the item from the package and/or the theft of the item separately from the package.

Typically the device will transmit a status data signal from a radio transmitter provided as part of the device. Typically the signals are transmitted at predetermthed time intervals, such as every hour, to provide stock visibility and an indication that the security device is active. However, in one embodiment if the security device includes movement detection means and, if movement is detected, then the data signals are sent at a reduced time interval, such as every 0.5 seconds, so as to allow the movement of the security device and the package (Jr item to which it is attached to be determined.

lat one embodiment the aperture in the said package or item is pre-formed at the time of manufacture or can be formed subsequently thereto such as at the time of attachment of the security device to the item or package.

Thus, in accordance with the invention the light detection means detects the light conditions in the cavity of the package or item changing as a result of, for example, a lid of the package being opened or a portion of the wall being removed and allowing brighter light from the external environment to enter the said cavity Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a package to which a security device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is fitted;

S

Figures 2a and b illustrate views of a security device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figures 3a and b illustrate the components of the device of Figures 2a and b; Figures 4a-c illustrate the adaptation of a package to allow the fixing of the security device of Figures 2a-3b therewith; Figures 5a-g illustrate the manner in which the security device is activated and located with the package; and Figure 6 illustrates the manner of removing the tag in an authorised manner.

Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated a package 2 which, in this embodiment is in the form of a carboard container which has located therein one or more items which are available to be purchased along with the container by the package being taken to the point of purchase, payment made and then the consumer can take the package home to remove and use the item It should be noted that although the description hereonin is made with regard to a cardboard container in the form of a retail box, the container could be manufactured from other materials or combination of materials such as plastics and/or card materials, and indeed in other embodiments the item may be purchased without external packag,llig, and in which case the security device is attached to the item. These possible variations are incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment the item (Jr items which are to be purchased, are typically held in a closed internal cavity within the box 2 and may be held in position via further internal packaging components of a conventional form. Authorised a.ccess to the item, once purchased, is typically made by opening the lid 4 of the box to reveal the internal cavity 6 of the box and the item therein.

In accordance with the invention, the package includes a. security device 8 which is retained on a surface of the package such as a wall of the same, in this case front wall 10, of the box 2. When in position, the security device 8, in this embodiment, is capable of detecting the movement of the package and access being gained to the internal cavity 6 of the box. if the movement and/or access to the internal cavity, occur while the box is in a controlled secure environment such as for example, a retail premises, then one or more alerts can be generated to alert security staff and/or monitoring systems for the controlled environment to the movement and/or internal cavity access and steps can be taken to check whether this is authorised and if not, prevent the same from occurring and the package and/or item being removed from the controlled environment.

Figures 2a and b illustrate the security device in more detail. The device includes a body portion 10 with an external front face 12 and a rear face 14 which is to be positioned closest to the package wall 10. The rear face 14 includes an aperture 16 through which protrudes a portion 18 which itself has an opening 20. The security device body portion acts as a housing and can be made of any suitable material, most typically plastics material, and can be provided so as to restrict the possibility of tampering with the device once the same is fitted.

Figures 3a and b illustrate the components of the security device in more showing the body 10 and rear face 14 which, when joined together, as indicated by arrow 22, form a spa.ce in which is located a. power supply in the form of a battery 24 and a printed circuit board 26 which includes control means for operation of the security device and the transmission of data therefrom.

A retention means 28 is provided which has first and second layers of adhesive 30,32 on opposing sides of a substrate so as to allow the security device to be attached to the adhesive laver 30 and in turn, the layer 32 of the retention means to be adhered to the surface of the package so as to retthi the device in position on the surface 10 of the package 2. Both the device rear face 14 and retention means 28 have respective ports 16,16' formed therein which in combination forms a channel through which the portion 18 passes and which allows the opening 20 to be aligned, as indicated by line 34, with a photosensor 36 provided on the printed circuit board 26. the photosensor can therefore detect a change of light.

In one embodiment, a movement sensor 38 is also provided on the printed circuit board along with other control means to allow data from the light detection means and/or the movement sensor to be used to generate alert conditions and the components include audible and/or other visible alert means.

In order to utilise the security device it is necessary for the opennig-20 to be in a position adjacent to, through and/or nito the interior cavity 6 of the package which is achieved by providing an aperture 40 in the wall of the package or item. It should be appreciated that the aperture 40 which is formed, can be formed in the most suitable surface of the box and may be pre-formed at the time of manufacture of the box or formed manually as described in Figure 4a-c, by using a holepunch 39 to form the aperture 40 in the wall 10 of the box 2 as shown in Figure 4b by moving the hokpunch in the direction of arrow 42.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4c, the aperture 40 is formed in the lid 4 of the box 2. It should be appreciated that typically only one aperture 40 will be required to be formed in the box for the receipt therethrough of the portion 18 with opening 20. However, it should be ensured that the aperture 40 is formed in a location where there is no interference with any inner packaging and is positioned such that the access to the interior cavity 6 is such that, a change in light in the interior cavity, will be particularly distinguishable.

With the aperture 40 having been formed, then the retention means 28 is applied to the rear face 14 of the tag device such that the low tack adhesive laver 30 is applied to the layer 14 of the device as shown in Figure Sc so that the portion 18 passes through the aperture 16' in alignment along the line 34 Thus, the high tack adhesive layer 32 faces externally of the device.

It is also necessary to activate the security device at the time of intended use and with respect to Figure 5a, the device 10 is shown and is placed into an activation stand 50 with a magnetic placeholder 52 which positions the device as required with the movement means as indicated by arrow 54. The use of the magnetic interaction between the device and the placeholder, causes activation of the device and will make electrical connection to the power supply and there is a visual indication that the tag has been activated. Tins then commences a predetermined time window in which the security device must be secured to the package or item. TI it is not secured to the product in the tirne window then the security device will be deactivated and the process has to be restarted.

Tn order to allow a. communication link to be generated between the security device and the package to which the same is attached, the link can be used to determine die status of the package during ongoing monitoring, and the security device will typically be provided with a barcodc or other identity means and the package to which the same is to be applied, will be provided with a barcode or other identity means and both of which are detected, typically by scanning, and then linked.

With the security device activated, the same can be placed onto the package, with care being taken to ensure that the portion 18, and hence opening 20, are in alignment with the aperture 40 as indicated in Figures 5d and 5e, with the security device being moved as indicated by arrow 56 onto the surface of the package 2. Continued pressure applied in the direction of arrow 56, ensures that the high tack adhesive layer 32 adheres the device to the surface and that the portion 18 and opening 20 depend through aperture 40 and into the internal cavity 6 as illustrated in Figure 5f Thereafter, if an unauthorised attempt is made to gain access to the interior cavity 6, such a.s for example, by moving the lid 4 of the package to an open position as shown in Figure 5g, tins will cause the external light, which is typically brighter, to enter the interior cavity 6 and the device light detection means, via the opening 20, will detect the change in light conditions within the interior cavity and hence sound an alarm 58 as indicated in Figure 5g and/or send data relating to the change in condition to a monitoring system which will identify the particular security device which has caused the alarm and the particular product and the location of the package. Thus, steps can then be taken to check the reason for the unauthorised attempt to gain access to the interior cavity and action taken to prevent the same if necessary.

The transmission of the signals can be achieved using a radio transmitter provided as part of the device and which, in one embothanent, operates with a Radio Frequency of 868-MIL using FSK Frequency Modulation and with RE output power of 10dl3m (10mW). The data signal transmission interval will vary depending on motion detection at that time.

If the product is purchased in an authorised manner, the security device 8 can be deactivated at the point of purchase by scanning a barcode of the security device and scanning a package or item barcode and this will generate an option for the retailer to deactivate the security device. As shown in Figure 6, the security device 8 can then be removed from the package 2 as shown by arrow 60 and reused but the retaining means 28 will typically remain on the product due to the greater adhesive tack of the layer 32.

It should also be noted that unauthorised attempts to remove the security device and hence cause movement of the device with respect to the product, or even movement of the product itself within the controlled environment, will activate movement detection means, when provided as part of the device, and hence cause a signal to be generated to indicate the movement and again the signal may be in the form of transmitted data signals which can be received by a security system and action taken and/or may include audible and/or visual alarms. The action taken may include instructing security personnel to attend the known location of the security device and/or to direct CCTV cameras to said location to allow a determination to be made as to whether the movement is a security issue.

The present invention therefore provides a system which allows proactive monitoring of the condition of items or packages within an environment and for potential security issues relating to the package or item to be identified and action taken, if necessary, in a proactive manner to prevent the security threat becoming greater. The invention can be implemented on a plurality of packages or items siMultaneously by using a plurality of devices on the different packages or items and with each device being linked to a. particular package or item. Thus all, or selected higher value packages or items can be securely monitored using the invention

Claims

CLAIMS1 A security device, said device including a housing, a power supply to allow operation of the device, a light detection means to detect a change in light conditions and wherein the said device is provided to be retained on an item or package and the light detection means is provided so as to detect a change in condition of the light in the environment in which the light detection means is located.
2 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said environment is an interior cavity of the said item or package.
3 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the security device is retained on a lid of the package and the change in light conditions is caused by movement of the lid from a closed to an opened position.
4 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the change in light conditions is caused by the removal of part of a wall of the item or package so as to allow light from the external environment to pass into the interior cavity of the package or item.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said light detection means is mounted in the security device and the light detection means is aligned with a channel of the device housing so as to allow light conditions external of the device to be detected.
6 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the light detection means is a photocell including, or positioned with respect to, a channel which passes through an aperture in the wall of the device housing.
7 Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the wall of the housing in which the aperture is located is that which is to be placed against a surface of the package or item.
8 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the device includes retention means intermediate the device and the said surface and which retains the device in position with the surface of the item or package.
9 Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the said retention means includes first and second layers of adhesive to allow the device to be adhered to a first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer to be adhered to a surface of the package or item.
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the said first and second adhesive layers are provided on opposing surfaces of a substrate of the retention means.
11 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the adhesive of the first adhesive layer has a lower tack value than the adhesive of the second adhesive layer.
12 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus includes movement detection means to detect an attempt to remove the device from the package once the same has been placed in position thereon.
13 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein a change in condition of the light detection means and/or movement means causes the emission of a signal from the device to one or more remote receiving locations which identify the event which has occurred and/or creates an alarm which is visibly and/or audibly detectable and/or triggers an alarm signal to a person in the vicinity of the environment in which the item or package is located.
14 Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the data signals representative of a change of light condition, movement and/or other change are transmitted via a radio transmitter provided as part of the device.
A security system including a package or item, said pa.ckage or item including an interior cavity, a security device including light detection means located in a housing therein, said security device provided with retention means to allow the same to be retained in position on a surface of the package or item and wherein the said package or item includes an aperture therein which leads from the external surface to the said interior cavity, and said light detection means aligned with the said aperture such that a change in light condition in the said interior cavity is detectable by the light detection means of the security device.
16 Apparatus according to chum. 15 wherein the light detection means is a phytocell.
17 Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the security device includes movement detection means.
18 Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the movement detection means is in the form of a.n accelerometer.
19 A method of providing security for a package or item, said method comprising the steps of providing a device including a housing with at least one aperture therein, movement detection means and/or light detection means, a power source, using retention means to allow the device to be selectively applied and attached to a wall of the package or item, aligning the light detection means with the said housing aperture, and wherein the device is applied to align the said housing aperture with an aperture formed in a wall of the package or item which passes from the external surface of the said wall to an interior cavity of the package or item so a.s to allow the light detection means to detect a change in the condition of light in the environment to which the same is exposed.
A method according to claim 19 wherein the device generates a signal to indicate a. detected change in the said light condition.
21 A method according to claim 19 wherein a portion of the light detection means protrudes through the aperture in said device housing and into the aperture in the wall of said package or item.
22 A method according to any of the preceding claims wherein the light detection means also protrudes through the aperture in the said package or item.
23 A method according to any of the preceding claims wherein the device transmits a status data. signal from a. radio transmitter provided as part of the device.
24 A method according to any of the claims 19 -23 wherein the signals are transmitted at predetermined time intervals to provide stock visibility and an indication that the device is active and, if movement or light change is detected then the data signals are sent at a reduced time interval so as to allow the movement of the device and the package or item to which is attached, to be determined.Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the aperture in the wall of said package or item is pre-formed at the time of manufacture or packaging or is formed subsequently thereto when the device is to be attached thereto.