WO2008142281A1 - Antitheft device for protecting a product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an antitheft device (1) for protecting a product, that comprises first (2) and second (3) members respectively including first (4) and second (5) half shells between which the product is placed, said first member (2) being mobile relative to said second member (3) between at least an opening position, in which the product can be withdrawn or inserted between the two half shells (4, 5) and a closed position in which the product is maintained between said half shells (4, 5), the device further including releasable means for blocking the movement of the first member (1) relative to the second member (3) and means for locking the blocking means in a blocking position. The housing (1) includes first return means (6a, 6b) provided for returning the first member (2) into the opening position thereof when the movement blocking means are in released position.

Description

 ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR PROTECTING A PRODUCT

The invention relates to the field of protection devices against theft.

The present invention relates more particularly to anti-theft boxes for securely associating a detection tag with a commercial product.

In the prior art, in order to prevent the theft of commercial products, it is known to associate with the packaging of said products a detection label. Thus, the output of the product of a surveillance zone makes it possible to trigger an alarm warning the security services of an attempted fraud.

However, in this type of theft protection, the detection tag is not securely associated with the product and the fraudster can easily disassociate the product detection tag in order to carry the product.

In order to solve this problem, anti-theft boxes are known for securely associating the detection tag with commercial products. Such a device is described in particular in the European patent application EP 1 087 083. The device described in this application is composed of two half-boxes between which is intended to be introduced the article to be protected. A first half-box comprises a notched lug guided in translation in a housing of the second half-box and cooperating with teeth to lock the movement of the half-boxes in the closed position and thus maintain the product between the two elements.

However, these devices have disadvantages. Indeed, the manipulations to be performed when it is desired to disengage the product from the device are relatively long and complex. Indeed, the user must use a special pliers to actuate pins to disengage the teeth of the notching of the leg. The user must therefore hold the clamp with one hand while that the other hand pulls on the first half-box to move it to its closed position and allow the release of the article.

The invention aims to remedy these problems by proposing an anti-theft case for the protection of a product whose use is simple and fast.

For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes an anti-theft case for the protection of a product, comprising a first and a second element respectively comprising a first and a second half-shell between which said product is intended to be placed, said first member being movable relative to said second member between at least one open position in which the product can be withdrawn or engaged between the two half-shells and a closed position in which said product is held between said half-shells; said device further comprising releasable means for blocking the movement of the first element relative to the second and means for locking said locking means in a locking position. The housing is remarkable in that it comprises first return means arranged to return said first element towards its open position when the movement blocking means are in a released position.

Thus, the use is simple and fast because upon release of the locking means, the first element is moved and the product can be released from said housing.

Advantageously, the housing further comprises second return means arranged to return the locking means to a released position when the locking means are unlocked.

Thus, the manipulations are extremely simple and fast since it is sufficient to unlock the locking means to allow the user to clear the article of said housing. Advantageously, the locking means are magnetic locking means to further facilitate handling.

In one embodiment of the invention, the means for blocking the movement of the first element relative to the second element comprise:

at least one rack formed in the first element, and

at least one shaped element associated with the second element and movable between a locking position in which it cooperates with said rack in order to block the movement of the first element relative to the second and a released position in which it does not cooperate with said rack. .

Thus, the locking means can block the first element in a plurality of closed positions which allows the housing to be adapted to products of different heights and / or does not require precise positioning of the first element relative to the second.

Advantageously, the first element comprises at least one amount guided in translation in a housing of the second element; the end of the amount engaged in said housing cooperating with a spring placed in the housing and constituting the first return means.

In one embodiment, the first element comprises two uprights guided in translation in two housings of the second element.

Advantageously, a rack is formed on each of said uprights.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a locking plate associated with the second element and supporting the element (s) of shape, said locking plate cooperating with the second return means to recall the plate locking to a release position in which the element (s) shape do not cooperate with the rack.

Advantageously, the locking plate comprises stop means ensuring the maintenance of the end of (the) amount (s) in the (s) housing (s). Thus, the first and the second element can not be dissociated when the locking plate is associated with the second element.

Advantageously, the locking plate also supports a locking member. Advantageously, said locking member is a metal flyweight. Thus, the housing is adapted to unlocking with the aid of a magnetic unlocking tool, in particular of the type used for textiles.

Advantageously, the housing comprises a locking puller provided with an orifice and movably mounted on the second element between an insertion or extraction position of the locking member in the orifice in order to lock or unlock the locking means. and a rest position in which the locking member is held in the locked or unlocked position.

Advantageously, the housing comprises third return means for returning the locking pull to its rest position.

Advantageously, the housing comprises a detection tag placed in one of the elements by means of adapted cavities

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective representation of an anti-theft device according to a first embodiment of the invention, the first element being in the closed position;

- Figure 2 is a detailed perspective representation of the movement of the locking means of the first element and the locking means of the locking means of Figure 1, the locking means being in the locked position; - Figure 3 a detailed perspective representation of the locking means and the locking means of Figure 1, during the movement of the locking means between their locked position and unlocked;

- Figure 4 a detailed perspective representation of the locking means and the locking means of Figure 1, the locking means being in the locked position; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed representation of the pull tab and the locking plate according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the housing according to the second embodiment of the invention, during the movement of the locking means to their locking position;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are detailed perspective views of an anti-theft device according to a third embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 10 is a perspective view from behind the anti-theft device according to the third embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 11 is a perspective view of an anti-theft device according to the third embodiment of the invention provided with a protective screw;

- Figure 12 is a rear perspective view of the device of Figure 11.

The casing 1 anti-theft shown in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a first 2 and a second 3 elements each having a half-shell 4, 5. The first member 2 is movable relative to the second 3 between an open position in which l space between the two half-shells 4, 5 allows the introduction or the release of the article to be protected and a closed position in which the product is maintained between the two half-shells 4, 5. In the closed position, the first half-shell 4 envelops the first end of the product while the second half-shell 5 envelops the opposite second end of the product. Thus, the product is firmly held and can not be disassociated from the housing 1.

The housing 1 is further provided with a detection tag which is housed in one of the two elements 2, 3 of the housing 1. The detection tag may in particular be an RF tag, circuit or coil, a tag, circuit or coil. RFID, RF ferrite, electromagnetic label or magneto acoustic tag or ferrite.

In the embodiments shown, the half-shells 4, 5 are arranged to fit the contours of a conventional parallelepiped packaging. However, we can consider all forms of half-shells 4, 5 arranged to fit the contours of a product or commercial packaging. It will be possible to consider half-shells arranged to fit a cylindrical, ovoid, etc. packaging.

The first 2 and the second elements 3 are molded in one piece and are advantageously made of a plastic material, such as polycarbonate, transparent in order to avoid the masking of the product or the packaging.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6, the first element 2 comprises two uprights 10a, 10b perpendicular to the first half-shell 4 and guided in translation in housings 11a, 11b formed in columns of the second element 3. The columns protrude towards the first element 2 and are substantially perpendicular to the second half-shell 5. Thus, the first element 2 is movable relative to the second 3.

First return means 6a, 6b, such as coil springs, are arranged in the housings 11a, 11b of the second element 3 and cooperate with the end of the uprights 10a, 10b. The helical springs 6a, 6b compress when the first member 2 is moved to its closed position and relax when the movement blocking means are released to return the first member 2 to its open position.

In the embodiment shown, the uprights 10a, 10b are provided at their end with a tube 17a, 17b engaged inside the springs 6a, 6b and a shoulder 18a, 18b against which the end stops. upper springs 6a, 6b.

The uprights 10a, 10b are provided with a plurality of teeth disposed on a portion of the length of the uprights 10a, 10b and forming a rack 8a, 8b.

Form elements 9a, 9b, 9c, associated with the second element 3, come to the locking position and cooperate with the teeth of the racks 8a, 8b in order to block the movement of the first element 2 relative to the second 3. In the embodiment shown, the form members 9a, 9b, 9c are notched teeth of complementary shape to the teeth of the racks 8a, 8b.

In the embodiment shown, the shaped elements 9a, 9b, 9c are carried by a locking plate 12 which is mounted to move on the second element 3, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the uprights 10a, 10b. Thus, the locking plate 12 is movable between a locking position of the movement and a release position in which the shaped elements 9a, 9b, 9c no longer cooperate with the teeth of the rack 8a, 8b.

Locking means 13, 14 make it possible to immobilize the locking plate 12 in its blocking position and second return means 7a, 7b make it possible to return the locking plate 12 towards its release position.

In the embodiment shown, the second element comprises a support panel 19 extending between the two columns. The locking plate 12 is associated with the second element 3 by pins 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d movably mounted in the slots formed in the support panel 19 and by two springs 7a, 7b forming the second return means. The springs 7a, 7b are arranged between the locking plate 12 and the support panel 19 and extend in the direction of movement of the locking plate 12. Thus, the springs 7a, 7b are compressed when the plate is in the locking position and extend to return the plate 12 to its released position.

In addition, the locking plate 12 is also provided with stop means, not shown, cooperating with complementary abutment means carried by the uprights 10a, 10b when the first member 2 is in the open position. Thus, the amounts 10a, 10b can not disengage housing 11a, 11b.

The locking means are composed of a pull tab 14 movably mounted on the support panel 19 and a locking member 13 carried by the plate 12 and cooperating with the pull tab 14 in the locking position.

In the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the pull tab 14 is movably mounted in rectilinear slides 22 formed on the support panel 19.

The locking member 13, shown in detail in FIG. 6, is a metal counterweight placed in a cylindrical housing 21 formed on the locking plate 12. The counterweight 13 is pushed towards the pull tab 14 by a spring 26 and is extended by a rod 27 on which is fixed a head 28.

The latch 14 is provided with an orifice 15 comprising a circular portion 29 extended by a slot 30. The circular portion 29 allows the passage of the head 28 of the weight 13 while the slot 30 allows only the passage of the rod 27. Thus, when the pull tab 14 is in its locked position, the rod 27 extends through the slot 30 and the head 28 of the weight 13 is locked in locked position against the edges of the slot 30.

The locking zipper 14 is movable between a rest position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 in which the locking member is held in the locked or unlocked position and an insertion position or extracting the head of the weight 13 in the orifice 15 of the pull tab 14, shown in FIG.

Advantageously, in a second embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, the pull tab 14 is guided in a housing of the support panel 19 and is provided with two lateral pins 23a, 23b which slide in grooves 24a, 24b formed in the plate 22. The shape of the grooves 24a, 24b is arranged to cause the movement of the movable plate 12 towards its locking position when the pull tab 14 is moved towards its position of introduction or extraction of the head of the feeder 13. For this purpose, the grooves 24a, 24b comprise an inclined wall 25a, 25b against which push the pins 23a, 23b to cause the movement of the movable plate 12.

The use of the case is very simple and is carried out as follows:

In order to protect the product by the housing 1, the product is introduced between half-shells 4, 5 while the first element 2 is in the open position. When the product is placed in the first half-shell 4, we can then move the second element 3 to the contact between the second half-shell 5 and the product.

In order to block the movement of the second element 3, the pull tab 14 is pushed towards its insertion position in which the head of the weight 13 engages in the circular part of the orifice 15. When the pull tab 14 is released, it is automatically recalled to its rest position. Thus, the rod 27 of the weight 13 is engaged in the slot 30 and the head 28 comes into contact with the face of the pull tab 14 opposite the cylindrical housing 21. The locking plate 12 is thus maintained in its locking position.

In order to disengage the product from said housing 1, the pull tab 14 is pushed towards its extraction position of the locking member 13 and a magnetic unlocking tool is introduced into the cylindrical housing 21 in order to act on the weight 13 so as to to disengage its head from the orifice 15 of the pull tab 14. When the head is disengaged from the orifice 15, the pull tab is returned to its rest position and the locking plate 12 is biased towards its release position. The first element 2 is then also automatically recalled to its open position. The product can then be released.

In a third embodiment of the invention, represented in FIGS. 7 to 9, the first element 2 comprises a single upright 10c guided in translation in a single housing 11c of the second element 3.

For this purpose, the single amount 10c is equipped with two lateral wings 31a, 31b each extending to one of the lateral ends of the upright 10c. In order to guide the translation of the upright, the housing 11c of the second element has at each of its lateral ends a guide rail 32a, 32b of complementary shape to the lateral wings 31a, 31b.

The wings 31a, 31b comprise a cylindrical portion guided in a cylindrical portion of the guide rails 32a, 32b. First return means 39a, 39b, such as coil springs, are arranged in the cylindrical portions of the guide rails 32a, 32b and cooperate with the end of the cylindrical portions of the wings 10a, 10b. The coil springs compress when the first member 2 is moved to its closed position and relax when the movement blocking means are released to return the first member 2 to its open position.

This particular embodiment makes it possible in particular to obtain a housing that is particularly resistant to twisting forces.

The first element 2 comprises two racks 33a, 33b formed on either side of the median of the amount 10c. The device comprises a locking plate 34 associated with the second element 3 and comprising shaped elements intended to cooperate with the racks 33a, 33b. The locking plate 34 is movably mounted in a housing formed in the second element 3 between a locking position in which the shaped elements cooperate with the racks 33a, 33b in order to block the movement of the first element 2 relative to the second 3 and a released position in which the shape elements do not cooperate with the racks 33a, 33b.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the locking plate 34 is rectangular. The housing of the locking plate 34 on the second element is disposed between the first 2 and the second element 3 and formed of four angles extending perpendicular to the upright 10c to guide said locking plate 34 between its locking position and its released position.

The form elements are, for example, notched teeth of complementary shape to the teeth of the racks 33a, 33b, extending on either side of the median of the locking plate 34.

In addition, the locking plate 34 is also provided with return means arranged to return the locking plate to its released position. In the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 9, the biasing means is a leaf spring 35 which pushes the locking plate 34 to its released position.

Locking means are used to push the locking plate 34 to its locking position when in the locked position. In the embodiment shown, the magnetic locking means is a trigger 36 of the type described in document FR 2 812 746. The trigger 36 is mounted in a housing of the second element 3 and comprises a movable zipper in translation which, in position lock, pushes against the locking plate to hold it in its locking position. Preferably, a locking trigger comprising three unlocking points will be used.

The device also comprises a detection tag 40 integrated in a housing formed in the first 2 or the second element 3. In one embodiment of the invention, it is also possible to arrange the detection tag in the trigger 36. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the device is equipped with protection means making it possible to prevent a blade from being introduced between the two elements 2 and 3 in order to move the locking plate 34 towards its released position. . The protection means consist of a screw 41 arranged at the end of the second element 3. The screw 41 passes through the first element through a groove 43 and is received in a threaded housing 42 of the second element 3. Thus, the possible fraudsters can not introduce a blade between the two elements 2, 3 in order to move the locking plate 34 to its released position.

Furthermore, the device is equipped with hooking means formed on a label 37. The label 37 is mounted movably on the outer face of one of the half-shells between an erased position and a receiving position of a pin. Preferably, the half-shell is provided with a receiving cavity 38 of the label when it is in the erased position. Thus, despite the presence of this label, the half-shell can rest stably on a flat surface when the label 37 is in the erased position.

The invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that the skilled person is able to achieve different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Housing (1) anti-theft for the protection of a product, comprising a first (2) and a second element (3) respectively comprising a first (4) and a second (5) half-shells between which said product is intended to be placed, said first element (2) being movable relative to said second element (3) between at least one open position in which the product can be withdrawn or engaged between the two half-shells (4, 5) and a position closed wherein said product is held between said half-shells (4, 5); said device further comprising releasable means for blocking movement of the first member (2) relative to the second member (3) and means for locking said locking means in a locking position; said housing (1) being characterized in that it comprises first return means (6a, 6b) arranged to return said first element (2) towards its open position when the movement blocking means are in a released position . 2. casing (1) anti-theft according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises second means (7a, 7b) for returning arranged to return the locking means to a released position when the locking means are Unlocked. 3. Anti-theft housing according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking means are magnetic locking means. 4. Housing (1) anti-theft according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for blocking the movement of the first element (2) relative to the second element (3) comprise: at least one rack (8a, 8b) formed in the first element (2), and at least one shaped element (9a, 9b, 9c) associated with the second element (3) and movable between a locking position in which it cooperates with said rack (8a, 8b) in order to block the movement of the first element (2) relative to the second element (3) and a released position in which it does not cooperate with said rack (8a, 8b). 5. housing (1) anti-theft according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first element (2) comprises at least one upright (10a, 10b) guided in translation in a housing (11a, 11b). the second element (3); the end of the upright (10a, 10b) engaged in said housing (11a, 11b) cooperating with a spring (6a, 6b) placed in the housing and constituting the first return means. 6. casing (1) anti-theft according to claim 5, characterized in that the first element (2) comprises two uprights (10a, 10b) guided in translation in two housing (11a, 11b) of the second element (3). 7. casing (1) anti-theft according to claim 6, characterized in that a rack (8a, 8b) is formed on each of said uprights (10a, 10b). 8. casing (1) anti-theft according to claim 5, characterized in that the first element (2) comprises a single amount (10c) guided in translation in a single housing (11 c) of the second element (3). Anti-theft case according to claim 8, characterized in that the single post (10c) comprises two lateral wings (31a, 31b) extending at each of the lateral ends of the post, guided in guide rails (32a, 32b) of the single dwelling (11c). 10. housing (1) anti-theft according to claim 9, characterized in that a rack (8a, 8b) is formed on each side of the median of the single amount (11c). 11. casing (1) anti-theft according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a locking plate (12) associated with the second element (3) and supporting the (s) element (s) of form (9a, 9b, 9c), said locking plate (12) cooperating with the second return means (7a, 7b) in order to recalling the locking plate (12) to a release position in which the shaped element (s) (9a, 9b, 9c) do not cooperate with the rack (8a, 8b) when the locking means are Unlocked. 12. Housing (1) anti-theft according to claim 11, characterized in that the locking plate (12) comprises stop means ensuring the maintenance of the end of (the) amount (s) (8a, 8b) in the accommodation (s). 13. housing (1) anti-theft according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the locking plate (12) further supports a locking member (13). 14. Housing (1) anti-theft according to claim 13, characterized in that said locking member is a metal counterweight (13). 15. Box (1) anti-theft according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that it comprises a locking puller (14) provided with an orifice (15) and mounted movably on the second element (3). ) between an insertion or extraction position of the locking member (13) in the orifice (15) in order to lock or unlock the locking means and a rest position in which the locking member (13) ) is held in the locked or unlocked position. 16. Housing (1) anti-theft according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises third return means (16) to recall the locking pull tab (14) to its rest position. 17. casing (1) anti-theft according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it comprises a detection tag.