U.S. patent number 3,636,547 [Application Number 04/831,613] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-18 for alarm system and method of incorporating magnetic switch means magnetically controlled electrical switches.
Invention is credited to Robert J. Brace, Meyer Fienberg.
United States Patent |
3,636,547 |
Brace , et al. |
January 18, 1972 |
ALARM SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INCORPORATING MAGNETIC SWITCH MEANS
MAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRICAL SWITCHES
Abstract
A magnetically controlled switch-actuating member projects
upwardly from the supporting surface of a shelf, rack or the like
positioned for downward depression by a merchandise article
supported on the shelf. The switch-actuating member extends
downwardly through a permanent magnet block at the shelf underside,
the actuating member always being urged magnetically upwardly to
projecting position when depressed by the article on the shelf.
Electrical contact strips extend over the magnet block and are free
of contact by the actuating member when in its article-depressed
position, but contacted by the actuating member when in its
projecting position completing an electrical circuit therethrough
to any form of electrically actuated device, such as an alarm.
Thus, any given series of switches may be provided and will sound
the alarm when any one of a series of articles is removed from the
shelf.
Inventors: |
Brace; Robert J. (Canoga Park,
CA), Fienberg; Meyer (Los Angeles, CA) |
Family
ID: |
25259476 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/831,613 |
Filed: |
June 9, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
200/85R;
340/568.8; 340/666 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B
13/1472 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
13/14 (20060101); G08b 021/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/272,280 ;335/205
;200/11K,19M,67F,57PB,57GR,153R,61.45M,85 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Caldwell; John W.
Assistant Examiner: Wannisky; William M.
Claims
We claim:
1. In an electrical switch of the type for installation with a
supporting member having spaced upper and lower sides with an
opening extending generally vertically therebetween; said
electrical switch including an actuating member extending through
said supporting member opening movable between an upper and lower
position, magnetic means in the form of a permanent magnet
positioned at said supporting member lower side adjacent said
actuating member actionable between said actuating member and said
supporting member normally urging through magnetic force said
actuating member to said upper position and permitting movement of
said actuating member to said lower position while still
maintaining said magnetic upward urging upon a downward force
thereon sufficient to counteract said magnetic force upward urging,
said actuating member being normally free of urging to said upper
position other than by said magnetic force upward urging, said
actuating member having an upper end portion at said supporting
member upper side positioned engageable by an object at said
supporting member upper side and forcing said actuating ember from
said upper to said lower position when said object is of sufficient
weight to counteract said magnetic force upward urging of said
magnet, electrical contact means operably connected to said
actuating member normally free of transmitting electrical energy
therethrough when said actuating member is in said lower position
and transmitting electrical energy therethrough when said actuating
member is in said upper position, and cover means mounted normally
covering said magnet and at least a part of said electrical contact
means and a part of said actuating member at said electrical
contact means, said cover means being constructed and arranged
relative to said electrical contact means and said actuating member
for causing said electrical contact means to transmit said
electrical energy therethrough upon displacement of said cover
means during an attempted removal of said cover means from its
covering position.
2. An electrical switch as defined in claim 1 in which said
electrical contact means is mounted in association with said magnet
subject to transmitting said electrical energy therethrough upon an
attempted movement of said magnet downwardly away from said
supporting member lower side; and in which said cover means is
normally positioned covering said magnet and at least a part of
said electrical contact means and a part of said actuating member
at said supporting member lower side, said cover means in said
normal position having a portion thereof engaged between said
magnet and said supporting member lower side for movement by said
cover means of said magnet downwardly away from said supporting
member lower side upon displacement of said cover means during an
attempted removal of said cover means form its covering position
casing said electrical contact means to transmit said electrical
energy therethrough.
3. In a magnetic switch, the combination of: an actuating member
movable between a first and second position, magnetic means
positioned actionable on said actuating member constantly urging
through magnetic force said actuating member to said second
position and permitting movement of said actuating member to said
first position while still maintaining said magnetic urging toward
said second position upon a force thereon sufficient to counteract
said magnetic force urging, said actuating member being normally
free of urging to said second position other than by said magnetic
force urging; electrical contact mans operably connected to said
actuating member normally free of transmitting electrical energy
therethrough when said actuating member is in said first position
and transmitting electrical energy therethrough when said actuating
member is in said second position; said magnetic means being a
permanent magnet having an opening formed therethrough between
opposite sides thereof; and said actuating member being positioned
extending through and freely movable within said magnet opening and
having opposite end portions projecting beyond said magnet opposite
sides, said actuating member being formed of a magnetically
nonattracting material except for at least a part of one of said
end portions, said end portion being formed of magnetically
attracting material.
4. A magnetic switch as defined in claim 3 in which said actuating
member one end portion forms a part of said electrical contact
means and is capable of transmitting electrical energy
therethrough; and in which said electrical contact means includes
spaced metal strips formed of an electrically conducting material
positioned simultaneously engaged by said actuating member one end
portion upon said actuating member being moved to said second
position and at least one of said metal strips being free of
engagement by said actuating member one end portion upon said
actuating member being moved to said first position.
5. A magnetic switch as defined in claim 3 in which said actuating
member is formed of a magnetically nonattracting material except
for a part of one of said end portions, said actuating member one
end portion part being formed of magnetically attracting material,
said actuating member one end portion part being flanged and being
formed of a material capable of transmitting electrical energy
therethrough forming a part of said electrical contact means; and
in which said electrical contact means includes spaced metal foil
strips mounted on said side of said magnetic means adjacent said
actuating member one end portion part, said metal foil strips being
positioned relative to said actuating member one end portion part
simultaneously engaged by said one end portion part when said
actuating member is moved to said second position and at least one
being free of engagement by said one end portion part upon movement
of said actuating member to said first position.
6. In an electrical switch of the type for installation with a
supporting member having spaced upper and lower sides with an
opening extending generally vertically therebetween; said
electrical switch including an actuating member extending through
said supporting member opening movable between an upper and lower
position, magnetic means positioned actionable between said
actuating member and said supporting member normally urging by
magnetic force said actuating member to said upper position and
permitting movement of said actuating member to said lower position
while still maintaining said magnetic upward urging upon a downward
force thereon sufficient to counteract said magnetic force upward
urging, said actuating member being normally free of urging to said
upper position other than by said magnetic force upward urging,
said actuating member having an upper end portion at said
supporting member upper side positioned engageable by an object at
said supporting member upper side and forcing said actuating member
from said upper to said lower position when said object is of
sufficient weight to counteract said magnetic force upward urging
of said magnetic means, electrical contact means operably connected
to said operating member normally free of transmitting electrical
energy therethrough when said operating member is in said lower
position and transmitting electrical energy therethrough when said
actuating ember is in said upper position, said magnetic means
including a permanent magnet positioned at said supporting member
lower side, said electrical contact means including spaced
electrically conducting metal foil strips at a lower side of said
magnet, said actuating member projecting upwardly though said
magnet and said supporting member opening, said actuating member
being formed of a magnetically nonattracting material except for a
lower end portion thereof positioned beneath said magnet lower
side, aid actuating member having a portion thereof forming a part
of said electrical contact means positioned engaged between said
contact means spaced foil strips establishing electrical contact
therebetween when said actuating member is in said upper position
and normally being free of contacting at least one of said contact
means spaced foil strips when said actuating member is in said
lower position.
7. An electrical switch as defined in claim 6 in which said
electrical switch is one of a series of said electrical switches
including at least two; in which said electrical switches are
mounted in association with separate openings in said supporting
member; in which each of said electrical switches includes a
permanent magnet forming said magnetic means positioned at said
supporting member lower side adhering to magnetically attracting
metal of said supporting member lower side solely through magnetic
attracting therebetween, an opening though said magnet generally
aligned with said supporting member opening, said actuating member
extending through said supporting member opening and said magnet
opening, said actuating member being of a magnetically
nonattracting material except for a lower portion thereof
positioned below said magnet, and in which said electrical contact
means of said electrical switches includes a pair of spaced
electrically conducting metal foil strips extending along lower
surfaces of said magnets at opposite sides of said actuating
members and continuously between said electrical switches on said
supporting member lower side, parts of said actuating member lower
portions projecting beneath said metal foil strips movable into
engagement between said spaced metal foil strips when said
actuating members are moved to said upper positions, said parts of
said actuating member lower portions transmitting electrical energy
therethrough between said metal foil strips when in engagement
therewith.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an alarm system incorporating magnetic
switch means which may be installed for inexpensively guarding
objects or articles of merchandise positioned on exposed shelves or
counters of stores, supermarkets and the like. Furthermore, the
alarm system of this invention may be installed for detecting the
removal of one or each of a great number of merchandise articles
form virtually any type of shelf, counter, rack or display and at
virtually any location within the merchandising establishment. The
switch incorporated in the alarm system of the present invention
serving the article detecting function at each of the merchandise
articles being guarded is of a positive magnetic action,
inexpensive to provide and install, and may be formed with
self-contained, antitampering features preventing unauthorized
persons from surreptitiously frustrating the article removal
detecting function thereof.
The steadily increasing problem of merchandise theft looses
particularly in the more modern supermarkets, department stores,
discount stores and the like is well known, and the same problems
arise to a limited extent even in the smaller, older style
establishments. Due to the high competition, the steadily
increasing material and labor costs coupled with the ever-present
customer demand for price reductions, the tendency is toward less
and less hired clerk service to a customer and more and more
customer self-service, so that clerks are only provided to assist
in troubled situations and for merchandise shelf stocking, with the
customers being permitted to gather a group of merchandise articles
without attention and until paying for the same at central outlet
locations. Even where the establishment is not of the normal
self-service type, modern merchandising requires that a liberal
number of merchandise articles be on display in positions readily
accessible to the customers, increasing the opportunities for
dishonest persons attempting thefts.
In the case of merchandise articles of small individual value,
although of course not desirable, a certain amount of theft loss
can be tolerated and furthermore, the incidence of theft thereof is
diminished directly due to the small individual value. Where the
real problems arise, is with articles of merchandise which are of
relatively high-individual value, particular those of relatively
compact form and easily concealable such as bottles of liquor,
jewelry and certain sporting goods items. Despite the fact that
these relatively expensive individual articles may be quickly
removed form a shelf, counter or display and easily concealed, it
is still necessary that a liberal number of such articles be
exposed in accessible positions in order that the large majority of
honest customers may examine the same and obtain the same under
self-service conditions in order to complete the usual purchasing
procedures.
One of the more obvious methods of combatting theft losses in
merchandising establishments is to provide a reasonable number of
employed clerks for the sole purpose of customer surveillance, such
clerks visually observing customer actions. The employed persons
carrying out this direct human customer surveillance must be
reasonably trained and experienced so that the more likely of those
persons bent of theft will be detected primarily through inordinate
action thereof and either frustrated in their theft attempt or
detained at the legally proper amount for prosecution, all of this
being required while not disturbing the normal honest customers in
their usual purchasing procedures. Thus, the use of employed clerks
of human direct customer surveillance with the necessary skills and
experience must be reasonably well compensated as well as
reasonable in numbers in a given merchandising establishment so as
to tend to counteract the overall efforts to reduce merchandising
costs and supply the merchandise to the customers at a minumum of
expense.
A relatively common, more sophisticated method of theft detection
is quite frequently employed in relatively large, self-service
merchandising establishments and that is one of closed circuit
television customer surveillance. In the use of closed circuit
television, television cameras are positioned at various locations
about the merchandising establishment, in many cases fully exposed
and readily observable by the customers. Such a surveillance system
usually only requires a single central monitoring station at which
is a single employee observer may maintain surveillance over a
large number of divided establishment areas. Furthermore, the
customers moving about in the establishment can, at the most,
detect that there are television cameras positioned for observance
and they are never able to determine whether such surveillance is
actually taking place.
Although with closed circuit television surveillance, the expense
of a large number of trained personnel is eliminated, the expense
of installation and maintenance of such a system is still a
prominent factor in merchandising expense. In addition, this
installation and maintenance expense can only be tolerated, out of
direct necessity, in the large merchandising establishments and is
not feasible economically or otherwise for use in the smaller
establishments even though the necessity there is just a prevalent.
It is clear, therefore, that the need for a relatively inexpensive
merchandise article surveillance and removal detection is a
presently existing problem and that there is a longfelt want and
need for solving the same.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an alarm
system and method incorporating magnetic switch means wherein the
alarm system may be relatively inexpensively fabricated and
installed using common materials and workmen without greatly
specialized skills, yet which maintains constant, effective,
mechanical and electronic surveillance of selected merchandise
articles and readily detects the removal thereof from a shelf or
display location. According to the present invention, one of a
series of separated switchs of extremely simplified form are
installed on the same or separated merchandise article supporting
shelf, counter, rack or display, each such switch being sensitive
for movement to a nonelectrically transmitting condition when a
merchandise article is positioned at that particular switch, and
for movement automatically to an electrically transmitting position
upon the particular merchandise article being removed. The
switches, in turn, are electrically connected to a common or
separate electrically actuated devices, such as alarms, lights or
other signal or noise producing devices, so that electrically
actuated device or devices are actuated by the merchandise article
removals altering an authorized person to begin surveillance of
those having the merchandise articles then in their possession to
be sure that the proper checkout buying procedure is followed.
Thus, only an extremely limited number of personnel is required in
order to maintain power surveillance over relatively wide areas of
a merchandising establishment. Furthermore, by the proper choice of
silent electrically actuated devices connected to the detecting
switches, the fact that the merchandise article removal has been
detected may be completely hidden and isolated from the person
doing such article removal so that honest customers will be
completely unaware of any surveillance, yet persons committing
theft will be readily detected and apprehended. The present alarm
system thereby provides inexpensive, effective surveillance
required to minimize merchandise theft without the expense
necessarily occasioned by the prior methods and apparatus, such as
visual direct human surveillance or closed circuit television.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an alarm system
having the foregoing characteristics and attributes which may be
arranged with a proper selection of the electrically actuated
device installed therein, to deter potential merchandise article
thefts without the necessity of actual apprehension of the person
attempting to commit he theft. For instance, by electrically
connecting the detecting switch with an audible electrically
actuated device, such as a bell, buzzer or chimes, which is
positioned relative to the detecting switch so as to be clearly
audible by a person removing the particular merchandise article and
causing the switch to actuate the audible alarm, a person
originally intending theft and having the psychological factor of
detection in mind will either replace the merchandise article or
purchase the same in the conventional manner. At the same time,
however, an ordinary customer with honest intentions will be
unaffected by the audible alarm sounding because of the lack of
guilt feelings and will proceed to purchase the merchandise article
as such customer would ordinarily do.
It is also an object of this invention to provide an alarm system
as hereinbefore set forth which is extremely versatile in
installation and use, and may be adapted to the surveillance of
merchandise articles of virtually any size and weight. The
preferred form of the switch incorporated in the alarm system of
the present invention is one which is positioned having an
actuating member projecting upwardly through a merchandise article
supporting surface when in electrically conducting conditions and
depressed by the particular article through the weight thereof
alone or in combination with added weight to a switch
nonelectrically conducting condition. Thus, where surveillance is
to be maintained over merchandise articles of reasonable weight,
such as bottles of beverages or many sporting goods items, the
detecting switches may be installed actionable merely through the
inherent weight of the merchandise article and at any location in
any number on virtually any type of shelf or platform or individual
and multiple display rack. At the same time, when the merchandise
article is of little inherent weight, such as articles of jewelry
and the like, the detecting switch or switches may be provided with
attractive individual platforms or article holders at the switch
actuating member upper ends, the switch or switches being balanced
to detect upon the removal of the light article from the individual
platform or holder.
It is still an additional object of this invention to provide an
alarm system of the foregoing type which is completely safe in
operation and does not create a hazard to customers or employee
personnel during their use of the shelves, racks and the like
having the alarm system installed in conjunction therewith. The
electrically actuated devices incorporated in the alarm system may
be of the usual low-voltage type so that the alarm system overall
may likewise only require electrical power of low voltage. Also,
the use of electrical power within the main portion of the alarm
system only takes place during actual indication and sounding of
the alarm provided by the electrically actuated device so that the
use of electrical power over a period of time is quite minor, again
adding to the economy of the alarm system of the present
invention.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from
the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are
for the purpose of illustration only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a conventional store or
supermarket metal shelf having an embodiment of the alarm system of
the present invention installed thereon for providing surveillance
of a series of merchandise articles, such as bottles;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the metal shelf
of FIG. 1, specifically showing two alarm system switches retained
in depressed position by bottles thereon free of electrically
actuating an alarm of the system, and showing one of the alarm
system switches in upwardly projecting position causing sounding of
the system alarm as a consequence of a merchandise article having
been removed from over said one switch;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view looking
in the direction of the arrows 3--3 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but looking in the direction of
the arrows 4--4 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view looking in the
direction of the arrows 5--5 in FIG. 3 including a somewhat
diagrammatic showing of the electrical circuit of the alarm system
of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an example of
platform mounted on a switch-actuating member removed from one of
the alarm system switches of the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a gun rack
illustrating the alarm system of the present invention installed
therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS CONTEMPLATED
An embodiment of the alarm system and method of the present
invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 wherein the alarm system is
shown installed in multiple switch form on a conventional metal,
merchandise article supporting shelf generally indicated at 10 of
the type frequently found in supermarkets, discount stores and the
like. The shelf 10 serves as the article supporting member and has
spaced upper and lower sides 12 and 14 with a series of spaced
openings 16 formed between said upper and lower sides slightly
rearwardly of a front, downwardly extending flange 18, said flange
conventionally being covered by a decorative strip 20. With the
preformed series of openings 16, the shelf 10 is perfectly
adaptable for convenient mounting of a series of spaced, article
surveillance switches generally indicated at 22 positioned spaced
apart sufficient distances for individually supporting merchandise
articles thereover, such as bottles 24 and 26 as shown.
Each of the switches 22 includes an actuating member 28 formed by a
cylindrical center post 30 extending upwardly through one of the
openings 16 to terminate upwardly in a flanged upper end 32 and
terminate downwardly in a flanged lower end 34. The actuating
member 28 also includes an annular washer 36 secured positioned
overlying the flanged center post lower end 34 and for convenience
in assembly, the actuating member 28 is preferably formed of
separable, selectively threadably engaged halves as shown.
Furthermore, and extremely important to the principles of the
present invention, at least the actuating member center post 30 and
the flanged upper end 32 thereof are formed of a nonmagnetically
attracting material such as aluminum, or both of nonmagnetically
attracting and nonelectrically conducting material such as one of
the well-known plastics, but the washer 36 must be formed of both a
magnetically attracting and electrically conducting material such
as steel. In the alternative, and now shown, the actuating member
center post 30 has its flanged upper end 32 could be formed of
plastic so as to be nonmagnetically attracting and nonelectrically
conducting, with the flanged lower end 34 with its threaded
engagement into the center post formed of steel so as to be both
magnetically attracting and electrically conducting, thereby
eliminating the necessity of the washer 36 completely, all common
expedients well known in the art.
Each switch 22 further includes a preferably permanent magnet block
38 secured to the shelf lower side 14 and having a vertical opening
40 formed therethrough slightly larger than the outer diameter of
the actuating member centerpost 30 and aligned with the particular
of the shelf openings 16. The magnet block 38 is preferably formed
of a nonelectrically conducting or electrically insulating plastic
impregnated with magnetic particles, such material being well known
in the art, and with the shelf 10 formed of steel, the securement
of the magnet block to the shelf lower side 14 may be purely
through magnetic force, although if this mounting surface is
nonmagnetically attracting, usual well-known adhesives or other
securing means would be used. Thus, in relation to the shelf 10 and
the magnet block 38, the actuating member 28 is positioned with the
center post 30 projecting vertically movably through one of the
shelf openings 16 and the magnet block opening 40 with the
actuating member upper end 32 overlying the shelf upper side 12 and
the actuating member lower end 34 with its washer 36 underlying the
magnet block.
The vertical dimensioning of the actuator member 28 is proportioned
such that with the upper surface of the magnet block 38 secured to
the shelf lower side 14 and the magnet block magnetically
attracting the actuating member washer 36 upwardly against the
magnet block lower surface simultaneously drawing the secured
center post 30 and the actuating member lower end 34 upwardly, the
actuating member upper end 32 will be positioned spaced above the
shelf upper side 12. Furthermore, when the actuating member upper
end 32 is depressed downwardly against the shelf upper side 12, the
actuating member center post 30 will be moved downwardly moving the
actuating member lower end 34 and the secured washer 36 to a
position spaced downwardly and clear of the lower surface of the
magnet block 38. As will be hereinafter more apparent, the
depressed position of the actuating member 28 may be considered the
lower or first position, and the free or raised position may be
considered the upper or second position, the depressed or first
position being shown in FIG. 4 and the raised or second position
being shown in FIG. 3.
As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a pair of contact strips 42 of
electrically conducting material, preferably metal foil such as
aluminum, are secured spaced apart over the lower surface of the
magnet block 38 and at opposite sides of the magnet block opening
40, such contact strips preferably also extending continuously
along the shelf lower side 14 continuously adjacent the series of
shelf openings 16. Except at the extensions of the contact strips
42 over the under sides of the magnet block 38, the contact strips
are secured to the shelf lower side 14 over appropriate insulating
strips 44 so as to insulate the same from the metal shelf 10, the
insulating strips for convenience extending under the magnet block
38 between the magnet block and the shelf lower side 14 merely to
augment efficiency in installation. In any event, the spacing and
positioned of the contact strips 42 over the under side of the
magnet block 38 is determined so that when the actuating member 28
is in its raised or second position as shown in FIG. 3, the
actuating member lower portion washer 36 underlies and upwardly
contacts both of said contact strips, the combination of the
actuating member lower portion washer 36 and the contact strips 42
thereby forming electrical contact means for the switch
transmitting electrically energy or power therethrough when the
actuating member is in its raised or second position and free of
transmitting electrical energy or power therethrough when the
actuating member is in its lower or depressed position as shown in
FIG. 4.
With the contact strips 42 extending continuously along the shelf
lower side 14 over their insulating strips 44 from the switch
magnet block 38, these contact strips form a unique bus bar and
permit a series of the switches, each having an identically
arranged magnet block 38, to be positioned spaced along the shelf
10, all using the same contact strips 42 and insulating strips 44
as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, each of the switches
will be connected electrically in parallel so that each of the
switches may individually complete the electrical circuit through
that particular switch actuating member 28 and the contact strips
42 upon that particular actuating member moving to its upper or
second position. At appropriate locations along the contact strips
42, in this case preferably at one end of the shelf 10, the contact
strips are electrically connected in circuit with a typical, low
voltage, electrically actuated devices 46 and a transformer 48,
both shown diagrammatically electrically connected to the contact
strips in FIG. 5.
As hereinbefore discussed, the electrically actuated device 46 may
be of any usual low-voltage type which can effectively act as an
alarm to visually or audibly signal a person charged with
surveillance thereof that a merchandise article removal has been
detected, for instance, audibly signalling electrically actuated
devices could include a bell, buzzer or chimes, or even a recording
system playing music or transmitting a message, and visually
signalling electrically actuated devices could include various
forms of lights. The transformer 48 can be connected to the usual
electrical power lines of the merchandising establishment and will
reduce the voltage to the lower voltage required for the alarm
system. In order to be certain that proper electrical power is
maintained within the alarm system during use thereof, it is
preferred to provide the positive ground connection between the
contact strips 42 and the transformer 48, although in certain
instances, it is possible to merely establish the ground directly
through a separate ground connection, such as through the metal
shelf 10 and to the ground through a cement floor.
Thus, in one of the alarm system of the present invention as shown
in FIGS. 1 through 5 and thus far described, the switches 22 may be
installed at the desired locations along the shelf 10 and as long
as the bottles 24 and 26 are positioned on the shelf, the actuating
members 28 of their associated switches will be retained din their
depressed or first positions merely through the weights of the
bottles and electrically actuated device 46 will not be
electrically actuated by those particular switches. If, however,
one of the bottles 24 or 26 is removed from the shelf 10, the
magnet block 38 of that particular switch 22 will magnetically
attract the particular actuating member 28 upwardly to its raised
or second position and cause electrical actuation of the
electrically actuated device 46. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 an 4, the
switches 22 beneath the bottles 24 and 26 are in their depressed or
first positions and will not cause actuation of the electrically
actuated device 46, while the switch to the left of the bottle 26,
as additionally shown in FIG. 3, is in its raised or second
position and will cause actuation of the electrically actuated
device.
As particularly shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, in order to prevent
tampering with the switches 22 and their contact strips 42, a
generally channel-shaped cover generally indicated at 50 may be
provided extending continuously along the shelf 10 and where formed
of metal, primarily retained in place by the magnetic attraction of
the magnet blocks 38, or where formed of nonmagnetically attracting
materials such as plastic, retained in place by usual fasteners. As
an added feature of the alarm system of the present invention,
however, and compatible with the unique construction of the
switches 22, the cover 50 may be formed with a horizontally
inwardly projecting flange or tab 52 at least at each of the switch
magnet blocks 38 and installed underlying the magnet blocks, that
is, between the magnet blocks and the shelf lower side 14 wen the
cover is in place. The flanges or tabs 52 could be appropriately
separately installed connected to the cover 50 at the location of
the switches 22, but in any event, with the magnet blocks 38
secured to the metal shelf lower side 14 through magnetic
attraction, any unauthorized attempted removal of the cover 50 will
cause a tilting of the magnet blocks 38 and their associated
actuating members 28 somewhat in the manner partially shown in FIG.
4, such tiling of both the magnet blocks and their associated
actuating members bringing the washers 36 against the contact
strips 42 just as if the actuating members had normally moved
upwardly to their free upper or raised positions so as to
electrically actuate the electrically actuated device 46 detecting
such attempted tampering with the alarm system.
To further illustrated the versatility of the alarm system of the
present invention, in FIG. 6 an actuating members 54 is shown
having a typical merchandise article retaining platform 56 secured
to a flanged upper end 58 of said actuating member, the remainder
of the particular switch being the same as before and the
installations being the same or as an individual switch
installation. With the actuating member 54 having the platform 56
permanently secured thereon, the balancing between the magnetic
force of the magnet block (not shown) and the actuating member will
be closely balanced so that only slight weight is required on the
platform 56 to overcome the magnetic attraction of the actuating
member and move the actuating member and platform downwardly, and
removal of such slight force causing the actuating member to move
upwardly and complete the switch electrical circuit. Thus, an alarm
system switch of the present invention having the actuation member
54 and the platform 56 may be used to hold any lightweight article,
such as articles of jewelry and the like, the switch maintaining a
surveillance on the particular merchandise article and detecting
when the same is removed from the platform so that the person
removing the same can be observed to be sure that the proper
purchasing procedure is followed.
In FIG. 7, the alarm system of the present invention is illustrated
for use with a gun rack generally indicated at 60 having a rifle 62
positioned thereon with a stock of the rifle resting on and
depressing a switch 64 at a supporting platform 66 of the gun rack.
While the rifle 62 is positioned on the gun rack 60, the switch 64
will be retained in its depressed or first position free of
actuating the alarm system electrical circuit (not shown) and free
of actuating the electrically actuated device (not shown) of said
alarm system. When, however, the rifle 62 is removed from the gun
rack 60, the switch 64, as previously described, is magnetically
moved to its upper or second position completing the electrical
circuit and actuating the electrically actuated device. In this
manner, the alarm system of the present invention provides
continuous surveillance of the rifle 62 and immediately detects the
removal thereof from the gun rack 60, all in an efficient and
positive manner, again illustrating the wide versatility of such
system.
According to the principles and disclosures of the present
invention, therefore, an alarm system and method incorporating
magnetic switch means is provided which efficiently carries out
surveillance over virtually any form of merchandise article in a
merchandising establishment and detects removal of such merchandise
articles form their normal positions of display by actuating any
chosen form of low-voltage alarm, either visible or audible. As
clearly illustrated and described, the unique alarm system is
extremely positive in operation making use of a simplified form of
magnet switch and may be installed in single or multiple units, the
wide versatility thereof meeting virtually any circumstances and
conditions encountered in both large and small merchandising
establishments. Despite the marked advantages, wide versatility and
reliability, the overall alarm system of the present invention may
be fabricated and installed at an extremely low cost and will
produce long term cost savings by greatly reducing the incidence of
merchandise article theft.
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