U.S. patent number RE35,361 [Application Number 07/954,905] was granted by the patent office on 1996-10-29 for expulsion of detrimental substance from theft-deterrent device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Security Tag Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lincoln H. Charlot, Jr., Dennis L. Hogan, John L. Lynch.
United States Patent |
RE35,361 |
Hogan , et al. |
October 29, 1996 |
Expulsion of detrimental substance from theft-deterrent device
Abstract
In a device for deterring theft of a protected article,
including a pin and clutch respectively embodied in two components
that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a
portion of the protected article to prevent unauthorized removal of
the device from the article, the pin-containing component contains
two fragile elongated glass vials that fracture when at least a
predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with the vials
containing a detrimental substance that would damage an article
attached to the device if such substance were to be released from
the vial; and the head of the pin includes a breaker element having
a wedge-shaped surface of a fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic,
(which does not scratch glass), for applying more than the
predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead
being moved in response to application to the two components of at
least a predetermined threshold separation force, to thereby
completely fracture the vials by inducing a high bending stress
without prematurely cracking the vials, and to thereby release the
substance contained therein before the components are separated by
prying or pulling the components apart. A pliable seal is disposed
between the breaker element and the vials for preventing the
detrimental substance that is released from the fractured vials
from entering the head space and for expelling the released
detrimental substance through the adjacent opening in response to
pressure applied against the seal by the breaker element by the
movement of the pinhead that results in the vials being
fractured.
Inventors: |
Hogan; Dennis L. (St.
Petersburg, FL), Lynch; John L. (Holiday, FL), Charlot,
Jr.; Lincoln H. (St. Petersburg, FL) |
Assignee: |
Security Tag Systems, Inc.
(Boca Raton, FL)
|
Family
ID: |
24412920 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/954,905 |
Filed: |
September 30, 1992 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
602818 |
Oct 24, 1990 |
05054172 |
Oct 8, 1991 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/704.1;
70/57.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
73/0017 (20130101); E05B 39/002 (20130101); Y10T
24/50 (20150115); Y10T 70/5004 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
73/00 (20060101); E05B 39/00 (20060101); A44B
009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/704.1,707.1,706.8,711.4,711.5 ;70/57.1 ;340/572
;116/203,212 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Brittain; James R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Callan; Edward W.
Claims
We claim:
1. A detrimental-substance-containing component of a device for
deterring theft of a protected article, the device comprising means
for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means
being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked
together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent
unauthorized removal of the device from the article, wherein the
attaching means include a pin having a head that is anchored within
the detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch
contained in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a
pre-determined retaining force for resisting separation of the
components by prying or pulling the components apart,
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes a
surface through which the pin passes for engagement with the other
component,
wherein said surface contains at least one opening;
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at
least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined
pressure is applied thereto, with said vial being disposed adjacent
said at least one opening and containing a detrimental substance
that would damage an article attached to the device if the vial
were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be
released from the fractured vial through said at least one opening
onto the attached article;
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a
head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;
wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element having a contoured
surface for applying more than said predetermined pressure against
the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to
application to the two components of at least a predetermined
threshold separation force that is nevertheless less than that
required to overcome said predetermined retaining force, to thereby
fracture the vial and release the substance contained therein
before the components are separated by prying or pulling the
components apart; and
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes a
pliable seal disposed between the breaker element and the vial for
preventing the detrimental substance that is released from the
fractured vial from entering the head space and for expelling the
released detrimental substance through said at least one opening in
response to pressure applied against the seal by the breaker
element by said movement of the pinhead that results in the vial
being fractured.
2. A component according to claim 1, wherein the seal is more
extensive than the breaker element; and
wherein the pinhead further includes a flange extending beyond the
breaker element for contacting the seal beyond the breaker element
for further forcing the seal to expel the released detrimental
substance through said at least one opening in response to pressure
applied against the seal by the flange by said movement of the
pinhead that results in the vial being fractured.
3. A component according to claim 1, wherein the contour of the
breaker element is wedge-shaped; and
wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in
relation to the pinhead such that the breaker element can apply
pressure to induce a high bending stress in the vial and thereby
completely fracture the vial.
4. A component according to claim 3, wherein the surface of the
breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made
of a smooth, rigid material that does not scratch the vial.
5. A component according to claim 3, wherein the vial is made of
glass; and
wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said
pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid
fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic material that does not
scratch glass.
6. A component according to claim 3, comprising a plurality of said
vials symmetrically disposed in relation to the breaker element of
the pinhead.
7. A detrimental-substance-containing component of a device for
deterring theft of a protected article, the device comprising means
for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means
being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked
together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent
unauthorized removal of the device from the article,
wherein the attaching means include a pin having a head that is
anchored within the detrimental-substance-containing component and
a clutch contained in the other component for grasping the pin to
provide a predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of
the components by prying or pulling the components apart,
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at
least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined
pressure is applied thereto, with said vial containing a
detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the
device if the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental
substance were to be released from the fractured vial onto the
attached article;
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a
head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;
wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element disposed on the pin
so as to move parallel to the axial movement of the pinhead and
having a wedge-shaped surface for applying more than said
predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead
being moved in response to application to the two components of at
least a predetermined threshold separation force that is
nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined
retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the
substance contained therein before the components are separated by
prying or pulling the components apart; and
wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in
relation to the pinhead such that the breaker element can apply
pressure to induce a high bending stress in the vial and thereby
completely fracture the vial.
8. A component according to claim 7, wherein the surface of the
breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made
of a smooth, rigid material that does not scratch the vial.
9. A component according to claim 7, wherein the vial is made of
glass; and
wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said
pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid
fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic material that does not
scratch glass.
10. A component according to claim 7, comprising a plurality of
said vials symmetrically disposed in relation to the breaker
element of the pinhead.
11. A device for deterring theft of a protected article,
comprising
means for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching
means being embodied in two components that are adapted to be
locked together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to
prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article,
wherein the attaching means include a pin having a head that is
anchored within one component and a clutch contained in the other
component for grasping the pin to provide a predetermined retaining
force for resisting separation of the components by prying or
pulling the components apart;
wherein said one component includes a surface through which the pin
passes for engagement with the other component, wherein said
surface contains at least one opening;
wherein said one component includes at least one fragile vial that
fractures when at least a predetermined pressure is applied
thereto, with said vial being disposed adjacent said at least one
opening and containing a detrimental substance that would damage an
article attached to the device if the vial were to be fractured and
the detrimental substance were to be released from the fractured
vial through said at least one opening onto the attached
article;
wherein said one component defines a head space for enabling
limited axial movement of the pinhead;
wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element having a contoured
surface for applying more than said predetermined pressure against
the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to
application to the two components of at least a predetermined
threshold separation force that is nevertheless less than that
required to overcome said predetermined retaining force, to thereby
fracture the vial and release the substance contained therein
before the components are separated by prying or pulling the
components apart; and
wherein the one component further includes a pliable seal disposed
between the breaker element and the vial for preventing the
detrimental substance that is released from the fractured vial from
entering the head space and for expelling the released detrimental
substance through said at least one opening in response to pressure
applied against the seal by the breaker element by said movement of
the pinhead that results in the vial being fractured.
12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the seal is more
extensive than the breaker element; and
wherein the pinhead further includes a flange extending beyond the
breaker element for contacting the seal beyond the breaker element
for further forcing the seal to expel the released detrimental
substance through said at least one opening in response to pressure
applied against the seal by the flange by said movement of the
pinhead that results in the vial being fractured.
13. A device according to claim 11, wherein the contour of the
breaker element is wedge-shaped; and
wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in
relation to the pinhead such that the breaker element can apply
pressure to induce a high bending stress in the vial and thereby
completely fracture the vial.
14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the surface of the
breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made
of a smooth, rigid material that does not scratch the vial.
15. A device according to claim 13, wherein the vial is made of
glass; and
wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said
pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid
fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic material that does not
scratch glass.
16. A device according to claim 13, comprising a plurality of said
vials symmetrically disposed in relation to the breaker element of
the pinhead.
17. A device for deterring theft of a protected article,
comprising
means for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching
means being embodied in two components that are adapted to be
locked together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to
prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article,
wherein the attaching means include a pin having a head that is
anchored within one component and a clutch contained in the other
component for grasping the pin to provide a predetermined retaining
force for resisting separation of the components by prying or
pulling the components apart;
wherein said one component includes at least one fragile vial that
fractures when at least a predetermined pressure is applied
thereto, with said vial containing a detrimental substance that
would damage an article attached to the device if the vial were to
be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be released from
the fractured vial onto the attached article; p1 wherein said one
component defines a head space for enabling limited axial movement
of the pinhead;
wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element disposed on the pin
so as to more parallel to the axial movement of the pinhead and
having a wedge-shaped surface for applying more than said
predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead
being moved in response to application to the two components of at
least a predetermined threshold separation force that is
nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined
retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the
substance contained therein before the components are separated by
prying or pulling the components apart; and
wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in
relation to the pinhead such that the breaker element can apply
pressure to induce a high bending stress in the vial and thereby
completely fracture the vial.
18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the surface of the
breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made
of a smooth, rigid material that does not scratch the vial.
19. A device according to claim 17, wherein the vial is made of
glass; and
wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said
pressure against the vial is made of a fiber-loaded-reinforced
thermoplastic material.
20. A device according to claim 17, comprising a plurality of said
vials symmetrically disposed in relation to the breaker element of
the pinhead. .Iadd.
21. A detrimental-substance-containing component of a device for
deterring theft of a protected article, the device comprising means
for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means
being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked
together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent
unauthorized removal of the device from the article, wherein the
attaching means include a pin having a head that is anchored within
the detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch
contained in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a
predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the
components by prying or pulling the components apart,
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes a
surface through which the pin passes for engagement with the other
component, wherein said surface contains at least the opening;
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at
least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined
pressure is applied thereto, with said vial being disposed adjacent
said at least one opening and containing a detrimental substance
that would damage an article attached to the device if the vial
were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be
released from the fractured vial through said at least one opening
onto the attached article;
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a
head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;
wherein the pinhead includes a surface for applying more than said
predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead
being moved in response to application to the two components of at
least a predetermined threshold separation force that is
nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined
retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the
substance contained therein before the components are separated by
prying or pulling the components apart; and
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes a
pliable seal disposed between the pinhead and the vial for
preventing the detrimental substance that is released from the
fractured vial from entering the head space and for expelling the
released detrimental substance through said at least one opening in
response to pressure applied against the seal by the pinhead by
said movement of the pinhead that results in the vial being
fractured. .Iaddend..Iadd.
22. A detrimental-substance-containing component of a device for
deterring theft of a protected article, the device comprising means
for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means
being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked
together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent
unauthorized removal of the device from the article, wherein the
attaching means include a pin having a head that is anchored within
the detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch
contained in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a
predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the
components by prying or pulling the components apart,
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at
least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined
pressure is applied thereto, with said vial containing a
detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the
device if the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental
substance were to be released from the fractured vial onto the
attached article;
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a
head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;
wherein the pinhead has a surface for applying more than said
predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead
being moved in response to application to the two components of at
least a predetermined threshold separation force that is
nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined
retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the
substance contained therein before the components are separated by
prying or pulling the components apart;
wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in
relation to the pinhead such that the pinhead can apply pressure to
induce a high bending stress in the vial and thereby completely
fracture the vial; and
wherein the surface that applies said pressure against the vial is
made of a smooth, rigid material that does not scratch the vial.
.Iaddend..Iadd.23. A component according claim 22, wherein the vial
is made of glass; and
wherein the surface that applies said pressure against the vial is
made of a smooth, rigid fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic
material that does
not scratch glass. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. An article-protecting theft
deterrent including a first element which comprises a base element,
an elongated, generally pin-shaped or needle-shaped connecting
element which projects from said base element and which is intended
for insertion through said article, and a second element comprising
a head which is intended for attachment to the connecting element
and which is locked on said connecting element against movement
away from the base element so as to hold the theft deterrent on
said article, wherein the base element is provided with a fragile,
tubular ampule which contains a staining substance and which is
intended to fracture when the connecting element is manipulated,
such as to release the staining substance from said ampule,
characterized in that the ampule is supported at both ends thereof
against movement in a direction away from the base element; and in
that the connecting element includes an abutment part which is
integral to the connecting element and located on that side of the
ampule which is opposite to said direction and which is intended to
come into engagement with the ampule when an attempt is made to
manipulate the connecting
element. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. A detrimental-substance-containing
component of a device for deterring theft of a protected article,
the device comprising means for attaching the device to the
article, with said attaching means being embodied in two components
that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a
portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the
device from the article, wherein the attaching means include a pin
having a head that is anchored within the
detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch contained
in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a
predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the
components by prying or pulling the components apart,
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at
least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined
pressure is applied thereto, with said vial containing a
detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the
device if the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental
substance were to be released from the fractured vial onto the
attached article;
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a
head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;
wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element integral to and
disposed on the pin so as to move parallel to the axial movement of
the pinhead and having a surface for applying more than said
predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead
being moved in response to application to the two components of at
least a predetermined threshold separation force that is
nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined
retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the
substance contained therein before the components are separated by
prying or pulling the components apart; and
wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in
relation to the pinhead such that the breaker element can apply
pressure to fracture the vial. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally directed to devices that may be
attached to articles, such as merchandise, for deterring the theft
of such articles, and is particularly directed to improvements in a
theft-deterrent device of the type that contains a detrimental
substance that damages a protected article attached to the device
by releasing such substance when the device is tampered with during
an unauthorized attempt to remove the device from the article.
Typically, the device includes means for attaching the device to
the article, with the attaching means being embodied in two
components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides
of a portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the
device from the article. A typical attaching means includes a pin
having a head embodied in one of the two components and means
embodied in the other component for receiving the free end of the
pin. The device is attached to the protected article by passing the
free end of the pin through a portion of the article. At least one
of the two components includes a fragile elongated vial that
fractures when flexed longitudinally, with said vial containing the
detrimental substance that would damage the article if the vial
were to be fractured while the device was attached to the
article.
Prior art devices of this nature are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,483,049 to Gustavsson et al., 4,670,950 to Wisecup et al. and
4,649,397 to Heaton et al. Typically, these devices are used to
discourage the theft of such articles of merchandise as clothing,
and the detrimental substance typically is an ink or dye or
foul-smelling substance that permanently stains and or fouls the
clothing so as to make the clothing unattractive and thereby
generally unfit for wear.
In both the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,049 and the
device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,950, a detrimental
substance is contained in two frangible vials that are respectively
disposed in two opposing components that are secured together on
opposite sides of a portion of the protected article when the
device is locked to the article.
In the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,049, the vials
fracture when severely contacted by a tool, such as a screw driver,
that typically would be used in an attempt to pry apart the
opposing components of the device so that the device could be
removed from the protected article. The vials are so disposed in
the device as to be readily contacted by a tool being used to pry
apart the object and thereby fracture to release the detrimental
substance onto an protected article locked to the device.
In the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,950, the frangible
vials are longitudinally disposed in the two opposing elongated
components so that when either component is flexed longitudinally
during an attempt to pry the two components apart, the vial
contained therein fractures to release the detrimental substance
onto an protected article locked to the device.
In the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,397, two frangible
vials are longitudinally disposed in one of two opposing elongated
components so that when such component is flexed longitudinally
during an attempt to pry the two components apart, the vials
contained therein fracture to release the detrimental substance
onto an protected article locked to the device. Such device further
contains an electronic article surveillance tag of the type
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,428 to Lincoln H. Charlot, Jr.
Another prior art detrimental-substance-containing theft-deterrent
device having a vial that will fracture to release the detrimental
substance whenever a forceful attempt is made to detach the
theft-deterrent device from the article to be protected, is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,075 to Dennis L. Hogan. In such
device, an attachment-pin-containing component having openings in a
surface through which the pin passes for engagement with the other
component includes a plurality of fragile elongated
detrimental-substance-containing vials that fracture when at least
a predetermined pressure is applied thereto; and defines a head
space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead, and guide
channels containing balls between the pinhead and the vials. The
guide channels are contoured for enabling the pinhead to force the
balls to move and apply more than said predetermined pressure
against the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response
to application to the two components of at least a predetermined
threshold separation force that is nevertheless less than that
required to overcome the retaining force between the pin and the
clutch, to thereby fracture at least one of the vials to release
the substance contained therein through the openings and onto the
article attached to the device before the components are separated
by prying or pulling the components apart.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improvement to the
detrimental-substance-containing component of the theft-deterrent
device described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,075 to
Hogan that enhances expulsion of the detrimental substance from the
detrimental-substance-containing component once any one of the
vials is fractured.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a
detrimental-substance-containing component for use in a
theft-deterrent device that includes means for attaching the device
to the article, with said attaching means being embodied in two
components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides
of a portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the
device from the article, wherein the attaching means include a pin
having a head that is anchored within the
detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch contained
in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a
predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the
components by prying or pulling the components apart, wherein the
detrimental-substance-containing component includes a surface
through which the pin passes for engagement with the other
component, wherein said surface contains at least one opening;
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at
least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined
pressure is applied thereto, with said vial being disposed adjacent
said at least one opening and containing a detrimental substance
that would damage an article attached to the device if the vial
were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be
released from the fractured vial through said at least one opening
onto the attached article; wherein the
detrimental-substance-containing component defines a head space for
enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead; wherein the pinhead
includes a breaker element having a contoured surface for applying
more than said predetermined pressure against the vial in response
to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two
components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force
that is nevertheless less than that required to overcome said
predetermined retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and
release the substance contained therein before the components are
separated by prying or pulling the components apart; and wherein
the detrimental-substance-containing component includes a pliable
seal disposed between the breaker element and the vial for
preventing the detrimental substance that is released from the
fractured vial from entering the head space and for expelling the
released detrimental substance through said at least one opening in
response to pressure applied against the seal by the breaker
element by said movement of the pinhead that results in the vial
being fractured.
Accordingly, the detrimental substance is expelled from the
detrimental-substance-containing component and onto the article
attached to the theft device even though the theft-deterrent device
is oriented such that the detrimental-substance-containing
component is positioned beneath the other component at the time
when the vial is fractured; whereas except for the positive
expulsion of the detrimental substance provided by the present
invention, the force of gravity would retain the detrimental
substance within the detrimental-substance-containing
component.
Expulsion of the detrimental substance is further improved in a
preferred embodiment in which the seal is more extensive than the
breaker element; and in which the pinhead further includes a flange
extending beyond the breaker element for contacting the seal beyond
the breaker element for further forcing the seal to expel the
released detrimental substance through said at least one opening in
response to pressure applied against the seal by the flange by said
movement of the pinhead that results in the vial being
fractured.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a
detrimental-substance-containing component for use in a
theft-deterrent device that includes means for attaching the device
to the article, with said attaching means being embodied in two
components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides
of a portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the
device from the article, wherein the attaching means include a pin
having a head that is anchored within the
detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch contained
in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a
predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the
components by prying or pulling the components apart, wherein the
detrimental-substance containing component includes at least one
fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined pressure
is applied thereto, with said vial containing a detrimental
substance that would damage an article attached to the device if
the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to
be released from the fractured vial onto the attached article;
wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a
head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;
wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element disposed on the pin
so as to move parallel to the axial movement of the pinhead and
having a wedge-shaped surface for applying more than said
predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead
being moved in response to application to the two components of at
least a predetermined threshold separation force that is
nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined
retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the
substance contained therein before the components are separated by
prying or pulling the components apart; and wherein the vial is
elongated with closed ends and is disposed in relation to the
pinhead such that the breaker element can apply pressure to induce
a high bending stress in the vial and thereby completely fracture
the vial.
It has been found that if during the process of fracturing the
vial, the breaker element induces a high bending stress in the vial
without causing premature cracking, the vial will fracture
completely; whereas if either the high bending stress is not
induced or premature cracking occurs, the vial does not fracture
completely. Such incomplete fracturing of the vial sometimes
results in the fractured portions of the vial collapsing into the
remaining portions of the vial in such a manner as to prevent a
large portion of the detrimental substance from being expelled from
the vial.
Premature cracking of the vial may occur if the vial is scratched
such that minute high pressure points occur when pressure is
applied by the breaker element.
To prevent scratching of the vial in those embodiments of the
detrimental-substance-containing component of this second aspect of
the present invention, as described above, in which the breaker
element can contact the vial, the surface of the breaker element
that applies the pressure against the vial is made of a smooth,
rigid material that does not scratch the vial.
In a preferred embodiment of this second aspect of the present
invention, in which the vial is made of glass, the surface of the
breaker element that applies the pressure against the vial is made
of a fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic material, such as
glass-fiber-loaded nylon.
Both of the aforementioned aspects of the invention are combined in
the preferred embodiment of the present invention to still further
enhance expulsion of the detrimental substance from the
detrimental-substance-containing component.
The present invention further provides theft-deterrent devices
containing an improved detrimental-substance-containing component
according to the present invention.
Additional features of the present invention are described in
relation to the description of the preferred embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the theft-deterrent device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates the attachment of the theft-deterrent device of
FIG. 1 to a protected article or clothing.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a member of the one component of the
theft-deterrent device of FIG. 1 that contains the vials and the
seal and anchors the pin.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are sector sectional views of the
detrimental-substance-containing component of the theft-deterrent
device of FIG. 1 taken along lines 4--4 in FIG. 3, showing a
sequence of operation as the breaker element of the pinhead moves
to fracture the vials in response to the pin being forced
downward.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the barrel of the second component of
the theft-deterrent device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cover of the second component
of the theft-deterrent device of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the theft-deterrent
device of the present invention includes a first component 10 and a
second component 12. The first component 10 includes a pin 14, and
the second component 12 includes a clutch 16 for grasping the pin
14. The pin 14 is centrally located in the first component 10; and
the clutch 16 is centrally located in the second component 12. The
theft-deterrent device is attached to an article 18 to be protected
(as illustrated in FIG. 2) by passing the pin 14 through a portion
of the protected article 18 and engaging the pin 14 in the clutch
16 so that the clutch 16 grasps the pin 14. While the pin 16 is
grasping the pin 14, the first component 10 and the second
component 12 are locked together on opposite sides of a portion of
the protected article 18 and thereby prevent unauthorized removal
of the theft-deterrent device from the protected article 18. The
pin 14 has a head 40 that is anchored within the first component
10; and the clutch 16 in the second component 12 gasps the pin 14
to provide a predetermined retaining force, such as 100 pounds (25
newtons), for resisting separation of the components 10, 12 by
prying or pulling the components apart. The predetermined retaining
force must be much greater than the separation force that would be
applied in attempting to separate the two components 10, 12 by
using one's bare hands.
The pin 14, the clutch 16 and the technique of releasing the pin 14
from the grasp of the clutch 16 so that the first component 10 can
be unlocked from the second component 12 to thereby detach the
protected article 18 from the theft-deterrent device are described
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,356 to Lincoln H. Charlot, Jr.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4A and 4B, the first component 10 includes
a member 24 that contains two fragile elongated glass vials 20 that
fracture when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto.
Each vial 20 contains a detrimental substance 22 that would damage
the protected article 18 if the vial were to be fractured while the
theft-deterrent device was attached to the article 18. The
detrimental substance 22 preferably is a fluid colored dye or
permanent ink.
The first component 10 includes a plastic vial-containing member 24
and a circular plastic cover 38. The member 24 is ultrasonically
welded to the cover 38 at the circumferential edge of the member
24.
The member 24 and the cover 38 define a head space 25 in which the
pinhead 40 is anchored. The head space 25 also enables limited
axial movement of the pinhead 40. The pin 14 passes through a hole
41 in an exposed surface 26 of the member 24.
The exposed surface 26 of the member 24 further includes openings
31 into two chambers 27 defined by the member 24 for respectively
disposing the two vials 20 adjacent such openings 31. The openings
31 are smaller than the vials 20 so as to recess the vials 20 from
the exposed surface 26 and thereby prevent the vials 20 from being
fractured during normal handling of the component 10.
The pinhead 40 includes a breaker element 28 and a flange 29.
The breaker element 28 exerts little or no pressure on the vials 20
while the attached pin 14 and clutch 16 are in a relaxed state,
which occurs when no force is being applied to separate the two
components 10, 12.
The breaker element 28 has a wedge-shaped surface for applying more
than the predetermined pressure against the vials 20 in response to
the pinhead 40 being moved in response to application to the two
components 10, 12 of at least a predetermined threshold separation
force, such as approximately 40 pounds (10 newtons), that is
nevertheless less than that required to overcome the predetermined
retaining force, to thereby fracture the vials 20 and release the
substance 22 contained therein before the components 10, 12 are
separated by prying or pulling the components apart. The
predetermined threshold separation force must be well above both
normal handling forces for the theft-deterrent device and the
separation force that would be applied in attempting to separate
the two components 10, 12 by using one's bare hands; and but yet,
the predetermined threshold separation force must be easily
attained by attempting to pry the two components 10, 12 apart with
a screwdriver.
The vials 20 are elongated with closed ends and are disposed in
relation to the pinhead 40 such that the breaker element 28 can
apply pressure to induce a high bending stress in the vials 20 and
thereby completely fracture the vials 20.
The surface of the breaker element 28 that applies the pressure
against the vials 20 is made of a smooth, rigid material that does
not scratch the vial 20. In the preferred embodiment, the vials 20
are made of glass; and the surface of the breaker element 28 that
applies the pressure against the vial 20 is made of a
fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic material, such as glass-fiber
loaded nylon.
The vials 20 are symmetrically disposed in relation to the pinhead
40 so that the pinhead 40 applies approximately equal pressure to
both vials 20.
A pliable seal 30 is disposed between the breaker element 28 and
the vials 20. The seal 30 includes a hole 32 through which the pin
14 passes. The pliable seal 30 is disposed between the breaker
element 28 and the vials 20 for preventing the detrimental
substance 22 that is released from the fractured vials 20 from
entering the head space 25 and for expelling the released
detrimental substance 22 through the openings 31 in response to
pressure applied against the seal 30 by the breaker element by said
movement of the pinhead that results in the vial being fractured.
The pliable seal 30 preferably is rubber, such as foam rubber or
latex sheet material. The foam rubber flows has the advantage of
flowing around the glass particles of the fractured vials 20.
The seal 30 is more extensive than the breaker element 28; and the
flange 29 of the pinhead 40 extends beyond the breaker element for
contacting the seal 30 beyond the breaker element 28 for further
forcing the seal 30 to expel the released detrimental substance 22
through the openings 31 in response to pressure applied against the
seal 30 by the flange 29 by the movement of the pinhead 40 that
results in the vials 20 being fractured.
The seal 30 also serves as a shock absorbers for the vials 20 in
order to prevent the vials 20 from being broken during normal
handling of the component 10.
When forced separation of the two components 10, 12 is attempted,
the pin 14 is forced to move axially within the vial-containing
member 24 and the breaker element 28 of the pinhead 40 applies
pressure against the vials 20 to fracture the vials 20, as
illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The pinhead 40 is shown in the
relaxed position in FIG. 4A and is shown in the position in which
the vials 20 are fractured in response to downward movement of the
pinhead 40 in FIG. 4B. The second component 12 also is so
structured as not to flex when an attempt is made to pry the first
component 10 from the second component 12 while the two components
are locked together, thereby concentrating separation forces
resulting from said prying to be applied to forcing movement of the
pinhead 40 within the member 24 of the first component 10.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the second component 12 includes a
plastic cover 58 and a plastic barrel 60. The barrel 60 includes a
central chamber 62 that holds the housing of the clutch 16. In
order to make the second component 12 rigid so that it does not
flex, the concealed surface 64 of the cover 12 includes a plurality
of circular stiffening ribs 66; and the barrel 60 includes a
plurality of supporting struts 68 extending radially between the
central chamber 62 and the outer wall 70 of the barrel 60.
The second component 12 also includes deflection plates 72 made of
two-percent-carbon hardened spring steel, which line the central
chamber 62 around the clutch 16 for deflecting the bit of a drill
that one might use in an attempt to penetrate the housing of the
clutch 16, and thereby shield the housing of the clutch 16 from a
drilling tool.
The barrel 60 is ultrasonically welded to the cover 58 at the
circumferential edge of the cover 58 and at the upper edge of the
central chamber 62.
* * * * *