Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~92163
BACXGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an anti-theft device
for valuable products such as compclct discs or the like.
It is known that compacts discs are gradually
superseding known vinyl records.
However, currently no device which eliminates the risk
of their theft is available for them.
Their small size makes them easy to conceal, and the
confusion which generally exists in the most intensely
visited record shops makes them easy to steal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is therefore to
provide a device which inhibits the possibility of thefts of
compact discs or the like.
A consequent primary object is to provide an anti-theft
device which can also be produced to protect other similar
valuable products.
Another important object is to provide a device which
is simple to use.
Another object is to provide a device which can be
reused.
Another object is to provide a device which can be
manufactured with conventional equipment and facillties.
This aim, these objects and others which will become
apparent hereinafter are achieved by an anti-theft device
for valuable products such as compact discs or the like,
characterized i~ that it comprises a containment body for
accommodating one or more of said products arranged side by
side so as to leave exposed identification regions of said
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products, said body comprising at least two portions which
are mutually articulated in a peripheral region and are
provided with means for mutual locking of said two portions
in closed condition, at least one of said portions
containing electronic means for activating an alarm circuit,
release means for unblocking said mutual locking means being
provided.
BRIEF DE~CRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further characteristics and advantage~ of the invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description
of two embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non-
limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of
the anti-theft device according to the invention, in open
condition;
figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the device of
figure 1, which contains a compact disc, in closed and open
condition respectively;
figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of the
region where the elements which compose the device according
to the preceding figures are mutually coupled;
figures 5 and 6 are sectional detail views, taken along
a plane at right angles to the plane of figure 4, of the
articulation region, respectively with the articulation
locking means activated and deactivated;
figure 7 is a perspective view of two devices according
to the invention stacked when not in use;
figure 8 is a rear view of a further aspect of the
present invention related to the release means;
figure 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment
3 ~921~3
of the anti-theft device according to the present invention
which includes the containment body for the valuable
products and the fixture for the release of the containment
body from said products;
figure 10 is a perspective view of the second
embodiment of the device during release;
figure 11 is a partially sectional side view of the
release fixture of the second embodiment;
figure 12 is a sectional view of an internal detail of
the release fixture of figure 11 in inactive condition:
figure 13 is a view of the detail of figure 12, with
the fixture in release condition;
figure 14 is a perspective view of a tool which is
comprised within the fixture of figures 11, 12 and 13 and is
able to pe~form release;
figure 15 is a perspective view of the complete device
of figure 9 during the release and extraction of the
valuable product;
figure 16 is a sectional view of the body of the second
embodiment of the device for containing the valuable
products in locked condition;
figure 17 is a partially sectional enlarged-scale
detail view of the containment body, taken along the plane
XVII-XVII of figure 16;
figure 18 is a sectional view of the containment body
and of the release fixture during release according to the
second embodiment of the device of the present invention;
figure 19 is a partially sectional enlarged-scale
detail view, taken along the plane XI~-XIX of figure 10.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the above figures 1 to 8, a first
embodiment of the anti-theft device according to the present
invention comprises a containment body, generally designated
by the reference numeral 10, which is able to enclose one or
more compact discs ll arranged side by side. -
Said containment body 10 is made of rigid and non-
deformable materials, so that it is not possible to extract
the co~pact discs 11 from it when it is in closed condition.
The containment body 10 comprises two portions,
respectively a main portion lOa and a secondary portion lOb,
which are mutually articulated by means of a pivot 12.
The portion lOa in fact extends with two wings 10c in
which the end of the portion lOb is arranged and the pivot
12 is coupled; conveniently, the ends of said pivot 12 are
riveted.
The portion lOa is constituted by an L-shaped box-like
element which encloses the edges of the compact discs 11 on
three sides.
Cor.veniently, one of the three sides is shorter than
the other two sides and only partially affects the box-like
element, thereby leaving lateral regions of the products
exposed to allow their identification.
The portion lOb is constituted by a linear box-like
element which, when in closed position, at least partially
affects the fourth side of the compact disc 11; articulation
is provided in a corner region of the portion 10b.
At this point it should be stressed that the pivot 12
is inserted in a tubular part 13 of the portion 10b, which
is externally provided with a recessed annular sector 14 in
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which complementarily shaped ends 15 of fins 16 are able to
enter; said fins are formed between the opposite walls of
the portion lOa from which the wings lOc extend.
In particular, said fins 16 are usually arranged co-
planar with respect to the related walls, and the ends 15are inclined inward so that they are accommodated in the
recessed sector 14 (figure 5), thereby to block the
secondary portion in its closed position.
In the rear part of the portion lOa there is a hole 17
in which the complementarily shaped end of a release punch
18 can be inserted.
Release occurs by virtue of the fact that the end 18a
of the punch 18 is provided with chamfers which, by being
inserted between the ends 15 of the fins 16, gradually space
them apart, as shown in figure 6, laterally disengaging them
from the recessed sector 14 and allowing the pivoting of the
portion lOb into an open unblocked position.
Naturally, the angular position of said recessed sector
14 in the tubular part 13 is such that said ends 15 can
enter it when the portion lOb forms the containment body 10
in closed condition.
With reference now to figure 8, the punch insertion
hole, now designated by the reference numeral 17a, can have
particular shaped portions so that the punch can be inserted
in it only in one position.
According to the invention, a tab 19 extends from said
portion lOb and encloses an electronic means 20 which is
able to activate an alarm circuit.
Said electronic means 20 is constituted by a high-
frequency diode which, when placed in an electric field,
6 20~2163
starts to vibrate.
This vibration, detected by the same electric field,
activates a kno~m alarm system.
As regards operation, the compact discs 11 are
displayed for sale as shown in figure 2, i.e. inside the
containment body 10.
When sale occurs, the punch 18 is inserted in the hole
1~ and allows to rotate the portion lob and extract the
compact disc 11.
If the entire containment body 10, together with the
compact discs 11, is concealed, when the thief passes
through an electric field conveniently placed at the access
to the shop the alarm system is activated.
It should also be stressed that the containment bodies
10 may be conveniently be reused; when not in use, they may
be stacked on top of each other, occupying little space.
With reference now to figures 9 to 19, a second
embodiment of the anti-theft device according to the
invention comprises a containment body, generally designated
by the reference numeral 110, which is able to enclose one
or more compact discs 111 arranged side by side.
The containment body llQ is made of rigid and non-
deformable materials so that it is not possible to extractthe compact disks 111 from it when it is in closed
condition.
The body comprises two portions, respectively a main
portion llOa and a secondary portion llOb, which are
mutually articulated by means of a pivot 112.
The portion llOa in fact extends at the coupling region
with two wings llOc, between which a tapered end llOd of the
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portion llOb is arranged.
The pivot 112 is inserted in adapted holes of the wings
llOc and of the end llOd and its edges are conveniently
riveted.
The main portion llOa is constituted by a box-like
element which encloses on three sides the edges of the
compact discs 111, leaving regions exposed for their
identification.
The portion llOb is also constituted by a box-like
element which partially affects the fourth side of the
compact discs 111; the articulation of said portion llOb
with the portion llOa is provided in a corner region.
At this point it should be stressed that the main
portion llOa of the body 110 on the side affected by the
coupling to the secondary portion llOb is provided with a
longitudinal box-like part 113 which is externally closed;
an extension of said box-like part 113 forms the wings llOc.
A first wall portion of the box-like part 113 is formed
by the base 114, from which a tab 115 extends inside said
box-like part 113; said tab encloses an electronic means,
not shown in the figures, which is able to activate an alarm
circuit.
Said electronic means is preferably constituted by a
high-frequency diode which vibrates when placed in an
electric field.
This vibration, detected by the same electric field,
activates a known alarm system.
Said base 11~ is integrated with the rest of the box-
like part 113 by being glued, welded or joined thereto withanother fixing means.
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Second and third wall portions of the box-like part
113, adjacent to the ends of the pivot 112, are formed hy
corresponding surfaces of a block 116 which is inserted in a
corresponding seat of the box-like part 113 and is
internally shapsd so as to form two parallel elastic fins
117 which, in an unloaded position, are substantially
aligned with the end llOd of the secondary portion llOb of
the body 110.
When the body 110 is in closed condition, said fins 117
rest with their flat ends 118 against a corresponding flat
region 119 of the end llOd and prevent the rotation of the
secondary portion llOb.
Said flat region 119 is provided, in a central
position, with a ridge 120 which is able to keep the two
fins 117 spaced.
Conveniently, the block 116 is joined to the box-like
part 113 by welding, glueing or other equivalent fixing
means.
The fins 117 can be spaced apart, freeing the end llOd
and thus the secondary portion llOb, which can be opened,
releasing the compact disc 111.
When the body 110 ls in open condition, the ~lns 117
can enter corresponding grooves which may be provided
externally on the end llOd so that said fins resume an
inactive condition and thus are not subject to tension.
The grcoves may have inclined portions which allow the
rotation of the secondary portion llOb in order to perform
closure by spacing the fins 117 apart.
An opening 122 is provided between the base 114 of the
tab 115 and the block 116 on the box-like part 113 and
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allows access to a tool, as more clearly described
hereinafter, so as to space apart the fins 117 and release
the secondary portion 110.
Said opening 122 is thus spaced from the fins 117 and
is at right angles to them, so that access to them is
indirect.
In order to perform release there is a fixture,
included in the anti-theft device according to the
invention, which is generally designated by the reference
numeral 123, and which comprises a base 124 from which two
parallel wings 125 extend; an arm 127 is articulated between
said wings by means of an end pivot 126.
A cylindrical helical spring 128 is arranged between
said base 124 and said arm 127, and its ends are
accommodated in adapted seats 129 and 130 respectively of
said arm and said base.
A box-like support 131 is fixed on said arm 127 and is
able to accommodate said containment body 110 with the box-
like part 113 arranged parallel to the lever arm 127.
In order to avoid positioning errors, the containment
body 110 has, on its main portion llOa, guiding grooves 13Zand 133 for corresponding ridges 134 and 135 which extend
inside the box-like support 131.
Said grooves 132 and 133 and said ridges 134 and 135
are straight and extend at right angles to the arm 127.
A metallic tool 137 is articulated by means of a pivot
136 to the lower part of the box-like support 131, below the
region where the block 116 is located; said tool is
constituted by a pointed arm 137a which is shaped like an
arc of a circle and is joined to the pivot 136 by means of a
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radial linking element 137b.
The radius of the point 137a is such that it ~an enter
through the opening 12Z and have its end arranged between
the fins 117, spacing them apart, by rotating about the
pivot 136 (figure 19).
In a region of the linking element 137b which is spaced
from the pivot 136 there is a transverse pin 138 fixed to
the tool 137; the ends of said pin, which are conveniently
contained within plain bearings 139, are slidably
accommodated within corresponding guiding grooves 140 of the
wings 125.
Consequently, a groove 141 allowing the movement of the
pin 138 is also provided between the box-like support 131
and the arm lZ7.
By virtue of the thrust of the spring 128, in the
inactive condition the arm 127 is in a raised stroke limit
position defined by the ends of the grooves 141.
In thi~ position, the point 137a is in a rotated
position and is fully accommodated between the box-like
support 131 and the arm 127.
The end of said point is at the region where the
opening lZZ i5 located.
By inserting the body 110 in the appropriate position
defined by the guiding grooves 132 and 133 and by the ridges
134 and 135, and by then applying pressure on the body llo
so as to lower the arm 127, the tool 137 is rotated and, by
entering the box-like element 113, spaces the wings 117
apart, freeing the secondary portion llOb from the main
portion llOa.
In this manner it is possible to release the compact
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discs 111 from the body 110 when they are sold.
If the entire containment body 110, together with the
compact discs 111, is concealed, when the thief passes
through the electric field, which is appropriately located
at the acc~ss to the shop, the alarm system is activated.
In practice it has been observed that the intended aim
and objects of the present invention have been achieved.
The device thus conceived is susceptible to numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the
scope of the inventive concept.
All the details may furthermore be replaced with other
technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials employed, so long as they
are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the
dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.
