Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background of the Invention
This invention relates to antenna pedestals, and, in
particular, to an antenna pedestal comprising an antenna casing
housing an antenna assembly for use in Electronic Article
Surveillance ("EAS") systems.
Typically, an EAS system employs antenna pedestals which are
placed and spaced opposite each other at a store entry or exit to
allow pedestrian traffic to pass therebetween. Each pedestal may
contain an antenna assembly consisting of transmitter and
receiver antenna arrays. The antenna arrays of the pedestals
generate a magnetic field in the region between the pedestals and
allow for detection of a disturbance in the generated magnetic
field when an activated theft-deterrent device is passed through
the region.
An example of an antenna pedestal of the above type is the
pedestal described in U.S. Patent No. 4,859,991 to Watkins, et
al. ("Watkins, et al."). More particularly, Watkins, et al.
disclose a pedestal having a complex housing structure for
housing an antenna assembly. In the Watkins, et al. pedestal,
clam shell members are joined together to form a cavity and foam
is used to fill the cavity, thereby immobilizing the antenna
assembly and providing rigidity to the pedestal. The pedestal
also employs a bumper which is secured around hook-shaped
adjacent edges of the clam shell members to help secure the
members together.
Another example of an antenna pedestal for an EAS system is
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the pedestal disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,872,018 to Feltz, et
al. ("Feltz, et al."). The Feltz, et al. pedestal merely
consists of an antenna array mounted within an antenna casing,
formed as a pair of mated hollow support housings.
While the aforesaid pedestals have proved satisfactory,
efforts are still underway to realize antenna pedestals which
provide a stronger overall structural support, are less expensive
to produce and have the ability to easily permit changing of an
antenna assembly within the pedestal without damaging or
rebuilding of the pedestal structure. Accordingly, new pedestals
having the aforesaid attributes are still being sought.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide an antenna pedestal which has greater structural support
and integrity.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an antenna pedestal which has a simple structure.
It is an additional object of the present invention to
provide an antenna pedestal which allows for easy insertion and
removal of an antenna assembly.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
the above and other objectives are realized in an antenna
pedestal for an EAS system in which the antenna pedestal
comprises an antenna casing for enclosing and supporting an
antenna assembly and framing means which extends substantially
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around the perimeter of the antenna casing for holding the
antenna casing and including a bottom portion for supporting the
antenna casing.
In a modified form of the antenna pedestal of the invention,
first and second plates are disposed on either side of the
antenna casing so that the antenna casing is positioned
therebetween. These plates are secured to the framing means and
provide additional support to the antenna pedestal.
In a further modification of the antenna pedestal of the
invention, the framing means and first and second plates together
form joined members which define a pocket having an open top for
receiving an antenna casing to be housed within the pocket. The
antenna casing is then secured within the pocket by removable
cover means which provides a closure for closing the open top of
the pocket. The removable cover means may comprise a one-piece
or multiple-piece assembly housing a warning device.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The above and other features and aspects of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading the following
detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of an antenna pedestal in
accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the antenna pedestal of
FIG. 1 without the base or lamp assembly;
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FIG. 3 shows a view of the antenna pedestal of FIG. 1 with
an exploded view of the base and the lamp assembly; and
FIGS. 4 and 5 show exploded views partially cut away of a
modified embodiment of the antenna pedestal of the invention with
first and second types of removable cover means, respectively.
Detailed Description
FIGS. 1-3 show an antenna pedestal 10 for use in an EAS
system in accordance with the principles of present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the antenna pedestal 10 comprises
framing means or a frame 12 which extends substantially along or
around the perimeter of an antenna casing 14 to hold and support
the casing. The frame 12 tapers inward and down to form a bottom
portion 16, which provides structural support for the antenna
casing 14.
As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 12 extends all around the
casing 14 except for small segments of the perimeter at the top
and bottom of the frame. The frame 12 thus substantially
surrounds the perimeter of the casing 14, i.e., surrounds the
casing 14 sufficiently to prevent the casing 14 from being
extracted upwardly, downwardly or sideways through the walls of
the frame 12. As also can be seen in FIG. 2, the thickness and
width of the frame 12 are sufficient to provide structural
support for the antenna casing 14, while also improving and
reinforcing the structural integrity of the pedestal 10.
The antenna casing 14 can be held in place by the structure
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of the frame 12 itself or may be further secured within the
frame 12 by an adhesive. In addition, a lip or channel may be
formed in the surface of the frame 12 abutting the antenna casing
14 to allow the antenna casing 14 to be better held in and to the
frame. Pins, bolts, screws or nails may also be positioned to
extend through the frame 12 to engage the antenna casing 14 and
to provide further support for the pedestal 10 against shearing
forces which might occur when the pedestal 10 is moved.
The antenna casing 14 also has openings 18 within its
structure so that advertisements, printed promotional materials
or any type of insert 20 may be placed therein to display various
specials, store promotions, etc. Further, the antenna casing 14
encloses and supports an antenna assembly 22, for generating
fields used in an EAS system to detect articles having theft
deterrent devices or tags attached or secured thereto.
As can be appreciated, use of the frame 12 to hold and
support the antenna casing 14 allows the casing 14 to be easily
inserted and secured within the frame. This permits easier
servicing and replacement of the antenna casing 14 and lessens
the amount of materials needed for its construction.
Additionally, the frame 12 provides greater strength and
structural integrity for the overall pedestal 10 both during use
and shipment.
In a modified form of the pedestal 10, first and second
sheets or plates 24, 26, as best shown ln FIG. 2, are also
positioned on either side of the antenna casing 14 and are
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secured to the frame 12. The plates 24, 26 are preferably, a
transparent plastic material, which cover the length and width of
the frame 12 and extend to the edges thereof, and can be
adhesively secured to the frame 12. This can be accomplished by
using a liquid solvent which is first placed on the outer
surfaces of the frame 12 in relation to the position of the
plates 24, 26. The plates 24, 26 and the frame 12 are then
clamped together by applying vacuum pressure to the plates and
frame. This pressure and the influence of the solvent results in~
the plates 24, 26 and frame 12 becoming adhesively secured in a
sandwich-like construction.
The use of the plates 24, 26 provides greater structural
support and integrity to the frame 12. The plates 24, 26 also
prevent direct access to the antenna casing 14, thereby better
protecting it from breakage or damage.
As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom portions of the frame 12 and
the plates 24, 26 extend downward and are inserted into a base 28
which provides foundation and stability for the overall structure
of the pedestal 10. The base 28 is smaller in width than the
antenna casing 14 and frame 12, which are made relatively wide in
order to produce a large zone of coverage of the monitored area.
FIG. 3 shows in greater detail the assembly of the base 28
of the pedestal 10 without the plates being shown. The base 28
includes a cover 30 and a T-section 32a and a clamping bracket
32b. The T-section 32a and the clamping bracket 32b help to
brace and stabilize the frame 12 and/or plates 24, 26 while also
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anchoring the pedestal 10 to the floor. The cover 30 houses an
alarm system (not shown), which is responsive to a disturbance in
the magnetic field sensed by the antenna assembly 22. The alarm
system may comprise an alarm module and driver mounted on a PC
board. Further, the alarm system may incorporate a beeping
mec~n;sm, which can indicate that an activated tag has passed by
the pedestal or a mechanism which provides a voice alert.
The top portion 34 of the frame 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and
3, also has a gap 36 therein for positioning of a lamp
assembly 38. The antenna casing 14 and first and second plates
24, 26 also have corresponding notches 40, 42, 44 respectively,
for positioning of the lamp assembly 38. The lamp assembly 38
extends along a portion of the perimeter of the antenna casing 14
when positioned in the corresponding gap 36 and notches 40, 42,
44 of the frame 12 and plates 24, 26, respectively. The lamp
assembly 38 acts as a warning device so that when triggered, the
lamp assembly 38 flashes, acting as a visual indicator to notify
an employee or security personnel that an article with a theft
deterrent tag or device attached thereto is being removed from
the store or retail establishment.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a further modification of the
antenna pedestal 10 of the invention. In this modification, the
frame 12 and the first and second plates 24, 26 are configured so
as to form members which when joined together define a pocket
having an open top. The open top permits the antenna casing 14
to be received and removed from the pocket so that different
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casings can be used, as well as to permit removal of a casing for
repairs, improvements or modifications.
; In this case, the frame 12 is provided with a removable
cover means or cover 46 which can be joined to or removed from
the sides of the frame 12 to close or open the pocket. The cover
46 can be joined to the sides of the frame 12 in any suitable
manner.
As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 46 is formed as a one-piece
assembly 48 with the lamp assembly 38 securely or removably
positioned thereon. As shown in FIG. 5, the cover 46 is formed
of multiple pieces or sections 50. The multiple sections 50 are
located on either side of lamp assembly 38, which is a separate
section which is removable from the multiple sections 50.
The antenna pedestal 10 of the present invention is not
limited to the illustrated embodiments but may be any length,
width or thickness depending upon the structural requirements of
the antenna casing or casings to be supported. Thus, for
example, the pedestal may take on oval, rectangular or polygonal
configurations to accommodate the antenna casings of a particular
EAS system.
The frame 12 and the plates 24, 26 of the antenna pedestal
10 are preferably made of plastic being a clear, translucent or
frosted material and are rigid or semi-rigid in strength to
provide adequate structural support for the antenna pedestal 10.
The use of a clear translucent or frosted material provides for
greater visibility through the antenna pedestal 10 in order to
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observe those activating the alarm while enhancing the overall
appearance of the pedestal. The base 28 and the lamp assembly 38
may also be plastic, either clear or frosted, but are preferably
a dark colored plastic, in order to conceal the internal workings
of the pedestal for security reasons and aesthetics.
The antenna casing 14 may be composed of a pressed wood or
wood paneling structure but may also be formed of a plastic or
other rigid or semi-rigid material to support the antenna
assembly 22. The first and second plates 24, 26, the base 28,
the lamp assembly 38 and the frame 12 of the antenna pedestal 10
may also be made of wood or a like rigid material. Semi-flexible
materials might also be used as long as the material provides
enough structural support to maintain the integrity and shape of
the pedestal 10.
The frame 12, plates 24, 26 and antenna casing 14 of the
pedestal 10 may also be assembled and held together by pins,
grooves, adhesive or any other retaining means which helps to
maintain the structural integrity of the pedestal 10 while also
providing further structural support and stability. An
additional crossmember may also be provided to join the sides of
the frame 12 to provide further support for the antenna casing 14
within the frame 12.
In all cases it is understood that the above-described
; configurations are merely illustrative of the many possible
specific embodiments which represent applications of the present
invention. Numerous and varied other configurations, can be
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readily devised in accordance with the principles of the present
invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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