Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE PEDESTAL
WITH EXTRUDED FRAMEWORK
FIELD
The present technology is directed to an electronic article surveillance (EAS)
pedestal
with an extruded plastic polymeric framework which retains a planar support
with
antennae guide channels. More specifically, it is a pedestal that reduces or
eliminates
signal attenuation and reduces or eliminates the need to calibrate each EAS
power
amplifier by promoting accurate and reproduceable placement of the antennae
through
the use of a wiring guide and the antennae guide channels.
BACKGROUND
Electronic article surveillance systems are used extensively in stores to
control inventory
shrinkage. Many systems have a pedestal that has a supporting structure for
the
antennae that is a metal, tubular framework or is acrylic. The metal most
often used is
aluminum. In some cases, a molded acrylic or fiberglass material is used.
An example of an electronic article surveillance system is found in US
Publication Number
20160049058, where systems and methods for detecting a location of an EAS
security
tag are disclosed. The methods involve: determining a first amplitude of a
response signal
generated by the EAS security tag and received at a first pedestal, and a
second
amplitude of the response signal received at a second pedestal; processing the
first and
second amplitudes to determine whether the EAS security tag resides within a
specified
distance range of the first or second pedestal, a detection zone of an EAS
detection
system, or a backfield of the EAS detection system; issuing an alarm when the
EAS
security tag is determined to reside within the specified distance range of
the first/second
pedestal or the detection zone of the EAS detection system; and preventing
issuance of
the alarm when the EAS security tag is determined to reside in the backfield
of the EAS
detection system. Acoustomagnetic (AM), Radio Frequency (RF) type tags and
Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID) EAS systems are contemplated. This system does
not
exploit the pedestal real-estate for advertising to customers.
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An example of a system combining advertising with an EAS pedestal can be found
at
http://www.sensormatic.com/ where it is stated, "Advertising Upgrade Kit
leverages
valuable pedestal real-estate at the entrance to reach shoppers on-the-move.
The easy-
to-install poster helps draw shoppers with advertisements, modern designs or
simple,
low-cost printed graphics. This add-on also provides an opportunity to
generate additional
marketing co-op profit by bidding out this valuable advertising space to
vendors." While
this system utilizes the real-estate of the pedestal, it provides only a
static form of
advertising.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20100253588 discloses a
portal stand
for an RFID antenna comprises a pair of upright members and a front cover. The
front
cover is formed of a sheet of plastic that is resiliently biased to assume a
flat configuration,
with the front cover defining a flat width when it is in the flat
configuration. The upright
members include vertical slots and are spaced apart at a distance that is less
than the
flat width of the front cover. The front cover is disposed in the vertical
slots and is bowed
outwardly. The portal stand also includes a plurality of platforms that may be
used for
mounting RFID equipment such as antennas and readers. The platforms are
secured to
rails that are also secured to the upright members. The portal stand also
includes a top
cover, bottom cover, and rear cover, with the platforms being positioned
between the front
cover and rear cover. As can be seen, the framework is large and unwieldy.
Fasteners
are used to attach the various components to one another. Further, it requires
that each
antenna be tuned as it would not provide a defined pathway for the antennae in
the EAS.
United States Patent Application Publication Nos. 20210081987 and 20170221099
disclose an adaptive system for communicating with a customer in a retail
store
environment includes a sensor disposed at a sensor location in a retail
environment. The
sensor location is selected so that the sensor captures information that
facilitates
identification of at least one trait associated with a customer located
proximate to the
sensor location. A processing system is configured to use the information to
determine
the at least one trait. Thereafter, in response to such determination, the
processing
system selectively determines a message or content selection to be displayed
to the
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customer based at least in part on the at least one trait that has been
identified. Disclosed
is a skeletonized Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) pedestal that can
house an
antenna comprising a plurality of antenna coils inside plastic covers that
extend around a
periphery of the pedestal 700. This does not accommodate and retain a support
for a
screen for streaming video. Further, it requires that each antenna be
calibrated as it
would not provide a defined pathway for the antennae in the EAS.
Canadian Patent No. 2936044 discloses a combination of a media display and an
electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection system that is provided for
use with an RF
security tag, the combination comprising: a base for retaining a power supply,
housing a
system controller and each of the media display and the EAS such that the
media display
is proximate the EAS, the media display including a plurality of LCD screens,
an at least
one electrical line in electrical communication with the power supply and the
plurality of
LCD screens; the EAS including a transceiver, and an at least one RF antenna
that is an
emitter and an at least one RF antenna that is a receiver or an at least one
RF antenna
that is a combination emitter and receiver, the RF antennae in electronic
communication
with the transceiver; and a physical shield, the physical shield located
between at least
the plurality of LCD screens and the RF antennae of the EAS detection system.
This
accommodates and retains a support for a screen for streaming video, however,
the
framework led to some signal attenuation. Further, it required that each
antenna be tuned
as it would not provide a defined pathway for the antennae in the EAS.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20090243859 discloses a door
and
method of constructing a door whereby a security system antenna is routed
through
channels that are incorporated within the outer perimeter of the door, and
completely or
partially hidden from sight. The channels are sized to retain at least a
portion of the
security system antenna therein. The door can be purchased with the antenna
wires
already embedded therein and hidden from sight and installed at a facility
without the
need to mount the antenna wires on a pedestal or dig up floors and/or walls to
embed the
antenna coils. Existing doors can be retrofitted to install the antenna wires.
Such antennas
may be used, for example, in an RFID marker system or a magneto-acoustic EAS
marker
system.
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United States Patent Application Publication No. 20140199514 discloses frame
members
and mullions for a window frame that comprise a reinforcing member that is
surrounded
by an outer plastic layer. The outer plastic layer is held securely to the
reinforcing member
as a result of a waist banding effect that comprises an inward force created
by the outer
plastic layer as it cools and contracts around the reinforcing member. In
addition, lobes
are formed in the reinforcing member that assist in holding the outer plastic
layer to the
reinforcing member. Window inserts can be removed and replaced using adapters
and
removable brackets. Frame members and mullions can be built sufficiently
strong to
provide structural support. The frame can also be used to hold photovoltaic
cells and
protective coverings for photovoltaic cells. Structural members are also
disclosed that
have reinforcing members with apertures, debossing, scarification and/or
indentations
that secure the thermoplastic layer to the reinforcing member. The concept of
cooling a
heated outer layer such that it creates an inward force around a reinforcing
member is
disclosed. However, this would not be suitable as an antennae channel in an
EAS.
The use of integral ribbing to provide structural support for tubular plastic
members is
known. For example, United States Patent Application Publication No.
20100107530
discloses a building product which includes a hollow extrudate, unitary
reinforcing ribs
resisting collapse of the hollow extrudate and, in an embodiment, an exterior
surface
comprises a low gloss, textured pattern having a gloss level of less than
about 50 on a
60 ° glossmeter, in which the textured pattern extends for about 2-20
feet.
Methods and an apparatus for manufacturing such products are also provided by
this
invention. However, it has also been disclosed that such ribbing does not
provide
sufficient structural support and therefore further support is provided by
reinforcing strips
made of a material which is stronger than Poly Vinyl Chloride (PCVPVC). See
for
example United States Patent Application Publication No. 20120103740, which
discloses
any lightweight reinforced extruded tubing for telescopic handles for trolley-
type carry
cases, wherein the first stage tube is reinforced by metal strips. The tubes
are made of
extruded plastic material.
What is needed is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection system
that has a
sufficient tensile strength to retain a planar support and additional
components as desired.
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It would be preferable if the framework was an extruded polymeric plastic. It
would be
further preferable if the framework and skin could be friction fit together
and did not require
fasteners. It would be preferable if it reduced the need to tune individual
EAS amplifiers.
It would be most preferable if signal attenuation could be reduced or
eliminated in the
system.
SUMMARY
The present technology is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection
system that
has a lightweight frame that has sufficiently tensile strength to retain a
pair of panels and
additional components as desired. The framework is an extruded polymeric
plastic. The
framework and skin are friction fit together and do not require fasteners.
Each panel
includes channels that provide a defined and consistent pathway that allows
for routing
of the antennae in the pedestal. The antennae are formed on a wiring fixture
and are
placed in the channels which, when the pair of planar support members are
laminated
together, form antennae guides. These steps and the resultant product reduce
the need
to tune individual EAS amplifiers. Signal attenuation is reduced or eliminated
in the
system.
The design uses pocketed medium-density fibreboard (MDF) as the core of the
system
to hold the antennae, which is clad with an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
(ABS) veneer.
The overall structure is held together by a plastic polymeric extrusion along
one or both
outer edges. The advantage of this design is that it reduces the number of
metallic
components and the resultant signal attenuation.
In one embodiment, an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal is
provided, the EAS
pedestal comprising: a core comprising two panels each including a face, the
face
including a channel, the two faces affixed to one another such that the
channels define
an antenna guide; at least one antenna, the antenna located in the antenna
guide; a
printed circuit board which is in electronic communication with the antenna;
an alarm
which is in electronic communication with the printed circuit board; an at
least one plastic
polymeric member extending a length of the core and retaining the core; a
plastic
polymeric veneer which covers the front, back and sides of the core; at least
one cap, the
cap capping the core and the plastic polymeric member; a retainer at an end
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the cap, the retainer consisting of a base or a second cap and capping the
core and the
plastic polymeric member.
In the EAS pedestal, the plastic polymeric member may be comprised of an inner
support
and an outer support, the inner support extruded independently of the outer
support, the
inner support and the outer support defining a mating pair extending
substantially a length
of the plastic polymeric member.
In the EAS pedestal, the outer support may include at least two reinforcing
channels which
extend substantially the length of the plastic polymeric member.
In the EAS pedestal, the two reinforcing channels each may include an opening
which
retain an end of the plastic polymeric veneer.
In the EAS pedestal, the inner support may include at least three arms, each
with a distal
end, each distal end mating with the outer support.
In the EAS pedestal, the outer support may include at least three brackets,
the brackets
and the distal ends of the arm forming the mating pairs.
In the EAS pedestal, there may be four arms and four brackets extending the
length of
the plastic polymeric member.
In the EAS pedestal, the inner support and the outer support may be of an
equal width
and depth to one another and consist of the same polymeric plastic as one
another.
In the EAS pedestal, the retainer may be the second cap.
In the EAS pedestal, the retainer may be the base.
In the EAS pedestal, the printed circuit board may be housed in the core.
In the EAS pedestal, the two panels may be medium-density fibreboard.
In the EAS pedestal, the antenna may be a preformed antenna.
In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing an EAS pedestal core is
provided,
the method comprising: selecting an antenna jig; winding wires in the antenna
jig to
provide a preformed antenna; removing the preformed antenna from the antenna
jig;
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inserting the preformed antenna into a channel in a first panel; selecting a
second panel
which includes a channel; affixing the panels to one another such that the
channels align
and form an antenna guide in which the antenna is encased, thereby
manufacturing the
EAS pedestal core.
The method may further comprise placing a printed circuit board between the
first panel
and the second panel prior to affixing the panels to one another.
The method may further comprise placing an alarm between the first panel and
the
second panel prior to affixing the panels to one another.
In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing an EAS pedestal is provided,
the
method comprising: selecting an EAS pedestal core which retains antennae in
antennae
guides; electronically connecting a printed circuit board to the antennae;
electronically
connecting an alarm to the printed circuit board; attaching an elongated
member to at
least one side of the EAS pedestal core; wrapping the back, front and at least
one side of
EAS pedestal core in a veneer; retaining the veneer with the elongated member;
attaching
a cap to one end of the core, elongated member and veneer; and attaching a
retainer to
the other end of the core, elongated member and veneer, thereby manufacturing
an EAS
pedestal.
In the method, a first elongated member may be attached to a first side of the
core and a
second elongated member may be attached to a second side of the core.
The method may further include manufacturing the elongated member, the
manufacturing
comprising: separately extruding an inner support and an outer support from a
plastic
polymer under heat; mating the inner support and the outer support along a
length; and
cooling the mated inner support and outer support.
In the method, the inner support and the outer support may cool at the same
rate.
In another embodiment, an elongated member for an EAS pedestal is provided,
the
elongated member consisting of an inner support and an outer support, the
inner support
extruded independently of the outer support, the inner support and the outer
support
defining a mating pair extending substantially a length of the plastic
polymeric member.
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In the elongated member, the outer support may include at least two
reinforcing channels
which extend substantially the length of the plastic polymeric member.
In the elongated member, the two reinforcing channels may each include an
opening for
retaining an end of a plastic polymeric veneer.
In the elongated member, the inner support may include at least three arms,
each with a
distal end, each distal end mating with the outer support.
In the elongated member, the outer support may include at least three
brackets, the
brackets and the distal ends of the arm forming the mating pairs.
In the elongated member, there may be four arms and four brackets extending
the length
of the plastic polymeric member.
In the elongated member, the inner support and the outer support may be of an
equal
width and depth to one another and consist of the same polymeric plastic as
one another.
In another embodiment, a core for an EAS pedestal is provided, the core
comprising two
panels each including a face, the face including a channel, the two faces
affixed to one
another such that the channels define an antenna guide; and at least one
antenna, the
antenna located in the antenna guide.
In the core, the panels may be medium-density fibreboard.
In the core, the panels may include weight saving apertures.
The core may be configured to retain a printed circuit board between the
faces.
The core may be configured to retain an alarm between the faces.
In yet another embodiment, an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal
is provided
for mounting on a wall, the EAS pedestal comprising: a core comprising two
panels each
including a face, the face including a channel, the two faces affixed to one
another such
that the channels define an antenna guide; at least one antenna, the antenna
located in
the antenna guide; a printed circuit board which is in electronic
communication with the
antenna; an alarm which is in electronic communication with the printed
circuit board; an
at least one plastic polymeric member extending a length of the core and
retaining the
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core; a plastic polymeric veneer which covers the front, back and sides of the
core; and
a first cap and a second cap, the caps capping the core, the plastic polymeric
veneer and
the plastic polymeric member at a first end and a second end of the core and
plastic
polymeric member, respectively.
In the EAS pedestal, the printed circuit board may be housed in the core.
FIGURES
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a prior art EAS detection system,
showing two
different antenna combinations.
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the EAS pedestal of the present technology.
Figure 3A is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of Figure 2; and
Figure 3B
is a partially exploded view of Figure 3A.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of another alternative embodiment of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the framework of the pedestal of the
present
technology.
Figure 6 is cross sectional view of the framework, core and veneer of the EAS
pedestal
of the present technology.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the antennae jig of the present technology.
DESCRIPTION
Except as otherwise expressly provided, the following rules of interpretation
apply to this
specification (written description and claims): (a) all words used herein
shall be construed
to be of such gender or number (singular or plural) as the circumstances
require; (b) the
singular terms "a", "an", and "the", as used in the specification and the
appended claims
include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; (c)
the antecedent
term "about" applied to a recited range or value denotes an approximation
within the
deviation in the range or value known or expected in the art from the
measurements
method; (d) the words "herein", "hereby", "hereof", "hereto", "hereinbefore",
and
"hereinafter", and words of similar import, refer to this specification in its
entirety and not
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to any particular paragraph, claim or other subdivision, unless otherwise
specified; (e)
descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect
the meaning
or construction of any part of the specification; and (f) "or" and "any" are
not exclusive
and "include" and "including" are not limiting. Further, the terms
"comprising," "having,"
"including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e.,
meaning
"including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a
shorthand method
of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range,
unless otherwise
indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the
specification as if it
were individually recited herein. Where a specific range of values is
provided, it is
understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower
limit unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of
that range
and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included
therein. All
smaller sub ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these
smaller ranges
are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the
stated range.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have
the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
Although
any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can
also be
used, the acceptable methods and materials are now described.
A prior art EAS detection system, generally referred to as 10 is shown in
Figure 1. It is
for detecting proximate to a store exit. The system 10 includes security tags
12 which
are Radio Frequency (RF) type tags and two pedestals 22. The security tags 12
are
detected when they are within the EAS detection zone, generally referred to as
20. A
pedestal, generally referred to as 22, has a base 24 that supports both a
detection system
frame 26 and a planar support member 30. The two pedestals 22 are spaced apart
from
each other by about 60 cm to about 120 cm to provide a main radio frequency
field also
referred to as the detection zone 20. The main radio frequency field is
subject to
interference from metallic parts and other interference such as, but not
limited to power
supplies, power cords and the like, absent electronic or physical mitigation.
The
pedestals are located at points of egress.
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The EAS detection system electronics include at least one RF antenna 52 that
is an
emitter and at least one RF antenna 54 that is a receiver or at least one RF
antenna 56
that is a combination emitter and the receiver or a transceiver 58. A system
controller
(printed circuit board) 60 is in electronic communication with the antennae
52, 54, 56, 58.
The system controller 60 may be integrated into the base 24, as shown or may
be remote.
The system controller 60 is in electronic communication with an alarm 64,
which may be
a buzzer. The electronic communication is either wired or wireless.
As shown in Figure 2, the detection system frame 26 includes elongated members
102,
104, and a top cap 106. The elongated members 102, 104 are a plastic polymer,
preferably extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC), hence they can also be referred
to as plastic
polymeric members. The top cap 106 is preferably acrylic but can alternatively
be PVC,
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or other rigid plastic polymeric
materials. Two MDF
panels 110, 112 form the core 114. The core 114 is retained by the two
elongated
members 102,104 and is capped with the base 24 and the top cap 106. The MDF
panels
110, 112 have a plurality of apertures 116 to reduce weight. Channels are
machined in
each panel 110, 112 and form antennae guides 118 in the face, which becomes
the inner
surface 120 of each panel 110, 112 when the two panels 110, 112 are laminated
together.
The antenna guides 118 are for retaining the antennae 122. The antennae 122
are
installed within the guides 118 and the two panels 110, 112 then are laminated
together
to form the core 114. The antenna guides 118 allow for consistent placement of
the
antennae 122. An ABS veneer 124 is retained by the elongated members 102, 104
and
covers the front, and back of the core 114, with the base 24 and the top cap
106 also
providing some retention. In an alternative embodiment, the veneer 124 is
KomaceI0,
Komatex0, Sintra0 or other synthetic composite that is either malleable and
can be
wrapped around the core 114 and retained by the elongated members 102, 104, or
is
machined on the inner surface to provide lines of thinner material to permit
bending of the
veneer 124 and is retained by the elongated members 102, 104.
In an alternative embodiment, additive manufacturing is used to produce the
plastic
polymeric elongated members. In yet another embodiment, the plastic polymeric
elongated members are injection molded.
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As shown in Figure 3A, in another alternative embodiment, a single elongated
member
102 or 104 is used to retain the core 114 (identified as the two panels 110,
112) and the
veneer 124. Threaded fasteners extend into the core 114 in order to retain the
caps 128,
126. The veneer 124 wraps around the side 130 that does not have the elongated
member 102 or 104. A printed circuit board (PCB) 60 is in electronic
communication with
the antennae 122 and a buzzer or alarm 64, all of which are included in the
core. A cover
plate 62 covers the PCB 60. Indentations 136 proximate to the first end 138
and the
second 140 of the MDF panels 110, 112 house electronics 142 and light emitting
diode
(LED) lights 144 that are in electronic communication with the PCB 60, all of
which are
included in the core.
A shown in Figure 3B, the PCB 60 is housed centrally between the two MDF
panels 110,
112 and between the antennae channel guides 118. As can be seen, there is no
base 24,
but rather a first cap 126 and a second cap 128. The pedestal 22 can be
mounted in any
orientation on a wall or stand proximate to an opening through which the RF or
Acoustic
Magnetic (AM) tag passes, including to but not limited to a doorway or on a
door frame
and the like.
As shown in Figure 4 in another alternative embodiment, a single elongated
member 102
or 104 and the base 24 are used to retain the core 114 and the veneer 124.
Threaded
fasteners extend into the core 114 in order to retain the top cap 106. The
veneer 124
wraps around the side 130 that does not have the elongated member102 or 104.
The
plastic polymeric member 102 or 104 is preferably extruded polyvinyl chloride
(PVC). The
top cap 106 is preferably acrylic but can alternatively be PVC, acrylonitrile
butadiene
styrene (ABS) or other rigid plastic polymeric materials. The MDF panels 110,
112 have
a plurality of apertures 116 to reduce weight. Channels, which are antennae
guides 118
are machined into the face which becomes the inner surface 120 of each panel
110, 112
and are for retaining the antennae 122. The antennae 122 are installed within
the guides
118 and the two panels 110, 112 are laminated together to form the core 114.
The
antennae guides 118 allow for consistent placement of the antennae 122. The
veneer
124 is preferably ABS and is retained by the plastic polymeric member 102 or
104, capped
with the base 24 and the top cap 106 and covers the back, front and one side
of the core
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114. In an alternative embodiment, the veneer 124 is KomaceI0, Komatex0,
Sintra0 or
other synthetic composite that is either malleable and can be wrapped around
the core
114 and retained by the elongated member 102 or 104, capped with the top cap
106 and
base 24. Alternatively, the veneer is machined on the inner surface to provide
lines of
thinner material to permit bending of the veneer 124 and is again retained by
the
elongated member 102 or 104, capped with the top cap 106 and base 24.
In another embodiment, the panels 110, 112 are Komacel , Komatex0, Sintra0 or
other
synthetic composites.
In another embodiment, the antennae guides 118 are molded and are not
machined.
Molding may be, for example but not limited heat molding or pressure molding.
The
antennae guides 118 do not require any additional components to hold the
antennae 122
in place. In other words, the antennae guides are clipless or lack fasteners
or any other
additional parts in order to retain the antennae 122.
As shown in Figure 5, the plastic polymeric members 102, 104 include an outer
support
150 and an inner support 152. As shown, the inner support 152 has four arms
154 that
terminate in a distal end 156. The distal ends 156 are mated with a female
member
(retention bracket) 158 of the outer support 150 to form a mating pair 160.
The mating
pairs 160 extend the length of the elongated members 102,104. The outer
support 150
further includes reinforcing channels 162, 164 that are located proximate to
the corner
166 of the semi-circular profile outer support 150. The inner reinforcing
channel 164
forms a step 167 and a base168 of the elongated members 102,104. Between the
reinforcing channels 162, 164 is a bore 170 into which screws are housed for
secure the
two elongated members 102, 104 to the top cap 106 and the base 168. The screws
may
be stainless steel or nylon. As they are not within the main radio frequency
field 20, there
is no need for them to be non-metallic. The corner 166 is defined by a
retention channel
172 which includes an opening 174.
In another alternative embodiment the inner support 152 has three arms 154
which are
spaced equidistance apart and the outer support has the corresponding number
of
retention brackets 158 in the outer support 150.
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All the components of the plastic polymeric members 102, 104 are uniform in
thickness.
This is to ensure even heating and cooling of the plastic polymeric members
102, 104
during assembly of the inner support 154 in the outer support 152.
As shown in Figure 6, the core 114 is shaped to be seated on the base 168 and
the seat
167. A core channel 180 in the core 114 mates with the seat 167. The veneer
124 is
fed into the opening 174 of the retention channel 172 and wraps around the
core 114.
The veneer 124 and the combination of the step 167 and core channel 180 ensure
correct
placement and retention of the core 114.
The method of manufacturing the pedestal is as follows:
The antenna 122 is designed and manufactured to provide an inductance within a
specific
range, which in the present technology is about 200-250 pH. The antenna 122 is
formed
on an antennae jig, generally referred to as 200 (see Figure 7) and inserted
into the
antenna guide 118 of the two MDF panels 110, 112 so that there is little
variation between
antennae 122 in the EAS pedestals. This produces an antenna with a fixed
inductance.
The EAS power amplifier circuitry does not have to be tuned to match the
inductance by
removing or adding capacitors to the circuit because inductance (L), is
constant - so
capacitance (C) will also be a constant.
The details of the antennae jig are shown in Figure 7. The antennae jig 200 is
used to
wind the wires of the antenna 122 into a specific length and shape and to
secure the wires
consistently. The antennae jig 200 is slightly larger than the antenna guide
118 because
the tension on the wire causes the wire bundle to shrink slightly when it's
removed from
the antennae jig 200. The antenna 122 is removed from the antennae jig 200 as
a
preformed antenna and is inserted into the antenna guide 118 on one inner side
of an
MDF panel. The two MDF panels 110, 112 are then laminated together to form the
core
114 encasing the antenna 122 in the antenna guides 118 of each MDF panel 110,
112.
The core 114 is then fed into the two elongated members 102, 104. For the
embodiment
of Figure 2, following that, the veneer 124 is fed into the opening 174 of the
retention
channel 172. There may be two sheets of veneer 124, each end of each being fed
into
the opening 174. The ends of the assembly are then fed into the top cap 106
and the
14
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10
base 168 and the required screws are used to secure the components together.
For the
embodiment of Figure 3A and 3B, there is a single sheet of veneer 124 and it
is wrapped
around the core 114 to provide an assembly. The ends of the assembly are then
fed into
the first cap 126 and the second cap 128. For the embodiment of Figure 4,
there is a
single sheet of veneer 124 and it is wrapped around the core 114 to provide an
assembly.
The ends of the assembly are then fed into the top cap 106 and the base 24.
While example embodiments have been described in connection with what is
presently
considered to be an example of a possible most practical and/or suitable
embodiment, it
is to be understood that the descriptions are not to be limited to the
disclosed
embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications
and
equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the example
embodiment.
Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more
than routine
experimentation, many equivalents to the specific example embodiments
specifically
described herein.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10
