Anti-theft device for items in bags or blister packs

Abstract

The present invention relates to an anti-theft device comprising a detection means and a magnetic locking means, a movable jaw (2) and a fixed jaw (3) extending from a body (4), each having an internal contact surface (20, 30), and said movable jaw (2) being articulated relative to said fixed jaw (30) so as to cooperate by pinching at their respective contact surfaces (20, 30), characterized in that at least one of said jaws (2, 3) is provided with a metal sheet (1) having perforated micro-bumps, with a height between 0.3xE and 0.8xE, E denoting the thickness of said metal sheet (1), between 0.1 and 0.3 millimeters, said micro-bumps forming a matrix with a spacing between two adjacent micro-bumps between 0.4 and 0.7 millimeters. Abstract figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Anti-theft device for bagged or blister-packed items Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronic anti-theft devices for protecting self-service items in stores by means of an electromagnetic interaction between an element inserted in the body of the anti-theft device and a detection portal located at a critical checkout exit, triggering an alarm when the anti-theft device passes nearby. These anti-theft devices implement a locking system that can be magnetically deactivated by an authorized operator.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to such articles for protecting articles packaged in flexible bags, thermoformed blister packs, or attached to a cardboard backing. These articles are difficult to secure with traditional security tags because they cannot be pierced with a needle, as is possible with security tags for textiles, and they lack protruding or hollow parts, which prevents the use of security tags intended, for example, to protect bottles or cosmetics.

[0003] The solution consists of pinching the film of the article between two jaws, so as to make it difficult to separate the anti-theft device from the article. State of the art

[0004] A solution described in US patent application 7808386 is known for this purpose, proposing an anti-theft device consisting of two parts, hinged to each other, each having a contact surface for pinching the article to be protected. Each contact surface has a plastic coating to prevent damage to the article and is preferably equipped with raised features such as textures or teeth that cooperate by mutual engagement when the two contact surfaces are pressed against each other and are elastically deformable when pressed against the article. These elastically deformable surfaces do not provide sufficient retention of an article, such as a thin bag, in the locked position.

[0005] French patent FR3075844 is also known, concerning an electronic anti-theft device comprising electronic detection means, a first part and a second part, each having a so-called contact surface, and the first part being movable by means of a hinge relative to the second part so as to cooperate by pinching at their contact surface, the anti-theft device being characterized in that at least one of the parts, preferably both The parts have an abrasive coating on their contact surface in the form of a support bearing abrasive grains. The abrasive coating is intended to be in direct contact with the object to be gripped. Disadvantages of prior art

[0006] The solution proposed by this patent is unsatisfactory because, in practice, the abrasive coating does not prevent the removal of an item such as a flexible bag or a cardboard box. The patent states that it would be "surprising" if an abrasive-coated surface ensured optimal gripping of an object, but in reality, this gripping is ineffective and far from optimal for preventing the object's removal. Indeed, the thicknesses of items vary from one product to another, and it is not possible to find a configuration adapted to different thicknesses and types of packaging. While tolerances are provided to allow for adaptation to different thicknesses, the technical choice of rotating the two bodies by means of a hinge creates a major flaw in the angular positioning of the abrasive surfaces when they come into contact with the product to be secured.The clamping force is insufficient to prevent removal by simply pulling on the item in the direction parallel to the planes of the abrasive surfaces. If the tolerance is reduced, some thin items will escape directly without any support, and thick items will prevent the jaws from closing.

[0007] In addition, the hard grains of the abrasive coating mark the plastic material and cause very damaging break points when it comes to vacuum bags.

[0008] Finally, abrasive materials formed by a support carrying abrasive grains use bonds and grains of matter that are generally incompatible with food use. Solution provided by the invention

[0009] In order to remedy these drawbacks, the present invention relates to an anti-theft device intended for the protection of articles under plastic film or blister packaging having the characteristics set out below by claim 1.

[0010] The anti-theft device comprises a detection means and a magnetic locking means, a movable jaw and a fixed jaw, each having an internal contact surface, and said movable jaw being articulated relative to said fixed jaw so as to cooperate by pinching at their respective contact surfaces. The vertical downward movement of the movable jaw allows for optimal pressure to be applied to the surfaces of the embossed metal plates positioned on the jaws.

[0011] At least one of said jaws, and advantageously both jaws, is provided with a metal sheet (1) having perforated micro-bumps, of a height between 0.3xE and 0.8xE, E designating the thickness of said metal sheet between 0.1 and 0.3 millimeters, said micro-bumps forming a matrix with a gap between two neighboring micro-bumps between 0.4 and 0.7 millimeters.

[0012] Advantageously, said movable jaw and said fixed jaw are each provided with a metal sheet having perforated micro-bumps.

[0013] Preferably, said movable jaw cooperates with a pivoting lever articulated relative to the fixed jaw by an axis and relative to said movable jaw by an off-center axis interacting with a light.

[0014] This lever allows the tightening force exerted by the user to be amplified when the lock is being put in place.

[0015] Metal sheets with micro-bumps meet food-grade 304L stainless steel standards (commonly used for kitchen accessories due to its high resistance to corrosion).

[0016] According to one variant, the body is traversed by a light. The lever (5) has a light opening into the body when the lever is in the locked position.

[0017] According to one variant: a. The contact surfaces are movable relative to each other along a transverse direction between a first position and a second position. b. Each of the contact surfaces has complementary profiles formed by alternating raised and recessed areas. c. said profiles being configured such that, when said jaws are in the pinching position, a. the apexes of the protruding areas of said contact surfaces are in contact when they are positioned in said first position b. the tops of the protruding areas of said contact surfaces are in contact with the bottom of the recessed areas when they are positioned in said second position. Advantageously: - said contact surfaces are mobile according to said first position and said second position by a transverse sliding. - said fixed and movable jaws are articulated about a pivot axis between: a. a locking position where the two contact surfaces (20, 30) are brought together and locked by the magnetic locking mechanism until it is deactivated, b. an insertion position where the two contact surfaces (20, 30) are separated. - said complementary profiles have teeth forming the protruding areas spaced with a constant pitch by grooves forming the recessed areas. - the width of said teeth is less than the width of said grooves. Detailed description of a non-limiting example of implementation

[0018] The present invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, concerning a non-limiting example of an embodiment illustrated by the accompanying drawings where:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a perspective view of the anti-theft device according to the invention in the unlocked position.

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] shows a cross-sectional view of the anti-theft device according to the invention in the locked position

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] shows a cross-sectional view of the front part of the unlocked anti-theft device according to the invention

[0022] [Fig. 3A] [Fig. 3A] represents a cross-sectional view of the front part of the unlocked anti-theft device according to the invention

[0023] [Fig.3B] [Fig.3B] represents a cross-sectional view of the front part of the locked anti-theft device according to the invention

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a partial cross-sectional view of the anti-theft device according to the invention

[0025] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] shows a perspective view of the anti-theft device according to the invention attached to an article to be protected

[0026] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] shows a perspective view of a variant of the anti-theft device according to the invention in the unlocked position

[0027] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] represents a perspective view of a variant of the anti-theft device according to the invention in the locked position

[0028] [Fig. 8] [Fig. 8] shows a cross-sectional view of the front part of a variant of the anti-theft device according to the invention locked in a second position

[0029] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] represents a perspective view of the first part of a variant of the anti-theft device according to the invention

[0030] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] represents a perspective view of the second part of a variant of the anti-theft device according to the invention

[0031] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] shows a partial cross-sectional view of a variant of the anti-theft device according to the invention in the unlocked position

[0032] [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] shows a partial cross-sectional view of a variant of the anti-theft device according to the invention in the locked position Principle of the invention

[0033] The invention relates to the protection against theft of articles packaged in blisters, bags or fixed to a carton, in particular foodstuffs which require the use of specific anti-theft devices which do not pierce the packaging, in particular when it is under vacuum, in order to guarantee the airtightness of the latter and which are compatible with food products, without contaminating it with particles detaching from an abrasive surface due to humidity and / or deterioration / disintegration of the support holding the abrasive grains.

[0034] For this purpose, the invention provides for equipping at least one of the jaws (2, 3) which pinch the article with a metal sheet (1) having perforated micro-bumps, of a height between 0.3xE and 0.8xE, E designating the thickness of said metal sheet (1), between 0.1 and 0.3 millimeters, said micro-bumps forming a matrix with a gap between two neighboring micro-bumps of between 0.4 and 0.7 millimeters.

[0035] These open micro-bumps have a height of the same order of magnitude, and slightly less than the thickness of a plastic film. They superficially puncture the film according to the network of micro-bumps formed on the surface of the metal sheet (1). These bumps have a frustoconical shape, with lips surrounding the perforation extending substantially cylindrically, in a direction perpendicular to the film inserted between the jaws to retain it in case of traction along a direction in the plane of the jaw.

[0036] Such a sheet with perforated micro-bumps is used, for example, in the manufacture of callus rasps. The sheets are typically 200 micrometers thick, with a matrix of frustoconical perforated micro-bumps formed on the surface of the sheet, for example by stamping, with a height of approximately 100 micrometers. The base of these micro-bumps is pierced either by tearing during the deformation of the sheet, or by laser drilling or other means.

[0037] The perforated micro-bumps form a matrix, regular or random. The centers of two adjacent perforated micro-bumps are separated by less than one millimeter, typically from 400 to 700 micrometers.

[0038] The sheet metal is preferably an austenitic stainless steel sheet, typically a 304 steel.

[0039] The jaw can be provided with a single sheet covering most of the contact surface, or can be made up of strips fixed to the contact surface of the jaw.

[0040] This solution, which is the subject of the present invention, concerning the use of a rot-proof metal sheet (1), makes it possible to provide roughness without the addition of grit, but by deforming the metal. This method of creating roughness makes this part extremely wear-resistant and avoids the problems of the solution proposed by patent FR3075844, concerning the use of a woven backing with added abrasive grit, a backing which, in a humid environment, has a limited lifespan. The fabric will disintegrate, with problematic grit retention, especially in the presence of food products.

[0041] A first embodiment is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5. A second embodiment is illustrated in Figures 6 and following. The two embodiments differ mainly in that, in the second embodiment, one of the jaws is transversely movable to allow passage between a first jaw opening in the locked position and a second jaw opening in the locked position, with the same device, so as to allow adaptation to the film thickness of the article to be protected.

[0042] Description of a first alternative embodiment

[0043] The anti-theft device will be described below according to a non-limiting example of an embodiment of the invention with reference to [Fig. 4]. It consists of two articulated parts, namely a movable jaw (2) actuated by means of a lever (5) and a fixed jaw (3) extending from a body (4) made of ABS plastic and polycarbonate. The item to be protected, for example a bag or the cardboard sheet of a blister pack, is inserted between the two jaws (2, 3), then the movable jaw (2) is brought closer to the fixed jaw (3) by tilting the lever (5), which is then locked in the folded position by a magnetic system provided in the tail (31) of the body (4).To prevent the article from separating from the anti-theft device, the jaws (2, 3) are treated by the application of a metal sheet (1) having perforated micro-bumps to prevent movement in the median plane of the article, even when an unscrupulous individual attempts to pull the article away to remove it from the anti-theft device.

[0044] This body (4) also incorporates a means of electromagnetic interaction with a detection gantry, for example a tuned coil or a ferrite (39).

[0045] The locking means for the end (5) of the lever (5) comprises a movable weight (36) which is pushed back at rest by a spring (37) into a position where its end is pushed against the toothed segment (6) provided at the end of the lever (5) for actuating the movable jaw (2) (see [Fig. 3]). When a magnetic release is brought near the tail (31), the weight (36) is attracted to the magnet it contains, and releases the locking nose (21), thereby releasing the pivoting of the lever (5) and allowing the movable jaw (2) to open ([Fig. 3]).

[0046] The lever (5) is articulated with respect to the fixed jaw (3) by a transverse axis (8). It drives the longitudinal movement of the movable jaw (2) by means of a cam and an eccentric axis (9) moving in a slot (12) provided in a wall of the movable jaw (2) ([Fig.3]).

[0047] The body (4) is traversed by an oblong light (13) which is extended, when the lever (5) is in the folded position, by an oblong light (14) passing through said lever (5).

[0048] These two lights allow the passage of a pin from a display stand, to hang the item on a pin-type display stand. The oblong shape allows the lever (5) to be activated when a pin passes through it. They also allow the passage of an alarm cable through all the anti-theft devices protecting the items for security purposes, for example, overnight.

[0049] Description of a second embodiment

[0050] According to this embodiment, illustrated in Figures 6 and following, the movable jaw can be laterally offset to adapt to the thickness of the item to be protected using a single device. The gap between the two contact surfaces of the movable jaw and the fixed jaw, in the closed position, can be adjusted between a minimum and a maximum gap by a lateral movement of the movable jaw (2). The surfaces of the grooves of the fixed jaw (3) and / or the movable jaw (2) are covered by a sheet metal with perforated micro-protrusions.

[0051] The movement of this part allows different contact levels to be matched during the transmission of movement actuating the descent of the movable jaw (2).

[0052] This allows, in the locked position, to move from a functional clearance of the first position to a functional clearance of the second position, thus limiting the pressure exerted on the locking point.

[0053] According to this embodiment, the fixed jaw (3) has a grooved contact surface (30) with alternating straight teeth (33) and splines (34) to form a grid with a constant pitch. The fixed jaw (3) incorporates a means for electromagnetic interaction with a detection gantry, for example a tuned coil or a ferrite (39), and a magnetic release system in a tail (31). This release means comprises, in a known manner, a movable weight (36) which is pushed back in its rest position by a spring (37) into a position where its end engages in a hole (22) provided in a locking nose (21) on the movable jaw (20). When a magnetic release is brought near the tail (31), the weight (36) is attracted to the magnet it contains, and releases the locking nose (21), thus opening the movable jaw (2).

[0054] The movable jaw (2) has a movable part (25) and a striated contact surface (30), with an alternation of straight teeth (23) and grooves (24) to form a network with a constant pitch identical to the pitch of the contact surface (30).

[0055] In [Fig. 7], the movable part (25) occupies a first position where the crests of the straight teeth (23) of the movable jaw (2) come into contact with the crests of the straight teeth (33) of the movable jaw (3). In this position, the jaws (2, 3) can hold a thin film, for example a food bag, by pinching it between the crests of the straight teeth (23, 33) which are aligned in this first position.

[0056] In [Fig.8], the moving part (25) occupies a second position, offset transversely with respect to the first position, and the tips of the straight teeth (23) of the moving jaw (2) engage in the straight grooves (34) of the fixed jaw (3), and the tips of the straight grooved teeth (24) of the moving jaw (2) engage in the straight grooves (33) of the fixed jaw (3),

[0057] The width of the teeth (23, 33) is slightly less than the width of the grooves (24, 34), so that when the jaws (2, 3) are closed on a surface of a blister or carton, they clamp it by forcing it to conform to the profile of the contact surfaces (20, 30).

[0058] The movable part (25) can be moved laterally by sliding on a transverse axis (26). An elastic tab (27) having an end forming a stop ensures the indexing of the two positions, by interacting with a notch (28) provided on the jaw (2).

[0059] The teeth (23) of the moving part (25) have a curved shape to promote good positioning when pivoting the moving jaw (2) relative to the transverse axis of rotation (10).

Claims

Demands

1. - Anti-theft device comprising a detection means and a magnetic locking means, a movable jaw (2) and a fixed jaw (3) extending from a body (4), each having an internal contact surface (20, 30), and said movable jaw (2) being articulated relative to said fixed jaw (30) so as to cooperate by pinching at the level of their respective contact surface (20, 30), characterized in that at least one of said jaws (2, 3) is provided with a metal sheet (1) having perforated micro-bumps, of a height between 0.3xE and 0.8xE, E designating the thickness of said metal sheet (1), between 0.1 and 0.3 millimeters, said micro-bumps forming a matrix with a gap between two neighboring micro-bumps of between 0.4 and 0.7 millimeters.

2. - Anti-theft device according to claim 1 characterized in that said movable jaw (2) and said fixed jaw (3) are each provided with a metal sheet (1) having perforated micro-bumps.

3. - Anti-theft device according to claim 1 characterized in that said movable jaw (2) cooperates with a pivoting lever (5) articulated with respect to the fixed jaw (3) by an axis (8) and with respect to said movable jaw (2) by a contact surface, the assembly ensuring constant pressure over the entire surface to be protected.

4. - Anti-theft device according to claim 1 characterized in that said movable jaw (2) cooperates with a pivoting lever (5) articulated with respect to the fixed jaw (3) by an axis (8) and with respect to said movable jaw (2) by an off-center axis (9) interacting with a light (12)

5. - Anti-theft device according to claim 1 characterized in that said body (4) is traversed by a light (13).

6. - Anti-theft device according to the preceding claim characterized in that said lever (5) has a light opening into said light (13) of the body (4) when the lever (5) is in the locked position.

7. - Anti-theft device according to claim 1 characterized in that: a. Said contact surfaces are movable relative to each other in a transverse direction between a first position and a second position b. each of said contact surfaces (20, 30) has complementary profiles formed of an alternation of protruding and recessed areas c. said profiles being configured such that, when said jaws (2, 3) are in the pinching position, a. the tops of the protruding areas of said contact surfaces (20, 30) are in contact when they are positioned in said first position b. the tops of the protruding areas of said contact surfaces (20, 30) are in contact with the bottom of the recessed areas when they are positioned in said second position.

8. - Anti-theft device according to claim 6 characterized in that said contact surfaces are movable according to said first position and said second position by a transverse slide.

9. - Anti-theft device according to claim 6 characterized in that said fixed jaws (2) and movable jaws (3) are articulated about a pivot axis between: a. a locking position where the two contact surfaces (20, 30) are brought together and locked by the magnetic locking means until it is deactivated, b. an insertion position where the two contact surfaces (20, 30) are separated.

10. - Anti-theft device according to claim 6 characterized in that said complementary profiles have teeth forming the protruding areas spaced with a constant pitch by grooves forming the recessed areas.

11. - Anti-theft device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the width of said teeth is less than the width of said grooves.

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