Segmented Cable Loop for Inventory Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Securing large outdoor inventory items from theft and damage is challenging due to the inefficiencies of existing single-length physical or electrical securement devices, which require significant time and labor to disconnect and reconnect, and often result in damage to unsold items, and existing wireless systems face issues with power supply and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
An inventory protection system using a multi-segmented insulated electrical cable loop with a sensor and reporting device that can be assembled to any length, allowing for easy disconnection of segments near the sold item during sales, and a battery-powered sensor circuit that maximizes battery life and cable length, with a wireless communication system to a remote alarm circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-length physical securement device (chain or cable) is used to secure inventory, then the inventory is protected from theft, but significant time and labor are required to disconnect and reconnect the entire securement device during sales, and damage may occur to unsold items
Solution Approach 1:
The securement device is divided into multiple cable segments that can be independently connected and disconnected. Each segment can be selectively attached or detached without affecting the entire securement system, allowing rapid release of individual items during sales while maintaining security on remaining inventory.
2Reliability
If a single-length physical securement device is used to secure inventory, then the inventory is protected from theft, but significant labor is required to disconnect and reconnect the entire securement device during sales
Solution Approach 1:
The securement device is divided into multiple cable segments that can be independently connected and disconnected. Each segment can be selectively attached or detached without affecting the entire securement system, allowing rapid release of individual items during sales while maintaining security on remaining inventory.
3Reliability
If a long electrical cable is used with a wired alarm circuit, then the inventory is protected by alarm monitoring, but the cable must be physically connected to the alarm circuit which limits flexibility in installation locations
Solution Approach 1:
The wired alarm system is replaced with a wireless alarm circuit that communicates via radio frequency. This eliminates the need for physical cable connections between the alarm receiver and the securement device, allowing the alarm system to be installed anywhere within wireless range and significantly improving location flexibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a wireless alarm circuit is used with battery power, then installation location flexibility is improved, but battery life is limited and cable length is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm circuit operates in a low-power sleep mode most of the time and only activates periodically or when triggered by a break in the cable loop. This periodic operation significantly extends battery life compared to continuous operation, while still maintaining effective alarm monitoring capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An inventory protection system has a plurality of cable segments with connectors on the ends thereof. The connectors permit pairs of cable segments to be releasably mechanically and electrically connectable to one another to form a continuous cable loop. A circuit connected to the cable loop periodically generates a test signal in the cable loop and checks to see if the test signal is able to travel all the way around the cable loop. The circuit generates an alarm signal if the test signal cannot travel all the way around the cable loop.