Pilferage-prevention System

Abstract

This invention is concerned essentially with apparatus for location in a building to detect and prevent pilferage therefrom, wherein is provided a controlled exit passageway, alarm means, and radiation-receiving means communicating with the passageway and connected to actuate an alarm means, so that radiation-producing means carried by an article being pilfered is detected in the passageway and its detection signaled.

Description

SUMMARY

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a system to detect and prevent pilferage in stores, warehouses and similar places wherein many persons have free access to articles or merchandise to buy or otherwise legitimately remove the articles from the premises.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pilferage-detection and -prevention system wherein one element may be carried or secreted upon each article or unit to be legally removed from the premises the element being normally detached from the article by an employee or operator prior to removal of the article, failure to remove the element effecting detection of the illegal removal and capture of the culprit. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a pilferage- and theft-detection and -prevention system having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is relatively simple to install and maintain, safe and reliable in operation, and highly effective in use.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a partial perspective view showing the interior of a building including a pilferage-prevention system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the pilferage-prevention system, including the electrical schematic therefor.

FIG. 3 is an interior partial perspective view showing a controlled exit-detection passageway.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the door construction of FIG. 3, somewhat enlarged to show greater detail.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view showing an operator associated with the passageway of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a radiation-producing element of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of circuitry interiorly of the radiation-producing element.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a building floor showing exit passageways and radiation-receiving means associated therewith.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portable radiation detector or receiver.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a building is there generally designated 10 and may include a bottom wall or floor 11, sidewalls 12 and 13 upstanding from the floor and meeting at a corner 14. A first-floor ceiling or second floor is shown at 15 spaced over the floor 11, and a pair of internal walls 16 and 17 upstand between the floor 11 and ceiling 15. The internal wall 16 extends from the external wall 13 generally parallel to the external wall 12, while the internal wall 17 extends from the external wall 12 generally parallel to the external wall 13, the internal walls 16 and 17 meeting in an internal corner 18.

Provided in the external wall 12, spaced between the external wall 13 and internal wall 17 is a door opening 20, in which is mounted a door 21 swingable about the vertical axis of aligned hinges 22. The inner wall 16 is provided with a doorway or opening 25 in which is mounted a revolving door 26, revolvable about the axis of a generally vertical, central shaft 27.

Thus, it will now be appreciated that the internal walls 16 and 17 combine with the floor 11, ceiling 15, and external building walls 12 and 13 to define an exit passageway or vestibule, generally designated 30 within the building 10. The revolving door 26 may be considered as an inner or inlet door to the passageway 30, and the swinging door 21 as the outer or exit door of the passageway.

Mounted adjacent to the exit door 21, say adjacent to the top of the door, is a door-closing mechanism or operator 32, including a motor 33 having a drive shaft 34 which is connected by links 35 and 36 to the door 21 for closing the latter upon rotation of the shaft 34. As best seen in FIG. 5, the motor 33 may be connected through a clutch 37 to the shaft 34, disengagement of the clutch permitting free swinging of the door.

Carried by the wall 12, adjacent to the swinging side of the door 21, is a solenoid 40 having a retractile and extensile core or bolt 41 located for extension into and withdrawal from an edge hole 42 in the swinging edge of door 21. The solenoid-operated bolt 41 is thus extendible into the edge hole 42 of door 21.

The revolving door 26 may be provided, say on its upper end, with a cylindrical member or drum 45 fixedly secured coaxially with the shaft 27. About the drum is circumposed a brake element or band 46 having its ends secured to the relatively movable components of a solenoid 47 for circumferential extension and contraction of the band. Upon extension of the band 46, the latter is free of the drum 45 for free revolving of the door 26, while contraction of the band effects binding engagement thereof with the drum to brake or lock the door in position. Of course, a revolving door which is locked against rotation is closed to traffic therethrough. Thus, the drum 45 and band 46 provide a solenoid-operated lock for the door 26, and the pin or bolt 41 and hole 42 of door 21 provide a solenoid-operated lock for the latter door.

A radiation receiver, say adapted to receive radio frequencies, is arranged to communicate with and receive radiation from interiorly of the vestibule or passageway 30. Such radiation receiver may be conventional and is diagrammatically represented at 50 mounted in the ceiling 15 and walls 13 and 17, see FIG. 1. The radiation receiver 50 is connected through conductors 51 and 52 to one side of a source 53 of electrical power, and connected on its other side through conductors 54 and 55 to the power source. A manual on-off switch 50 may be connected in the conductor 55.

From the conductors 52 and 55, respectively, extend conductors 57 and 58 to one side of a double two-point make switch 59. The switch 59 is part of a relay 60 connected by conductors 61 and 62 to the receiver 50 to be energized by signal from the latter. Extending from the other side of switch 59 are a pair of conductors 63 and 64 terminating at one side of a double-throw or two-circuit switch 65. The switch 65, shown in its normal, both-circuits-open position, is part of a relay 66, being carried on one side of the relay coil by the relay core which projects from the other side of the coil, as at 67. The relay 66 is connected by conductors 68 and 69 to conductors 63 and 64 to be energized upon closing of switch 59. The energized position of switch 65 is upward, as seen in FIG. 2.

The other side of double-throw switch 65 is connected by conductors 70 and 71 to the operator 32 and solenoid 40, respectively. The operator 32 is further connected by a conductor 72 to conductor 63, while the solenoid 40 is further connected by a conductor 73 to conductor 64.

Also connected to the conductors 63 and 64, as by conductors 74 and 75, is the solenoid 47 of door lock 45, 46. A manually actuable switch 76 may be connected in one of the conductors 74 and 75, say in the latter, as illustrated. Connected to the conductors 74 and 75, as by respective conductors 77 and 78, may be a suitable alarm 79, say of audible, visual or other desired type.

In FIG. 6 is shown a radiation producer or actuator 80, which may be a transmitter, transceiver, transponder, transducer, or the like. The actuator 80 is disposed in or suitably attached to an article of merchandise. As in conventional inventory control of retail establishments, the actuator 80 may be severed or removed from the merchandise or articles being sold at the checkout or wrapping counter of a retail store.

In the event of pilferage or theft, say by concealing an article on one's person, the radiation-producing element or actuator 80 would not be removed from the article. In this case, when a thief leaves the building 10, as at 85 in FIG. 1, radiation from the actuator 80 is received by the receiver 50, actuating the relay 60 to close the double switch 59. Immediately thereupon the inner or inlet door 26 is locked by energization of solenoid 47 and contraction of locking mechanism 45, 46. The alarm 79 is also actuated.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the core extension 67 of solenoid 66 is located in the path of closing movement of door 21 such that the switch 65 is shifted downward to close the lower contacts thereof when the door is closed. In this event, the solenoid 40 is energized from the location of switch 59 through conductors 64, 73, 71 and 63 to extend core or bolt 41 and lock door 21.

In the event that door 21 is open, closure of switch 59 serves to energize relay coil 61 through conductors 64, 69, 68 and 63 to shift the switch 65 upward and close the upper contacts thereof. This energizes operator 32 to effect immediate swinging closure of door 21, as through conductors 70 and 72. Upon closure of door 21, the core extension 67 is engaged by the door to effect the previously described door-locking action.

It will now be understood that a thief 85 is effectively and securely trapped in the passageway 30, both doors 26 and 21 locking immediately upon detection of the radiation-producing device or actuator 80 in the passageway. Thus, the passageway 30 defines a controlled exit-detection passageway.

The thief 85 may be captured and removed by opening of switch 76 to deenergize solenoid 47 of locking mechanism 45, 46.

The schematic of FIG. 7 is a practical embodiment of radiation producer wherein a transistor 90 has a tuned circuit of impedance 91 and capacitance 92 connected between the transistor base and collector. This determines the frequency of transistor oscillation. A capacitance 93 is connected between the transistor emitter and collector for positive feedback to the emitter, and a resistance 94 is connected between the transistor base and emitter to obtain proper voltage drop. A power source or battery 95 is connected between the transistor emitter and base, and an antenna 96 is connected to the transistor collector for radiating the signal produced.

While the schematic of FIG. 7 illustrates one practical embodiment for use in the radiation producer or actuator 80, it is appreciated that other suitable radiation-producing means may be employed.

The diagrammatic representation in FIG. 8 illustrates a floor 99, say of a department store, having walls 100 and 101. Passing through the floor may be exit passageways, say up-and-down stairways 102 and 103, respectively. The passageways 102 and 103 may also represent escalators or interdepartmental passageways, if desired. Extending in bridging relation with each of the passageways 102 and 103 is a radiation receiver or receiver antenna, as at 104 and 105, which may correspond to the radiation receiver 50 of the first-described embodiment.

Additionally, the wall 101 may be provided with exit passageways in the form of elevator doors, as at 106, which passageways may also have associated therewith, say in bridging relation, radiation receivers or antennae 107. Thus, by the diagrammatic representation of FIG. 8, it will be appreciated that the instant invention is not limited to the embodiment of FIGS. 1--6, but that the controlled exit-detection passageway may assume a variety of forms, including that of stairways, escalators, elevators, hallways, interdepartmental passageways, and the like.

In FIG. 9 is shown a receiver or detector 110, which is portable and may be a wavemeter or grid-dip meter having indicating means such as a dial 111 or buzzer 112 for indicating proximity of a radiation-producing element 80. The detector 110 may have a handle 113 for convenient portability. In practice, the reception of radiation by one of the receivers, say 104, 105, or 107 may actuate an alarm at a remote location indicating the location of a radiation-producing device proximate to one of the receivers. By suitable annunciator means, say a light board, the location of the energized receiver may be announced, and security personnel may then carry the detector 110 to the indicated location for precisely locating the actuator and person carrying the pilfered article.

If desired, the store building or other institution employing the instant invention may be arranged with one-way entrances and exits, as controlled by turnstiles, revolving doors, or the like. More particularly, a single inlet entrance and single outlet exit may be employed, if desired.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a pilferage-detection and -prevention system which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, installation, maintenance and use.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. In a pilferage-prevention system, the combination comprising a building, an exit door in said building, a passageway in said building communicating with said exit door, an electrically operated lock associated with the exit door for locking the same, a radiation receiver located to receive radiation from within said passageway, an electric power source, electrical-connection means between said source and said lock, a first switch means in said connection means to operate said lock, relay means connected between said receiver and switch means for closing the first switch means to lock said lock responsive to reception of radiation by said receiver, radiation-producing means detachably carried by said articles in said building for transmitting radiation to said receiver upon movement into and through said passageway, electric closing means for closing said exit door, double-throw switch means in the electrical connection means between said first switch means and each of said closing means and the lock of said exit door, and operating means associated with said double-throw switch means to successively close the latter to said closing means responsive to operation of said first switch means for closing the exit door and close the double-throw switch means to the lock of said exit door for locking the latter.