US 12,258,792 B1
Non-obtrusive anti-theft device for securing merchandise against theft
Christopher A. Kelsch, Palm Harbor, FL (US); Wade Zhu, Land O' Lakes, FL (US); and Lee Eckert, Sarasota, FL (US)
Assigned to Vanguard Products Group, Inc., Oldsmar, FL (US)
Filed by Christopher A. Kelsch, Palm Harbor, FL (US); and Vanguard Products Group, Inc., Palm Harbor, FL (US)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/707,512.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/167,420, filed on Mar. 29, 2021.
Int. Cl. E05B 73/00 (2006.01)
CPC E05B 73/0082 (2013.01) 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An anti-theft device for securing an article of merchandise, comprising:
a first bracket member having a first lip, wherein the first lip is configured to at least partially receive a first lateral side of the article of merchandise such that the first bracket member contacts both a back surface and a front surface of the article of merchandise;
a first aperture disposed within the first bracket member, the first aperture configured to receive a protruding feature of the article of merchandise therein;
a second bracket member having a second lip, wherein the second lip is configured to receive a second lateral side of the article of merchandise therein such that the second bracket member contacts both the back surface and the front surface of the article of merchandise, the second lateral side of the article of merchandise being opposite the first lateral side of the article of merchandise;
wherein the first bracket member is configured to couple to the article of merchandise by receiving the first lateral side thereof into the first lip and receiving the protruding feature of the article of merchandise into the first aperture, and wherein the second bracket member is configured to couple to the article of merchandise by receiving the second lateral side of the article of merchandise into the second lip, the first and the second bracket members are configured to be coupled together forming a bracket assembly, whereby the bracket assembly receives the first and the second lateral sides of the article of merchandise while a third lateral side and two corners remain unobstructed by the bracket assembly;
wherein the engagement between the first aperture and the protruding feature of the article of merchandise precludes movement of the article of merchandise relative to the bracket assembly in a direction of the third lateral side, thereby immobilizing the article of merchandise within the bracket assembly; and
wherein to release the article of merchandise from the bracket assembly, the first and the second bracket members must be disconnected from one another.