US 11,993,959 B2
Merchandise anti-theft device with an electromechanical release mechanism
Christopher A. Kelsch, Palm Harbor, FL (US); Wade Zhu, Westchase, FL (US); Lee Eckert, Sarasota, FL (US); Francesc Agustin, Clearwater, FL (US); Jasen Paul Biggins, Tampa, FL (US); and John N. Figh, Jr., Oldsmar, 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., Oldsmar, FL (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/851,913.
Application 17/851,913 is a continuation of application No. 17/545,542, filed on Dec. 8, 2021, granted, now 11,401,738.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/153,506, filed on Feb. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0325562 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. E05B 73/00 (2006.01); E05B 41/00 (2006.01); E05B 47/00 (2006.01); G07C 9/00 (2020.01); G08B 13/14 (2006.01)
CPC E05B 73/0082 (2013.01) [E05B 41/00 (2013.01); E05B 47/0012 (2013.01); G07C 9/00182 (2013.01); G08B 13/1472 (2013.01); E05B 2047/0016 (2013.01); E05B 2047/0017 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An anti-theft device for securing an article of merchandise, comprising:
a pedestal affixed to a support surface;
a first arm configured to immobilize the article of merchandise relative to the pedestal, wherein the first arm has a closed position in which the article of merchandise is immobilized relative to the pedestal and an open position in which the article of merchandise can be removed from the pedestal;
a motor disposed within the pedestal, wherein actuation of the motor selectively closes the first arm to immobilize the article of merchandise relative to the pedestal or opens the first arm to enable removal of the article of merchandise from the pedestal, wherein in the closed position, the first arm is restricted from being transitioned into the open position by application of a force or a moment onto the first arm;
a first inductive coil disposed within the pedestal, wherein the first inductive coil is configured to wirelessly detect presence of a second inductive coil housed within the article of merchandise, whereby responsive to detecting the presence of the second inductive coil when the article of merchandise is placed onto the pedestal, the first inductive coil is configured to output a first electrical signal; and
a computer processor w electrical communication with the motor and the first inductive coil, wherein the computer processor is configured to receive the first electrical signal output by the first inductive coil, and wherein in response to receiving the first electrical signal, the computer processor is configured to actuate the motor, thereby transitioning the first arm from the open position into the closed position in which the article of merchandise is immobilized relative to the pedestal.