 |
Description  |
|
|
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electronic security systems, and more
particularly to an electronic security system for a display cabinet, such
as one containing cigarettes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cigarette display cabinets are widely used in convenience stores,
supermarkets, drug stores, discount stores and similar "serve yourself"
stores and point-of-purchase locations to hold and display cigarette
packages and cartons available for sale. Typically, such cabinets comprise
a generally rectangular enclosure having a plurality of horizontal shelves
mounted therein for supporting stacks of cigarette cartons. Sometimes one
or more transparent doors are provided for the cabinet to allow the
purchaser to view and access the contents of the cabinet.
A key feature of any cigarette cabinet is its security system. Cigarettes
have become increasingly expensive, largely due to rising excise taxes
imposed by federal and state governments. As a result, several hundred
cigarette cartons represent a valuable inventory of several thousand
dollars. Accordingly, cigarettes are increasingly a target of thieves,
especially shoplifters. In order to safeguard cigarette display cabinets
from pilfering by shoplifters, a variety of locking devices have been used
to secure the cabinets. However, when a store is busy or short on
personnel, it is time-consuming and frequently inconvenient and
distracting for a clerk or salesperson to locate the key to the lock, walk
to the cigarette cabinet, which may be located in another part of the
store, unlock the cabinet, wait until the patron selects his merchandise,
and then relock the cabinet and return to his work station. This practice
is especially difficult in many stores, such as convenience stores, which
ordinarily have only one cashier who must leave the cash register
unattended to unlock the cigarette cabinet, thereby inconveniencing
waiting patrons and, at the same time, jeopardizing the security of the
cash register. It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a locking
cigarette cabinet which is both secure against pilfering and convenient to
operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a security system for a cigarette
cabinet having a remotely operated locking system which allows a cashier
or salesperson to unlock the cabinet from any location in the store. The
system is also advantageously provided with several built-in anti-theft
features for discouraging shoplifters.
The security system is adapted to be installed in newly manufactured
cabinets as well as retrofitted to existing cigarette cabinets. Such
cabinets comprise a generally rectangular enclosure having a plurality of
horizontal shelves on which stacks of cartons or packages of cigarettes
may be placed. These cabinets are typically provided with one or a pair of
transparent doors which open to allow access to the compartment containing
the cigarette cartons or packs.
The security system of the invention comprises an electronically-controlled
locking mechanism for locking the doors closed, audible and visual alarm
systems, and at least one hand-held, battery-powered transmitter with a
cooperating receiver located in an electronic control module at the
cabinet to allow the cashier to unlock the cabinet from anywhere in the
store. Additionally, in the case of two-door cabinets, the security system
provides means for preventing both doors of the cabinet from being opened
simultaneously. The electronic security system is also programmable by the
store operator or manager to meet the special needs and requirements of
each individual store. For example, a programmable electronic timer is
provided for activating the visual and/or audible alarm after a door has
been open for a predetermined period of time. The initiation of one of the
two alarms is also programmable independently of the other alarm.
When the system is in its operating mode, the locking mechanism prevents
the doors from opening. If a door is forcibly opened, both the visual and
audible alarms are immediately activated, thereby alerting store personnel
and discouraging the thief. The security system is temporarily deactivated
by depressing a deactivation button or operating a deactivation switch on
the hand-held remote transmitter which transmits a radio frequency (RF)
signal in a conventional manner to a receiver. The receiver, in turn,
generates an electrical signal in response to the RF signal to disengage
or release the locking mechanism and energize the alarm circuits which are
set to activate the visual and audible alarms after a predetermined,
programmable time delay. The time delay period for activating the alarms
can be varied to suit the store manager and is preferably set to allow the
average consumer sufficient time to remove one or several cigarette
cartons from the cabinet, but not enough time to allow a thief to remove a
large quantity of cigarette cartons from the cabinet without arousing
suspicion. An additional safeguard against theft is provided by an
"autolock" feature. Briefly, this feature, also controlled by the
electronic control module at the cabinet, allows only one door of a
multi-door cabinet to be opened at one time.
A key advantage of the security system of the present invention is the
provision of a secure cigarette cabinet having a locking mechanism and an
alarm system that a cashier or salesperson can disengage and temporarily
deactivate from any remote location in the store without having to leave
his work station, such as a cash register, unattended.
Yet another advantage of the security system of the present invention is
that the store personnel need not actually observe the customer removing
cigarette cartons from the cabinet, inasmuch as the time delay alarm warns
of potential looting of the cabinet contents.
Still another advantage of the security system of the present invention is
that when the customer closes the opened cabinet door, the cabinet door is
automatically relocked, the alarm timer circuit is disabled, and the
normal door alarm system is reactivated.
With the foregoing and other objects, advantages and features of the
invention that will become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the
invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following
detailed description of the invention, the appended claims and to the
several views illustrated in the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of one embodiment of the
cigarette cabinet electronic security system and remote control
transmitter of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the security system of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the electronic control module showing the
various components and connections for the security system of the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is an environmental perspective view of another embodiment of the
cigarette cabinet electronic security system and remote control
transmitter of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an environmental perspective view of another embodiment of the
cigarette cabinet electronic security system and remote control
transmitter of the invention especially adapted for retrofitting a
conventional cigarette display cabinet;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged top view detail of the latching mechanism of the FIG.
5 embodiment of the invention with the latching mechanism engaged;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view detail of the latching mechanism of FIG. 6
taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6 with the latching mechanism disengaged;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional detail taken along fine 8--8 of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 is an elevation view of another embodiment of the electronic control
module showing alternate means for controlling the security system of the
invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cabinet containing the security system
of the invention used in conjunction with the control module of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a solenoid assembly in
accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the solenoid assembly as in FIG.
11 positioned on a shelf of FIG. 10.
FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the magnetic sensor/striker
assembly in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking mechanism, striker
and solenoid assembly of FIGS. 12 and 13.
FIG. 15 is a partial top view of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of the security system in accordance with
the present invention of FIGS. 9-15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like parts are designated
by like reference numerals throughout, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an
environmental perspective view of a cigarette cabinet security system of
the present invention referred to generally by reference numeral 10. The
security system may be installed in newly manufactured cigarette cabinets
or retrofitted to existing cigarette cabinets.
The system 10 includes a cabinet 12 and a generally rectangular enclosure
16. The enclosure 16 is closed in front by a pair of transparent doors 18,
20 which are hinged at their outermost sides 19, 21 so as to swing open
from the center of the cabinet, thus permitting access to the cabinet
contents. Handles 23, 25 are mounted to a respective door 18, 20 so that a
customer may conveniently open a door. The internal space of the enclosure
16 is provided with a plurality of horizontal shelves 22 and, preferably,
a vertical divider partition 24. Partition 24 separates the enclosure 16
into two shelved compartments 26, 28, each such compartment being
accessible only from a respective one of the doors 18, 20.
A housing 30 is mounted on top of cabinet 12 and houses an electronic
control module 32 for the security system which will be described
hereinafter in greater detail. The housing 30 may also serve as a lighted
sign with advertising indicia located on the front panel 34 and side
panels 36 (only one shown). One or a plurality of fluorescent or
incandescent lights 38 may be mounted behind one or more of the panels 34,
36 which are preferably translucent for this purpose. The lights 38 may be
connected in the security system visual alarm circuit and/or a separate
visual alarm light 40 may be provided on top of the housing 30, or at a
location remote from the cigarette cabinet, such as at a cash register,
the store manager's office, or the like.
The electronic control module 32 includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver
similar to the type used in automatic garage door openers and other
conventional RF remote controlled devices. As is well known, conventional
RF receivers are used to effect operation or activation of electrical
signals to control motors, solenoids and the like when the receiver
receives an RF signal transmitted from a hand-held RF transmitter. In the
case of the present invention, an electrical signal is generated by the RF
receiver when it receives an RF signal transmitted by a conventional
portable battery-powered transmitter 42 adapted to be carded by a clerk or
cashier in a store in which the present invention is located.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the electronic security system of the
invention will now be described. The security system of the invention is
controlled by an electronic control module 32 which includes a
microprocessor for controlling the various functions of the security
system.
Each of the two doors 18, 20 (only door 20 is illustrated in FIG. 2), is
provided with a latching or locking mechanism 50 mounted on the inside of
door 20 behind the handle 25. Alternatively, the latching mechanism 50 may
be mounted on the underside or front of one of the shelves 22 or in any
other convenient location inside the cabinet. In the embodiments disclosed
in FIGS. 1-4 herein, the latching mechanism 50 comprises a pair of
electromagnetic solenoids 52, 54 each of which operates a respective bolt
56 (only one shown) reciprocally in the directions shown by the
doubleheaded arrow A so as to engage and disengage an opening 58 in
partition wall 24 and thereby lock and unlock, respectively, the doors 18,
20. Any other suitable electrically-controlled locking mechanism may be
used. Preferably, the latching mechanism 50 remains in the locked
condition upon loss of electrical power to the system 10.
Each door 18, 20 is also provided with a magnetic switch 60, 62 which is
closed when the door associated therewith is closed, as is the case with
switch 60 and is opened when the door associated therewith is open as is
the case with switch 62. Opening of the door 18 or 20 will open the
circuit containing the respective magnetic switch 62 or 60 and closing the
door will close that circuit. Magnetic switch 60 comprises a switch
element 60a and a magnet or magnetic strip 60b which actuates the switch
element 60a dosed when it comes in proximity with switch element 60a.
Other types of switches responsive to the opening and closing of the doors
may also be used.
Electronic control module 32 is powered by a conventional 110-volt
electrical circuit which is supplied to the module through a standard
power plug 64 and which also receives and processes the RF signals. Module
32 operates the solenoids 52, 54, senses the condition of the magnetic
switches 60, 62 and controls the operation, including duration and delay
times of a visual alarm, which may be a light 38, 40, and an audible alarm
66 which may be a horn, buzzer, siren or the like.
The electronic control module 32 (FIG. 3) comprises a housing 68 for
mounting the microprocessor, RF receiver and other electronic connections
and controls. An antenna 70 is mounted on the housing 68 for receiving the
RF signal transmitted by hand-held RF transmitter 42. A power switch 72 is
mounted adjacent power input plug 64 for switching the system on and off.
Power receptacle 74 provides conventional 110-volt power for the visual
alarm lights 38 and/or 40. The audible alarm 66 may be mounted inside the
housing 68 so as to emit sound through a perforated panel 76 or other
suitable speaker cover.
Electrical signals to the solenoids 52, 54 are transmitted via electrical
wires 53, 55 connected to signal outlets 78, 80 on the housing 68. The
magnetic switches 60, 62 are connected to the electronic control module by
terminals 79, 81. A panel 82 of adjustment knobs is provided for adjusting
the time delay and duration of the visual and audible alarms. A first pair
of adjustment knobs 84, 86 is used to adjust the delay and duration,
respectively, of the visual alarm lights 38 and/or 40 and a second pair of
adjustment knobs 88, 90 is used to adjust the delay and duration,
respectively, of the audible alarm 66.
Additional function switches 92, 94 are provided for enhancing the
versatility and flexibility of the security system. Switch 92 controls the
condition of the visual alarm lights 38 and/or 40, i.e., normally
on/flashing for alarm or normally off/flashing for alarm. Switch 94
controls an "autolock" feature which may optionally be used as a further
security measure and which will be described below in connection with the
description of operation of the security system of the invention.
A restock switch 96 is mounted on the electronic control module 32 or to an
inside wall of the cabinet 12 (FIG. 1) for disabling or overriding the
alarm circuits when it is desired to restock the cigarette cabinet with
product without shutting off power to the control module and display
lights. Preferably, the restock switch 96 is located in an unobtrusive
position so that its location is known only to store personnel.
The electronic control module 32 and its microprocessor control the
operation of the security system in the following manner. Set up of the
system requires that the various electrical connections be made to the
control module 32 including the setting of the time delay and duration
knobs 84-90 for the visual and audible alarms. Although initial settings
will usually be made by the manufacturer, the store manager may reset time
delay and duration to suit his needs. A typical time delay setting of the
knobs 84, 88 for both the visual and audible alarms is 15 seconds, that
is, fifteen seconds after one of the doors 18, 20 has been opened as
detected by a magnetic switch 60, 62, the visual and audible alarms will
be activated. A typical time duration setting of the knobs 86, 90 is one
minute, that is, the alarms will continue in operation for one minute
following activation. Of course, the knobs 84-90 may be independently
adjusted to any other settings as desired by the store manager.
If the "autolock" feature is placed in operation by operating switch 94,
only a first one of the two doors 18, 20 may be opened. The other or
second door will be automatically relocked upon the opening of the first
door. This security feature exposes only half the cigarette inventory to
the customer at any one time. The "autolock" feature may be disabled with
switch 94.
Under normal conditions, the doors 18, 20 of cabinet 12 are locked by
locking mechanisms 50, the advertising display lights 38 and/or light 40
are on or off (depending on the condition of the switch 92) and the
magnetic switches 60, 62 are closed. If one or both of the doors 18, 20 is
forcibly opened, e.g., by a thief, one or both of the magnetic switches
60, 62 will be opened. Since neither solenoid 52, 54 has been operated to
the unlocked or unlatched position, opening of one of the switches 60, 62
will immediately activate the audible alarm 66 and the visual alarm lights
38 and/or 40. In the case of visual alarm light 38, the operation of that
light may be switched from off or continuously on to intermittent or
flashing, again depending on the position of switch 92.
When a customer requests that the cigarette cabinet be opened, the store
clerk or cashier takes up the hand-held transmitter 42, points it in the
general direction of the cigarette cabinet 12 and depresses the button or
switch on the transmitter. The RF receiver in the electronic control
module 32 receives the transmitted RF signal via antenna 70 and generates
an electrical output to the microprocessor which, in turn, initiates an
electrical signal to operate the solenoids 52, 54 to unlatch the locking
mechanisms 50 for both doors 18, 20 to allow the customer access to the
contents of the cabinet compartments 26, 28.
If the "autolock" feature is in operation, as soon as one of the doors,
e.g., door 20, is opened, the magnetic switch for the opened door (switch
60) senses such opening and the "autolock" circuit interrupts the signal
to the solenoid for the other door, in this case solenoid 54 for door 18,
thereby relocking door 18. In this way, only one of the two doors 18, 20
may be open at any time when the "autolock" feature is operating. If the
"autolock" feature is disabled by switch 94, either or both doors 18, 20
may be opened when the solenoids 52, 54 are energized.
Assuming the time delays and durations for the alarms are set as described
above, if the opened door, e.g., door 20, remains open for at least 15
seconds, the audible alarm 66 will sound and the visual alarm lights 38
and/or 40 will begin flashing from a lights on or lights off condition
(depending on the setting of switch 92). Both alarms will continue
operating for a one minute period and will then be shut off, unless during
the one minute period the door 20 is closed to disable the alarms.
If the door 20 is closed after opening within the 15 second time delay
period, the visual and audible alarms are not energized. Closure of the
door 20 is sensed by the magnetic switch 60 which, in turn, interrupts the
electrical signal to the solenoid 52 to thereby relock the door.
FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a cigarette cabinet for the
security system of the invention designated generally by reference numeral
112. In this embodiment, the cabinet enclosure 116 is provided with only a
single transparent door 118 which is hinged along side 119. Handle 123 is
used to open door 118 and a latching mechanism (not shown) substantially
the same as the latching mechanism 50 in FIG. 2 is provided for locking
the door 118. The cabinet enclosure 116 is provided with a plurality of
shelves 122 adapted to support stacks of cigarette cartons or packs.
An electronic control module of the same construction as module 32 is
mounted in base 114 or in the rear of one of the shelves 122 and controls
an audible alarm (not shown) and a visual alarm, such as a light 140,
mounted atop enclosure 116. As those skilled in the art will appreciate,
the module 32 can also be used to control the security system for the
single door cigarette cabinet of the alternate embodiment. Since only one
locking mechanism is necessary, the "autolock" feature is not used and
only one of the outlets 78, 80 for the solenoids and only one of the
terminals 79, 81 for the magnetic switches are used for the respective
locking solenoid and magnetic door switch of the cabinet 112. If desired,
of course, a lighted advertising display similar to the display 30 may be
mounted on top of the cabinet 112 to house the control module and alarm
lights. A hand-held RF transmitter 142 is also used to operate the
security system of the alternate embodiment and a restock switch 144 is
used to disable the alarm systems when restocking the shelves 122.
Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-8, a
cigarette cabinet security system 200 is shown as a retrofit to a
conventional cigarette cabinet 202. Cabinet 202 has a base 204 and a
generally rectangular enclosure 206. The enclosure 206 is closed in front
by a transparent door 208 which is hinged at 210, 212 so as to swing open
from left to right as viewed in FIG. 5 to permit access to the contents of
the cabinet. A handle 214 is mounted to the door 208 for permitting
convenient access to a customer. The internal space of the enclosure 206
is provided with a plurality of horizontal shelves 216 upon which the
product, e.g., cigarette cartons, is stacked.
A housing 218 is mounted on top of the enclosure 206 and may serve as a
lighted sign with advertising indicia located on the planar panels thereof
in the manner described above in connection with FIG. 1.
An electronic control module 220 is mounted inside the base 204 of the
cabinet 202 and performs the same functions as described above in
connection with electronic control module 32. Module 220 may also be
mounted in the housing 218 if desired. An alarm light 222 is mounted atop
housing 218 and may be connected with the lights of the lighted sign of
housing 218 as in the above-described first embodiment of the invention.
The electronic control module 220 includes a RF receiver which generates
electrical signals for operating the security system in response to RF
signals transmitted by a hand-held, battery-powered RF transmitter 224.
Operation of the security system 200 is substantially the same as the
operation of the single door system 112 of FIG. 4.
An important aspect of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-8
is the ease with which existing cigarette cabinets can be retrofitted with
the security system of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 6-8,
there is shown a latching or locking mechanism 226 for the door 208.
Latching mechanism 226 comprises an electromagnetic solenoid 228 similar
to solenoids 52, 54, the plunger of which operates a bolt 230 reciprocally
in the directions shown by the arrow B in FIG. 6. Solenoid 228 is mounted
in an arcuate lip 232 disposed along the front edge of the conventional
shelf 216 by means of a tubular bracket 234. Bracket 234 has a flange 236
which is bolted to shelf 216 by bolts 238.
Latching mechanism 226 further comprises a latching arm 240 mounted to door
208 by a key actuator 242. Key actuator 242 is operable by a key 244 to
position the latching arm 240 in one of two positions, a first position
shown in solid lines in FIGS. 6 and 7 and a second position shown in
dashed lines in FIGS. 6 and 7. The first position of the latching arm 240
is the normal operating position and the second position is the system
disable/reload position of the arm 240. Referring to FIG. 6 in which the
bolt 230 is shown in its extended or latched position, the door 208 is
prevented from being opened, i.e., being pulled away from shelf 216, by
the engagement of the latching arm 240 behind the extended bolt 230. When
the solenoid 228 is activated by the electronic control module 220 to
retract the bolt 230 to the position shown in FIG. 7, the latching arm 240
is free of the bolt 230 and the door 208 may be swung outwardly away from
the shelves 216 to provide access to the contents of the enclosure 206.
If it is desired to disable the security system 200 temporarily, for
example, to gain access to the cabinet in the event of power loss (upon
loss of power the bolt 230 remains extended), or to gain access to the
cabinet in the event the hand-held transmitter 224 is lost, misplaced or
not readily available or for any other reason, the key 244 is inserted in
the key actuator 242 and rotated to position the latching arm 240 in its
dashed line position shown in FIG. 6. In this position, the latching arm
240 is free of the extended bolt 230 thereby disabling the latching
mechanism 226 and permitting the door 208 to be opened without activating
the alarm systems.
It will be appreciated that in the embodiment of FIGS. 5-8 the solenoid 228
is mounted to the shelf 216 whereas in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4, the
solenoids 52, 54 are mounted to the doors. The arrangement of FIGS. 5-8
is, therefore, advantageous since the electrical wiring to the solenoid
does not have to transit between the fixed cabinet and the movable door.
A magnetic switch 246 comprising a switch element 246a and a magnetic strip
246b is provided for sensing the open or closed condition of the door 208
in the same manner as switches 60, 62 of the first embodiment. In this
embodiment, however, the magnetic switch element 246a is mounted to the
solenoid bracket 234 on the side thereof confronting the door 208 (FIG.
7). The magnetic strip 246b which actuates the switch element 246a is
mounted to the rear surface of door 208 (FIGS. 6 and 8). Preferably, an
opaque strip 248 of metal or plastic is mounted to the front surface of
the door 208 as shown in FIG. 5 to conceal the latching mechanism 226 and
magnetic switch 246. Key actuator 242 preferably extends through strip 248
as shown in FIG. 5.
A restock switch 250 is mounted inside the cabinet enclosure 206 and
operates in the same manner as reload switch 96 of the embodiment of FIGS.
1-3 for restocking the contents of the cabinet.
FIG. 9 illustrates another arrangement for adjusting the time delay and
duration of the visual and audible alarms and for controlling the various
functions of the system. This arrangement may be utilized for any of the
embodiments of the invention in lieu of the adjustment panel 82 and
switches 92, 94 of the control module 32 of FIG. 3. Similarly, the
electronic control module 300 of FIG. 9 may be used as the control module
for any of the disclosed embodiments of the security system of the
invention.
Module 300 comprises a housing 302 on one side of which there are mounted
two switch panels 304, 306 each containing a plurality of DIP (dual
in-line package) switches or the like for controlling the various system
functions. Switch panel 304 includes on/off switches 308, 310, 312, 314
for deactivating the alarm, setting the audio alarm, activating the
autolock feature and the lights or visual alarms, respectively. Switch 316
is a spare. The "Transmitter Unlock" feature is associated with switch 308
to deactivate the alarm for purposes of restocking the cabinet with
products without triggering the alarm. If this switch 308 is in the ON
position and the control module receives a continuous uninterrupted signal
from the remote control RF transmitter 142 for a fixed time period, say
fifteen seconds, the system will be disabled and all doors unlocked to
permit restocking of the cabinet just as if the Restock Switch (96, 144,
250) had been pressed. The system may then be reactivated either (a) by
pressing the remote control RF transmitter 142, (b) by pressing the
Restock Switch (96, 144, 250), or (c) automatically after 1 hour. If the
"Transmitter Unlock" switch 308 is in the OFF position, this continuous
uninterrupted signal for a fixed time period from the remote control is
ignored in terms of it being treated as a request to "restock". So, in
other words, the "Transmitter Unlock" switch 308 setting determines
whether or not the 15 second "Restocking Unlock" feature is to be enabled.
When restocking of the cabinet is necessary, store personnel open the
cabinet door or doors and actuate the restock switch 96, 144, 250 to
disable the visual and audio alarm circuits. After restocking, and in the
event that the store personnel forget or fail to reset the restock switch
to reactivate the alarm systems, the electronic control module 300 will
automatically reset the restock switch and re-enable the security system
after the one hour time duration elapses.
Switch panel 306 includes a series of five individual switch devices 318,
320, 322, 324, 326 each having three two-position DIP switches which may
be set to various positions corresponding to a time duration or time delay
for a particular security system function. For example, if it is desired
to set the time duration of the audio alarm, the three DIP switches of
switch device 322 are positioned in one of the eight switch combinations
or codes shown in the chart 328. For an audio alarm time duration of
fifteen seconds, all three DIP switches of switch device 322 would be
shifted to the right as viewed in FIG. 9. It will be appreciated that the
time duration and delay periods for the switches 318-326 may be set for
periods other than those shown in chart 328.
The "UNLOCK DURATION" switch 318 controls the amount of time that the doors
will remain unlocked after the remote control signal is received before
automatically relocking. In other words, the "Unlock Duration" controls
the amount of time that the consumer has to open the door and select a
product. If any one of the doors is opened during this time period, all
other doors will be locked (of course, the "autolock" feature for double
doors changes this notion slightly). If the system does not detect the
opening of any door during the "Unlock Duration" time, the system will
reactivate and lock all doors.
The housing 302 preferably contains all other elements of the control
module 300, including the power switch 330, and audio alarm volume control
332, as well as the power plugs, light plug-in, etc. The restock switch
96, 144, 250 may also be mounted on the housing 302 rather than on the
cabinet enclosure.
FIG. 10 shows a cabinet 400 with a magnetic sensor 402 and striker assembly
404 mounted onto a respective one of the cabinet doors 406. Each sensor
402 and striker assembly 404 is positioned to align, as indicated with the
arrows 408, with appropriate counterparts situated on a bracket 410 that
is secured to an appropriate one of the cabinet shelves. These
counterparts include a magnetically attractive element 412 and the
solenoid pin 422 of a solenoid assembly. A wire harness 416 extends from
the solenoid assemblies and is in electrical connection with an electronic
control module (shown in FIG. 16) enclosed in the top compartment 418 of
the cabinet. The bracket 410 may have an L-shaped cross-section.
FIG. 11 shows the right solenoid assembly 414 which includes the bracket
410 holding a solenoid 419 with solenoid pin 422, a magnetically
attractive element 412, and a socket 420 which is electrically connected
with a plug from the wire harness 416. FIG. 12 shows the right solenoid
assembly 414 and its counterpart left solenoid assembly being secured to a
front edge of a cabinet shelf. Each solenoid assembly is associated with a
respective one of the left and right cabinet doors. The solenoid pins 422
are seen protruding outwardly toward each other from beneath the
respective one of the brackets 410. The wire harness 416 is shown
extending along the length of the front edge of the cabinet shelf.
FIG. 13, on the other hand, shows the striker 404 and magnetic sensor 402
secured to the inside of one of the cabinet doors. The conventional manual
key-lock assembly 424 is on the outside of the door. FIGS. 14 and 15 show
the relative relationship between the solenoid pin 422 and the striker 404
in the locked condition (FIG. 14) and the unlocked condition (FIG. 15).
FIG. 15 shows direction arrows 425 which indicate how alignment is
effected. The solenoid pin resiliently biases into the extended position;
it retracts in response to being struck by the striker 404 during closure
of the cabinet door. A surface 404a of the striker that faces the solenoid
pin 422 in FIG. 15 inclines to facilitate retraction of the solenoid pin
422 during closure. Preferably, the wires extending between the right and
left solenoid assemblies are retained underneath a false shelf front edge
cover. Such a cover is preferably also provided to extend from either side
of the right and left solenoid assemblies to the side vertical columns of
the cabinet to hide the extension of the wiring harness 16 underneath.
FIG. 16 shows an electronic control module 32' which includes a power
supply circuitry 426 powered through an external power input plug 64, a
microprocessor 428 such as that of Motorola MC68HC705C8, a volume control
430 for controlling the enunciation level of the buzzer 66, an RF receiver
432, an optoisolator 434 for isolating the voltage of the light 38, 40
from the microprocessor 428, ports 436 for connection with solenoids 52,
54 and magnetic switches 60, 62, and DIP switches 308-326 (see FIG. 9).
The remote transmitter 42 communicates with the RF receiver 432. A reload
switch 96, when actuated, overrides the alarm system to allow for
restocking of the shelves without triggering the buzzer or light of the
alarm system. There are six ports 436 which exemplify connection locations
for servicing up to six separate solenoid/magnetic switch units (e.g., six
single door cabinets or six double door cabinets). A double door cabinet
has only one plug and requires only one port. The microprocessor 428
processes signals from RF receiver 432 to instruct the solenoids 52, 54
accordingly and responds to signals from the magnetic switches 60, 62 to
trigger the buzzer or light as applicable. The settings of the DIP
switches 308-326 determine features such as alarm time delay and duration
and unlock duration. The reload switch, when actuated, overrides the
normal alarm triggering for a longer predetermined time period to permit
restocking of the cabinets with products without triggering the alarm.
The embodiment of FIGS. 10-16 may be retrofitted onto an existing cabinet
and allow the doors to be unlocked either remotely by the transmitter or
manually with the key-lock. This latter feature is important in the event
of power failure which disables the transmitter system. | | |
