Patent · US Expired

Security strap

US6311531A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
19References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 28, 2000
Grant dateNov 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 28, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T292/48
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A security device for use in retail establishments to lock onto articles which are for sale and which optionally has enclosed an electronic article surveillance tag to prevent shoplifting. The security device has a locking mechanism which can not be opened without a key. The locking mechanism comprises a pair of asymmetric tines which are on opposite sides of an asymmetric engagement member. To lock the security device the asymmetric engagement member spreads apart the asymmetric tines until the asymmetric engagement member gets passed the asymmetric tines. The asymmetric tines close behind the asymmetric engagement member and lock the asymmetric engagement member in place. The asymmetric tines must be separated by an asymmetric key to allow the asymmetric engagement member to pass by the asymmetric tines to unlock the security device. The asymmetric tines and the asymmetric engagement member are shaped to prevent tampering with the locking mechanism and making the security device harder to open without a complimentary asymmetrically shaped key.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.