# US 2014/0197953 A1 · Signal Emitting Retail Device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197953 A1 - Document ID: US20140197953A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/215,575 - Filed: 2014-03-17 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-06 - Assignees: Southern Imperial, Inc. - Inventors: Peter T. Valiulis; Thomas E. Valiulis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197953A1 ## CPC - G08B 13/14: by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles - A47F 5/0823: {Article supports for peg-boards} - A47F 5/0861: {Anti-theft means therefor} - G08B 13/149: {with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS ## Abstract A signal emitting retail device is provided. The signal emitting retail device includes a sensor and an emitter. The emitter is configured to emit a signal when the sensor senses removal of merchandise from a merchandise display structure. The sensor is also configured to sense potential theft conditions. The emitter is configured to emit a signal indicative of potential theft conditions when such conditions are sensed by the sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A signal emitting retail device, comprising: a first merchandise support portion and a second portion actuatable between a first configuration in which merchandise is prevented from being removed from the merchandise support portion and a second configuration in which merchandise is allowed to be removed from the merchandise support portion; and an electronic unit including a sensor coupled with an emitter and a timer; the sensor being configured to sense when the second portion is actuated from the first configuration to the second configuration; the emitter being configured to emit a signal based on the sensor sensing that the second portion has been actuated from the first configuration to the second configuration; the timer being configured to measure a time that the second portion is in the second configuration wherein the electronic unit further comprises a mode switch for toggling the electronic unit between a first operational mode and a second operational mode, wherein in the first operational mode the emitter emits a pre-alarm after the second portion has remained in the second configuration for equal to or greater than a predetermined first period of time, and wherein the emitter emits a final audible alarm after the second portion has remained in the second configuration for equal to or greater than a predetermined second period of time greater than the first period of time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The signal emitting retail device of claim 1, wherein the first period of time is about three seconds, and wherein the second period of time is about six seconds. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The signal emitting retail device of claim 2, wherein in the first operational mode, the emitter emits the final audible alarm after the second portion has transitioned between the first configuration and a second configuration a predetermined number of times in a given time period. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The signal emitting retail device of claim 3, wherein the predetermined number of times is four times, and the given time period is about ten seconds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The signal emitting retail device of claim 1, wherein in the second operational mode the emitter repeats an audible tone upon successive passages of a predetermined time interval while the second portion remains in the second configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The signal emitting retail device of claim 5, wherein the predetermined time interval is about one second. ### Claim 7 An electronic unit for a signal emitting retail device, comprising: an emitter coupled with a sensor and a timer; the electronic unit being configured to couple with a device for displaying merchandise; the sensor being configured to detect at least one of removal of merchandise from the device for displaying merchandise and actuation of the device for displaying merchandise; the emitter being configured to emit a signal upon sensing by the sensor of at least one of removal of merchandise from the device for displaying merchandise and actuation of the device for displaying merchandise; the timer being configured to measure a time that the device is in the second configuration; wherein the device for displaying merchandise includes a display hook including a device actuatable between a first configuration in which removal of merchandise from the display hook is prevented and a second configuration in which removal of merchandise from the display hook is allowed; and wherein the emitter includes a mode switch of toggling the electronic unit between a first operational mode and a second operational mode, wherein in the first operational mode, the electronic unit has at least one preset condition upon the occurrence of which will generate a final audible alarm that lasts for a predetermined time period, and wherein in the second operational mode the electronic unit will not generate a final audible alarm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic unit of claim 7, wherein the at least one preset condition includes a condition wherein the device actuatable between the first configuration and second configuration has remained in the second configuration for a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic unit of claim 8, wherein the predetermined period of time is equal to or greater than about six seconds. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The electronic unit of claim 7, wherein at least one preset condition includes a condition wherein the device actuatable between the first configuration and second configuration has transitioned between the first configuration and the second configuration a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic unit of claim 10, wherein the predetermined number of times is 4 times, and wherein the predetermined period of time is about 10 seconds. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The electronic unit of claim 7, further comprising an optical sensor configured to receive an optical signal, wherein upon receipt of the optical signal, the final alarm is deactivated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The electronic unit of claim 7, wherein the predetermined time period of the final audible alarm is about 2 minutes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The electronic unit of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises a switch having an open position and a closed position, a first contact electrically connected to a power supply, and a second contact electrically connected to the emitter, such that when the switch is in the open position the power supply does not supply power to the emitter, and when the switch is in the closed position, the power supply supplies power to the emitter.