US 7,350,652 B2 · Bottle security device

Abstract

A bottle security device includes an inner member, an intermediate member and an outer member that cooperate to lock the device on a bottle neck. The inner member includes a plurality of fingers adapted to fit under the bead on a bottle neck. The intermediate member slides over the inner member and forces the fingers against the bottle. The intermediate member includes a plurality of upwardly extending arms with inwardly projecting teeth that engage outwardly extending teeth on the inner member to lock the inner and intermediate members together. A key unlocks and rotates a rotatable member to separate the intermediate and inner members to unlock the device. Upon rotation of the cover cap, camming surfaces on the rotatable member engage the upwardly extending arms to move them radially outward to disengage them from the inner member.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims25

Dependent claims

A bottle security device for use with a bottle having a neck, the bottle security device comprising:

an outer member defining a cavity and having a sidewall with an inner surface;
an inner member which is movable between locked and unlocked positions;
wherein the inner member includes a plurality of locking fingers adapted to fit around at least a portion of the neck and lockably engage the neck when the inner member is in the locked position;
wherein a portion of the inner member is disposed in the outer member cavity;
and
a plurality of strengthening fingers extending upwardly inside the outer member cavity and at all times abutting the inner surface of the outer member sidewall.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,555 words

Summary1,041 words

#1. Technical Field

#This invention relates to article security devices used by retail and similar stores and outlets. More particularly, the invention relates to electronic article surveillance security devices attachable to articles in a manner that makes the devices essentially impossible to remove or disable absent destruction of the devices or using keys that release the devices from the item on which they are secured. Specifically, the present invention is related to a bottle security device that holds an electronic article surveillance component where the bottle security device is configured to be received over the end of a typical bottle such as those bottles used to hold beer, wine, and liquor, in a manner that prevents its removal absent substantial damage to the bottle or bottle security device or the use of a corresponding key.

#2. Background Information

Brief description of the drawings21 figures

#Preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which the applicants have contemplated applying the principles of the invention, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottle security device of the present invention in a locked position on a bottle;

#FIG. 2 is schematic view showing the relative positions of FIGS. 2A and 2B, which together show an exploded view of the entire bottle security device of FIG. 1;

Detailed description5,951 words

#Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

#A bottle security device is indicated generally at 100 and is shown in FIGS. 1-19. Bottle security device 100 generally includes an outer member 102, an intermediate member 120, an inner member 146, and a cover assembly 182 including a cover base 184 and a cover cap 214. Device 100 may also include a lower ring member 174. Device 100 includes a locking mechanism that cooperates to lock device 100 on the neck 92 of a typical bottle 94 and an unlocking mechanism that releases the locking mechanism so that device 100 may be unlocked and removed from bottle neck 92. In the exemplary embodiment, the unlocking mechanism may be locked in a locked position with pistons 246 that move between an extended locked position and a retracted unlocked position. Pistons 246 are biased by springs 248 into the locked position and pulled by a magnetic key 256 into the unlocked position. In an alternative embodiment, the unlocking mechanism may be mechanically actuated, such as the locking mechanism 100 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,668, incorporated herein by reference. Bottle security device 100 may be locked on bottle neck 92 until unlocked with a key 256. Inner member 146 moves between locked and unlocked positions which correspond to locked and unlocked positions of device 100.

#Outer member 102 (FIGS. 1, 2A, 3 and 4) has a frustoconical sidewall 104 having an inner surface and an annular top wall 106 connected to sidewall 104. Outer member 102 defines a cavity 108 within sidewall 104 and is generally configured to fit over and substantially enclose intermediate member 120 in cavity 108 such that intermediate member 120 may not be readily viewed or accessed from outside bottle security device 100. Top wall 106 has an upper surface 110 and a lower surface 112 and defines a circular entrance opening 114. Cavity 108 extends upwardly to, but not beyond, upper surface 110 of top wall 106. A plurality of parallel ribs 116 extend axially downwardly from lower surface 112 of top wall 106 and inwardly from sidewall 104, extending about half way down sidewall 104. Ribs 116 are situated in adjacent pairs with each pair of ribs 116 angling toward one another to form wedge-shaped channels 118 therebetween, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Facts

Application

11/246,437Filed 7 Oct 2005 · division

Priority

25 Jul 2003

Published

US 2006/0043049 A12 Mar 2006

Granted

1 Apr 2008

Term ended

23 Jan 2024

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 182 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification7 codes

E05B 73/0041
Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops: for essentially round…
B65D 55/14
Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure: applications of locks, e.g. of permutation or…
Y10T 70/5031
For portable articles: receptacle
Y10T 70/7486
Key: single key

Timeline

25 Jul 2003Priority claimedParent application 10/626,970
7 Oct 2005Application filedUS 11/246,437
8 Nov 2005Assigned to Alpha Security Products, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
2 Mar 2006PublishedUS 2006/0043049 A1
23 Feb 2008Assigned to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
1 Apr 2008GrantedUS 7,350,652 B2
6 May 2009Assigned to Wachovia Bank, National Association, AS Administrative Agentnotice of grant of security interest in patents
22 Jul 2010Assigned to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.termination of security interest in patents
2 Aug 2012Assigned to Wells Fargo Banksecurity agreement
12 Dec 2013Assigned to Bank of America, N.A.security agreement
16 Dec 2013Assigned to Checkpoint Systems, Inc.release of security interest
23 Jan 2024Term endedEstimated, includes 182 days of adjustment

Bottle security device

Life of this patent

Bottle security device

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims25

Description7,555 words

Drawings

Description7,555 words

Classification7 codes

Life of this patent