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US4831363A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Article security system

Assignee: Checkpoint Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1987-09-03
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Granted: 1989-05-16
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Expires: 2007-09-03
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Abstract

Abstract A person desiring to check out articles protected by security tags deposits these articles at one end of a check-out aisle. From there, they are transported to the opposite end of the check-out aisle as part of the check-out procedure. The person who deposited the articles is restrained from accompanying these articles all the way through the check-out aisle, but is able to reach its opposite end only via a path which is separate from the check-out aisle itself. That separate path is equipped with an electronic article surveillance system. The same separate path and its associated electronic article surveillance system serve several check-out aisles.

Inventors

  • 👤 Albert E. Wolf

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 06:37
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2451; G08B13/246; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; G07G1/0054; G08B13/2465; G08B13/2468; G08B13/2474

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 190 words
In a check-out system for premises having an interior area which houses articles protected against unauthorized removal from said premises, said articles having affixed thereto security tags which are detectable by an electronic article surveillance system, said premises being provided with a plurality of check-out aisles for said articles, each aisle having one end facing said interior area and an opposite end facing a common passageway connecting all of said opposite ends to each other and to an exit from said premises, the improvement which comprises: means for barring persons desiring to remove articles from said premises via said check-out aisles from accompanying said articles through said aisles to their said opposite ends; at least one path separate from said check-out aisles and leading from said interior area to said common passageway, through which path said persons are able to reach said opposite ends of the check-out aisles for article retrieval; and an electronic article surveillance system associated with said at least one separate path for detecting security tags carried through said separate path, any given check-out aisle being not more than four aisles away from a said separate path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 190 words
In a check-out system for premises having an interior area which houses articles protected against unauthorized removal from said premises, said articles having affixed thereto security tags which are detectable by an electronic article surveillance system, said premises being provided with a plurality of check-out aisles for said articles, each aisle having one end facing said interior area and an opposite end facing a common passageway connecting all of said opposite ends to each other and to an exit from said premises, the improvement which comprises: means for barring persons desiring to remove articles from said premises via said check-out aisles from accompanying said articles through said aisles to their said opposite ends; at least one path separate from said check-out aisles and leading from said interior area to said common passageway, through which path said persons are able to reach said opposite ends of the check-out aisles for article retrieval; and an electronic article surveillance system associated with said at least one separate path for detecting security tags carried through said separate path, any given check-out aisle being not more than four aisles away from a said separate path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein any given check-out aisle is not more than three aisles away from a said separate path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 229 words
In a check-out system for premises having an interior area which houses articles protected against unauthorized removal from said premises, said articles having affixed thereto security tags which are detectable by an electronic article surveillance system, said premises being provided with a plurality of check-out aisles for said articles, each aisle having one end facing said interior area and an opposite end facing a common passageway connecting all of said opposite ends to each other and to an exit from said premises, the improvement which comprises: means for barring persons desiring to remove articles from said premises via said check-out aisles from accompanying said articles through said aisles to their said opposite ends; at least one path separate from said check-out aisles and leading from said interior area to said common passageway, through which path said persons are able to reach said opposite ends of the check-out aisles for article retrieval; an electronic article surveillance system associated with said at least one separate path for detecting security tags carried through said separate path, said premises being those of a retail store and the articles being merchandise for sale in that store, said check-out aisles lacking provisions for payment for said merchandise: said system further comprising means separate from said aisles for effecting such payment; and said aisles having means for providing print-outs of merchandise transactions at the check-out aisles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 229 words
In a check-out system for premises having an interior area which houses articles protected against unauthorized removal from said premises, said articles having affixed thereto security tags which are detectable by an electronic article surveillance system, said premises being provided with a plurality of check-out aisles for said articles, each aisle having one end facing said interior area and an opposite end facing a common passageway connecting all of said opposite ends to each other and to an exit from said premises, the improvement which comprises: means for barring persons desiring to remove articles from said premises via said check-out aisles from accompanying said articles through said aisles to their said opposite ends; at least one path separate from said check-out aisles and leading from said interior area to said common passageway, through which path said persons are able to reach said opposite ends of the check-out aisles for article retrieval; an electronic article surveillance system associated with said at least one separate path for detecting security tags carried through said separate path, said premises being those of a retail store and the articles being merchandise for sale in that store, said check-out aisles lacking provisions for payment for said merchandise: said system further comprising means separate from said aisles for effecting such payment; and said aisles having means for providing print-outs of merchandise transactions at the check-out aisles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 190 words
In a check-out system for premises having an interior area which houses articles protected against unauthorized removal from said premises, said articles having affixed thereto security tags which are detectable by an electronic article surveillance system, said premises being provided with a plurality of check-out aisles for said articles, each aisle having one end facing said interior area and an opposite end facing a common passageway connecting all of said opposite ends to each other and to an exit from said premises, the improvement which comprises: means for barring persons desiring to remove articles from said premises via said check-out aisles from accompanying said articles through said aisles to their said opposite ends; at least one path separate from said check-out aisles and leading from said interior area to said common passageway, through which path said persons are able to reach said opposite ends of the check-out aisles for article retrieval; and an electronic article surveillance system associated with said at least one separate path for detecting security tags carried through said separate path, said premises being those of a library and said articles being the contents of said library.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 190 words
In a check-out system for premises having an interior area which houses articles protected against unauthorized removal from said premises, said articles having affixed thereto security tags which are detectable by an electronic article surveillance system, said premises being provided with a plurality of check-out aisles for said articles, each aisle having one end facing said interior area and an opposite end facing a common passageway connecting all of said opposite ends to each other and to an exit from said premises, the improvement which comprises: means for barring persons desiring to remove articles from said premises via said check-out aisles from accompanying said articles through said aisles to their said opposite ends; at least one path separate from said check-out aisles and leading from said interior area to said common passageway, through which path said persons are able to reach said opposite ends of the check-out aisles for article retrieval; and an electronic article surveillance system associated with said at least one separate path for detecting security tags carried through said separate path, said premises being those of a library and said articles being the contents of said library.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3765007A Cited
US4583083A Cited
US4692747A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-05-15 1992-11-14 1993-05-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-05-15 1996-11-14 1997-05-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-05-15 2000-11-14 2001-05-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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