Universal lattice for magnetic-electronic article surveillance system

Claim 1

A universal lattice assembly for use with magnetic electronic article surveillance systems comprising (a) a structural chassis having a bottom section adapted to be secured to a floor mounted base, a top section spaced from and parallel to the bottom section, and opposing parallel side sections rigidly secured to opposite ends of the top and bottom sections, and having means for indexing and interlocking the chassis with other members of the assembly, the chassis forming an open framework within which electronic sub-assemblies may be mounted; (b) a coil assembly comprising a drive coil and a sense coil, at least one of which has a figure-8 configuration, and (c) a frame having opposing spaced apart vertical legs, a top horizontal section connected across the top of the legs, a lower horizontal section connected between the legs and spaced upward of the bottom thereof, and a centermost vertical section connected between the top and lower horizontal sections, said frame having an interior cavity extending through said horizontal sections, said centermost vertical section and the portion of the legs between the horizontal sections and having means for receiving and rigidly anchoring said coil assembly in place, said centermost vertical section further comprising means for securing the crossover portion of the figure-8 coil and for controllably altering the horizontal displacement thereof to allow electrical nulling, the portions of each leg below the lower horizontal section being indexed, interlocked, and bonded, enclosing and coupled to the respective side section of said chassis, thereby enclosing said chassis to form a completed composite lattice assembly of high integral strength suitable for use in a hostile user environment.