IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,264,510
Granted Patent B2
US 12,264,510 · App. 18/230,427 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Anti-theft device for portable electronic device

Inventors: Andrew W. Moock (Brecksville, OH); Jeffrey A. Grant (Charlotte, NC); Christopher J. Fawcett (Charlotte, NC); Nicholas M. Sedon (Weddington, NC); Matthew Thomas Kerley (Fort Mill, SC)
Assignee: InVue Security Products Inc.
E05B73/0082G06F1/1632G08B13/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,264,510
App. No.
18/230,427
Granted
Apr 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An anti-theft device for protecting a portable electronic device from theft or unauthorized removal in a retail environment is provided. A shroud may at least partially enclose a portable electronic device. A dock may releasably engage the shroud such that the shroud and portable electronic device are locked to the dock when engaged with the dock. A key may engage activate a lock mechanism to release the shroud and the portable electronic device from the dock.

Claims (43)

1. An anti-theft system for protecting a portable electronic device from theft or unauthorized removal, comprising:

an interface configured to be attached to the portable electronic device, the interface comprising a sensor configured to detect removal of the interface from the portable electronic device, the interface further comprising a plurality of arms configured to engage the portable electronic device for securing the portable electronic device to the interface, at least one of the plurality of arms configured to be locked for preventing removal of the portable electronic device from the interface;

a dock configured to support the interface thereon for displaying the portable electronic device, wherein the dock is configured to removably support the interface such that the interface and the portable electronic device are removable from the dock;

an alarm configured to generate a security signal in response to removal of the interface from the portable electronic device; and

a wireless device, external to the interface and the dock, configured to communicate with the interface or the dock for unlocking the at least one of the plurality of arms to allow removal of the portable electronic device from the interface.

2. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of arms are adjustable relative to interface.

3. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of arms comprises an engagement member for engaging an edge and a front surface of the portable electronic device.

4. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of arms is configured to extend to allow removal of the portable electronic device from the interface.

5. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of arms is spring biased towards an extended position.

6. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the interface is configured to be releasably locked on the dock such that the interface and the portable electronic device cannot be removed from the dock, and wherein the interface is further configured to be unlocked from the dock such that the interface and the portable electronic device are removable from the dock.

7. The anti-theft system of claim 6 , wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the interface or the dock for locking the interface on the dock or unlocking the interface from the dock.

8. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the interface or the dock using radio frequency or infrared communications.

9. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the interface or the dock using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular communication protocols.

10. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the interface or the dock for arming or disarming the alarm.

11. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is a mobile device.

12. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the alarm resides in the interface or the dock.

13. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the dock comprises monitoring electronics for detecting removal of the dock from a support surface without authorization or removal of the portable electronic device from the dock without authorization.

14. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the dock is configured to electrically communicate with the interface in a plurality of display orientations.

15. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein each of the interface and the dock comprises a plurality of electrical contacts, and wherein the plurality of electrical contacts of the dock are configured to electrically connect to the plurality of electrical contacts of the interface when the interface is in engagement with the dock to establish electrical communication therebetween.

16. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the alarm is configured to generate an audible and/or a visible alarm signal in response to the interface being separated from the dock without authorization.

17. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the interface at least partially encloses the portable electronic device.

18. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the interface and the portable electronic device are configured to rotate relative to the dock when engaged therewith.

19. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the dock is configured to transfer power to the portable electronic device while the portable electronic device is positioned on the dock.

20. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , further comprising a key, independent of the external device, configured to disarm the alarm.

21. The anti-theft system of claim 20 , wherein the key is configured to communicate with the interface or the dock for unlocking the at least one of the plurality of arms.

22. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the dock comprises a lock mechanism configured to lock the interface on the dock and to unlock the interface from the dock, wherein the lock mechanism comprises one or more engagement members configured to move radially for locking the interface on the dock.

23. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , further comprising a tether connecting the interface to the dock.

24. The anti-theft system of claim 1 , wherein the interface is configured to communicate a notification signal to the wireless device in response to a security event.

25. An anti-theft system for protecting a portable electronic device from theft or unauthorized removal, comprising:

an interface configured to be attached to the portable electronic device, the interface further comprising a plurality of arms configured to engage the portable electronic device for securing the portable electronic device to the interface to prevent removal of the portable electronic device from the interface in a first position, at least one of the plurality of arms configured to be moved to a second position for allowing the portable electronic device to be removed from the interface;

a dock configured to support the interface thereon for displaying the portable electronic device, wherein the dock is configured to removably support the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device is removable from the dock; and

a wireless device, external to the interface and the dock, configured to communicate with the interface or the dock for moving the at least one of the plurality of arms to the second position to allow removal of the portable electronic device from the interface.

26. The anti-theft system of claim 25 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of arms is configured to be automatically moved from the second position to the first position in response to placement of the portable electronic device on the interface.

27. The anti-theft system of claim 25 , further comprising a motor for moving the at least one of the plurality of arms from the first position to the second position.

28. The anti-theft system of claim 27 , wherein the motor is configured to be activated in response to communication with the wireless device.

29. The anti-theft system of claim 25 , further comprising a motor for moving each of the plurality of arms from the first position to the second position.

30. The anti-theft system of claim 25 , wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the interface or the dock using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular communication protocols.

31. The anti-theft system of claim 25 , wherein the wireless device is a mobile device.

32. The anti-theft system of claim 25 , wherein the wireless device is configured to communicate with the interface or the dock using radio frequency or infrared communications.

33. The anti-theft system of claim 25 , wherein each of the plurality of arms comprises an engagement member for engaging an edge and a front surface of the portable electronic device.

34. The anti-theft system of claim 25 , wherein the dock is configured to transfer power to the portable electronic device while the portable electronic device is positioned on the interface.

35. The anti-theft system of claim 25 , wherein the interface is configured to be releasably locked on the dock such that the interface cannot be removed from the dock, and wherein the interface is further configured to be unlocked from the dock such that the interface is removable from the dock.

36. The anti-theft system of claim 25 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of arms is configured to move to the second position while the interface remains engaged with the dock.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2023
From: MOOCK, ANDREW W.; GRANT, JEFFREY A.; FAWCETT, CHRISTOPHER J.; SEDON, NICHOLAS M.; KERLEY, MATTHEW THOMAS
To: INVUE SECURITY PRODUCTS INC.
Reel/Frame 064504/0600 →
Continuity (11)
Continuation 17712702 · Apr 4, 2022
Continuation 16932055 · Jul 17, 2020
Continuation 16278295 · Feb 18, 2019
Continuation 15977401 · May 11, 2018
Continuation 15392598 · Dec 28, 2016
Continuation 14300476 · Jun 10, 2014
Provisional Application 61833655 · Jun 11, 2013
Provisional Application 61846806 · Jul 16, 2013
Provisional Application 61889212 · Oct 10, 2013
Provisional Application 61899398 · Nov 4, 2013
Related Publication 20230407684A1 · Dec 21, 2023
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