EP1983494A2 - System for securing items - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement has a manlike figure (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) with a rotation device that turns the manlike figure periodically around a pre-determined angle to a vertical axle, in a back and forth manner. A camera (20) e.g. video camera, is attached to the manlike figure and a reproduction device is provided to reproduce images taken with the camera, where the camera is arranged within an area between a hip and a head of the manlike figure. The rotation device enables a movement of the figure around 180 degree or less than 180 degree.

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for securing goods.

In particular, in retail stores in recent years, a strong increase in shoplifting is observed, partly by vandalism on shelves and offered goods. The shoplifting losses reach frightening numbers in the retail sector.

Various options are therefore used to prevent or at least uncover goods theft and to identify the corresponding perpetrators.

It is known, for example, to post video cameras in the area of the ceiling or in corners of shops that record a permanent image of the premises from above and, for example, transmit them to a control point. A supervisor sitting in the checkpoint can then alert store personnel to watch suspicious activity. The frequently amateurish perpetrators regularly ignore this video camera. They do not notice much of them, or assume that they have just been picked up, or have long since left due to the time between watching shoplifting, the alerting of sales personnel, and any access to the store.

It is also known to provide the corresponding goods with trailers, which are provided for example with electronic components, and to provide corresponding antenna arrangements in the area of the cash registers or the output from the store. Now, if the corresponding goods with these electronic components on these antenna arrays over unauthorized removed from the store, a corresponding alarm is triggered. To prevent the alarm from properly purchased and paid for goods, the cashiers have appropriate tools to the labels with the electronic components to remove. Without these tools a decrease in the labels and thus the alarm-relevant electronic components is not damage-free for the goods possible.

Such arrangements are particularly used in retail clothing stores, since there are opportunities for garments to attach such tags firmly without damaging the goods. For cosmetics, sweets, hair ornaments, books or other small parts such possibilities are not useful.

In larger retail outlets, moreover, store detectives, that is comparatively expensive, because personnel no longer usable in the sales, are busy, as far as possible by their presence to build a deterrent and of course to actively active shoplifters. However, this possibility is extremely costly, since the personnel costs for such activities are very high and, especially for smaller retail outlets, disproportionate to the achievable turnover.

There is therefore a significant need to provide cost effective ways to reduce the corresponding fade.

This object is achieved by an arrangement for securing goods, with a human-like figure with a rotating device that rotates the humanoid figure in particular periodically by a predetermined angle about a substantially vertical axis back and forth, with an attached to the human-like figure camera, and with a playback device for the images taken with the camera.

According to the invention, therefore, a figure is used that looks remotely human and in which an observation system for a shop or commercial business is housed, can take place with the preventive measures against the risk of shoplifting.

Compared with conventional camera surveillance systems on the ceiling of a department store, the inventive concept has the significant advantage that the figure exudes presence. It is located in the middle of the customers and is preferably also positioned so that the customer could theoretically get in eye contact with the figure if instead of the figure human staff stood.

Psychologically, the inhibition threshold for non-professional perpetrators is increased, to such an extent that conventional camera systems can not be reached under the ceiling of a shop.

The observation takes place at eye level and in the middle of the customers and between the shelves and displays of the shop. While conventional camera systems are just unnoticed by non-professional shoplifters and thus can not trigger any deterrent effect, it is possible with the conception according to the invention to psychologically give the affected persons the impression that they are being watched by other customers.

The embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention with a figure also leads to them getting to a quick acceptance by all customers. Thus, the arrangement can be placed in the middle of the store without being construed as an obstacle. The arrangement also acts as a so-called "eye-catcher". If appropriate, it can also be used for advertising purposes, but it certainly makes sense in terms of the actual intended use to maintain a discreet appearance in any case.

This impression is reinforced by the fact that the concept of the invention is on a swivel base and rotates back and forth and thus sweeping over a certain angle. Moving objects always attract more attention than immovable ones.

The very moving impression of the figure increases the deterrent effect on potential shoplifters, with the result that this movement actually results in a larger surveillance area and also that other sections of the displays and shop shelves each have a particularly well-recognizable angle without distortion with special lenses would have to be accepted.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a screen is additionally provided in the shop. On this screen, the image taken by the camera in the figure is displayed in a timely manner, preferably live. This screen is preferably placed so that it can be viewed on the one hand by the sales staff in the store, on the other hand, but also by the customer.

This option underlines to all customers that the character actually has the function of recording an image. This underlines the deterrent effect. In addition, the potential shoplifter also becomes aware that his actions are being observed and that not only the store staff but also all other customers can observe him in his shoplifting.

In fact, store personnel have a very good opportunity to react relatively quickly, possibly even being assisted and made aware of other casual store customers by chance.

All investigations on shoplifting show that while professional gangsters or shoplifters are a particularly dangerous and unpleasant group of offenders, they are only a surprise in the large number of shoplifting incidents a small proportion of the total number of incidents. The vast majority of shoplifting is carried out by "amateurs" who, on a whim, unauthorizedly pick up goods they did not really need or want to buy. These "amateurs" by no means include only children and adolescents, but people from all sections of the population. The invention is directed to avoiding shoplifting of these "amateurs" whose short-term shoplifting impulse is counter-impelled in this manner.

The idea of letting a cosmetics bottle go with it because it is "lying there" or maybe a little more expensive than expected will be rejected much faster if you feel you are being watched in this act.

All the advantages that can be achieved with conventional video cameras under the ceiling of a shop remain fully preserved. They are even greatly enhanced by the improved perspectives from the point of view of a potential shoplifter and by the pivoting shots through the rows of shelves.

A transmission of the images taken with the camera can be carried out, for example by radio to a central office, with a transmission via an Internet connection directly from the figure to a central monitoring is conceivable. It would be possible in this way, for example, to monitor several stores of the same owner from a monitoring station, in which the pictures are all transmitted to the central monitoring system. It is also conceivable, of course, a monitoring of several independently operated shops about in one place to be able to initiate the necessary steps at a yet becoming necessary measure.

In both cases, the shop staff can be completely relieved of the monitoring tasks. The monitoring personnel at the headquarters may be open or concealed as desired with the store personnel in the office In case of need contact them and make them aware of certain events, if this seems reasonable.

The figure avoids a similarity with mannequins, which serve for completely different purposes and therefore would arouse other associations among the customers and the potential shoplifters. Therefore, the figure is constructed to have the height as well as the width (seen from left shoulder to right shoulder) of about an adult human being, but significantly flatter, as seen from chest to back, as a human person or as one mannequin.

The figure is portrayed as having approximately the attire of a manager or another person, a serious, serious activity; Preferably, she is intended as a man and dressed in a suit with a shirt and tie. These garments may be made in one piece with the rest of the figure such as plastic.

In tests it has proven to be very effective to position the camera on the tie; and indeed quite so that they could act as a tie pin or the like on the one hand, but on the other hand, as a camera is easy to recognize in order to map the deterrent effect particularly well.

The accommodation of the camera in the tie has other advantages. In this way, the camera comes in an optimal viewing height. Due to the preferred size of the figure of the arrangement according to the invention, precisely this area of the camera lies approximately in the lower head area of the majority of the customers. Exactly in this area, however, conventionally when watching in shops just no cameras are attached, since there are no mounting options in the middle of the room at this altitude. So far, the majority of all video cameras are inevitably under the ceiling. By the inventive arrangement approximately in Head height, however, becomes particularly clear to customers that an observation is really taking place. This is a deterrent for potential shoplifters, but at the same time increases the sense of security for the other customers and the sales staff.

Also, for this attachment, the combination with a LCD screen in the store is advantageous because the deterrent effect is enhanced and basically the shelves on this screen are shown from the view of a customer, including the viewing height of a potential shoplifter.

The rotation on the pedestal-like foot should be fairly slow to emphasize the seriousness. This also makes it easier to follow the picture taken by the camera on the screen, which in this way does not show a restless picture that irritates other customers.

The angle that is covered by the rotation should be 180 ° or in other spatial conditions - something in a corner - also slightly less.

It has also been shown in tests also to be favorable to give the figure a writing pad in the hand or indicated between the forearm and the upper body, so that the association with a record of any action is strengthened. It should be remembered that a significant part of the desired effect is psychological.

The place of installation for the arrangement according to the invention is primarily the retail sale of cosmetics and medicines. There is a particularly high loss of high-priced small items noted. Already a reduction of the regular loss by about 50% would bring gigantic savings.

The camera should preferably be a miniature color camera.

For transmission to the central station, transmission via the Internet is also an option, as this offers a particularly versatile option for evaluation and storage.

The screen in the store or in the sales area could preferably be an LCD screen.

Further advantages of the various embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention lie in the problem-free installation and in the elegant design which becomes possible with this arrangement. While conventional video camera surveillance systems always seem very "technical" and thus cause a store in there not desired impression (to think about drugstores or specialty stores for cosmetics), the establishment of the arrangement according to the invention may well underline the note of the store.

The arrangement is easy to handle and also quite inexpensive. In addition to a very quiet and easy-running motor for the rotational movement of a simple-to-produce plastic part and a miniature color camera along with additional electronics are required; These are not complex elements, compared to the personnel costs for a constantly installed shop detective.

In a preferred embodiment, the figure of the inventive arrangement is about 1.90 m tall, 30 cm wide and 15 cm deep (or flat). The weight is on the order of about 30 kg. This is in particular formed by a steel plate, which forms the bottom side of the socket-like swivel foot to increase the stability of the figure of the arrangement according to the invention.

Even with the steel plate or another weight, the total weight remains so low that a slight tilting of the figure remains possible. In this way It is ensured that an accidental bumping against this figure for a person affected, such as a wholly uninvolved customers, not unpleasant. Due to the low weight, however, the figure does not tip over completely, but rather is led out obliquely from the vertical and automatically sets itself back on.

Even with a weight of 30 kg, the figure is nevertheless easily installable by less strong members of the sales staff at any place in a store. Nevertheless, in order to avoid abuse of the figure, you will prefer to install them permanently; all other options remain open for individual cases.

The arrangement according to the invention has a further side effect. Thus, in a list of several arrangements in several stores from a central point immediately obtained a clue about the number of visits or the number of customers in a particular store at certain times and statistically evaluated as desired. In addition to avoiding or reducing shoplifting, there are further advantages.

In order to achieve this effect, it is particularly preferred if the camera is connected to a data transmission device, if the data transmission device transmits the image data recorded by the camera to a receiving device, and if the receiving device is connected to the or one of several reproduction devices.

There are various possibilities for these data transmission devices. It can thus be provided that the data transmission device is equipped for the transmission of the data by radio system, by means of a wired connection, in particular video connection, by means of network support and / or by means of Internet protocol support.

All these possibilities have proven to be practicable in experiments and can be used alone or together.

As a further possibility, an embodiment has been found to be interesting, in which the rotating device for the movement of the figure has an adjustable maximum angle, wherein the maximum angle in a variant in advance to a certain value is adjustable and adjustable in another variant during operation of the figure changeable is, in particular electronic. Also conceivable is a variant with both such possibilities.

In this way, it becomes possible for a viewer even less predictable movement history of the figure in practice, if the angle of rotation changes and thereby certain edge areas are covered in a course, in another, however, not, but then the sweep frequency changes.

By a single pre-setting of the rotation angle can be better taken into account when a figure is placed for reasons of space in a corner or between shelves in which an exploitation of 180 ° does not make sense.

A further interesting effect is achieved if a motion detector is provided which initiates a rotational movement of the figure only when it is triggered. On the one hand, no power is consumed by the figure in this way, if anyway no customer or other user resides in the corresponding area of a retail store. On the other hand, the sudden movement of the figure also makes it clear to the customer that his presence has been recognized. As mentioned above, the main thing is to discourage individual perpetrators from the outset, which is promoted by this additional effect.

This can be further enhanced if an acoustic arrangement is provided which emits audible signals or messages depending on or independent of the image data captured by the camera.

On the one hand, when certain events occur which the figure observes with its camera, a certain signal sequence can be emitted. On the other hand, the figure can generally cause general clues that point to their presence.

Finally, in one embodiment, it is preferred if a luminous means is arranged on the figure, which emits a light beam, which sweeps over a field of view with the rotational movement of the figure.

These bulbs may be, for example, flashlights or emitters that shine in a certain direction. If the figures then move, this light source moves with them and covers a certain area between the shelves. This also creates an additional deterrent effect.

In principle, it is also conceivable to equip the figure in a weatherproof arrangement for outdoor use. Areas such as the outdoor area of a garden center may be considered, as well as the area of used or new cars of a car dealer. Also conceivable would be a car scrapyard, in which in particular the embodiment discussed above would be interesting with a motion detector. The motion detector could set the human-like figure in motion. In this case, the light source in the form of a flashlight mentioned above in one embodiment could also be used and thus lead to an additional irritation of persons with unfair intentions. This could be enhanced by the use of the acoustic arrangement. It should be noted that the often very extensive car junkyard or other outdoor areas are usually only sparsely monitored by staff and in this way acoustic signals are also helpful.

The switching on and off of the light source can be done at intervals or randomly or in response to a signal generator out.

Also, the turning on of the rotational movement of the human-like figure is interval-controlled or random or in response to a signal generator possible.

It is conceivable not only an image data transmission from the camera to the display device by means of wire, radio or WLAN, but also a control of the movement of the human-like figure or the other associated elements, as discussed above. This also applies to the speech and / or sound output.

In order to set up the human-like figure more often at different locations or to make the movement even less predictable, it is also possible to place the entire figure about wheels or rollers and equip them powered.

Figur 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung zur Warensicherung.

In the following an embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1

a schematic view of an inventive arrangement for retail security.

An arrangement for securing goods has a remotely reminiscent of a human figure, upright, mostly flat structure or figure.

The structure has a base-like foot 10. This foot 10 is designed as a swivel base. It can rotate about a vertical axis, wherein the rotation angle is adjustable in the illustrated preferred embodiment, preferably up to 180 °.

This means that the structure standing on this pedestal base 10 can rotate back and forth at an angle of up to 180 °. This angle is presettable reducable, if the figure is to be placed in a corner or other place with reduced viewing angle.

Preferably, the maximum, can be painted over by the figure of the arrangement according to the invention angle adjustable. In this way, it is possible to brush a constantly changing area of the store and thus reduce the range of unobserved aisles.

This presetting also makes it possible to position the figure in a corner or in certain passages and there to increase the sweep speed by smaller angles.

The rotary mechanism is preferably provided by a motor, which is located together with the rotary gear in the foot of the figure. In this way, there is also a particularly high weight, which is the focus shifted down. This has the advantage that the figure according to this embodiment of the invention is difficult to knock over when customers accidentally or deliberately bump into it.

From the base-like foot 10 of the flat structure is largely vertically upward. The removed human-like appearance is underlined by legs 11, a hip portion 12 and an upper body 13, wherein the upper body is provided with a clothing that is similar to a shirt with a tie and a suit. Above the upper body sits a neck 14 and above a human-like head 15th

In the area of the tie, a miniature camera 20 is visible from the outside. This camera 20 looks ahead, in the FIG. 1 towards the observer, in the assumed reality, therefore, from the perspective of the structure, persons and objects standing in front of him or standing in front of him.

The permanent images taken by the camera 20 are transmitted, inter alia, to a central office.

In one embodiment, it is additionally provided that these images are transmitted in real time to a screen, for example an LCD screen, in the sales area. In this way, it is possible to see exactly what the camera of the arrangement also sees from another position in the store in which the arrangement according to the invention is located.

The preferred dimensions of FIG. 1 are about a height of 190 cm, a width of 30 cm, a head height of 22 cm and a diameter of the narrow side of about 15 cm.

This narrow structure, or the flatness of the figure of the arrangement according to the invention is particularly interesting and advantageous in terms of the usually limited space in the shop.

With such dimensions, the human-like figure and its effect is somewhat underlined, but at the same time made clear to each viewer that it is not just a human figure, but a part of a surveillance system.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

pedestal foot

11

legs

12

haunch

13

upper body

14

neck

15

human-like head

20

camera

Claims (15)

Arrangement for security of goods,
with a human-like figure (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15),
with a rotating device which rotates the human-like figure in particular periodically by a predetermined angle about a substantially vertical axis back and forth,
with a camera attached to the human-like figure (20), and
with a reproduction device for the images recorded with the camera (20). Arrangement for securing goods according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the human-like figure has a height of more than 1.60 m and less than 2.10 m, a width of more than 20 cm and less than 40 cm, and
that the camera is arranged in an area between the hip and the head of the human-like figure. Arrangement for the protection of goods according to claim 2,
characterized,
that the camera is arranged in the area of a tie that carries the human-like figure in real or stylized form. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the rotating device allows the figure to move 180 ° or less back and forth. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the rotating means for the movement of the figure has an adjustable maximum angle, and
that the maximum angle can be set in advance to a certain value, or
that the maximum angle is variable adjustable during operation of the figure, in particular electronically. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the human-like figure has a depth of more than 10 cm and less than 20 cm. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the reproduction device for the images recorded with the camera (20) has a screen device arranged in the same space as the human-like figure. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the camera (20) is connected to a data transmission device,
that the data transmission means of the camera (20) captured image data transmits to a receiving device, and
that the receiving means with the or one of several connected reproducing means. Arrangement for securing goods according to claim 7 or 8,
characterized,
in that the screen device has an LCD screen. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the data transmission device for transmission of data via radio system via wired connection, in particular video connection, by means of network connection and / or by means of support of Internet Protocol (IP) is provided. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that a motion detector is provided which initiates a rotational movement of the figure only when it is triggered. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that an acoustic arrangement is provided which emits dependent or independent from the from the camera (20) captured image data acoustic signals or messages. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that on the figure (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) a lighting means is arranged which emits a light beam which sweeps over a field of view with the rotational movement of the figure. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the man-like figure is provided with a suit or suit-like clothing and,
that these suit-like clothing is made integral with the body of the human figure, preferably by choice of a colored material or by providing the body with a corresponding painting, spray, produced by films or the like. Arrangement for securing goods according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the human-like figure rests on a pedestal-like foot (10), which also accommodates the turning device and is provided with an additional weight.

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