Expulsion of detrimental substance from theft-deterrent device

Abstract

In a device for deterring theft of a protected article, including a pin and clutch respectively embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a portion of the protected article to prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article, the pin-containing component contains two fragile elongated glass vials that fracture when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with the vials containing a detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the device if such substance were to be released from the vial; and the head of the pin includes a breaker element having a wedge-shaped surface of a fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic, (which does not scratch glass), for applying more than the predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force, to thereby completely fracture the vials by inducing a high bending stress without prematurely cracking the vials, and to thereby release the substance contained therein before the components are separated by prying or pulling the components apart. A pliable seal is disposed between the breaker element and the vials for preventing the detrimental substance that is released from the fractured vials from entering the head space and for expelling the released detrimental substance through the adjacent opening in response to pressure applied against the seal by the breaker element by the movement of the pinhead that results in the vials being fractured.

We claim: 
     
       1. A detrimental-substance-containing component of a device for deterring theft of a protected article, the device comprising means for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article, wherein the attaching means include a pin having a head that is anchored within the detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch contained in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a pre-determined retaining force for resisting separation of the components by prying or pulling the components apart, wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes a surface through which the pin passes for engagement with the other component,   wherein said surface contains at least one opening;   wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with said vial being disposed adjacent said at least one opening and containing a detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the device if the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be released from the fractured vial through said at least one opening onto the attached article;   wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;   wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element having a contoured surface for applying more than said predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force that is nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the substance contained therein before the components are separated by prying or pulling the components apart; and   wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes a pliable seal disposed between the breaker element and the vial for preventing the detrimental substance that is released from the fractured vial from entering the head space and for expelling the released detrimental substance through said at least one opening in response to pressure applied against the seal by the breaker element by said movement of the pinhead that results in the vial being fractured.   
     
     
       2. A component according to claim 1, wherein the seal is more extensive than the breaker element; and wherein the pinhead further includes a flange extending beyond the breaker element for contacting the seal beyond the breaker element for further forcing the seal to expel the released detrimental substance through said at least one opening in response to pressure applied against the seal by the flange by said movement of the pinhead that results in the vial being fractured.   
     
     
       3. A component according to claim 1, wherein the contour of the breaker element is wedge-shaped; and wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in relation to the pinhead such that the breaker element can apply pressure to induce a high bending stress in the vial and thereby completely fracture the vial.   
     
     
       4. A component according to claim 3, wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid material that does not scratch the vial. 
     
     
       5. A component according to claim 3, wherein the vial is made of glass; and wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic material that does not scratch glass.   
     
     
       6. A component according to claim 3, comprising a plurality of said vials symmetrically disposed in relation to the breaker element of the pinhead. 
     
     
       7. A detrimental-substance-containing component of a device for deterring theft of a protected article, the device comprising means for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article, wherein the attaching means include a pin having a head that is anchored within the detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch contained in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the components by prying or pulling the components apart,   wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with said vial containing a detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the device if the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be released from the fractured vial onto the attached article;   wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;   wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element disposed on the pin so as to move parallel to the axial movement of the pinhead and having a wedge-shaped surface for applying more than said predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force that is nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the substance contained therein before the components are separated by prying or pulling the components apart; and   wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in relation to the pinhead such that the breaker element can apply pressure to induce a high bending stress in the vial and thereby completely fracture the vial.   
     
     
       8. A component according to claim 7, wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid material that does not scratch the vial. 
     
     
       9. A component according to claim 7, wherein the vial is made of glass; and wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic material that does not scratch glass.   
     
     
       10. A component according to claim 7, comprising a plurality of said vials symmetrically disposed in relation to the breaker element of the pinhead. 
     
     
       11. A device for deterring theft of a protected article, comprising means for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article, wherein the attaching means include a pin having a head that is anchored within one component and a clutch contained in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the components by prying or pulling the components apart;   wherein said one component includes a surface through which the pin passes for engagement with the other component, wherein said surface contains at least one opening;   wherein said one component includes at least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with said vial being disposed adjacent said at least one opening and containing a detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the device if the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be released from the fractured vial through said at least one opening onto the attached article;   wherein said one component defines a head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;   wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element having a contoured surface for applying more than said predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force that is nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the substance contained therein before the components are separated by prying or pulling the components apart; and   wherein the one component further includes a pliable seal disposed between the breaker element and the vial for preventing the detrimental substance that is released from the fractured vial from entering the head space and for expelling the released detrimental substance through said at least one opening in response to pressure applied against the seal by the breaker element by said movement of the pinhead that results in the vial being fractured.   
     
     
       12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the seal is more extensive than the breaker element; and wherein the pinhead further includes a flange extending beyond the breaker element for contacting the seal beyond the breaker element for further forcing the seal to expel the released detrimental substance through said at least one opening in response to pressure applied against the seal by the flange by said movement of the pinhead that results in the vial being fractured.   
     
     
       13. A device according to claim 11, wherein the contour of the breaker element is wedge-shaped; and wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in relation to the pinhead such that the breaker element can apply pressure to induce a high bending stress in the vial and thereby completely fracture the vial.   
     
     
       14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid material that does not scratch the vial. 
     
     
       15. A device according to claim 13, wherein the vial is made of glass; and wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic material that does not scratch glass.   
     
     
       16. A device according to claim 13, comprising a plurality of said vials symmetrically disposed in relation to the breaker element of the pinhead. 
     
     
       17. A device for deterring theft of a protected article, comprising means for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article, wherein the attaching means include a pin having a head that is anchored within one component and a clutch contained in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the components by prying or pulling the components apart;   wherein said one component includes at least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with said vial containing a detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the device if the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be released from the fractured vial onto the attached article; p1 wherein said one component defines a head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;   wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element disposed on the pin so as to more parallel to the axial movement of the pinhead and having a wedge-shaped surface for applying more than said predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force that is nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the substance contained therein before the components are separated by prying or pulling the components apart; and   wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in relation to the pinhead such that the breaker element can apply pressure to induce a high bending stress in the vial and thereby completely fracture the vial.   
     
     
       18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid material that does not scratch the vial. 
     
     
       19. A device according to claim 17, wherein the vial is made of glass; and wherein the surface of the breaker element that applies said pressure against the vial is made of a fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic material.   
     
     
       20. A device according to claim 17, comprising a plurality of said vials symmetrically disposed in relation to the breaker element of the pinhead. .Iadd. 
     
     
       21.  A detrimental-substance-containing component of a device for deterring theft of a protected article, the device comprising means for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article, wherein the attaching means include a pin having a head that is anchored within the detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch contained in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the components by prying or pulling the components apart, wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes a surface through which the pin passes for engagement with the other component, wherein said surface contains at least the opening;   wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with said vial being disposed adjacent said at least one opening and containing a detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the device if the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be released from the fractured vial through said at least one opening onto the attached article;   wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;   wherein the pinhead includes a surface for applying more than said predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force that is nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the substance contained therein before the components are separated by prying or pulling the components apart; and   wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes a pliable seal disposed between the pinhead and the vial for preventing the detrimental substance that is released from the fractured vial from entering the head space and for expelling the released detrimental substance through said at least one opening in response to pressure applied against the seal by the pinhead by said movement of the pinhead that results in the vial being fractured. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       22.  A detrimental-substance-containing component of a device for deterring theft of a protected article, the device comprising means for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article, wherein the attaching means include a pin having a head that is anchored within the detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch contained in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the components by prying or pulling the components apart, wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with said vial containing a detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the device if the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be released from the fractured vial onto the attached article;   wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;   wherein the pinhead has a surface for applying more than said predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force that is nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the substance contained therein before the components are separated by prying or pulling the components apart;   wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in relation to the pinhead such that the pinhead can apply pressure to induce a high bending stress in the vial and thereby completely fracture the vial; and   wherein the surface that applies said pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid material that does not scratch the vial. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A component according claim 22, wherein the vial is made of glass; and   wherein the surface that applies said pressure against the vial is made of a smooth, rigid fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic material that does   
     
     
        not scratch glass. .Iaddend..Iadd.24.  An article-protecting theft deterrent including a first element which comprises a base element, an elongated, generally pin-shaped or needle-shaped connecting element which projects from said base element and which is intended for insertion through said article, and a second element comprising a head which is intended for attachment to the connecting element and which is locked on said connecting element against movement away from the base element so as to hold the theft deterrent on said article, wherein the base element is provided with a fragile, tubular ampule which contains a staining substance and which is intended to fracture when the connecting element is manipulated, such as to release the staining substance from said ampule, characterized in that the ampule is supported at both ends thereof against movement in a direction away from the base element; and in that the connecting element includes an abutment part which is integral to the connecting element and located on that side of the ampule which is opposite to said direction and which is intended to come into engagement with the ampule when an attempt is made to manipulate the connecting 
     
     
        element. .Iaddend..Iadd.25.  A detrimental-substance-containing component of a device for deterring theft of a protected article, the device comprising means for attaching the device to the article, with said attaching means being embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a portion of said article to prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article, wherein the attaching means include a pin having a head that is anchored within the detrimental-substance-containing component and a clutch contained in the other component for grasping the pin to provide a predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the components by prying or pulling the components apart, wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component includes at least one fragile vial that fractures when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with said vial containing a detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the device if the vial were to be fractured and the detrimental substance were to be released from the fractured vial onto the attached article;   wherein the detrimental-substance-containing component defines a head space for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead;   wherein the pinhead includes a breaker element integral to and disposed on the pin so as to move parallel to the axial movement of the pinhead and having a surface for applying more than said predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force that is nevertheless less than that required to overcome said predetermined retaining force, to thereby fracture the vial and release the substance contained therein before the components are separated by prying or pulling the components apart; and   wherein the vial is elongated with closed ends and is disposed in relation to the pinhead such that the breaker element can apply pressure to fracture the vial. .Iaddend.