| 摘要 |
A device for deterring theft of a protected article, including a pin (14) and clutch (16) for attaching the device to the article, with the pin and clutch being embodied in two components (10, 12) 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 has a head (40) that is anchored within one component (10); and the clutch in the other component (12) grasps the pin to provide a predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the components by prying or pulling the components apart. The one component (10) includes three fragile elongated vials (20) that fracture when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with each vial containing a detrimental substance (22) that would damage the article if the vial were to be fractured while the device was attached to the article; and the one component (10) defines a head space (25) for enabling limited axial movement of the pinhead (40), and three guide channels (27) respectively containing three balls (29) between the pinhead and the vials. Flexible cradles (34) shield the vials from contact with the balls during a relaxed state, but yield to enable the balls to contact the vials when the balls are moved in response to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two components of at least said predetermined threshold separation force. |
