CA3138422A1 - Electronic article surveillance pedestal with extruded framework - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic article surveillance pedestal (EAS) is provided, the EAS
comprising: a core comprising two panels each including a face, the face including a channel, the two faces affixed to one another such that the channels define an antenna guide; at least one antenna, the antenna located in the antenna guide; a printed circuit board which is in electronic communication with the antenna; an alarm which is in electronic communication with the printed circuit board; an at least one plastic polymeric member extending a length of the core and retaining the core; a plastic polymeric veneer which covers the front, back and sides of the core; at least one cap, the cap capping the core and the plastic polymeric member; a retainer at an end opposing the cap, the retainer consisting of a base or a second cap and capping the core and the plastic polymeric member.

Description

ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE PEDESTAL
WITH EXTRUDED FRAMEWORK
FIELD
The present technology is directed to an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal with an extruded plastic polymeric framework which retains a planar support with antennae guide channels. More specifically, it is a pedestal that reduces or eliminates signal attenuation and reduces or eliminates the need to calibrate each EAS
power amplifier by promoting accurate and reproduceable placement of the antennae through the use of a wiring guide and the antennae guide channels.
BACKGROUND
Electronic article surveillance systems are used extensively in stores to control inventory shrinkage. Many systems have a pedestal that has a supporting structure for the antennae that is a metal, tubular framework or is acrylic. The metal most often used is aluminum. In some cases, a molded acrylic or fiberglass material is used.
An example of an electronic article surveillance system is found in US
Publication Number 20160049058, where systems and methods for detecting a location of an EAS
security tag are disclosed. The methods involve: determining a first amplitude of a response signal generated by the EAS security tag and received at a first pedestal, and a second amplitude of the response signal received at a second pedestal; processing the first and second amplitudes to determine whether the EAS security tag resides within a specified distance range of the first or second pedestal, a detection zone of an EAS
detection system, or a backfield of the EAS detection system; issuing an alarm when the EAS
security tag is determined to reside within the specified distance range of the first/second pedestal or the detection zone of the EAS detection system; and preventing issuance of the alarm when the EAS security tag is determined to reside in the backfield of the EAS
detection system. Acoustomagnetic (AM), Radio Frequency (RF) type tags and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) EAS systems are contemplated. This system does not exploit the pedestal real-estate for advertising to customers.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 An example of a system combining advertising with an EAS pedestal can be found at http://www.sensormatic.com/ where it is stated, "Advertising Upgrade Kit leverages valuable pedestal real-estate at the entrance to reach shoppers on-the-move.
The easy-to-install poster helps draw shoppers with advertisements, modern designs or simple, low-cost printed graphics. This add-on also provides an opportunity to generate additional marketing co-op profit by bidding out this valuable advertising space to vendors." While this system utilizes the real-estate of the pedestal, it provides only a static form of advertising.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20100253588 discloses a portal stand for an RFID antenna comprises a pair of upright members and a front cover. The front cover is formed of a sheet of plastic that is resiliently biased to assume a flat configuration, with the front cover defining a flat width when it is in the flat configuration. The upright members include vertical slots and are spaced apart at a distance that is less than the flat width of the front cover. The front cover is disposed in the vertical slots and is bowed outwardly. The portal stand also includes a plurality of platforms that may be used for mounting RFID equipment such as antennas and readers. The platforms are secured to rails that are also secured to the upright members. The portal stand also includes a top cover, bottom cover, and rear cover, with the platforms being positioned between the front cover and rear cover. As can be seen, the framework is large and unwieldy.
Fasteners are used to attach the various components to one another. Further, it requires that each antenna be tuned as it would not provide a defined pathway for the antennae in the EAS.
United States Patent Application Publication Nos. 20210081987 and 20170221099 disclose an adaptive system for communicating with a customer in a retail store environment includes a sensor disposed at a sensor location in a retail environment. The sensor location is selected so that the sensor captures information that facilitates identification of at least one trait associated with a customer located proximate to the sensor location. A processing system is configured to use the information to determine the at least one trait. Thereafter, in response to such determination, the processing system selectively determines a message or content selection to be displayed to the

2 Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 customer based at least in part on the at least one trait that has been identified. Disclosed is a skeletonized Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) pedestal that can house an antenna comprising a plurality of antenna coils inside plastic covers that extend around a periphery of the pedestal 700. This does not accommodate and retain a support for a screen for streaming video. Further, it requires that each antenna be calibrated as it would not provide a defined pathway for the antennae in the EAS.
Canadian Patent No. 2936044 discloses a combination of a media display and an electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection system that is provided for use with an RF
security tag, the combination comprising: a base for retaining a power supply, housing a system controller and each of the media display and the EAS such that the media display is proximate the EAS, the media display including a plurality of LCD screens, an at least one electrical line in electrical communication with the power supply and the plurality of LCD screens; the EAS including a transceiver, and an at least one RF antenna that is an emitter and an at least one RF antenna that is a receiver or an at least one RF antenna that is a combination emitter and receiver, the RF antennae in electronic communication with the transceiver; and a physical shield, the physical shield located between at least the plurality of LCD screens and the RF antennae of the EAS detection system.
This accommodates and retains a support for a screen for streaming video, however, the framework led to some signal attenuation. Further, it required that each antenna be tuned as it would not provide a defined pathway for the antennae in the EAS.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20090243859 discloses a door and method of constructing a door whereby a security system antenna is routed through channels that are incorporated within the outer perimeter of the door, and completely or partially hidden from sight. The channels are sized to retain at least a portion of the security system antenna therein. The door can be purchased with the antenna wires already embedded therein and hidden from sight and installed at a facility without the need to mount the antenna wires on a pedestal or dig up floors and/or walls to embed the antenna coils. Existing doors can be retrofitted to install the antenna wires.
Such antennas may be used, for example, in an RFID marker system or a magneto-acoustic EAS
marker system.

3 Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 United States Patent Application Publication No. 20140199514 discloses frame members and mullions for a window frame that comprise a reinforcing member that is surrounded by an outer plastic layer. The outer plastic layer is held securely to the reinforcing member as a result of a waist banding effect that comprises an inward force created by the outer plastic layer as it cools and contracts around the reinforcing member. In addition, lobes are formed in the reinforcing member that assist in holding the outer plastic layer to the reinforcing member. Window inserts can be removed and replaced using adapters and removable brackets. Frame members and mullions can be built sufficiently strong to provide structural support. The frame can also be used to hold photovoltaic cells and protective coverings for photovoltaic cells. Structural members are also disclosed that have reinforcing members with apertures, debossing, scarification and/or indentations that secure the thermoplastic layer to the reinforcing member. The concept of cooling a heated outer layer such that it creates an inward force around a reinforcing member is disclosed. However, this would not be suitable as an antennae channel in an EAS.
The use of integral ribbing to provide structural support for tubular plastic members is known. For example, United States Patent Application Publication No.

discloses a building product which includes a hollow extrudate, unitary reinforcing ribs resisting collapse of the hollow extrudate and, in an embodiment, an exterior surface comprises a low gloss, textured pattern having a gloss level of less than about 50 on a 60 ° glossmeter, in which the textured pattern extends for about 2-20 feet.
Methods and an apparatus for manufacturing such products are also provided by this invention. However, it has also been disclosed that such ribbing does not provide sufficient structural support and therefore further support is provided by reinforcing strips made of a material which is stronger than Poly Vinyl Chloride (PCVPVC). See for example United States Patent Application Publication No. 20120103740, which discloses any lightweight reinforced extruded tubing for telescopic handles for trolley-type carry cases, wherein the first stage tube is reinforced by metal strips. The tubes are made of extruded plastic material.
What is needed is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection system that has a sufficient tensile strength to retain a planar support and additional components as desired.

4 Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 It would be preferable if the framework was an extruded polymeric plastic. It would be further preferable if the framework and skin could be friction fit together and did not require fasteners. It would be preferable if it reduced the need to tune individual EAS amplifiers.
It would be most preferable if signal attenuation could be reduced or eliminated in the system.
SUMMARY
The present technology is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection system that has a lightweight frame that has sufficiently tensile strength to retain a pair of panels and additional components as desired. The framework is an extruded polymeric plastic. The framework and skin are friction fit together and do not require fasteners.
Each panel includes channels that provide a defined and consistent pathway that allows for routing of the antennae in the pedestal. The antennae are formed on a wiring fixture and are placed in the channels which, when the pair of planar support members are laminated together, form antennae guides. These steps and the resultant product reduce the need to tune individual EAS amplifiers. Signal attenuation is reduced or eliminated in the system.
The design uses pocketed medium-density fibreboard (MDF) as the core of the system to hold the antennae, which is clad with an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) veneer.
The overall structure is held together by a plastic polymeric extrusion along one or both outer edges. The advantage of this design is that it reduces the number of metallic components and the resultant signal attenuation.
In one embodiment, an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal is provided, the EAS
pedestal comprising: a core comprising two panels each including a face, the face including a channel, the two faces affixed to one another such that the channels define an antenna guide; at least one antenna, the antenna located in the antenna guide; a printed circuit board which is in electronic communication with the antenna;
an alarm which is in electronic communication with the printed circuit board; an at least one plastic polymeric member extending a length of the core and retaining the core; a plastic polymeric veneer which covers the front, back and sides of the core; at least one cap, the cap capping the core and the plastic polymeric member; a retainer at an end opposing Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 the cap, the retainer consisting of a base or a second cap and capping the core and the plastic polymeric member.
In the EAS pedestal, the plastic polymeric member may be comprised of an inner support and an outer support, the inner support extruded independently of the outer support, the inner support and the outer support defining a mating pair extending substantially a length of the plastic polymeric member.
In the EAS pedestal, the outer support may include at least two reinforcing channels which extend substantially the length of the plastic polymeric member.
In the EAS pedestal, the two reinforcing channels each may include an opening which retain an end of the plastic polymeric veneer.
In the EAS pedestal, the inner support may include at least three arms, each with a distal end, each distal end mating with the outer support.
In the EAS pedestal, the outer support may include at least three brackets, the brackets and the distal ends of the arm forming the mating pairs.
In the EAS pedestal, there may be four arms and four brackets extending the length of the plastic polymeric member.
In the EAS pedestal, the inner support and the outer support may be of an equal width and depth to one another and consist of the same polymeric plastic as one another.
In the EAS pedestal, the retainer may be the second cap.
In the EAS pedestal, the retainer may be the base.
In the EAS pedestal, the printed circuit board may be housed in the core.
In the EAS pedestal, the two panels may be medium-density fibreboard.
In the EAS pedestal, the antenna may be a preformed antenna.
In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing an EAS pedestal core is provided, the method comprising: selecting an antenna jig; winding wires in the antenna jig to provide a preformed antenna; removing the preformed antenna from the antenna jig;

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 inserting the preformed antenna into a channel in a first panel; selecting a second panel which includes a channel; affixing the panels to one another such that the channels align and form an antenna guide in which the antenna is encased, thereby manufacturing the EAS pedestal core.
The method may further comprise placing a printed circuit board between the first panel and the second panel prior to affixing the panels to one another.
The method may further comprise placing an alarm between the first panel and the second panel prior to affixing the panels to one another.
In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing an EAS pedestal is provided, the method comprising: selecting an EAS pedestal core which retains antennae in antennae guides; electronically connecting a printed circuit board to the antennae;
electronically connecting an alarm to the printed circuit board; attaching an elongated member to at least one side of the EAS pedestal core; wrapping the back, front and at least one side of EAS pedestal core in a veneer; retaining the veneer with the elongated member;
attaching a cap to one end of the core, elongated member and veneer; and attaching a retainer to the other end of the core, elongated member and veneer, thereby manufacturing an EAS
pedestal.
In the method, a first elongated member may be attached to a first side of the core and a second elongated member may be attached to a second side of the core.
The method may further include manufacturing the elongated member, the manufacturing comprising: separately extruding an inner support and an outer support from a plastic polymer under heat; mating the inner support and the outer support along a length; and cooling the mated inner support and outer support.
In the method, the inner support and the outer support may cool at the same rate.
In another embodiment, an elongated member for an EAS pedestal is provided, the elongated member consisting of an inner support and an outer support, the inner support extruded independently of the outer support, the inner support and the outer support defining a mating pair extending substantially a length of the plastic polymeric member.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 In the elongated member, the outer support may include at least two reinforcing channels which extend substantially the length of the plastic polymeric member.
In the elongated member, the two reinforcing channels may each include an opening for retaining an end of a plastic polymeric veneer.
In the elongated member, the inner support may include at least three arms, each with a distal end, each distal end mating with the outer support.
In the elongated member, the outer support may include at least three brackets, the brackets and the distal ends of the arm forming the mating pairs.
In the elongated member, there may be four arms and four brackets extending the length of the plastic polymeric member.
In the elongated member, the inner support and the outer support may be of an equal width and depth to one another and consist of the same polymeric plastic as one another.
In another embodiment, a core for an EAS pedestal is provided, the core comprising two panels each including a face, the face including a channel, the two faces affixed to one another such that the channels define an antenna guide; and at least one antenna, the antenna located in the antenna guide.
In the core, the panels may be medium-density fibreboard.
In the core, the panels may include weight saving apertures.
The core may be configured to retain a printed circuit board between the faces.
The core may be configured to retain an alarm between the faces.
In yet another embodiment, an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal is provided for mounting on a wall, the EAS pedestal comprising: a core comprising two panels each including a face, the face including a channel, the two faces affixed to one another such that the channels define an antenna guide; at least one antenna, the antenna located in the antenna guide; a printed circuit board which is in electronic communication with the antenna; an alarm which is in electronic communication with the printed circuit board; an at least one plastic polymeric member extending a length of the core and retaining the Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 core; a plastic polymeric veneer which covers the front, back and sides of the core; and a first cap and a second cap, the caps capping the core, the plastic polymeric veneer and the plastic polymeric member at a first end and a second end of the core and plastic polymeric member, respectively.
In the EAS pedestal, the printed circuit board may be housed in the core.
FIGURES
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a prior art EAS detection system, showing two different antenna combinations.
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the EAS pedestal of the present technology.
Figure 3A is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of Figure 2; and Figure 3B
is a partially exploded view of Figure 3A.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of another alternative embodiment of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the framework of the pedestal of the present technology.
Figure 6 is cross sectional view of the framework, core and veneer of the EAS
pedestal of the present technology.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the antennae jig of the present technology.
DESCRIPTION
Except as otherwise expressly provided, the following rules of interpretation apply to this specification (written description and claims): (a) all words used herein shall be construed to be of such gender or number (singular or plural) as the circumstances require; (b) the singular terms "a", "an", and "the", as used in the specification and the appended claims include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; (c) the antecedent term "about" applied to a recited range or value denotes an approximation within the deviation in the range or value known or expected in the art from the measurements method; (d) the words "herein", "hereby", "hereof", "hereto", "hereinbefore", and "hereinafter", and words of similar import, refer to this specification in its entirety and not Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 to any particular paragraph, claim or other subdivision, unless otherwise specified; (e) descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any part of the specification; and (f) "or" and "any" are not exclusive and "include" and "including" are not limiting. Further, the terms "comprising," "having,"
"including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Where a specific range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included therein. All smaller sub ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used, the acceptable methods and materials are now described.
A prior art EAS detection system, generally referred to as 10 is shown in Figure 1. It is for detecting proximate to a store exit. The system 10 includes security tags 12 which are Radio Frequency (RF) type tags and two pedestals 22. The security tags 12 are detected when they are within the EAS detection zone, generally referred to as 20. A
pedestal, generally referred to as 22, has a base 24 that supports both a detection system frame 26 and a planar support member 30. The two pedestals 22 are spaced apart from each other by about 60 cm to about 120 cm to provide a main radio frequency field also referred to as the detection zone 20. The main radio frequency field is subject to interference from metallic parts and other interference such as, but not limited to power supplies, power cords and the like, absent electronic or physical mitigation.
The pedestals are located at points of egress.
3.0 Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 The EAS detection system electronics include at least one RF antenna 52 that is an emitter and at least one RF antenna 54 that is a receiver or at least one RF
antenna 56 that is a combination emitter and the receiver or a transceiver 58. A system controller (printed circuit board) 60 is in electronic communication with the antennae 52, 54, 56, 58.
The system controller 60 may be integrated into the base 24, as shown or may be remote.
The system controller 60 is in electronic communication with an alarm 64, which may be a buzzer. The electronic communication is either wired or wireless.
As shown in Figure 2, the detection system frame 26 includes elongated members 102, 104, and a top cap 106. The elongated members 102, 104 are a plastic polymer, preferably extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC), hence they can also be referred to as plastic polymeric members. The top cap 106 is preferably acrylic but can alternatively be PVC, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or other rigid plastic polymeric materials. Two MDF
panels 110, 112 form the core 114. The core 114 is retained by the two elongated members 102,104 and is capped with the base 24 and the top cap 106. The MDF
panels 110, 112 have a plurality of apertures 116 to reduce weight. Channels are machined in each panel 110, 112 and form antennae guides 118 in the face, which becomes the inner surface 120 of each panel 110, 112 when the two panels 110, 112 are laminated together.
The antenna guides 118 are for retaining the antennae 122. The antennae 122 are installed within the guides 118 and the two panels 110, 112 then are laminated together to form the core 114. The antenna guides 118 allow for consistent placement of the antennae 122. An ABS veneer 124 is retained by the elongated members 102, 104 and covers the front, and back of the core 114, with the base 24 and the top cap 106 also providing some retention. In an alternative embodiment, the veneer 124 is KomaceI0, Komatex0, Sintra0 or other synthetic composite that is either malleable and can be wrapped around the core 114 and retained by the elongated members 102, 104, or is machined on the inner surface to provide lines of thinner material to permit bending of the veneer 124 and is retained by the elongated members 102, 104.
In an alternative embodiment, additive manufacturing is used to produce the plastic polymeric elongated members. In yet another embodiment, the plastic polymeric elongated members are injection molded.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 As shown in Figure 3A, in another alternative embodiment, a single elongated member 102 or 104 is used to retain the core 114 (identified as the two panels 110, 112) and the veneer 124. Threaded fasteners extend into the core 114 in order to retain the caps 128, 126. The veneer 124 wraps around the side 130 that does not have the elongated member 102 or 104. A printed circuit board (PCB) 60 is in electronic communication with the antennae 122 and a buzzer or alarm 64, all of which are included in the core. A cover plate 62 covers the PCB 60. Indentations 136 proximate to the first end 138 and the second 140 of the MDF panels 110, 112 house electronics 142 and light emitting diode (LED) lights 144 that are in electronic communication with the PCB 60, all of which are included in the core.
A shown in Figure 3B, the PCB 60 is housed centrally between the two MDF
panels 110, 112 and between the antennae channel guides 118. As can be seen, there is no base 24, but rather a first cap 126 and a second cap 128. The pedestal 22 can be mounted in any orientation on a wall or stand proximate to an opening through which the RF or Acoustic Magnetic (AM) tag passes, including to but not limited to a doorway or on a door frame and the like.
As shown in Figure 4 in another alternative embodiment, a single elongated member 102 or 104 and the base 24 are used to retain the core 114 and the veneer 124.
Threaded fasteners extend into the core 114 in order to retain the top cap 106. The veneer 124 wraps around the side 130 that does not have the elongated member102 or 104.
The plastic polymeric member 102 or 104 is preferably extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The top cap 106 is preferably acrylic but can alternatively be PVC, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or other rigid plastic polymeric materials. The MDF panels 110, 112 have a plurality of apertures 116 to reduce weight. Channels, which are antennae guides 118 are machined into the face which becomes the inner surface 120 of each panel 110, 112 and are for retaining the antennae 122. The antennae 122 are installed within the guides 118 and the two panels 110, 112 are laminated together to form the core 114.
The antennae guides 118 allow for consistent placement of the antennae 122. The veneer 124 is preferably ABS and is retained by the plastic polymeric member 102 or 104, capped with the base 24 and the top cap 106 and covers the back, front and one side of the core Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 114. In an alternative embodiment, the veneer 124 is KomaceI0, Komatex0, Sintra0 or other synthetic composite that is either malleable and can be wrapped around the core 114 and retained by the elongated member 102 or 104, capped with the top cap 106 and base 24. Alternatively, the veneer is machined on the inner surface to provide lines of thinner material to permit bending of the veneer 124 and is again retained by the elongated member 102 or 104, capped with the top cap 106 and base 24.
In another embodiment, the panels 110, 112 are Komacel , Komatex0, Sintra0 or other synthetic composites.
In another embodiment, the antennae guides 118 are molded and are not machined.
Molding may be, for example but not limited heat molding or pressure molding.
The antennae guides 118 do not require any additional components to hold the antennae 122 in place. In other words, the antennae guides are clipless or lack fasteners or any other additional parts in order to retain the antennae 122.
As shown in Figure 5, the plastic polymeric members 102, 104 include an outer support 150 and an inner support 152. As shown, the inner support 152 has four arms 154 that terminate in a distal end 156. The distal ends 156 are mated with a female member (retention bracket) 158 of the outer support 150 to form a mating pair 160.
The mating pairs 160 extend the length of the elongated members 102,104. The outer support 150 further includes reinforcing channels 162, 164 that are located proximate to the corner 166 of the semi-circular profile outer support 150. The inner reinforcing channel 164 forms a step 167 and a base168 of the elongated members 102,104. Between the reinforcing channels 162, 164 is a bore 170 into which screws are housed for secure the two elongated members 102, 104 to the top cap 106 and the base 168. The screws may be stainless steel or nylon. As they are not within the main radio frequency field 20, there is no need for them to be non-metallic. The corner 166 is defined by a retention channel 172 which includes an opening 174.
In another alternative embodiment the inner support 152 has three arms 154 which are spaced equidistance apart and the outer support has the corresponding number of retention brackets 158 in the outer support 150.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 All the components of the plastic polymeric members 102, 104 are uniform in thickness.
This is to ensure even heating and cooling of the plastic polymeric members 102, 104 during assembly of the inner support 154 in the outer support 152.
As shown in Figure 6, the core 114 is shaped to be seated on the base 168 and the seat 167. A core channel 180 in the core 114 mates with the seat 167. The veneer 124 is fed into the opening 174 of the retention channel 172 and wraps around the core 114.
The veneer 124 and the combination of the step 167 and core channel 180 ensure correct placement and retention of the core 114.
The method of manufacturing the pedestal is as follows:
The antenna 122 is designed and manufactured to provide an inductance within a specific range, which in the present technology is about 200-250 pH. The antenna 122 is formed on an antennae jig, generally referred to as 200 (see Figure 7) and inserted into the antenna guide 118 of the two MDF panels 110, 112 so that there is little variation between antennae 122 in the EAS pedestals. This produces an antenna with a fixed inductance.
The EAS power amplifier circuitry does not have to be tuned to match the inductance by removing or adding capacitors to the circuit because inductance (L), is constant - so capacitance (C) will also be a constant.
The details of the antennae jig are shown in Figure 7. The antennae jig 200 is used to wind the wires of the antenna 122 into a specific length and shape and to secure the wires consistently. The antennae jig 200 is slightly larger than the antenna guide 118 because the tension on the wire causes the wire bundle to shrink slightly when it's removed from the antennae jig 200. The antenna 122 is removed from the antennae jig 200 as a preformed antenna and is inserted into the antenna guide 118 on one inner side of an MDF panel. The two MDF panels 110, 112 are then laminated together to form the core 114 encasing the antenna 122 in the antenna guides 118 of each MDF panel 110, 112.
The core 114 is then fed into the two elongated members 102, 104. For the embodiment of Figure 2, following that, the veneer 124 is fed into the opening 174 of the retention channel 172. There may be two sheets of veneer 124, each end of each being fed into the opening 174. The ends of the assembly are then fed into the top cap 106 and the Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10 base 168 and the required screws are used to secure the components together.
For the embodiment of Figure 3A and 3B, there is a single sheet of veneer 124 and it is wrapped around the core 114 to provide an assembly. The ends of the assembly are then fed into the first cap 126 and the second cap 128. For the embodiment of Figure 4, there is a single sheet of veneer 124 and it is wrapped around the core 114 to provide an assembly.
The ends of the assembly are then fed into the top cap 106 and the base 24.
While example embodiments have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be an example of a possible most practical and/or suitable embodiment, it is to be understood that the descriptions are not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the example embodiment.
Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific example embodiments specifically described herein.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10

Claims (34)

1. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal, the EAS comprising: a core comprising two panels each including a face, the face including a channel, the two faces affixed to one another such that the channels define an antenna guide;
at least one antenna, the antenna located in the antenna guide; a printed circuit board which is in electronic communication with the antenna; an alarm which is in electronic communication with the printed circuit board; an at least one plastic polymeric member extending a length of the core and retaining the core; a plastic polymeric veneer which covers the front, back and at least one side of the core; at least one cap, the cap capping the core and the plastic polymeric member; a retainer at an end opposing the cap, the retainer consisting of a base or a second cap and capping the core and the plastic polymeric member.

2. The EAS pedestal of claim 1, wherein the plastic polymeric member is comprised of an inner support and an outer support, the inner support extruded independently of the outer support, the inner support and the outer support defining a mating pair extending substantially a length of the plastic polymeric member.

3. The EAS pedestal of claim 2, wherein the outer support includes at least two reinforcing channels which extend substantially the length of the plastic polymeric member.

4. The EAS pedestal of claim 3, wherein the two reinforcing channels each include an opening which retain an end of the plastic polymeric veneer.

5. The EAS pedestal of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the inner support includes at least three arms, each with a distal end, each distal end mating with the outer support.

6. The EAS pedestal of claim 5, wherein the outer support includes at least three brackets, the brackets and the distal ends of the arm forming the mating pairs.

7. The EAS pedestal of claim 6, wherein there are four arms and four brackets extending the length of the plastic polymeric member.

8. The EAS pedestal of any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the inner support and the outer support are of an equal width and depth to one another and consist of the same polymeric plastic as one another.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10

9. The EAS pedestal of any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the retainer is the second cap.

10. The EAS pedestal of any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the retainer is the base.

11. The EAS pedestal of any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the printed circuit board is housed in the core.

12. The EAS pedestal of any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the two panels are medium-density fibreboard.

13. The EAS pedestal of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the antenna is a preformed antenna.

14.A method of manufacturing an EAS pedestal core, the method comprising:
selecting an antenna jig; winding wires in the antenna jig to provide a preformed antenna; removing the preformed antenna from the antenna jig; inserting the preformed antenna into a channel in a first panel; selecting a second panel which includes a channel; affixing the panels to one another such that the channels align and forming an antenna guide in which the antenna is encased, thereby manufacturing an EAS pedestal core.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising placing a printed circuit board between the first panel and the second panel prior to affixing the panels to one another.

16. The method of claim 14 or 15 further comprising placing an alarm between the first panel and the second panel prior to affixing the panels to one another.

17.A method of manufacturing an EAS pedestal, the method comprising: selecting an EAS pedestal core which includes antennae in antennae guides; electronically connecting a printed circuit board to the antennae; electronically connecting an alarm to the printed circuit board; attaching at least one elongated member to at least one side of the EAS pedestal core; wrapping the front, back and at least one side of the EAS core in a veneer; retaining the veneer with the elongated member;
attaching a cap to one end of the core, elongated member and veneer; and attaching a retainer to the other end of the core, elongated member and veneer, thereby manufacturing an EAS pedestal.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a first elongated member is attached to a first side of the core and a second elongated member is attached to a second side of the core.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18, further including manufacturing the elongated member, the manufacturing comprising: separately extruding an inner support and an outer support from a plastic polymer under heat; mating the inner support and the outer support along a length; and cooling the mated inner support and outer support.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the inner support and the outer support cool at the same rate.

21. An elongated member for an EAS pedestal, the elongated member consisting of an inner support and an outer support, the inner support extruded independently of the outer support, the inner support and the outer support defining a mating pair extending substantially a length of the plastic polymeric member.

22. The elongated member of claim 21, wherein the outer support includes at least two reinforcing channels which extend substantially the length of the plastic polymeric member.

23. The elongated member of claim 22, wherein the two reinforcing channels each include an opening which retain an end of the plastic polymeric veneer.

24. The elongated member of any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the inner support includes at least three arms, each with a distal end, each distal end mating with the outer support.

25. The elongated member of claim 24, wherein the outer support includes at least three brackets, the brackets and the distal ends of the arm forming the mating pairs.

26. The elongated member of claim 23, wherein there are four arms and four brackets extending the length of the plastic polymeric member.

27. The elongated member of any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein the inner support and the outer support are of an equal width and depth to one another and consist of the same polymeric plastic as one another.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10

28. A core for an EAS pedestal, the core comprising two panels each including a face, the face including a channel, the two faces affixed to one another such that the channels define an antenna guide; and at least one antenna, the antenna located in the antenna guide.

29. The core of claim 28, wherein the panels are medium-density fibreboard.

30. The core of claim 28 or 29, wherein the panels include weight saving apertures.

31. The core of any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the core retains a printed circuit board between the faces and the printed circuit board is in electronic communication with the antenna.

32. The core of claim 31, wherein the core retains an alarm between the faces and the alarm is in electronic communication with the printed circuit board.

33. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal for mounting on a wall, the EAS
pedestal comprising: a core comprising two panels each including a face, the face including a channel, the two faces affixed to one another such that the channels define an antenna guide; at least one antenna, the antenna located in the antenna guide; a printed circuit board which is in electronic communication with the antenna; an alarm which is in electronic communication with the printed circuit board; an at least one plastic polymeric member extending a length of the core and retaining the core; a plastic polymeric veneer which covers the front, back and sides of the core; and a first cap and a second cap, the caps capping the core, the plastic polymeric veneer and the plastic polymeric member at a first end and a second end of the core and plastic polymeric member, respectively.

34. The EAS pedestal of claim 33, wherein the printed circuit board is housed in the core.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-11-10