Apple is exploring new security measures in Apple retail stores in an attempt to deter and prevent vandalism. In a patent filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) titled Product-Display System, discovered by Patently Apple, Apple details some of the mechanical systems used to protect iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches.
The patent actually involves attaching a fixed body and display pole to large tables in the Apple Store, which would then have a retaining bracket to hold the device. Some devices may have a retractable cable attached to the stand to provide power and allow the customer to pick up the device. A magnet placed on top of the display rod ensures that the device then returns to its intended position.
In order to maintain safety and to be more aesthetically pleasing, in the installation system, no fasteners of the retainer can be seen or touched. The poles and brackets are much heavier than the tethers currently used to hold Apple Store devices in place and are designed to make it harder for thieves to take apart the devices, thereby deterring robbery attempts.
Apple has attempted to remove safety tethers in some of its stores, but the company has suffered a slew of vandalism in recent years. The patent doesn’t confirm that Apple will implement bulky security retainers in its retail stores, but it’s still a possibility given that the solution is fully developed.
While Apple devices already automatically enter Lost Mode when they’re stolen from a store, meaning the device becomes useless, the document suggests that more basic robbery prevention is still an area the company is working on. According to Apple Store enthusiast Michael Steeber on Twitter, the mounting system outlined in the patent is already in use by some Apple retail partners and authorized resellers.
