Patent Application
20230064997
This invention relates to the tracking of goods. More specifically, this invention relates to the tracking of goods by an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device adhesively attachable to an item and having a configuration easily destabilized by tampering which provides detection of tampering and/or theft.
Theft is frequently a problem in retail stores as well as in other environments. In some environments, the focus is on the desire to track items. To address these issues, electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems are installed. Generally, in EAS systems, electronic tags, labels, or similarly titled electronic devices are placed on items to be protected, or monitored. These EAS tags, or devices, are capable of generating a signal to reply back to the broader EAS system. The broader EAS system creates interrogation fields which stimulate the EAS devices to produce reply signals in response to the interrogation fields. These responding signals from the EAS devices, indicate that an EAS device, and the item to which it is attached, are in an interrogation field.
These interrogation fields are frequently set up at exits or entries to an area that is being monitored or protected. Frequently, the antennas that are used to generate the interrogation fields and to monitor for device signals are housed within pedestals that are placed to each side of an exit. However, these antennas and their controlling electronics can be positioned overhead or within the floor in the area close to the exit.
The controlling electronics for these antennas generate a signal which is transmitted by the antennas and creates the interrogation field. This field energizes or stimulates devices that are passing through the interrogation field, or zone. The devices then produce a signal in response to the interrogation field. This signal from the devices may be created by the energy of the field itself, or the devices may have on board power supplies and electronics that reply to the interrogation field. The interrogation field is cycled for periods of transmission and monitoring. The interrogation field initially cycles and broadcast out into the zone being monitored and then the interrogation field is stopped. The antennas of the EAS system then monitor for a device signal. If a device signal is detected, it is assumed that the device is improperly in the zone being monitored by the interrogation field, and the EAS system determines that an alarm condition is in effect. The EAS system can then generate an alarm, either an optical alarm such as flashing lights, an audible alarm such as bells, etc., or a system alarm that is broadcast to operator stations.
EAS tags, or devices, are attached to items by various methods. The method used depends on the type of item being protected and determines the shape of the EAS device. As one example, EAS devices for clothing frequently employ a tack to maintain the EAS device on the article of clothing. Other applications use different methods which leads to EAS devices having different physical characteristics. In some cases, EAS devices employ an adhesive to maintain the device on the item, and these may also employ a switch to monitor the continued attachment of the EAS device on the item. If the EAS device is removed from an item, the state of the switch is changed. Logic within the EAS device interprets the state change as meaning that the device has been removed, determines an alarm condition exists, and transmits an alarm. The alarm may an audible sound, a transmission to other system elements, or both.
One method a thief may employ to defeat an EAS device with such a switch is to maintain the state of the switch while removing the EAS device. For example, if the switch is actuated by an actuator compressed when the EAS device is attached to the item, the thief will maintain the compressed state of the actuator while removing the EAS device. This may be accomplished by inserting a thin element between the item and the EAS device. The thin element and the EAS device are then removed together and the switch and alarm of the EAS device are defeated.
U.S. Pat. Application Publication 2015/0302711 A1 by Yang is for “EAS DEVICE HAVING INTERCHANGEABLE CONTOURED BASE”. In Yang ‘711, an electronic article surveillance device attaches to an object to be protected. The EAS device has a base, or mount, and a housing which contains EAS electronics. The housing and base are separate but have elements which act together to attach the housing to the base. The base attaches to the object and has a surface contoured to fit the contour of the object to be protected. The base, or mount, may be attached to the object by an adhesive element. Multiple interchangeable bases having differently countered surfaces allow a housing to be attached to different objects having different contours.
U.S. Pats. 8,305,219 and 8,368,542 by Yang are for “EAS tag using tape with conductive element”. In Yang '219 and '542, an electronic article surveillance apparatus for monitoring large objects is comprised of a base, at least one segment of tape, and an electronics housing. The segment of tape has at least one electrically conductive element running the length of the tape. The base rests on an object to be monitored, and the housing releasably latches onto the base, while each tape segment wraps around the object with each end of tape segment being fixed between the base and housing. Electronics within the housing complete a circuit through each tape segment and monitors the tape segments for electrical continuity. If electrical continuity is lost, either by cutting a tape segment, or unauthorized unlatching of the housing, an alarm can be sounded by the electronics within the housing. The electronic housing may be disarmed by a remote device and unlatched from the base. Both base and tape segments may have adhesive elements.
U.S. Pat. 8,373,565 by Yang is for “Security apparatus with conductive ribbons”. In Yang '565, an electronic article surveillance (EAS) security apparatus is comprised of a housing, base plate, ribbon pad, and electrically conductive ribbons. In one embodiment, the ribbons are pre-attached to the ribbon pad and extend from the ribbon pad. The ribbon pad and base plate are installed on opposite sides of an object to be protected. The ribbons are extended around the object, and their extended ends attached to the base plate. The housing has electrical contacts and encloses electronics. It is attached to the base plate in such a way that the electrical contacts complete circuits through the ribbons. The electronics in the housing monitors the ribbons to detect unauthorized removal of the apparatus. A switch on the bottom of the housing detects that the housing is attached to a plate and object. The apparatus has a locking mechanism to maintain the housing and plate together, which can be released by application of a magnet.
U.S. Pat. 10,311,691 B2 by Yang is for “Anti-theft tag with attaching panel”. In Yang '691, an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device has a housing containing EAS electronics and a panel extending from the housing. An adhesive element on the panel provides a means of attaching the EAS device to an object to be monitored. The EAS device has a switch to detect when the EAS device is mounted to an object. The electronics within the housing monitor the switch. The switch may be associated with, or mounted in, the panel. The panel may be hinged to the housing. The panel may fold flat to the housing when not in use, and the switch will disconnect any power source to conserve energy when the panel is closed. The EAS electronics can communicate with external devices and an external EAS system which may include cloud functionality.
U.S. Pat. 9,997,037 B2 by Yang is for “Anti-theft tag for electronic device charging port”. In Yang '037, an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device has a plug configured to fit a port of a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, the port used in the portable electronic device is a charging port. The EAS device may have an additional attaching mechanism to maintain the EAS device attached to a portable electronic device. In one embodiment, the additional attaching mechanism is a panel with an adhesive element. The EAS device may have a switch that changes state when the plug is inserted into the port. Electronics within the EAS device may monitor the switch and plug to detect attachment of the EAS device. The EAS device may also have a charging port in electrical continuity with the plug so that the electronic device can be charge with the EAS device in place.
An electronic article surveillance (EAS) antitheft device has a body and a mount for attaching the body to a protected item. The body houses electronic elements for monitoring the state of the device, for communicating with external devices in a greater antitheft or tracking system, and for executing logic associated with those functions. The mount has an adhesive element on its contact surface and adhesively attaches to the protected item. The body then attaches to the mount.
In some embodiments of the EAS device, the mount has a base, and it is on that base where the adhesive is located. The base may be sufficiently thin and pliable such that the base can conform to curved surfaces on an item. In some embodiments, the base may have slots in it to provide further flexibility so that the base may more easily adhesively attach to curved surfaces.
The base has a stem extending up from it. The stem has tabs extending laterally at its end. The body has a coupler aperture for receiving the stem and that aperture has notches in it to accommodate the tabs. After the body is placed on the stem, turning the body couples the body and the mount to each. The body may house a locking mechanism, such as a slide, that may be manually moved to lock the body in place on the mount. The body may house a lock switch that detects the position of the locking mechanism and communicates the position to the other electronics in the body. The electronics of the body may arm the EAS device as a result of receiving the signal from the lock switch.
A mount switch within the body aligns with the coupler aperture in the body. The mount has a mount aperture that passes through the base and the stem of the mount. An actuator from the mount switch aligns with the mount aperture in the stem when the body is assembled with the mount. Previous to its installation, the mount has a tamper detector in the mount aperture. The tamper detector has a shaft and a floater element temporarily connected to the base at the mount aperture on the opposite surface from the stem. When the body is attached to the mount, the actuator moves the shaft which then detaches the floater element. The floater element is trapped between the shaft and the surface of the item in a precarious equilibrium. If an attempt is made to remove the device, the floater element is easily displaced, which allows the shaft of the tamper detector and switch actuator to shift. This is detected by the mount switch which communicates to the other electronics housed in the body of the device. The logic components of the electronics determine an alarm condition, and the communication components of the electronics issue an alarm.
The electronics within the body are capable of communicating with external elements of a greater security system. Theses communication elements can receive signals as a final arming step for installation of the EAS device or to disarm the device, so that it may be removed without issuing an alarm. The communication can with contact or wireless communication. An authorized person can disarm the device.
Additional utility and features of the invention will become more fully apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, which illustrate some of the primary features of preferred embodiments.
When slide 60 is moved to engage locking arm 61 with stem 46 and tabs 47, a spring moves blocking pin 67 in pin cup 68 to a blocking position with respect to slide 60. Blocking pin 67 then keeps slide 60 in place until blocking pin 67 is withdrawn back into pin cup 68. More will be discussed below with respect to slide 60 and blocking pin 67.
Referring now to
Mount switch 51 aligns with coupler aperture 26. When body 20 is assembled to mount 40, actuator 52 of mount switch 51 aligns with mount aperture 48 in stem 46. When body 20 is assembled to mount 40, actuator 52 has sufficient length and stiffness to contact and move shaft 71. Shaft 71 in turn displaces floater element 70 from its initial seat on mount aperture 48. As discussed above, when mount 40 is attached to an item and body 20 is connected to mount 40, shaft 71 displaces floater element 70, and floater element 70 is then maintained between shaft 71 and the item. If EAS device 10 is tampered with, such as an attempt to slide a thin device between device 10 and the item, floater element 70 is displaced, shaft 71 and actuator 52 shift, and mount switch 51 has its state changed. The electronics of EAS device 10 detect this and determine that an alarm state is present. Audible and wireless alarm signals are then generated.
Lock switch 53 on circuit board 50 signals the position of slide 60, which acts as the locking mechanism in this embodiment. Referring to
In
Cylinder 31 on top shell 21 of body 20 retains pin cup 68 in position. Pin cup 68 contains blocking pin 67 and spring 69. In the initial uninstalled configuration of EAS device 10, slide 60 holds blocking pin 67 up in pin cup 68 with spring 69 compressed. When slide 60 is shifted to engage locking arm 61 with stem 46 and tabs 47, spring 69 moves blocking pin 67 into pin notch 64 on slide 60. This locks slide 60 into engagement with stem 46 and tabs 47. Locking pin 67 is at least partially made of a magnetically attractable material. To allow slide 60 to be moved back to an initial unengaged position, a magnet is applied to body 20 to withdraw locking pin 67 from pin notch 64. Dome 32 on top shell 21 of body 20 provides a visual cue as to where to apply a magnet.
Sound generator 56 is positioned beneath sound aperture 33 in top shell 21. Sound generator 56 can communicate audible alarms as well as other signals. For example, sound generator 56 may communicate confirmation that EAS device 10 is armed or disarmed.
LED 57 and optical sensor 58 are positioned beneath respective optical windows 34 in top shell 21. LED 57 and optical sensor 58 enable wireless optical communication with EAS device 10. Optical sensor 58 may receive optical signals such as infra-red signals. LED 57 may generate signals for optical receivers on external devices, or can flash to communicate the device status. For example, LED 57 may flash to confirm EAS device 10 is armed.
In
Spring 69 is positioned above blocking pin 67 and fits around the top portion of blocking pin 67 when body 20 is assembled. Spring 69 provides the bias for blocking pin 67 to move to a blocking position when slide 60 is moved to lock body 20 to mount 40. For blocking pin 67 to be withdrawn into cup 68 and cylinder 31, a magnet is applied to dome 32 of body 20 The magnet must be sufficiently strung to overcome spring 69.
Programmable chip 59 on circuit board 50 provides the logic, storage, and communication capabilities of EAS device 10. Programmable chip 59 monitors the status of mount switch 51 and lock switch 53 to determine whether EAS device 10 is installed and armed. Programmable chip 59 may provide radio frequency wireless communication or may communicate wirelessly via LED 57 and optical sensor 58. Additionally, programmable chip 59 may drive sound generator 56 to generate audible sounds. External devices may communicate with ant-theft device 10 as a final arming step after EAS device 10 is installed. When programmable chip 59 determines an alarm condition exists, it can generate various alarms, such as an audible alarm, or wireless alarms transmitted to external devices and the larger EAS systems as a whole.
In
Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the invention be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.
This application is a utility application which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 63/238,942, filed on Aug. 31, 2022. The entire disclosures contained in U.S. Provisional Application 63/238,942 including the attachments thereto, are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63238942 | Aug 2021 | US |
