Patent Application
20050110642
This invention relates generally to security from shoplifting of articles of manufacture and pertains more particularly to electronic article surveillance marker assemblies for use with articles of manufacture.
One form of electronic article surveillance (EAS) marker in widespread use is in the form of a flat, thin, flexible, rectangular member which is applied adhesively to flat or curved exterior surfaces of articles. One shortcoming of such exterior surface application is that, while often covered by a bar code label, the presence of the EAS marker nonetheless is evident since it is visible from the sides of the bar code label. Still further, the EAS marker is accessible to a customer.
Commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,909 discloses a so-called “seal” comprising a one-piece body having first and second members closable one upon the other and thereupon respectively defining first and second outer seal walls and a tail peripherally continuous with at least one of the first and second members at a third outer seal wall, the tail having a hook at a free end thereof. The seal body defines an interior recess and a detent opening into the third outer seal wall for retentive reception of the tail hook interiorly of the seal. An EAS marker is disposed in the seal body recess and is contained therein between the first and second outer seal walls upon closure of the first and second members.
The '909 patent seal is used by circumscribing a portion of an article, e.g., a watchband, with the tail and then inserting the tail hook into the seal body detent.
The EAS marker is a flat ferromagnetic strip member and is detectable by various known EAS systems, e.g., where the marker is not deactivated (as at an article payment checkout counter) and is carried through EAS marker detection gates at a facility exit.
The present invention has as its primary object the provision of an EAS marker assembly adapted for use with articles of manufacture having information thereon which need be readable by a customer.
By way of example of such a article of manufacture, baby formula containers have a tubular body portion having a metallic bottom portion bearing indication of expiration date for safe usage of the baby formula.
In attaining the foregoing and other objects, the invention provides an electronic article surveillance assembly comprising a housing containing an electronic article surveillance marker, the housing defining a viewability channel extending between opposed first and second exterior surfaces of the housing, the electronic article surveillance marker being disposed aside the viewability channel. The housing defines a first opening extending through the first exterior surface, a second opening extending through the second exterior surface, the housing defining a passage communicating with the first and second openings, the viewability channel being constituted by the first opening, the passage and the second opening.
The invention further provides, in combination, an article of manufacture and an electronic article surveillance assembly comprising a housing containing an electronic article surveillance marker, the housing defining a viewability channel extending between opposed first and second exterior surfaces of the housing, the electronic article surveillance marker being disposed aside the viewability channel, the article of manufacture having a bottom portion thereof disposed in the housing in registry with the viewability channel.
The invention will be further understood from consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments thereof and from the drawings where like reference numerals identify like parts throughout.
Referring to
Housing 12 defines viewability channel 16 extending between opposed first and second exterior surfaces 18 and 20 of the housing, electronic article surveillance marker 14 being disposed aside viewability channel 16. Housing 12 is comprised of an opaque plastic material, whereby marker 14 is not viewable through first exterior surface 18.
Housing 12 defines a first opening 22 extending through first exterior surface 18, a second opening 24 extending through second exterior surface 20, the housing defining a passage 26 communicating with first and second openings 22 and 24. Viewability channel 16 is constituted by first opening 22, passage 26 and second opening 24.
Housing 12 defines interior structure 28 at least in part bounding passage 26 and extending contiguously from first exterior surface 18 and recessed relative to first exterior surface 18.
Spaced about the interior of housing 12 are a plurality of retention means 30, disposed in the housing 12 adjacent first exterior surface 18 and in registry with the recess between the housing interior structure 28 and first exterior surface 18.
One embodiment of retention means 30 is shown in
Alternatively, retention means 30 may comprise an adhesive 37 (
Turning to
In
Various changes may be introduced in the disclosed preferred embodiment without departing from the invention. By way of example, interior structure 28 effectively provides sufficient spacing between EAS marker 14 and metallic bottom portion 40 so that the EAS marker is isolated from influence of the metal of bottom portion 40 such that the marker can be deactivated at checkout. Where the article portion bearing the expiration date is not metal, e.g., is comprised of plastic, the interior structure may be shortened in length. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the true spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.
