Patent Application
20090021378
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to security tags and associated detachers and, more particularly, to a Security/Ink or other Detrimental Substance tag and a security tag detacher for use in electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic article surveillance systems are well known in the art and are used for inventory control and to prevent theft and similar unauthorized removal of articles from a controlled area. Typically, in such systems a system transmitter and a system receiver are used to establish a surveillance zone, which must be traversed by any article being removed from the controlled area.
An EAS tag is affixed to each article and includes a marker or sensor adapted to interact with a signal being transmitted by the system transmitter into the surveillance zone. This interaction causes a further signal to be established in the surveillance zone, which further signal is received by the system receiver. Accordingly, upon movement of a tagged article through the surveillance zone, a signal will be received by the system receiver, identifying the unauthorized presence of the tagged article in the zone.
Certain types of EAS tags have been designed to be reusable and, thus, include releasable attachment devices for affixing the tag to the articles. Such attachment devices are further designed to be releasable by authorized personnel only so that unauthorized removal of a tag from its article is avoided. To this end, many attachment devices are made releasable only through the use of an associated special tool or detaching mechanism or other device.
An EAS tag employing an attachment device and an associated detacher is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,829 (the “'829 patent”) entitled REUSABLE SECURITY TAG, issued to Humble, et al. on Mar. 9, 1976 and assigned to same assignee hereof. The EAS tag of the '829 patent includes a tag body and an attachment device in the form of a tack assembly. The tack assembly includes an enlarged head and tack body having a pointed end, which serves to pierce through an article and to be receivable in and clamped to the tag body. This secures the article and tag together.
In the tag of the '829 patent, the tack is clamped to the tag body using a spring clamp formed as a clutch lock with spreadable jaws. Once the article is pierced, the pointed tack end is received in the tag body and is secured between the jaws of the clutch lock. This locks the tack and the tag body, forming or securing the EAS tag to the article so that the tag and article cannot be readily separated from each other.
In order for authorized personnel to be able to release the tack from the clutch lock and, therefore, the tag from the article, the '829 patent utilizes a detacher mechanism which is adapted to grip the tag body and apply a bending force thereto. This force is sufficient to deform the clutch so that the jaws of the clutch lock are spread apart, thereby releasing the tack. The tack can then be removed from the tag body so that the article and tag become separated from one another.
To permit the bending of the tag body sufficiently to deform the clutch lock, the tag body of the '829 patent may be made of a flexible material. Typically, flexible plastic materials such as, for example, polypropylene, have been used. Such materials, however, are susceptible to being cut and damaged. This tends to be a disadvantage, since it increases the likelihood that the locking feature of the tag can be separated from the EAS sensor part of the tag or can be exposed and defeated.
Moreover, the tag body of the '829 patent may be relatively large in size in order to facilitate its flexing. This likewise tends to be a disadvantage, since use of large tags detracts from the aesthetic appearance of the articles to which the tags are attached.
Another type of EAS security device is known in which a variation of the spring clamp of the '829 patent has been incorporated into a so-called keeper for a compact disc. This type of device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,756, entitled KEEPER FOR COMPACT DISC PACKAGE OR THE LIKE, issued to Buzzard, et al. on Jul. 16, 1991 and also assigned to same assignee hereof.
The keeper of the '756 patent comprises a rigid plastic frame. One side of the frame is provided with an enlarged section which houses a tack-like button assembly and a spring clamp as in the '829 patent. In this case, the spring clamp is used to lock the button assembly in a first position. In this position, the pointed end of the button assembly protrudes into the frame to pierce and hold to the frame a cardboard container containing a compact disc. As a result, unauthorized removal of the compact disc with the frame causes an EAS sensor also incorporated into the frame, to generate a detectable signal for alarming an EAS system.
In the keeper of the '756 patent, the enlarged section of the frame is provided with opposing linear slots, which lead to the region between the jaws of the spring clamp. By inserting ramped linear fingers into these slots, the fingers are guided into this region, causing the jaws to flex outward. This releases the button enabling it to be withdrawn from the cardboard container. The container and its housed compact disc can then be separated from the frame.
While the keeper of the '756 patent utilizes a spring clamp of the '829 patent type in a rigid frame, it also has certain drawbacks. One drawback is that the linear slots leading to the spring clamp permit in-line viewing and access to the clamp. This increases the susceptibility of the clamp to defeat, since linear objects can be inserted into the slots in an attempt to open the jaws. Another drawback is that the fingers of the detacher are required to be of high precision, since they must be received in the region between the spring clamp jaws. This increases the cost and complexity of the detacher.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,419 (the “'419 patent”), entitled SECURITY TAG HAVING ARCUATE CHANNEL AND DETACHER APPARATUS FOR SAME, issued to Nguyen, T. et al., on Jun. 20, 1995, and assigned to the same assignee hereof, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses an EAS tag that does not suffer from the above disadvantages. The EAS tag has a hard tag body, which is adapted to be releasable from an article in an easy and simple manner by insertion of the arcuate probe of an associated detacher device into an arcuate channel of the tag to release a spring clamp mechanism. The spring clamp mechanism is a releasable locking mechanism that prevents removal of an assembly that is adapted for insertion through an article, which is captured when inserted into an opening in a portion of the tag body. The EAS tag of the '419 patent is more difficult to defeat than the above tags, but can be defeated by insertion of a segment of relatively rigid metal bent in an arcuate manner to simulate the arcuate probe of the associated detacher device, as fully described herein below.
The above and other features and aspects of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Embodiments may be directed to apparatuses, systems and methods including, in accordance with the principles of the invention, an EAS tag comprising a tag body and an attaching assembly for attaching the tag body to an article. The attaching assembly may include a tack assembly or other part, which is receivable in the tag body, and the tag body may be provided with a spring clamp or other preventing mechanism for releasably preventing withdrawal of the attaching assembly part. A channel defining structure within the tag body may define an arcuate channel. This channel may lead to the preventing mechanism and may permit an arcuate probe to be guided to the preventing mechanism for releasing same. Release of the preventing mechanism may permit withdrawal of the attaching assembly part, thereby separating the attaching assembly and article from the tag body. An abutment within the arcuate channel may prevent the insertion of a relatively rigid wire, formed substantially in the arcuate shape of the arcuate probe, into the arcuate channel far enough to release the preventing mechanism.
The ink portion of this tag may include a two breaker plate design mechanism that will disperse the detrimental substance onto the article being protected. If the tag is attacked, this detrimental substance may be forced into a channel located in or near the rampart area of the tag. When a thief tries to cut the tag, the ink vial may be crushed (see, e.g., the embodiment of
In an embodiment of the invention, the attaching assembly includes a tack assembly having a head and a tack body, the latter being the part of the attaching mechanism receivable in the tag body through a first opening. The preventing mechanism may include a receiving and clutching mechanism, or two jaws, which may receive and clutch the tack body, thereby preventing withdrawal of the tack body from the tag body. A release part adjacent the receiving and clutching mechanism when engaged may cause the receiving and clutching mechanism to release, thereby allowing withdrawal of the tack body. A second opening in the tag body may lead to the arcuate channel which, in turn, may lead to the release part adjacent the receiving and clutching mechanism to allow the arcuate probe to engage same to affect the release.
In one embodiment, the abutment mechanism is a substantially planar rigid member with a vertical and horizontal opening forming a substantially “L” shaped opening to receive a corresponding “L” shape of the arcuate probe. The rigid member may be positionable substantially perpendicular in the arcuate channel, and the vertical opening may be sized and positioned to allow a vertical member of the “L” shape of the arcuate probe to closely pass through when the arcuate probe is inserted into the arcuate channel to release the preventing mechanism.
The plastic (or other material) abutment may include a catch for catching the formed wire and preventing further insertion of the wire into the arcuate channel. The abutment may be molded into the EAS tag body and bias the catch against a wall of the arcuate channel and in front of the vertical opening in the rigid member.
A horizontal member of the “L” shaped arcuate probe may push against the bias upon insertion of the arcuate probe in the arcuate channel, wherein the catch may be pushed away from the vertical opening in the rigid member, allowing the arcuate probe to closely pass there through. The catch may be a bent portion of the end of the spring.
It is worthy to note that any reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Numerous specific details may be set forth herein to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments. It can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments.
The upper and lower housings 2 and 3 may be made of a hard or rigid material, or another material or materials. A useable rigid or hard material might be hard plastic such as, for example, an injected molded ABS plastic. If a plastic is used, the mating side walls (2A-2D, 3A-3D) of the upper and lower housings 2 and 3 may be joined by an ultrasonic weld 1B or like joining mechanism, or by another mechanism for joining or otherwise securing the upper and lower housings 2 and 3 together.
The tag 1 may further include a tack assembly 4 shown as having an enlarged tack head 4A and an elongated tack body 4B provided with slots or grooves 4C and a pointed forward end 4D (see, e.g., the embodiments of
In order to sense the tag 1 and, therefore, detect the presence of the tag 1 and the attached article 51, the inner surfaces 2F and 3F of the walls 2E and 3E of the housings 2 and 3 may be provided with frame members 2G and 3G, which together may define an interior cavity 1C (see the embodiment of
In various other embodiments, the sensor 5 may include any sensor capable of generating a detectable signal, such as a magnetic, acoustic magnetic, electromagnetic, ferrite assembly, Radio-Frequency (RF), Radio-Frequency identification (RFID), or any combination of two or more of the aforementioned and any other electronic article surveillance (EAS) or other sensors.
The signal generated by the sensor 5 may be detected by an EAS monitoring system. The EAS monitoring system may include, for example, a transmitter/receiver (“transceiver”) to detect the signals, and inform a monitoring system of the presence or absence of the tag 1 in the surveillance zone.
As above-noted, the article 51 may be joined to the tag body 1A by the tack assembly 4. This may be accomplished by inserting the tack body 4B into an opening 2H in the wall 2E of the upper housing 2. When the tack body 4B is fully inserted, the pointed end 4D of the tack may be received in an upstanding cavity or collar 3H extending from the inner surface 3F of the lower housing wall 3E. The tack head 4A, in turn, may be seated in a recessed area defined by the rampart area 2I, in the upper surface 2J, which is the outer surface of the wall 2E and thus part of the outer surface of the tag body 1A. The rampart area 2I may include the portion of the upper surface 2J delineating a recess in the wall 2E at its upper surface 2J. The rampart area 2I may also form the opening 2H through which the tack body 4B may extend. The tack body 4B may thus extend through the opening 2H of the recess and into the tag body 1A to engage the member 6 with a slot 4C, such as described below, to lock the tack assembly 4 to the member 6 and thus to the tag body 1A. The member 6 may be a spring clamp, and may thus be referred to herein as a “spring clamp 6.” If the tack body 4B is also extended through the article 51, the article 51 or a portion thereof may thus be held between the tack head 4A and the wall 2E. In this position, at least a portion of the article 51, and possibly also at least a portion of the tack head 4A, may extend into the recess delineated by the rampart area 2I when the tack assembly 4B is locked to the spring clamp 6. Thus, in one embodiment, the recess may be shaped and sized large enough to receive at least a portion of the tack head 4A.
Spring clamp 6 to be discussed in greater detail below may be provided within the tag body 1A for releasably preventing the tack body 4B from being withdrawn from the tag body 1A. The tack assembly 4 and the article 51 may thus become releasably locked to the EAS tag 1 by the spring clamp 6.
The EAS tag 1 may be further adapted so that access to the spring clamp 6 for releasing same is made difficult for other than authorized personnel. To this end, the tag body 1A may be configured so that access to the spring clamp 6 is through an arcuate channel 7 (see the embodiments of
As shown, the arcuate channel 7 may be defined, in part, by a curved inner wall 7A. This wall may extend upward from the inner surface 3F of the bottom housing 3 to abut the inner surface 2F of the upper housing 2. The wall 7A may be further spaced from the side wall 3D of the bottom housing 3 and its outward end 7A′ may terminate at an inward curved part 3A′ of the side wall 3A. The inward curved part 3A′ of the wall 3A may result in a space or slot 9A between the side walls 3A and 3D of the lower housing 3.
The slot 9A may cooperate with a similar slot 9B between the side walls 2A and 2D of the upper housing 2 to define a second opening 9 for providing entry or access into the outward end 7′ of the arcuate channel 7. At this entry point, the side wall 2A may also curve inwardly at a part 2A′, and the latter part 2A′ may mate with the curved side wall part 3A′ of the side wall 3 of the lower housing 3.
The arcuate channel 7 may be further defined by a second curved wall 7B (see the embodiments of
The presence of the wall 7B may change or alter the configuration of the arcuate channel 7 at its inner end 7″, which end may lie adjacent the spring clamp 6 (see the embodiment of
As illustrated, the wall 7B may change the arcuate channel 7 cross section from substantially rectangular to substantially L-shaped. This is illustrated in the cross section of
Adjacent the inner end 7″ of the arcuate channel 7, the upper and lower housings 2 and 3 may respectively be provided with further curved walls 59 and 11, which may terminate in wall sections 59A and 11A abutting the side walls 2D and 3D (see, e.g., the embodiments of FIGS. 5A and 6A-6B). The walls 59 and 11 may be outward of the arcuate channel 7 and, with the side walls 2D and 3D, may define a trap area 13, which may prevent access to the spring clamp 6. This trap area 13 may provide a safety measure for blocking unauthorized objects introduced into the arcuate channel 7 of the tag body 1A in an attempt reach the spring clamp 6. Such unauthorized objects, by virtual of their shapes, may enter the trap area 13 when they are each inserted into the arcuate channel 7, thus failing to contact and move the spring clamp 6 to unlock the tag 1.
As noted above, the spring clamp 6 may be adapted to releasably prevent the tack body 4B from being withdrawn from the tag body 1A. In an embodiment, the spring clamp 6 is specifically adapted to accommodate release of the tack body 4B via the arcuate probe 8 moving in the arcuate channel 7. The spring clamp 6 is shown in detail in the embodiments of
As shown, the spring clamp 6 may include a spring clamp body 14 and jaws 15 and 16. The spring clamp body 14 may include a mounting part 14A extending laterally of the jaw 15 and a release part 14B extending laterally of the jaw 16. The mounting part 14A may include, or form, a mounting aperture 14A′.
Each of the jaws 15, 16 may extend outwardly of the plane of the spring clamp body 14 and then inwardly toward the other jaw. The jaws 15, 16 may, furthermore, terminate in facing edges 15A and 16A. These edges may extend from a common edge 14C of the spring clamp body 14 inwardly toward each other, then curve outwardly away from each other to define an aperture 14C′ (typically, circular or elliptical, but may be different shapes in other embodiments) for receiving the tack body 4B. The edges 15A and 16A may then continue in aligned fashion and end in an elongated, lateral slot 14D in the spring clamp body 14. The lateral slot 14D may lie inward of a further clamp body edge 14E, which may oppose the clamp body edge 14C.
A further laterally extending elongated spring sleeve, or spring arm 17, may be attached by a joint area 18 to the side 14E′ or the edge 14E bordering the mounting part 14A. The sleeve, spring arm 17, may extend along the length of the edge 14E and may also be out of the plane of the spring clamp body 14.
For mounting and supporting the spring clamp body 14, the lower housing 3 of the tag body 1A may include a hollow circular mount 21 with a lip 21A and support walls 22, 23 and 24 (see the embodiments of
The back end 14A″ of the mounting part 14A and the lateral part of the spring clamp body 14 connecting the mounting part 14A and the release part 14B may be supported on the support walls 22 and 24, while the release part 14B may be carried by the wall 23. The spring arm 17 may rest with at least a portion thereof, such as with one end 17A, in a slot 24A in the support wall 24.
When the pointed end 4D of the tack body 4B is introduced in the downward direction through the opening 2H in the upper housing 2, the part 2K (see the embodiment of
In an embodiment, when the downward tack body 4B travel is stopped at a desired slot 4C, e.g., a slot that provides a tight fit of the tack head 4A and article 51 to the wall 2E of upper housing 2, the jaws 15, 16 may retract and clutch the tack body 4B within a slot 4C. The facing edges 15A, 16A of the jaws 15, 16 may thus be positioned within a slot 4C of the tack body 4B. In this position, the jaws 15, 16 may prevent or provide resistance to upward movement of the tack assembly 4 since the slot 4C that the jaws 15, 16 are clutching has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the tack body 4B. The tack assembly 4 and article 51 may thus become locked to the tag body 1A, and thus to the tag 1. This position of the spring clamp 6, in which its jaws 15 and 16 clutch the tack body 4B within a slot 4C to lock the tack assembly 4 thereto and thus to the tag body 1A, may be referred to as the “locking position.” When the tag 1 is assembled, the spring arm 17 of the spring clamp 6 may bias the spring clamp 6 toward this locking position. Thus, if the spring clamp 6 is not in contact with the arcuate probe 8, the spring clamp 6 may be biased by the spring arm 17 into the locking position.
In order to release the tack assembly 4 from the tag body 1A, the arcuate probe 8 may now be introduced into the opening of the tag body 1A via rotation of the probe about its rearward end 8B. This may cause the probe to be moved in and guided by the arcuate channel 7 until the L-shaped forward end 8A of the probe reaches and passes into the L-shaped inner end 7″ of the arcuate channel 7. In other embodiments, the forward end 8A of the arcuate probe 8 and the inner end 7″ of the arcuate channel 7 may be otherwise shaped, such that the forward end 8A may move through the inner end 7″ (while unauthorized probes or other elements having different-shaped cross sections may not be able to move through the inner end 7″). This may move the probe end 8A into contact with the part of the common edge 14C bordering the release part 14B of the spring clamp body 14 of the spring clamp 6.
Continued rotational movement of the arcuate probe 8 may then cause a force on the release part 14B. This force, in turn, may cause the spring clamp body 14 to rotate about the mounting part 14A on the mount 21 at the mounting aperture 14A′. The jaws 15, 16 may thus be enabled to spread apart or open and/or moved, such as by rotation in one embodiment, out of their clutching engagement with the tack body 4B due to the force of the tack body 4B, which may be held stationary by the collar 3H, acting on the walls of the aperture 14C′. The aperture 14C′ may thus expand or otherwise be moved out of engagement with the tack body 4B, releasing the tack body 4B from the grip or clutch of the jaws 15, 16, thus unlocking the tack body 4B and tack assembly 4 from the spring clamp 6. The tack assembly 4 may now be moved in the upward direction past the jaws 15, 16, via an upward force on the tack head 4A, thereby withdrawing and separating the tack body 4B from the tag body 1A and the article 51 from the tag 1.
During movement, such as by rotation in one embodiment, of the spring clamp body 14 of the spring clamp 6 as a result of the in-plane force exerted by the arcuate probe 8, the spring arm 17 at the joint 18 and/or elsewhere may be compressed, bent, or otherwise moved due to the force. After the tack assembly 4 is separated from the tag body 1A, the arcuate probe 8 may be rotated or otherwise moved in the reverse direction. This reverse rotation or other movement may disengage the arcuate probe 8 from the release part 14B of the spring clamp body 14 as the arcuate probe 8 is withdrawn from the arcuate channel 7. The force on the spring clamp body 14 may thus be removed and the spring arm 17 may expand, unbend, or otherwise bias the spring clamp body 14 toward its locking position. This may cause the spring clamp body 14 to rotate in the opposite direction about the support area 14A. The spring clamp body 14 may thereby be brought back to its original position (or nearly so), the locking position, awaiting reentry of the tack body 4B for again attaching an article to the tag 1.
Embodiments of detaching assemblies that incorporate the arcuate probe 8, and that can be used to rotate the spring clamp body 14 of the spring clamp 6 as described above to detach the tack assembly 4 from the tag 1, are fully illustrated in the '419 patent, which has been incorporated herein by reference. It should be noted that the spring clamp body 14 of the tag 1 may be constructed of spring sheet metal in one embodiment. The arcuate probe 8, in turn, can be constructed of hardened tool steel in an embodiment. Other materials may be substituted or included in the spring clamp 6, its spring clamp body 14, and/or the arcuate probe 8 in other embodiments.
As described above, the EAS tag 1 may be adapted so that access to the spring clamp 6 for releasing the tack assembly 4 is made difficult for other than authorized personnel. However, defeats have occurred in on embodiment of an EAS tag by using a bent piece of common electrical “fish tape” to unlock the spring clamp 6 from the tack assembly 4, and thus to unlock the tag 1. Fish tape is a relatively rigid but bendable steel wire used to pull electrical wires through conduit. In one embodiment, an abutment, or a spring gate that comprises an abutment and a leaf spring, may be disposed within the arcuate channel 7 of the tag 1 to increase the difficulty of using the fish tape to unlock the tag 1. Examples of the abutment and spring gate that may be employed include the abutment 254 and spring gate 265 embodiments described below with respect to
Referring to the embodiment shown in
The embodiment of
For example, in one embodiment, the spring clamp 6 may not include the mounting aperture 14A′ and the tag 1 may not include a mount 21. In this embodiment, the tag body 1A of the tag 1 may include guides each having a face positioned adjacent and parallel to one of the sides 14G and 14H of the spring clamp 6. Because of this positioning, the guides may restrict movement of the spring clamp 6 to a substantially linear direction parallel to the faces of the guides and the sides 14G and 14H of the spring clamp 6. Thus, when the arcuate probe 8 contacts the spring clamp 6, the spring clamp 6 may be forced to move linearly away from the position in which the tack assembly 4 (and possibly an article 51) is locked thereto. The guides may be walls or other structures, and may be integral with one of the upper housing 2 and lower housing 3 of the tag 1.
In various other embodiments, other guide interfaces may be used to assist movement of the spring clamp 6 in the linear direction. For example, the spring clamp 6 may have a set of slots formed in the spring clamp body 14. The slots may be parallel to the sides 14G and 14H of the spring clamp body 14. The slots may conform to corresponding guide rails formed in the lower housing 3 or other portion of the tag 1. The slot-rail interface may assist in moving the spring clamp 6 in a linear direction. In another example, the lower housing 3 may have a pair of guide posts making contact against corresponding sides 14G and 14H of the spring clamp 6. The guide posts may be positioned to limit rotational movement while emphasizing linear movement of the spring clamp 6. In yet another example, the spring clamp 6 may have flanges attached to sides 14G and 14H. In this embodiment, the lower housing 3 may have a pair of corresponding slots to accommodate the flanges, and may allow the flanges to move in a linear direction while preventing or limiting rotational movement. The embodiments are not limited with respect to these and other structures to assist guiding the spring clamp 6 in a linear direction, whether parallel to the sides 14G and 14H of the spring clamp 6.
In other embodiments, the spring clamp 6 and tag 1 may be configured such that the spring clamp 6 may move in a combination of linear and rotational movement by force of contact with the arcuate probe 8. For example, the tag 1 may include guide posts restricting initial movement of the spring clamp 6 to a linear direction parallel to sides 14G and 14H. Then, after the spring clamp 6 has moved linearly past the guide posts, the spring clamp 6 may rotate, such as about a point or portion near the joint 18. This tag 1 embodiment may not include a mounting aperture 14A′ or mount 21.
In another embodiment, the tag 1 includes guides, the mount 21, and the spring clamp 6 including the mounting aperture 14A′. When subject to the unlocking force of the arcuate probe 8, the spring clamp 6 may thus move out of the locking position by pivoting slightly about the mounting aperture 14A′ while being biased to otherwise move linearly along the guideposts (or part of the spring clamp 6 may move linearly by deforming), for a combination of rotational and linear movement.
In another embodiment, the spring clamp is a clutch lock having jaws to retain the tack assembly 4 in the locking position. The clutch lock may have a curved cross section with a concave face facing the lower housing surface of the tag. The jaws may be spread apart by flexing the jaws of the clutch lock using a detacher to at least partially bend the clutch lock jaws more than the initial configuration such that the cross section of the clutch lock is more gradually curved or straight. That flexure may cause the jaws to be moved out of the locking position, and the tack body 4B of the tack assembly 4 may be moved from the jaws and unlocked from the tag body. In this embodiment, the detacher does not include an arcuate probe, but instead may include an unlatching mechanism and associated tag body design such as that of a Sensormatic Gator® or Ultra*Gator® security tag or another type of security tag, modified to include an ink vial compartment in its tag body to contain ink therein, and possibly also modified to include an ink routing structure, such as described herein with respect to the tag 1, for example.
In each of various other embodiments, the retaining device may not be a spring clamp, but may include any other device for retaining a tack assembly 4 in the locking position, and thus locking the tack assembly 4 to the tag body. The associated tag may be designed such that the retaining device may be disposed in the tag body. In one embodiment the retaining device may include a ball clutch having two or more balls. For example, in one embodiment, the tag may be similar to the Sensormatic AMT-1000 tag having a three-ball clutch to retain a tack assembly in the locking position. That tag may be modified to include an ink vial compartment in its tag body to contain ink therein, and possibly also an ink routing structure, such as described herein with respect to the tag 1, for example. The ball clutch may be magnetically actuable in an embodiment, such that a magnetic detacher may move the ball clutch out of the locking position by magnetic force.
In another such embodiment, the retaining device may include a wedge, which may be biased by a biasing member into a locking position to lock the tack assembly 4 to the tag body. For example, the embodiment of
The tag body 401A may be shaped and sized to contain an ink vial compartment containing ink, and possibly also an ink routing structure, such as described herein with respect to the tag 1, for example. The wedge 406, biasing member 410, and tag body 401A may be shaped and sized such that the biasing member 410 may be positioned adjacent the wedge 406 to bias the wedge 406 toward and into a locking position. This mechanism is described below with respect to the internal side views of the tag 401 embodiments of
In the embodiment of
Referring to
Referring to
Each of the top and bottom breaker plates 71 and 73 may be positioned adjacent the ink vial 72B. In one embodiment, the top and bottom breaker plates 71 and 73 may be positioned adjacent the ink vial 72B such that they “sandwich” the ink vial 72B by being positioned on opposite sides, or approximately 180 degrees from each other about the ink vial 72B in an embodiment where the ink vial 72B is at least partially tubular.
All parts (elements 71, 72A, 73B, and 73) are shown in their normal positions of one embodiment. In this embodiment, the elements 71, 72A, 72B, and 73 stay in the normal position until someone tries to attack the tag, such as described below. These elements may be positioned near the sensor 5. In other embodiments, these elements may be alternatively positioned.
The ink vial 72B may be at least partially tubular or another shape and may completely enclose ink 96. The ink vial 72B may include glass and/or other material such that the ink vial 72B is brittle enough to break when subjected to external forces, such as forces caused by an attempt by a user to cut through the tag 1 or otherwise remove the sensor 5 from the tag 1.
The top and bottom breaker plates 71 and 73 may be thin, elongated elements with faces (see, e.g., bottom breaker plate face 73A in
In an embodiment, the faces of the top and bottom breaker plates 71 and 73 may be sized with a length and width close to the axial length and diameter, respectively, of an ink vial 72B that is shaped at least partially tubular. Such a shape for each of the top and bottom breaker plates 71 and 73 may facilitate their crushing the ink vial 72B by a force, such as described below, by upper and lower walls 2E and 3E of upper and lower housings 2 and 3, respectively, at various positions along the axial length of the ink vial 72B.
In other embodiments, the top and bottom breaker plates 71 and 73 and ink vial 72B may be otherwise shaped such that either or both the top and bottom breaker plates 71 and 73 may crush the ink vial 72B by the force at various positions along the length of the vial 72B. The top and bottom breaker plates 71 and 73 may each include a material that may facilitate crushing the ink vial 72B when forced thereon. For example, in an embodiment, the top and bottom breaker plates 71 and 73 may each include aluminum. In other embodiments the top and bottom breaker plates 71 and 73 may each include another metal and/or a plastic or other material.
Thus, the tag 1 may be a tag for an EAS/expulsion detrimental substance system, and the ink vial 72B, along with one or more of elements 71, 72A, and 73, may be for benefit denial. The tag 1 may do so by inclusion of ink 96 in the ink vial 72B to prevent the tag's EAS portion, the sensor 5, from being disabled or discourage one from disabling it. This may be done by two different methods or formations in two different embodiments.
The first method and associated formation is shown in the tag 1 of
The ink vial 72B may be disposed adjacent, such as beside, the sensor 5 such that if an attempt is made to cut off or otherwise remove the sensor 5 from the tag 1, the attempt may also break the ink vial 72B and its ink 96 may exit the tag 1 and stain the article 51 or other article the tag 1 is protecting.
The channel 75 and hole 74 it forms may thus be part of an ink routing structure in the tag 1 The ink routing structure may further include, in various embodiments, the ink vial 72B and possibly also the vial compartment and bladder 72A, and/or one or both breaker plates 71 and 73.
In one embodiment, the vial compartment of the ink routing structure completely encloses the ink vial 72B except for the channel 75 extending from the vial compartment to the outside of the tag body 1A. The channel 75 may thus be the only pathway for the ink 96 to exit the vial compartment if the ink vial 72B is broken. Thus, for example, the upper and lower vial compartment portions 92 and 94, respectively, may be secured together so as to form the beginning of the channel 75 that extends out of the tag body 1A and otherwise completely enclose the ink vial 72B. The upper and lower vial compartment portions 92 and 94 may be secured together in various ways, such as by ultrasonic or other welding or securing means, or may be integrally formed.
The channel 75 may be any channel or other passageway that may lead from the ink vial 72B and/or vial compartment to the hole 74. When the ink vial 72B is broken, the ink 96 therein may be propelled, by the crushing force, through the channel 75 and out the hole 74. In an embodiment of the tag 1 that includes the bladder 72A, the bladder 72A may be disposed around all but a portion of the ink vial 72B. That portion of the ink vial 72B, uncovered by the bladder 72A and thus exposed, may be the part near and at the end 98 of the ink vial 72B. That exposed portion may be a low percentage of the overall external surface area of the ink vial 72B, or may be another portion. In an embodiment, the exposed portion of the ink vial 72B may be positioned adjacent the channel 75. Thus, the ink 96 expelled by the crushed ink vial 72B may be directed out of the exposed portion of the ink vial 72B and into the channel 75, facilitating movement of the ink 96 out of the hole 74, and onto the article 51 or other article being protected to stain the article.
Thus, the channel 75 and hole 74 of the tag 1, and possibly also the bladder 72A, and possibly also one or both breaker plates 71 and 73, may facilitate expelling the detrimental substance, ink 96 in this embodiment, of the ink vial 72B out of the tag 1 and onto the article 51 or other article being protected.
In another method and associated formation shown in the embodiment of
Thus, for example, in one embodiment, the tag 1 may not include any of the bladder 72A, hole 74, and channel 75, and may thus not include an ink routing structure. In this embodiment, where the tag 1 has its tag body 1A cut into, such as with shears or another cutting instrument, and the vial 72B is broken, the ink 96 therein may be expelled from the tag 1 and onto the article the tag 1 is protecting and possibly also the user of the cutting instrument. An example of another such embodiment is the tag 301 of
In
In one embodiment, the tag 101 may include a spring gate 265, which may be disposed at least partially within the arcuate channel 107. The spring gate 265 may include an abutment 254 and a leaf spring 264. The abutment 254 and leaf spring 264 of the spring gate 265 may be integrally formed. The spring gate 265 may be formed of plastic in one embodiment, or another material or materials in other embodiments.
In one embodiment, the abutment 254 is a substantially planar rigid member with a vertical and horizontal opening 258 forming a substantially L-shaped opening. In this embodiment, the arcuate probe 8 may include a corresponding L-shape cross section at and/or near its forward end 8A, such as described herein. The abutment 254 may be disposed in the arcuate channel 107, and the vertical portion of the “L” of opening 258 may be sized and positioned to allow a vertical member of the L-shape of the arcuate probe 8 to closely pass through when the arcuate probe 8 is inserted into the arcuate channel 107 to contact and release or otherwise unlock the spring clamp 106.
The abutment 254 may also prevent, or make more difficult, the insertion of a relatively rigid wire, such as the fish tape described above, formed substantially in the shape of the arcuate probe 8 but without the L-shaped cross section, into the arcuate channel 107 far enough to release the spring clamp 106.
The abutment 254 may include a catch 266 for catching the formed wire and preventing further insertion of the wire into the arcuate channel 107 to contact the spring clamp 106. The catch 266 may be a bent portion of the end of the leaf spring 264. The abutment 254 may be molded into the tag body 11A and may bias the catch 266 against a wall of the arcuate channel 107, such as the inner wall 107A, and in front of the vertical portion of the “L” of the opening 258 in the abutment 254.
A horizontal member of the L-shaped cross-sectional portion of the arcuate probe 8 portion may push against the bias upon insertion of the arcuate probe 8 in the arcuate channel 107, wherein the catch 266 may be pushed away from the vertical portion of the opening 258 in the abutment 254, allowing the arcuate probe 8 to closely pass there through.
In other embodiments, such as described above, the arcuate probe 8 may include a different shape. In these embodiments, the abutment 254 may include an opening 258 that is substantially that different shape or otherwise may allow the different shape of arcuate probe 8 to pass there through, while preventing or increasing the difficulty of extending fish tape or another rigid wire there through to the spring clamp 106 to move the spring clamp 106 out of the locking position.
In other embodiments, any of the EAS tag embodiments described herein may include any detrimental substance in addition to, or in place of, the ink 96 in the ink vial 72B or another vial. A detrimental substance may be an ink, die, foul-smelling substance, some combination of the aforementioned three substances, and/or any other matter that permanently stains and/or fouls the article, such as clothing, so as to make the article unattractive and thereby generally unfit for wear. The detrimental substance may be non-toxic and/or non-flammable.
Thus, the ink vial 72B may be replaced in any of the above embodiments with a vial containing any detrimental substance. The vial may be any shaped or sized container that fully encloses the detrimental substance, and the vial compartment may be a corresponding shape and size to enclose the vial, except possibly for a channel extending from the vial compartment. Also in such case, the ink routing structure may be called a routing structure for a detrimental substance where the detrimental substance is contained in the EAS tag.
In another embodiment, the detrimental substance may be contained directly in the tag body of any EAS tag embodiment described herein. Thus, the detrimental substance may not be contained in a vial, but may be contained in an enclosed portion of the tag body.
In various other embodiments, any of the detrimental substance routing structure embodiments described herein may be employed with security tags other than those described herein and other devices. Thus, for example, in one embodiment, a security tag having a locking mechanism other than one including a tack assembly (e.g. tack assembly 4) and spring clamp (e.g. spring clamp 6), and/or not including an arcuate channel (e.g. arcuate channel 7), may include a routing structure for a detrimental substance. Likewise, a security tag not having a detaching mechanism including an arcuate probe (e.g. arcuate probe 8) may include a routing structure for a detrimental substance. Such a security tag may include any tag body having a vial compartment containing a vial that contains a detrimental substance, and a channel extending from the vial compartment to the outside of the tag body, forming a hole in the tag body. Such a security tag may also include a bladder disposed around all but a portion of the vial, and one or more breaker plates.
In various other embodiments, any of the embodiments of an EAS tag described herein, such as EAS tag 1, 101, or 301, may not include a sensor, such as the sensor 5. A tag embodiment, whether or not it includes a sensor, may be referred to as a “security tag.”
In one embodiment, an EAS tag includes one or more of the following portions: a tag body; means for attaching said tag body to an article, said attaching means having a part which is received in said tag body; means within said tag body for releasably preventing said part of said attaching means from being withdrawn from said tag body; means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means, said arcuate channel being adapted to receive and guide an arcuate probe to said preventing means for releasing said preventing means from preventing said part of said attaching means from being withdrawn from said tag body; and a detectable EAS sensor, the improvement characterized by; abutment means within said arcuate channel for preventing the insertion of a relatively rigid wire into said arcuate channel far enough to release said preventing means, the rigid wire formed substantially in the arcuate shape of said arcuate probe.
In one embodiment of an EAS tag, the abutment means is a substantially planar rigid member with a vertical and horizontal opening forming a substantially “L” shaped opening to receive a corresponding “L” shape of said arcuate probe, said rigid member being positionable substantially perpendicular in said arcuate channel, said vertical opening sized and positioned to allow a vertical member of said “L” shape of said arcuate probe to closely pass through when said arcuate probe is inserted into said arcuate channel to release said preventing means.
In one embodiment, the abutment means of the EAS tag includes a spring gate assembly for preventing insertion of the rigid wire, said spring gate assembly comprising a catching means for catching the rigid wire and preventing further insertion of the wire into said arcuate channel, said catching means disposed on one end of a spring member, said spring member attachable to said tag body and biasing said catching means against a wall of said arcuate channel and in front of said vertical opening in said rigid member, a horizontal member of said “L” shaped arcuate probe pushing against the bias of said spring member upon insertion of said arcuate prove in said arcuate channel wherein said means for catching is pushed away from said vertical opening in said rigid member allowing said arcuate probe to closely pass there through. In one embodiment, the catching means of the EAS tag is a bent portion of the end of said spring member.
In one embodiment of a rigid planar abutment for use in preventing insertion of a relatively rigid wire formed in the shape of an arcuate probe adapted for insertion into an arcuate channel of an EAS tag for releasing an attaching assembly, the rigid planar abutment is positionable in the arcuate channel and comprising: a substantially planar rigid member having a vertical and horizontal opening that forms an “L” shape corresponding to an “L” shape of the arcuate prove, wherein the vertical member of the “L” shaped arcuate probe closely passes through the vertical opening of the “L” shaped opening in said rigid member. In an embodiment, the abutment including a spring gate assembly for preventing insertion of the rigid wire, said spring gate assembly comprising: a catching means for catching the rigid wire and preventing further insertion of the wire into said arcuate channel, said catching means disposed on one end of a spring member, said spring member attachable to the EAS tag body and biasing said catching means into a recess in a wall of said arcuate channel and in front of said vertical opening in said rigid member, a horizontal member of said “L” shaped arcuate probe pushing against the bias of said spring member upon insertion of said arcuate probe in said arcuate channel wherein said means for catching is pushed away from said vertical opening in said rigid member allowing said arcuate probe to closely pass there through.
In one embodiment of a rigid planar abutment for use in preventing insertion of a relatively rigid wire formed in the shape of a probe adapted for insertion into an arcuate channel of an EAS tag for releasing an attaching assembly, the rigid planar abutment is positionable in the arcuate channel and comprising: a substantially planar rigid member having a vertical and horizontal opening that forms an “L” shape corresponding to an “L” shape of the probe, wherein the vertical member of the “L” shaped probe closely passes through the vertical opening of the “L” shaped opening in said rigid member. The abutment may further include a spring gate assembly for preventing insertion of the rigid wire, said spring gate assembly comprising: a catching means for catching the rigid wire and preventing further insertion of the wire into said arcuate channel, said catching means disposed on one end of a spring member, said spring member attachable to the EAS tag body and biasing said catching means into a recess in a wall of said arcuate channel and in front of said vertical opening in said rigid member, a horizontal member of said “L” shaped probe pushing against the bias of said spring member upon insertion of said probe in said arcuate channel wherein said means for catching is pushed away from said vertical opening in said rigid member allowing said probe to closely pass there through.
In various embodiments, an EAS/expulsion detrimental substance system tag combines some or all the aforementioned features but also adds a third feature which is that of a Benefit Denial type product. It may do this by adding an “ink” feature that prevents the tag's EAS portion from being disabled. This may be done by at least two different methods. In the first method such as shown in
The second method is shown in
While certain features of the embodiments have been illustrated as described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the scope of the embodiments.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2007/003397 | 2/7/2007 | WO | 00 | 8/1/2008 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60771410 | Feb 2006 | US | |
| 60771411 | Feb 2006 | US |
