ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE TAG HAVING AN EXPULSION DETRIMENTAL SUBSTANCE SYSTEM WITH SUBSTANCE ROUTING SYSTEM

Abstract

An EAS/EXPULSION DETRIMENTAL SUBTANCE tag in which the tag is held to an article by an attaching assembly, a part of which may be releasably prevented from being withdrawn from the body of the tag. The tag body may be provided with an arcuate channel through which an arcuate detacher probe can be guided for releasing the attaching assembly part. A spring clamp may provide the releasable preventing function and may include jaws specifically adapted to respond to in-plane torsional and/or other forces provided by the arcuate probe, which may be moved through the arcuate channel by rotation to reach the spring clamp. An abutment may be placed within the arcuate channel to prevent a relatively rigid wire formed into an arcuate shape from being used to release the attaching assembly part. The Benefit Denial (Ink portion) of this tag may feature an ink vial that may be disposed inside of a rubber bladder, which may then be placed in a completely sealed, ultrasonically welded compartment. In one embodiment, when the tag and its ink vial are attacked, the tag will expel the detrimental substance out and onto the article being protected. In another embodiment, when the tag is attacked, the detrimental substance may be forced out of the bladder and then into a channel and then out a hole in the rampart area and may stain the article that is being protected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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:

FIG. 1 shows an EAS/expulsion detrimental substance tag and associated detacher, an arcuate probe, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows interior components and the lower housing of the EAS tag of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the EAS tag of FIG. 1 taken along the line A-A, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a view of the interior of the lower housing of the EAS tag of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5A shows a view of the interior of the upper housing of the EAS tag of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5B shows a view of the exterior of the upper housing of the EAS tag of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show views of the interior of the lower housing of the EAS tag in FIG. 1 with the arcuate probe inserted in the arcuate channel of the tag, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross section of the EAS tag of FIG. 1 taken along the line B-B, with the arcuate probe inserted in the arcuate channel in the tag, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of the member, or spring clamp, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross section of the EAS tag of FIG. 1 taken along the line C-C, with breaker plates and a vial in place, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross section of the EAS tag of FIG. 1 taken along the line D-D, with breaker plates and a vial in place, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a cross section of the EAS tag of FIG. 1 taken along the line C-C, with breaker plates and a vial in place, and with the breaker plates crushing the ink vial, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows a cross section if the EAS tag of FIG. 1 taken along the line C-C, showing the channel in which the ink will flow out the hole in the rampart area, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 12A shows a cross section of the EAS tag of FIG. 12 taken along the line E-E, showing the detrimental substance exiting the tag body through the channel, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows the EAS tag in which ink or another detrimental substance is being expelled from the tag when a thief cuts the tag in half, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows an exploded view of an EAS tag having an ink or other detrimental substance routing structure, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of an EAS tag, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of a portion of an EAS tag having a retaining device including a wedge, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows an internal side view of an EAS tag having a retaining device including a wedge, with a tack assembly partially inserted into the tag body, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 18 shows an internal side view of an EAS tag having a retaining device including a wedge, with a tack assembly locked to the tag body by the wedge, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 19 shows an internal side view of an EAS tag having a retaining device including a wedge, with the wedge moved out of the locking position, in accordance with one embodiment.

Claims

1. A security tag, comprising: a vial to contain a detrimental substance;a tag body including a vial compartment to contain the vial; anda channel extending from the vial compartment to the outside of the tag body.

2. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising a bladder to be disposed around all but a portion of the vial.

3. The security tag of claim 2, wherein the portion of the vial is positioned adjacent the channel.

4. The security tag of claim 2, wherein the bladder is elastic.

5. The security tag of claim 2, wherein the bladder comprises rubber.

6. The security tag of claim 1, wherein the vial compartment, except for the channel extending from the vial compartment, completely encloses the vial.

7. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising a tack assembly including a tack body, the tag body comprising an outer surface, and the outer surface including a rampart area forming an opening, the tack body to extend into the opening.

8. The security tag of claim 7, wherein the channel forms a hole in the tag body.

9. The security tag of claim 8, wherein the channel forms the hole in the rampart area of the tag body.

10. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising a tack assembly including a tack head, the tag body comprising an outer surface, and the outer surface including a recess area, the tack head to extend at least partially into the recess when the tack is locked to the tack body.

11. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising one or more breaker plates.

12. The security tag of claim 11, wherein the one or more breaker plates are to be positioned adjacent the vial.

13. The security tag of claim 11, wherein the one or more breaker plates include metal.

14. The security tag of claim 13, wherein the metal includes aluminum.

15. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising two breaker plates, the two breaker plates to sandwich the vial.

16. The security tag of claim 1, wherein the detrimental substance includes ink.

17. The security tag of claim 1, wherein the detrimental substance is non-toxic.

18. The security tag of claim 1, wherein the detrimental substance is non-flammable.

19. The security tag of claim 1, wherein the tag body includes an upper housing and a lower housing.

20. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors to be disposed in the tag body.

21. The security tag of claim 20, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a magnetic sensor.

22. The security tag of claim 20, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an acoustic magnetic sensor.

23. The security tag of claim 20, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a radio-frequency sensor.

24. The security tag of claim 20, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an RFID sensor.

25. The security tag of claim 20, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a ferrite assembly.

26. The security tag of claim 20, wherein the one or more sensors comprise two or more types of sensors.

27. The security tag of claim 20, the one or more sensors are to be positioned adjacent the detrimental substance.

28. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising a tack assembly to be retained at least partially in the tag body.

29. The security tag of claim 28, further comprising a spring clamp to be disposed in the tag body, the spring clamp to lock the tack assembly to the tag body.

30. The security tag of claim 29, wherein the spring clamp comprises two jaws, the spring clamp to lock the tack assembly to the tack body with the two jaws.

31. The security tag of claim 30, wherein the tack assembly comprises a tack body, the spring clamp to lock the tack assembly to the tack body with the two jaws by clutching the tack body with the two jaws.

32. The security tag of claim 29, wherein the spring clamp comprises a spring arm to bias the spring clamp toward a locking position.

33. The security tag of claim 32, wherein the tag body comprises a support wall having a slot, the spring arm positioned at least partially in the slot.

34. The security tag of claim 29, wherein the spring clamp comprises a spring clamp body, the spring clamp body including a mounting aperture to pivotably mount the spring clamp to the tag body.

35. The security tag of claim 29, wherein the tag body comprises a mount, the spring clamp comprises a spring clamp body, and the spring clamp body comprises a mounting aperture to pivotably mount the spring clamp on the mount.

36. The security tag of claim 35, wherein the mount comprises a lip, the mounting aperture to be supported on the lip.

37. The security tag of claim 29, wherein the spring clamp is to move out of a locking position by rotational movement.

38. The security tag of claim 29, wherein the spring clamp is to move out of a locking position by linear movement.

39. The security tag of claim 29, wherein the spring clamp is to move out of a locking position by a combination of rotational and linear movement.

40. The security tag of claim 29, wherein the spring clamp is to move out of the locking position by a flexing of the spring clamp.

41. The security tag of claim 28, further comprising a retaining device to be disposed in the tag body, the retaining device to lock the tack assembly to the tag body.

42. The security tag of claim 41, wherein the retaining device includes a ball clutch that includes two or more balls.

43. The security tag of claim 41, wherein the retaining device includes a wedge.

44. The security tag of claim 1, wherein the tag body comprises an arcuate channel to receive an arcuate probe.

45. The security tag of claim 44, further comprising a spring gate, the spring gate to be disposed at least partially within the arcuate channel.

46. The security tag of claim 45, wherein the spring gate comprises an abutment, the abutment including a catch.

47. The security tag of claim 45, wherein the spring gate comprises an abutment, the abutment having an L-shaped opening.

48. The security tag of claim 1, wherein the vial comprises glass.

49. A routing structure for a detrimental substance for a tag body, the routing structure comprising: a vial compartment formed by the tag body; anda channel extending from the vial compartment to the outside of the tag body.

50. The security tag of claim 49, further comprising a vial to be disposed in the vial compartment, the detrimental substance to be contained in the vial.

51. The security tag of claim 49, wherein the detrimental substance includes ink.

52. The security tag of claim 49, wherein the detrimental substance is non-toxic.

53. The security tag of claim 49, wherein the detrimental substance is non-flammable.

54. The security tag of claim 49, wherein the tag body comprises an upper housing and a lower housing.

55. The security tag of claim 54, wherein the upper housing comprises an upper breaker plate compartment, the upper breaker plate compartment to receive a top breaker plate.

56. The security tag of claim 54, wherein the lower housing comprises a lower breaker plate compartment, the lower breaker plate compartment to receive a bottom breaker plate.

57. The security tag of claim 49, further comprising one or more breaker plates to be disposed in the tag body.

58. The security tag of claim 49, further comprising a vial to contain the detrimental substance, the one or more breaker plates to be disposed adjacent the vial.

59. The security tag of claim 49, further comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors to be disposed in the tag body.

60. The security tag of claim 59, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a magnetic sensor.

61. The security tag of claim 59, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an acoustic magnetic sensor.

62. The security tag of claim 59, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a radio-frequency sensor.

63. The security tag of claim 59, wherein the one or more sensors comprise an RFID sensor.

64. The security tag of claim 59, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a ferrite assembly.

65. The security tag of claim 59, wherein the one or more sensor comprise two or more types of sensors.

66. The security tag of claim 49, further comprising a spring clamp to be disposed in the tag body.

67. The security tag of claim 49, further comprising: a vial to contain the detrimental substance, the vial to be disposed in the vial compartment; anda bladder to be disposed around all but a portion of the vial.

68. The security tag of claim 67, wherein the portion of the vial is positioned adjacent the channel.

69. The security tag of claim 67, wherein the bladder is elastic.

70. The security tag of claim 67, wherein the bladder comprises rubber.

71. The security tag of claim 67, wherein the vial compartment, except for the channel extending from the vial compartment, completely encloses the vial.

72. The security tag of claim 49, further comprising a tack assembly including a tack body, the tag body comprising an outer surface, and the outer surface including a rampart area forming an opening, the tack body to extend into the opening.

73. The security tag of claim 72, wherein the channel forms a hole in the rampart area.

74. The security tag of claim 49, further comprising a tack assembly including a tack head, the tag body comprising an outer surface, and the outer surface including a recess, the tack head to extend at least partially into the recess when the tack is locked to the tack body.

75. The security tag of claim 49, further comprising a retaining device to be disposed in the tag body.

76. The security tag of claim 75, wherein the retaining device includes a ball clutch that includes two or more balls.

77. The security tag of claim 75, wherein the retaining device includes a wedge.

78. A security tag, comprising: means for locking a tack assembly in a tag body; andmeans for expelling a detrimental substance from the tag body, the means for expelling a detrimental substance from the tag body comprising a channel.

79. The security tag of claim 78, wherein the means for locking the tack assembly comprises a spring clamp.

80. The security tag of claim 78, wherein the means for locking the tack assembly comprises a ball clutch that includes two or more balls.

81. The security tag of claim 78, wherein the means for locking the tack assembly comprises a wedge.