SECURITY TAG FOR CIGARETTE PACK

Abstract

A cigarette pack having at least one security tag formed from the metal layer of the cigarette pack liner. One version of the security tag utilizes a preformed coil that is electrically coupled to a portion of the metal layer to form a capacitor and thereby complete a coil/capacitor security tag. Another version of the security tag is forms the entire antenna from the metal layer and a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit is then coupled to the antenna. In both versions, the surrounding metal layer is severed from the location of either security tag to the edge of the liner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the cigarette pack liner showing the integrated security tag thereon, along with the tear-away portion that includes part of the security tag;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the cigarette pack liner (also referred to as the “foil liner”), shown in partial view, along with the tools, the lower one of which is also shown in partial view, into which a security tag is to be formed;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view ofthe cigarette pack liner positioned on the lower die just after the upper die has cut the metal layer of the cigarette pack liner and has been moved upward;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the portion of the metal layer that has been removed from the cigarette pack liner to form a capacitor plate and lead of the security tag;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing how an external coil and the other capacitor plate are coupled to the cigarette pack liner;

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of the cigarette pack liner, shown in partial view, including the security tag just prior to an upper die crimping a portion of the coil to electrically couple the coil and the capacitor together while pressing the coil and upper capacitor plate to the cigarette pack liner;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the crimped region after the upper die has been applied;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the security tag of the cigarette pack liner taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6 before the crimping and pressure occurs;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the security tag ofthe cigarette pack liner taken along 9-9 of FIG. 7 after the crimping and pressure has occurred;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view showing a plurality of cigarette packs having the integrated security tags as part of their pack liners inside a carton (shown in phantom) and wherein the cigarette packs are arranged in the carton such that the security tags are facing outwards to facilitate deactivation at the point of sale;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the cigarette pack liner showing a second embodiment of an integrated security tag thereon, along with the tear-away portion that includes part of the security tag;

FIG. 12 is an exploded isometric view of the cigarette pack liner (also referred to as the “foil liner”), shown in partial view, along with the tools, the lower one of which is also shown in partial view, into which the second embodiment of the security tag is to be formed;

FIG. 12A is an isometric view of the cigarette pack liner positioned on the lower die just after the upper die has cut the metal layer of the cigarette pack liner for the second embodiment and has been moved upward;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view showing the portion of the metal layer that has been removed from the cigarette pack liner to form the antenna portion of the security tag of the second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the chip strap coupled to the dipole antenna of the second embodiment taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is across-sectional view, taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 13, ofthe upper and lower dies sandwiching the cigarette pack liner to cut the metal layer to form the integrated security tag of the second embodiment; and

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 13, of the cigarette pack liner containing the integrated security tag of the second embodiment positioned on top of the lower tool.

Claims

1. A cigarette pack liner comprising: a non-conductive layer;a metal layer secured to said non-conductive layer, said metal layer having a portion removed therefrom that exposes a portion of said non-conductive layer, said exposed portion of said non-conductive layer comprising a capacitor plate and a first lead electrically isolated from the remainder of said metal layer; anda coil comprising a second capacitor plate located at a first end of said coil, said coil being secured to said exposed portion of said non-conductive layer and whereby said second capacitor plate is positioned over said first capacitor plate, said coil comprising a second end having a second lead, said first and second leads being electrically-coupled together to form a security tag in said liner.

2. The cigarette pack liner of claim 1 wherein an adhesive is applied to one side of said coil, said adhesive forming a dielectric between said first and second capacitor plates.

3. The cigarette pack liner of claim 2 wherein said adhesive is located between said first and second leads which are crimped together.

4. The cigarette pack liner of claim 1 wherein said removed portion of said metal layer comprises a central region of said metal layer that has been removed and further includes a portion of said metal layer that extends from an edge of said liner to said central region.

5. The cigarette pack liner of claim 1 wherein said metal layer comprises aluminum.

6. The cigarette pack liner of claim 1 wherein said non-conductive layer comprises paper.

7. The cigarette pack liner of claim 1 wherein said coil comprises a multi-turn coil.

8. The cigarette pack liner of claim 1 wherein said security tag responds to a signal in the frequency of approximately 2 MHz-14 MHz.

9. The cigarette pack liner of claim 1 including a perforation that permits a portion of said liner to be severed from said liner, said portion comprising at least a portion of said security tag.

10. The cigarette pack liner of claim 1 including a dimple in at least one of said first or second capacitor plates for facilitating deactivation of said security tag when a sufficiently high electric field is applied.

11. A method of producing a cigarette pack liner comprising a security tag or inlay formed of a metal layer and wherein the cigarette pack liner also comprises a non-conductive layer, said method comprising the steps of: applying an adhesive around a margin of said non-conductive layer such that a region of said non-conductive layer is surrounded by adhesive and wherein a portion of said margin that extends from said region of said non-conductive layer to an edge of said liner also contains no adhesive, said region further comprising adhesive in the shape of a capacitor plate and lead;applying a metal layer to said non-conductive layer having said adhesive thereon;cutting said metal layer in said form of said region such that a first capacitor plate and first lead are disposed in said region;removing all portions of said metal layer that are not coupled to said non-conductive layer by said adhesive;applying an adhesive to an underside of a preformed coil having a second lead and a second capacitor plate at respective ends of said preformed coil;disposing said preformed coil in said region, said preformed coil and second capacitor plate being positioned such that said second capacitor plate overlies said first capacitor plate to form a capacitor and wherein at least a portion of said second lead overlaps said first lead; andcrimping said first and second leads to form said security tag in said liner.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said metal layer comprises aluminum.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said non-conductive layer comprises paper.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said coil comprises a multi-turn coil.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said security tag responds to a signal in the frequency of approximately 2 MHz-14 MHz.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising perforating a portion of said liner containing a portion of said security tag to permit said liner to be separated for deactivating said security tag.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising including a dimple in said first or second capacitor plate to facilitate deactivation of said security tag when a sufficiently high electric field is applied.

18. A cigarette pack liner comprising: a non-conductive layer;a metal layer secured to said non-conductive layer, said metal layer having a portion removed therefrom that exposes a portion of said non-conductive layer, said exposed portion of said non-conductive layer comprising an antenna; anda radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit coupled to said antenna for forming a security tag.

19. The cigarette pack liner of claim 18 wherein said removed portion of said metal layer comprises a central region of said metal layer that has been removed and further includes a portion of said metal layer that extends from an edge of said liner to said central region.

20. The cigarette pack liner of claim 18 wherein said antenna comprises a gap between dipole elements of said antenna and across which said RFID integrated circuit is electrically coupled.

21. The cigarette pack liner of claim 18 wherein said metal layer comprises aluminum.

22. The cigarette pack liner of claim 18 wherein said non-conductive layer comprises polystyrene.

23. The cigarette pack liner of claim 18 further comprising a tear-away portion comprising a portion of said antenna.

24. The cigarette pack liner of claim 18 wherein said RFID integrated circuit comprises a chip strap.

25. The cigarette pack liner of claim 18 wherein said security tag responds to a signal of a frequency of approximately 850 MHz or greater.

26. The cigarette pack liner of claim 18 including a perforation that permits a portion of said liner to be severed from said liner, said portion comprising at least a portion of said security tag.

27. A method of producing a cigarette pack liner comprising an integrated security tag or inlay formed of a metal layer and wherein the cigarette pack liner also comprises a non-conductive layer, said method comprising the steps of: applying a patterned adhesive to said non-conductive layer, said patterned adhesive applied on said non-conductive layer having the form of at least one loop having two respective ends;applying a metal layer to said non-conductive layer having said patterned adhesive thereon;cutting said metal layer in said form of at least one loop having two respective ends to form an antenna in said metal layer;removing all portions of said metal layer that are not coupled to said non-conductive layer by any portion of said patterned adhesive; andcoupling a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit to said antenna.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said step of coupling an RFID integrated circuit to said antenna comprises coupling said RFID integrated circuit between dipole elements of said antenna.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said RFID integrated circuit comprises a chip strap.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of perforating a portion of said cigarette pack liner that can be torn away, said step of perforating a portion of said cigarette pack liner further comprises perforating the non-conductive layer directly adjacent said antenna.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein said security tag responds to a signal of a frequency of approximately 850 MHz or greater.

32. The method of claim 27 further comprising perforating a portion of said liner containing a portion of said security tag to permit said liner to be separated for deactivating said security tag.