FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to merchandise security and/or inventory control tags, and particularly to a security and/or inventory control tag which can be attached to a plastic, rope or wire loop handle on a container or pail.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a security tag to detect if merchandise is being taken without payment and/or to track store inventory levels. Many different types of merchandise are packaged in containers or pails which use a plastic, rope or wire loop type handle to carry the container. An example of such a container includes paint cans made of both metal and plastic, e.g., a one gallon container made of metal and a five gallon container made of plastic. In order to protect merchandise from theft, many retailers use electronic article (EAS) tags affixed to the goods. Alternatively, the tag may include an RFID label which can be used to monitor inventory levels in the store.
SUMMARY
There is a need for a security device which can be easily mounted to a container having a plastic, rope or wire loop handle.
It is an object of the invention to provide a security tag which can be mounted to a plastic, rope or wire loop handle of a container, such as a paint can or pail.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a security tag for a plastic, rope or wire loop handle of a container which makes the container easier to carry, yet helps to protect against theft of the container.
The above and other objects of the invention are realized by the invention described below. The security tag formed in accordance with the invention is adapted to be mounted on a wire handle for a container. The security tag includes a tag housing having an elongate generally tubular body and having a lumen extending through the housing. The housing body further includes a flange extending radially outward from the housing body. The flange includes an area adapted to receive a security device, such as an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device or an RFID tag. A cover is provided to be mounted to the flange to encapsulate the security device therein and prevent removal by a consumer. The cover may be ultrasonically welded or adhesively affixed to the flange. Furthermore, the flange may include a recessed bezel designed to receive the cover. The recessed bezel provides a ledge upon which the cover can be mounted. The flange and cover include an area upon which indicia may be provided. Such indicia may include product information, a brand logo, a security device warning or a bar code.
The security tag when mounted on the wire, plastic or rope handle provides a comfortable handle for the user to hold. Since the merchandise in the container may be heavy, the security tag may include strengthening ribs provided on the tag housing. The strengthening ribs may be provided at both ends of the tag housing as well as in the middle thereof. The side of the housing opposite the flange may include a series of waves to provide a gripping surface which conforms to the consumer's fingers. The security tag housing may be integrally formed as single piece via any type of molding process, such as injection molding. The cover is preferably molded as a separate component piece.
In an alternative embodiment, the security tag includes a housing body comprising a main body having two wings hingedly attached thereto. The wings are coupled to the main body by a living hinge, each wing including an engagement member which extends radially outward from the security tag when the wings are in a closed position. The engagement members include facing surfaces and a security device, such as an EAS device or RFID tag which is sandwiched between the engagement members in the closed position. The engagement members are held in the closed position by any locking means such as a mechanical latch, ultrasonic welding or adhesively bonding. In an open position, the engagement members are spaced apart to receive the security device. Once closed, the security tag prevents the non-destructive removal of the security device from the security tag.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when reviewed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the security tag formed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the component parts of the security tag shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the front of the security tag shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the back of the security tag shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an end view of the security tag shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 illustrates the security tag of FIG. 1 mounted on a wire handle of a container in a rest position;
FIG. 7 illustrates the security tag of FIG. 1 mounted on a wire handle of a container in a carrying position;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a security tag formed in accordance with the present invention in an open position;
FIG. 9 is an end view of the security tag shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a bottom plan of the security tag shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the security tag shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the security tag shown in FIG. 8 in a closed position; and
FIG. 13 is an end view of the security tag shown in FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in FIG. 1 the security tag 10 of the present invention includes an elongated housing body 12 having a lumen 14 extending therethrough. The security tag 10 is adapted to be mounted on a wire loop handle for a container, such as a five gallon plastic paint-type pail. (See e.g. FIGS. 6 and 7). The security tag provides two functions. First, the security tag includes an electronic security device mounted therein, such as an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device as is well known in the industry or an RFID tag used for security and/or inventory monitoring. Second, the security tag provides a larger diameter handle for the consumer to grasp making carrying a heavy pail more comfortable. Without the security tag, the thin wire, plastic or rope handle can cut into the consumer's hand and make transporting the pail difficult.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the security tag 10 formed in accordance with the present invention also includes a flange 16 extending radially outward from the housing body 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the flange includes a recessed area 18 adapted to receive a security device 20, such as an EAS device or an RFID tag. A cover 22 is provided to be mounted onto the flange 16 to secure and encapsulate the security device 20 therein and prevent removal by the consumer. In a preferred embodiment, the flange 16 includes a recessed bezel 24 which is dimensioned so that the cover fits flush with the exterior wall of the flange as shown by the bottom view of FIG. 7 The recessed bezel provides a ledge upon which the cover is mounted. The cover 22 may be ultrasonically welded or adhesively bonded to the flange 16 to permanently bond the cover to the housing to prevent its removal and protect the security device 20.
The outer surface of the cover 22 and the outer side surface of the flange 16 opposite the recess include an area upon which indicia 26 may be provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the indicia may include a warning to consumers that the product is provided with a security device. The indicia may also include product information, a brand logo, patent information or a space for placing a sticker which may include, e.g. a bar code or pricing information.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the security tag housing 12 is preferably made of plastic and is thermoformed. By way of example, the security tag housing 12 and cover 22 may be formed by injection molding, thermoforming, casting, ultrasonically forming and/or made from a plastic or epoxy which can initially flow into a mold and later solidities. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the security tag may be made from any suitable material using a variety of manufacturing technologies.
As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the security tag housing body 12 may include at least one strengthening rib 28 thereon. The strengthening ribs may be provided anywhere on the housing body. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, the housing body 12 includes three strengthening ribs 28. One rib 28 is provided at a center point and another rib is provided at each end of the body at the lumen opening 14. Thus, the housing is reinforced by a rib at each end in which the wire loop handle is inserted.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the security tag 10 of the present invention is shown installed on a wire loop handle 30 of, for example, a five gallon plastic container 32 typically used for paint, spackle, laundry detergent, etc. Prior to installation of the wire loop handle 30, the manufacturer of the container places the wire handle 30 through the lumen 14 of the security tag. The wire handle 30 is then mounted to the container in the usual way. The security tag 10 provides a means to prevent theft from a retail store and also provides a comfortable handle to carry the container and prevent the wire handle from pressing into the hand of the person carrying the container. The security tag 10 may further include finger grips (not shown) molded into a housing body surface opposite the flange 16 to make transporting the container more comfortable. The finger grips are wave-like structures to accommodate the fingers of the person gripping the security tag to carry the container. See for example, finger grips shown in U.S. Pat. No. D477,506 entitled, “Barbeque Grill Tool With Finger Grips,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
An alternative embodiment of the security tag formed in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8-13. In this embodiment, the security tag 10′ includes a tubular housing 40 having an open position (see FIGS. 8-11) and a closed position (see FIGS. 12-13). In the open position as shown in FIGS. 8-11 the tubular housing 40 comprises a plurality of hingedly attached sections wherein two sections include engagement members 42. As shown in FIGS. 8-11, the engagement members extend outwardly from a section of the housing.
The engagement members 42 preferably include facing surfaces 44 which engage to hold the security tag in the closed position. The engagement members 42 may include interlocking elements 46, such as interlocking fingers to hold the engagement members in the closed position. The interlocking elements 46 may be provided with a one-way latching system which locks the engagement members together and prevents them from being opened. Alternatively, the engagement members may include ultrasonic welding energy directors 48 on the engaging surfaces 44, the engagement members being ultrasonically welded into the closed position.
As shown in FIGS. 8-11, the housing sections on which the engagement members are provided are hingedly attached to the housing main body 50 via a living hinge 52 made during the molding process. One or both of the facing surfaces 44 of the engagement members 42 preferably include a slot or receiving opening 54 adapted to receive and hold a security device 56, such as an EAS device or RFID tag. Thus, when placed into the closed position, the security device 56 is locked into place between the engagement members 42.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tubular housing body includes a main body 50 having two wings 58 hingedly attached thereto. The wings 58 are moveable between an open and closed position. The engagement members preferably extend outwardly from the wings so that they are substantially perpendicular to the tubular housing in the closed position. Similar to the embodiment show in FIGS. 1-5, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-13 may include indicia 60 on outer surfaces of the engagement members 42.
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the security tag 10′ in the closed position. As discussed above, the security device 56 is locked into position between the engagement members 42. The housing main body 50 may also include strengthening ribs 60 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In this embodiment, a strengthening rib 60 is provided at each end of the housing main body as well as one in the middle of the housing.
As shown in FIG. 13, the housing main body 50 extends over approximately half of the tag housing and each wing 58 extends over approximately one quarter of the tag housing. Thus, when in use and installed on a wire handle, the wire loop handle will be supported on the housing main body in an area where there are no hinges.
Preferably, the security tag 10′ is fully assembled in the closed position and inserted onto the plastic, rope or wire loop handle during the manufacturing process of the container. Alternatively, the security tag 10′ may be placed onto the handle in the open position, a security device inserted into the slot in the engagement members and the wings moved into a closed, locked position.
Thus, while these have been described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to include all such further modifications and changes as coming within the scope of claim set forth herein.
Patent Application
20150235537
