Patent Application
20100308998
n/a
n/a
This invention relates to electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) tags, and in particular to EAS tags having anti-defeat mechanisms.
Electronic article surveillance systems are used for inventory control and to prevent theft or unauthorized removal of articles from a controlled area. The EAS systems include transmitters, receivers, and EAS tags. Typically, the transmitters and the receivers are positioned at entry/exit points of the controlled area and the EAS tags are affixed to articles that are located within the controlled area. The EAS tags include a marker or a sensor that receives the transmitter signals and generates a response signal that is detected by the receiver. The EAS system generates an alert signal when the response signal is detected within a predefined distance of the receiver.
A variety of EAS tags exist, including multi-use EAS tags and disposable EAS tags. The multi-use EAS tags include releasable attachment devices for affixing the tags to the monitored articles. The attachment devices are designed to be releasable by authorized personnel. EAS tags are designed to minimize unauthorized removal of the EAS tags from monitored articles. Typically, attachment devices are releasable only through the use of an associated special tool or detaching mechanism. By contrast, disposable EAS tags are permanently affixed to the monitored articles and are deactivated by authorized personnel prior to removal from the controlled area.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,130 (the '130 patent), entitled Security Apparatus for Electronic Article Surveillance Tag, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses multi-use EAS tags that are releasable from monitored articles. The release mechanism is a detacher device having an arcuate probe that is inserted into an arcuate channel of the tag and contacts a spring clamp mechanism. The spring clamp mechanism is a releasable locking mechanism that captures a tack assembly that is inserted into an opening in the tag body.
Existing EAS tags secure one end of the lanyard to the EAS tag housing and use a separate tack structure to secure the lanyard loop against the EAS tag housing. The lanyard provides one mechanical connection point to the EAS tag. What is needed is an EAS tag having a lanyard with two mechanical connection points so that current can be directed through the lanyard to provide a break detection circuit.
Additionally, existing EAS tags include loop dimensions that are much larger than the lanyard diameter and therefore define the opening size that is able to receive the lanyard. The separate tacks have bulky heads to prevent the lanyard loop from slipping over the tack head. The separate tacks are easily misplaced, which causes unnecessary frustration to users and replacement costs. What is needed is an EAS tag that is not readily defeatable and which does not include a lanyard loop or a separate tack arrangement.
The invention advantageously provides a method and system for providing a break detection circuit that employs a lanyard with two mechanical connection points that enables current to pass through the lanyard. In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention provides an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag that includes a tag body defining an interior and having an opening leading into the interior. A circuit board is disposed in the tag body interior. The EAS tag includes a lanyard having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, where the first end is electrically coupled to the circuit board. A pin body is electrically coupled to the second end of the lanyard, and is insertable into the tag body opening. A clamp is disposed in the tag body interior and is adapted to receive the pin body. A spring contact is disposed in the tag body. The spring contact is electrically coupled to the clamp and the circuit board to provide a current path for electrical signals.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a method of securing an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag to an article. The EAS tag includes a tag body defining a tag body interior and an alarm disposed in a tag body interior. The EAS tag further includes an electrically conductive lanyard having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is fixedly coupled and electrically coupled to a circuit board provided in the tag body interior. The second end is coupled to a pin body. The pin body is electrically couplable to the circuit board. The tag body further houses a clamp to mechanically lock the pin body at last partially inside the tag body. The lanyard is attached to the article by one of inserting the lanyard through an opening in the article and wrapping the lanyard around at least a portion of the article.
The pin body is inserted into the tag body interior. A force is applied to the pin body to cause the pin body to lock into the clamp in the tag body interior. The tag body interior further includes a spring contact to electrically couple the clamp to the circuit board to create a enable a current to flow from the circuit board, through the lanyard, the clamp and the spring contact before returning to the circuit board.
According to another embodiment, an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag is provided and includes a tag body that defines an interior having an opening that leads into the interior of the tag body and a lanyard mounting structure that is coupled to the tag body. The securing device includes a lanyard having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is coupled to the lanyard mounting structure in the tag body interior. The securing device further includes a fastener that is coupled to the second end of the lanyard and a pin assembly that is coupled to the fastener. The lanyard, the fastener and the pin assembly have substantially equivalent cross-sectional profiles. The substantially equivalent cross-sectional profiles facilitate threading the lanyard, the fastener and the pin assembly through small openings.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it is noted that like reference designators refer to like elements. Referring now to the figures, as used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terms “upper” and “lower” refer only to the orientation of the EAS tag and are not structural limitations.
Referring to
The slot 9A cooperates 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 channel 7. At this entry point, the side wall 2A also curves inwardly at a part 2A′, the latter part 2A′ mating with the curved side wall part 3A′ of the side wall 3 of the lower housing 3.
The channel 7 is further defined by a second curved wall 7B of
Adjacent the inner end 7″ of the channel 7, the lower and upper housings 2 and 3 are provided with further curved walls 9 and 11 that terminate in wall sections 9A and 11A abutting the end walls 2D and 3D. The walls 9 and 11 are positioned outward of the channel 7 and, with the end walls 2D and 3D, define a trap area 13, which prevents access to the member 6. This area provides a safety measure for blocking unauthorized objects that may be introduced into the channel 7 of the tag body 1A in an attempt reach the locking member 6.
The locking member 6 is provided to releasably prevent the pin body 306 from being withdrawn from the tag body 1A. More particularly, the locking member 6 is adapted to accommodate release of the pin body 306 via the arcuate probe 8 that travels down the arcuate channel 7. The locking member 6 is shown in detail in
The locking member 6 maybe a spring clamp having a clamp body 14 and jaws 15, 16. The clamp body includes 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 includes a mounting aperture 14A′. The jaws 15, 16 extend outwardly of the plane defined by the clamp body 14 and then extend inwardly toward the other jaw. The jaws 15, 16 terminate in facing edges 15A and 16A. These edges extend from a common edge 14C of the clamp body 14 inwardly toward each other, then curve outwardly away from each other to define an aperture 14C′ (typically, circular or elliptical) for receiving the pin body 306. The edges 15A and 16A then continue in aligned fashion and end in an elongated, lateral slot 14D in the clamp body 14. The latter slot lies inward of a further clamp body edge 14E, which opposes the clamp body edge 14C.
A further laterally extending elongated spring sleeve or arm 17 is attached to the clamp body 14 by a joint area 18 located on the side 14E′ of the edge 14E that borders the mounting part 14A. The sleeve 17 extends along the length of the edge 14E and is provided outside the plane defined by the clamp body 14.
Referring to
The back end 14A″ (shown in
The pointed end 310 of the pin body 306 is introduced in the downward direction through the opening 124 in the upper housing 2 and into the aperture 14C′ defined by the facing edges 15A, 16A of the jaws. This causes the jaws to spread or open and allow the pin body 306 to pass through the jaws. When the downward travel of the pin body 306 is stopped at a desired circumferential groove 308, the jaws 15, 16 retract and clutch the pin body 306. In this position, the jaws 15, 16 prevent upward movement of the pin assembly 304.
The arcuate probe 8 is introduced into the opening of the tag body 1A (as shown in
By applying continued pressure on the arcuate probe 8, a force is applied on the release part 14B of the clamp body 14. This applied force causes the clamp body 14 to rotate about the support area 14A on the mount 21 and causes the jaws 15, 16 to spread apart. The aperture 14C′ expands to release the pin body 306 from the grip or clutch of the jaws 15, 16. The pin assembly 304 moves in an upward direction to withdraw and separate from the tag body 1A.
During rotation of the clamp body 14 from the in-plane force exerted by the probe 8, the spring arm 17 is compressed at the joint 18. After the pin assembly 304 separates from the tag body 1A, the arcuate probe 8 is disengaged from the release part 14A of the spring clamp 14 as the arcuate probe 8 is withdrawn from the channel 7. With the force on the spring clamp 14 removed, the spring arm 17 expands. This causes the spring clamp 14 to rotate in an opposite direction about the support area 14A. The spring clamp 14 is brought back to its original position awaiting reentry of the pin body 306.
Referring again to
The pin assembly 304 may include a pin body 306 having one or more slots or circumferential grooves 308 that latch into the spring clamp 14 and a pin tip 310. The pin assembly 304 may be integrally formed with the lanyard 134. Alternatively, the pin assembly 304 may be formed separately from the lanyard 134 and may be coupled to the lanyard 134. The pin assembly 304 may be electrically and mechanically coupled to the lanyard 134 using a fastener, such as a ferrule 302 or other fastener. The ferrule 302 may use several techniques for fastening the lanyard 134 and the pin assembly 304, including gripping, soldering, brazing, crimping, welding, or laser fusing, among other fastening techniques. The fastener provides a thin connection that maintains the cross-sectional profile of the pin assembly 304 and the lanyard 134. Thus, the pin assembly 304, the ferrule 302 and the lanyard 134 may be inserted through small holes in articles to secure the EAS tag 1 to the article, while causing no damage or minimal damage to the article.
After the lanyard 134 is passed through the article to be monitored, the pin assembly 304 is inserted into the aperture 124 to physically secure the EAS tag 1 to the article and to establish an electrical connection that engages an alarm system. According to one embodiment, the pin body 306 is mechanically coupled within the EAS tag 1 by the clamp body 14. For example, the aperture 14C′ of the clamp body 14 engages the circumferential groove 308 in the pin body 306 to mechanically secure the pin body 306. An intermediate spring contact 315 is provided to electrically couple the pin body 306 to the printed circuit (“PC”) board 110.
The EAS tag 1 may include several elements, such as a battery 112, a piezo transducer 152, the sensor 5, sensor shield 106, pin switch 122, spring contact 315, and locking member 6, among other elements. The EAS tag 1 may include several features, such as apertures 115,116, battery cavity 113, and a piezo transducer cavity 114, among other features. Battery 112 fits into cavity 113 and a piezo transducer 152 fits into cavity 114. Both are used in conjunction with circuitry on PC board 110 to form the alarm. The alarm can be configured so that battery 112 can be placed into cavity 113 or cavity 114, and the piezo transducer can be placed into the unused cavity.
Referring to
In the second orientation, the clamp body 14 and the intermediate spring contact 315 are provided with a rotational force to release the pin assembly 306 from the aperture 14C′ of the clamp body 14. For example, the rotational force may be applied by the special arcuate probe 8. When the intermediate spring contact 315 rotates about the mount 21, the projections 316 contact pad 810 to produce a “reset” signal that deactivates the alarm system. In order to provide the system with time to receive the reset signal, a time delay may be provided between when the electrical signal flowing through pad 805 is disrupted and when an alert is generated. After entering the reset state, the EAS tag 1 will not generate an alert, such as sounding an audible alarm, flashing an LED or other alert when the electrical contact is disconnected, such as by pulling the pin assembly 304 out of the EAS tag 1, cutting the lanyard or otherwise disconnecting the electrical contact.
According to one embodiment, a pin switch 122 may be provided to form a second electrical connection with the pin body 306. Upon insertion into the EAS tag 1, the pin body 306 abuts and moves the pin switch 122 to form an electrical contact on the PC board 110, thereby “arming” the EAS tag 1. Once the EAS tag 1 is armed, if either the electrical signal flowing through the pad 805 is disrupted or the switch 122 are opened, then the EAS tag 1 may sound an alarm. If only the pin switch 122 was used to “arm” the EAS tag 1, then the lanyard 135 could be cut and the EAS tag 1 would not alarm. Once armed, the EAS tag 1 may be disarmed or turned off by rotating the intermediate spring contact 315 about the mount 21 to produce the “reset” signal by contacting the projections 316 against contact pad 810. The EAS tag alarm switch logic is fully described in
The series of apertures 115 and 116 through the upper and lower tag housing members, respectively, cover the area adjacent both cavities 113 and 114. Because the apertures cover the area adjacent cavities 113 and 114, the apertures 115 and 116 cannot be used as a localized target to direct a probe to the piezo in an attempt to destroy or damage it. A probe forced directly into the piezo could damage or destroy the piezo, but a probe indiscriminately inserted into the EAS tag 1 could set off the tag alarm.
Sensor shield 106 may be placed on one or both sides of sensor 5 to prevent one mode of defeat where a metal probe, screw driver, or the like, is forced through upper or lower tag housing members 102 or 104, respectively, to damage or destroy sensor 5 or piezo transducer 152. Once sensor 5 or piezo transducer 152 is destroyed, the article to which EAS tag 1 is attached can be moved through the interrogation zone without setting off the EAS alarm. Sensor shield 106 is preferably made of a nonferrous metal such as stainless steel or other very hard material that does not effect the operation of sensor 5, but which is capable of making the insertion of a metal probe or the like to damage sensor 5 or piezo transducer 152 extremely difficult. The sensor shield 106 may be placed in the upper tag housing member 302, for example.
The tag alarm 1000 may sound upon unauthorized removal of pin assembly 304 from the EAS tag 1, disruption of the signal through the intermediate spring contact 315 or the pin switch 122, which are used to provide alarming logic. Referring to
In addition to the switches described above, a magnet switch 130 may be connected to microprocessor 154. One embodiment of the EAS tag 1 includes a magneto-mechanical sensor 5. Magneto-mechanical sensors include a magnetostrictive resonator that resonates at a preselected frequency when biased by a magnetic field. Magnetomechanical sensors are thus affected by a magnetic field. One defeat method involves placing a relatively strong magnet next to the EAS tag 1 so the resonator is no longer biased correctly and no longer resonates at the desired frequency. If the tag does not resonate at the desired frequency, it will not be detected when moved through an interrogation zone. The EAS tag 1 may include a magnet switch 130, which is closed upon exposure to an externally applied magnetic field, thus alarming the EAS tag 1. The magnet switch 130 can be any suitable magnet switch such as a reed switch, or a wire segment with a free end positioned within an exposed wire loop, and which moves in an applied magnetic field touching the exposed wire loop to make contact and close the switch.
An LED 132 may be connected to microprocessor 154. When the EAS tag 1 is armed, the LED 132 flashes to indicate that the EAS tag 1 is active. The LED 132 can be configured to flash at a desired repetition rate, for example at 3 seconds on and 3 seconds off. To conserve battery life, the on time for the LED 132 can be pulsed or cycled at a frequency that is higher than that detectable to the human eye. Thus, during the time that the LED 132 is on, it will appear to be constant but will actually be cycling on and off very rapidly. For example, the cycle frequency for the on time should be greater than 50 Hz, such as 333 Hz. A flashing LED 132 indicates that the EAS tag 1 is armed, and will alarm if tampered with, which provides additional deterrence to defeat attempts. Upon alarming, the repetition rate of 3 seconds on and 3 second off may change. For example, the LED 132 may cycle at a faster repetition rate. When the EAS tag 1 is alarming, the response of the LED 132 may be visually different than when tag EAS 1 is in the armed state. This permits easy location of an alarming EAS tag 1 in proximity to a plurality of armed tags that are not alarming.
The lanyard 134 is connected to microprocessor 154. During use, the lanyard 134 is attached around or through an opening in a portion of the monitored article and the pin assembly 304 is inserted into the aperture 124. The end of the lanyard 134 with the pin assembly 304 can then be inserted into the aperture 124 and locked within the clamp body 14. The lanyard 134 is electrically conductive. The microprocessor 154 detects if the lanyard 134 is cut and generates an alarm.
The EAS tag 1 may be configured to have all of the tag defeat devices and methods described herein or any combination thereof For example, decoy tags could be used where the LED 132 flashes to indicate the tag is armed, but the tag may not have an alarm, it may only have the flashing LED. A perpetrator will not know if the EAS tags include alarm or not, as they will appear identical to the EAS tags that are equipped with alarms.
It is understood that the above-described arrangements are merely illustrative of the many possible specific embodiments, which represent applications of the present invention.
In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. Significantly, this invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and accordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
