Patent Application
20160335864
1. Field of the Invention
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a theft-deterrent tag and, more particularly, to a theft-deterrent tag that is tamper resistant and difficult to defeat.
2. Description of Related Art
Theft-deterrent tags are well known and have been in use for a number of years. Regrettably, most are easily tampered with and defeated by simple tools. In general, a lanyard of conventional tags has a first end that is generally connected to a body of the tag at a first fixed, immovable position while a second end of the lanyard is passed through and engages an article, looping back and detachably connecting to a second fixed, immovable position on the body of the tag. In most cases, the tag may be breached by insertion of a lever through the lanyard loop, the lever rotated until the lanyard or the tag body fails. In other words, a tag attached to the article may be simply twisted until the lanyard breaks or a pin of the lanyard is forced out of a clutch, which disengages the article.
Accordingly, in light of the current state of the art and the drawbacks to current theft-deterrent tags, there remains a long standing and continuing need for an advance in the art of theft deterrent tags that makes the tags more difficult to defeat, simpler in both design and use, more economical and efficient in their construction and use, and provide a more secure engagement of the article.
A non-limiting, exemplary aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides an theft-deterrent tag, comprising:
These and other features and aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of preferred non-limiting exemplary embodiments, taken together with the drawings and the claims that follow.
It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for the purposes of exemplary illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. Throughout the disclosure, the word “exemplary” may be used to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” but the absence of the term “exemplary” does not denote a limiting embodiment. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. In the drawings, like reference character(s) present corresponding part(s) throughout.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and or utilized.
As detailed below, first end 114 of lanyard 104 is coupled with movable member 110 at a fixed position, with second end 116 of lanyard 104 detachably engaged with tab body 102 via a clutch access port 120 and moves freely therein. Stated otherwise, motion 118 of movable member 110 moves first end 114 of lanyard 104, while second end 116 of lanyard 104 continues to freely move within clutch access port 120 while engaged with tag body 102. In the non-limiting, particular instance illustrated, movable member 110 is a swivel that enables a circular motion of lanyard 104 in relation to tag body 102. That is, swivel action 118 of movable member 110 enables revolving of first end 114 of lanyard 104 in relation to tag body 102, while second end 116 of lanyard 104 freely rotates within a clutch housed (or stationary member) 308 within tag body 102. As detailed below, once in an engaged state, first end 114 of lanyard 104 may be unlocked from clutch housing 308 by authorized user using a magnetic detacher, detailed below.
Tag body 102 is comprised of first piece 122 that when combined with a second piece 112 (e.g., by sonic welding) forms a housing that accommodates movable member 110 and a well-known and conventional antenna 304 to form an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tag 100. Non-limiting example of a conventional antenna 304 may comprise of an inductor (L) and capacitor (C) or LC circuit.
As illustrated in
To release and unlock second end 116 of securing member 104 (pull it out axially from clutch assembly 312), EAS tag 100 is brought into contact with a well known magnetic detacher, which pulls and moves metal pieces 409 away from narrow end 421 of metal cylinder 415 against the biases of spring 411, reduce the frictional grip of metal pieces 409 with second end 116 to enable removal thereof from clutch assembly 312.
As further illustrated, a lower edge 224 of base portion 208 of movable member 110 rests on a surface 226 of second cavity section 306. An elongated post 310 is provided that isolates antenna 304 from interfering with mechanical motion 118 of movable member 110, and further, provides structural supporting contact point between the first and the second pieces 122 and 112.
Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features and or method acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Further, the specification is not confined to the disclosed embodiments. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.
In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) is not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead is used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.
In addition, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of,” “act of,” “operation of,” or “operational act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.
This Application claims the benefit of priority of co-pending U.S. Utility Provisional Patent Application No. 61/994,067, filed on May 15, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. It should be noted that where a definition or use of a term in the incorporated patent application is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the incorporated patent application does not apply.
