Self-detaching anti-theft device for retail environment
First Claim
1. A method for operating a security tag, comprising:
- placing a pin of the security tag in a fully engaged position wherein (a) an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in a first portion of a single enclosure spaced apart from a second portion of the single enclosure by a gap and (b) an elongate body of the pin extends through the gap, where the first and second portions of the single enclosure oppose each other and have static positions relative to each other at all times of the security tag'"'"'s use, and the gap is defined by an insert space sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of an article to be protected by the security tag;
communicating a wireless signal to the security tag attached to the article when a successful purchase of the article has been verified, where the wireless signal includes a detach command for initiating a detachment of the security tag from the article; and
causing a mechanical component of the security tag to be released in response to a reception of the wireless signal at the security tag;
resiliently biasing the pin towards the second portion of the single enclosure whereby the pin of the security tag transitions from the fully engaged position to a fully unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag, the pin being fully retracted into the second portion of the single enclosure when the pin is in the unengaged position, where the pin is fixedly coupled to the single enclosure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems (100) and methods (1500, 1600) for operating a Security Tag (“ST”). The methods involve communicating a Wireless Signal (“WS”) to ST (132) tag attached to an article (102) when a successful purchase thereof has been verified. WS includes a detach command. A mechanical component (922) of ST is caused to be released in response to a reception of WS at ST, whereby a pin (308) of ST transitions from an engaged position to an unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to ST. An end (1002) of the pin resides within an aperture (1102) formed in a first portion (312) of an enclosure (302) spaced apart from a second portion (310) of the enclosure by a gap when the pin is in the engaged position. The pin is fully retracted into the second portion when it is in the unengaged position.
24 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for operating a security tag, comprising:
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placing a pin of the security tag in a fully engaged position wherein (a) an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in a first portion of a single enclosure spaced apart from a second portion of the single enclosure by a gap and (b) an elongate body of the pin extends through the gap, where the first and second portions of the single enclosure oppose each other and have static positions relative to each other at all times of the security tag'"'"'s use, and the gap is defined by an insert space sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of an article to be protected by the security tag; communicating a wireless signal to the security tag attached to the article when a successful purchase of the article has been verified, where the wireless signal includes a detach command for initiating a detachment of the security tag from the article; and causing a mechanical component of the security tag to be released in response to a reception of the wireless signal at the security tag; resiliently biasing the pin towards the second portion of the single enclosure whereby the pin of the security tag transitions from the fully engaged position to a fully unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag, the pin being fully retracted into the second portion of the single enclosure when the pin is in the unengaged position, where the pin is fixedly coupled to the single enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a communication device communicating a wireless signal to a security tag attached to an article when a successful purchase of the article has been verified, where the wireless signal includes a detach command for initiating a detachment of the security tag from the article; and the security tag comprising a mechanical component that is caused to be released in response to a reception of the wireless signal at the security tag, and a pin that is resiliently biased such that the pin transitions from an engaged position to an unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag; wherein the engaged positon is a position in which (a) an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in a first portion of a single enclosure of the security tag spaced apart from a second portion of the single enclosure of the security tag by a gap and (b) an elongate body of the pin extends through the gap, the first and second portions of the single enclosure opposing each other and having static positions relative to each other at all times of the system'"'"'s use, and the gap defined by an insert space sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of an article to be protected by the security tag; and wherein the pin is fully retracted into the second portion of the single enclosure when the pin is in the unengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification