EAS device with conductive sealing tape
First Claim
1. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) apparatus comprising:
- a housing enclosing EAS electronics, said housing having a bottom surface, a top surface and at least one side connecting said bottom surface and said top surface, said housing having a first attaching interface, said EAS electronics comprising a switch extending from said bottom surface of said housing and a pair of electrical contacts extending from said bottom surface of said housing, said switch having at least two states;
a base, said base having a top surface and a bottom surface, said base having a second attaching interface complimentary to said first attaching interface, said first attaching interface and said second attaching interface facilitating the releasable attachment of said housing to said base with said bottom surface of said housing facing said top surface of said base, said base comprising an aperture located to align with said switch when said housing is attached to said base; and
a conductive sealing tape, said conductive sealing tape comprising a substrate having a first end, a second end, and two sides, said conductive sealing tape further comprising a conductive loop having a first end and a second end, said first end of said conductive loop being exposed proximal to said first end of said substrate, said conductive loop running the length of said substrate to proximal to said second end of said substrate and returning to proximal to said first end of said substrate, said second end of said conductive loop being exposed, said conductive sealing tape comprising adhesive on one of said sides of said substrate;
said EAS apparatus being assembled on an article to be protected by attaching said base to the article, attaching said first end of said substrate to said base and attaching at least said second end of said substrate to the article and attaching said housing to said base;
wherein,when said EAS apparatus is assembled on article to be protected, a first of said electrical contacts makes contact with said first end of said conductive loop and a second of said electrical contacts makes contact with said second end of said conductive loop, an electrical circuit is completed through said conductive loop and said switch changes state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic article surveillance apparatus for monitoring boxes, crates, and other items having lids is comprised of a base, an electronics housing, and a sealing tape for sealing the lid. The sealing tape is fixed to the base. Adhesive on the base and sealing tape allow them to be fixed to a box. The sealing tape is placed over the edge of the lid. The sealing tape has a conductive loop within it and the ends of the conductive loop terminate on the base. The electronics housing mounts to the base and contacts on the electronics housing contact the ends of the loop to complete a circuit. The electronics within the housing monitor the integrity of the sealing tape. If the sealing tape is torn, the electronics interpret that as an attempt to open the box and remove its contents. The electronics then generate an alarm.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) apparatus comprising:
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a housing enclosing EAS electronics, said housing having a bottom surface, a top surface and at least one side connecting said bottom surface and said top surface, said housing having a first attaching interface, said EAS electronics comprising a switch extending from said bottom surface of said housing and a pair of electrical contacts extending from said bottom surface of said housing, said switch having at least two states; a base, said base having a top surface and a bottom surface, said base having a second attaching interface complimentary to said first attaching interface, said first attaching interface and said second attaching interface facilitating the releasable attachment of said housing to said base with said bottom surface of said housing facing said top surface of said base, said base comprising an aperture located to align with said switch when said housing is attached to said base; and a conductive sealing tape, said conductive sealing tape comprising a substrate having a first end, a second end, and two sides, said conductive sealing tape further comprising a conductive loop having a first end and a second end, said first end of said conductive loop being exposed proximal to said first end of said substrate, said conductive loop running the length of said substrate to proximal to said second end of said substrate and returning to proximal to said first end of said substrate, said second end of said conductive loop being exposed, said conductive sealing tape comprising adhesive on one of said sides of said substrate; said EAS apparatus being assembled on an article to be protected by attaching said base to the article, attaching said first end of said substrate to said base and attaching at least said second end of said substrate to the article and attaching said housing to said base;
wherein,when said EAS apparatus is assembled on article to be protected, a first of said electrical contacts makes contact with said first end of said conductive loop and a second of said electrical contacts makes contact with said second end of said conductive loop, an electrical circuit is completed through said conductive loop and said switch changes state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a bottom surface, a top surface and at least one side connecting said bottom surface and said top surface, said housing having a first attaching interface; EAS electronics enclosed in said housing, said EAS electronics comprising a microprocessor, wireless communication elements, a battery, a switch extending from said bottom surface of said housing, and a pair of electrical contacts extending from said bottom surface of said housing, said switch having at least two states; a base, said base having a top surface and a bottom surface, said base having a second attaching interface complimentary to said first attaching interface, said first attaching interface and said second attaching interface facilitating the releasable attachment of said housing to said base with said bottom surface of said housing facing said top surface of said base, said base comprising an aperture located to align with said switch when said housing is attached to said base; and a conductive sealing tape, said conductive sealing tape comprising a substrate having a first end, a second end, and two sides and having adhesive on one of said sides, said conductive sealing tape further comprising a conductive loop having a first end and a second end, said first end and said second end of said conductive loop being exposed proximal to said first end of said substrate, said conductive loop extending along said substrate to proximal to said second end of said substrate; said EAS apparatus being assembled on an article to be protected by attaching said base to the article, attaching said first end of said substrate to said base and attaching at least said second end of said substrate to the article and attaching said housing to said base;
wherein,when said EAS apparatus is assembled on an article, a first of said electrical contacts makes contact with said first end of said conductive loop and a second of said electrical contacts makes contact with said second end of said conductive loop, completing a circuit within said EAS electronics, and said switch changes state, said microprocessor monitoring said switch for a change of state and said electrical contacts for presence of a completed circuit through said conductive loop. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification