Article surveillance tag having a metal clip

• US 20030222780A1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Surveillance Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Surveillance Corporation
• Inventors: Sayegh, Adel O., Abbott, Russell
• Granted Patent: US 7,084,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.9
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0064 of the mechanical type
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/50 Readily interlocking, two-part fastener requiring either destructive or tool disengagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/505 including additional fastener structure linking parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/778 Operating elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7915 Tampering prevention or attack defeating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8595 Key guides, internal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8622 Key insertion guides

Abstract

An electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag 20 having a metal attaching member 34 located therein and adapted to securely and releasably receive a shaft 52 of a pin therein, whereby a predetermined arcuate probe is inserted through an opening and applies a requisite force to the attaching member 34 to release the shaft 52. There are no channels leading the authorized arcuate probe to the attaching member 34. A plurality of partitions 58 and pillars 62 are interspersed within tag 20 to deflect any unauthorized probes from engaging and detaching attaching member 34.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring items through electronic article surveillance (EAS), comprising:

a tag body 20;

an attaching member 34 located within said tag body 20;

a shaft 52 having a top 55, wherein said shaft 52 is inserted through an item to be monitored until said top 55 engages said item, and said shaft 52 entering said tag body through a hole 42 and being received securely by said attaching member 34;

a detectable EAS sensor 124 within said tag body 20;

a probe of a predetermined shape and path is inserted through an entrance 56 within said tag body and engages said attaching member 34 and allows extraction of said shaft 52 without requiring a channel to guide said probe to said attaching member 34.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said tag body 20 further comprises a first half 22 and a second half 24 that are joined around a perimeter of said tag body 20 by a first side wall 26 and a second side wall 28 extending inwardly from said first and second halves respectively;

said first side wall 26 and second side wall 28 define said entrance 56 there through;

said attaching member 34 being slideably received on at least a first track 30 located on an interior of second half 24;

whereby, application of force to attaching member 34 by said probe forces attaching member 34 in a linear motion on said first track 30 and releases said shaft 52.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said attaching member 34 further comprises a first lip 84 and a second lip 86 extending from opposing ends of attaching member 34 in substantially parallel relations and extending over said first track 30.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said tag body 20 further comprises a second track 32 located on the interior of second half 24 and extends in a substantially parallel relation to first track 30;

whereby, said attaching member 34 travels in a slideable and linear manner thereon.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said attaching member 34 further comprises a first lip 84 and a second lip 86 extending from opposing ends of attaching member 34 in substantially parallel relations;

said first lip 86 extending over said first track 30 and said second lip 88 extending over said second track 32, whereby attaching member 34 is slideably maintained thereon and travels in a linear manner along said first track 30 and said second track 32.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said first half 22 further comprises a first ridge 48 extending from an inner surface of said first half and a second ridge 50 extending from said inner surface;

said first ridge 48 and said second ridge 50 being in proximal relation to said first track 30 and said second track 32, respectively, such that attaching member is maintained in a substantially constant plane, yet allowing the sliding movement of attaching member 34 along said first track 32 and said second track 34.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said first ridge 48 and said second ridge 50 extend longitudinally in substantial parallel relation over said first track 32 and said second track 34, respectively.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said attaching member 34 further comprises a forward edge 75 and an opposing rearward edge 77 and said edges interconnecting said first lip 84 and said second lip 86;

a first jaw 96 and a second jaw 98 being defined by said forward edge 75;

an opening 38 is defined between said first jaw 96 and said second jaw 98;

a resilient member 36 is located on said rearward edge 77 and in a normal state forces attaching member 34 towards forward region 75;

whereby said opening 38 is adapted to receive said shaft 52 therein in a secure yet removable manner.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said probe engages said forward region 75 and forces said attaching member 34 to slide toward said resilient member 36 in a linear manner along said first track 30 and said second track 32, thereby allowing said shaft to be released from said opening 38.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said resilient member 36 is selected from a group consisting of a resilient lever arm 43 and a spring 44.

11. The device of claim 5, wherein said second half 24 further comprises a first partition 58 and a second partition 60 along a path traveled by said probe;

said first partition 58 extending from said inner surface of said second half and being of a shorter length than said second partition 60, whereby an unauthorized probe that is introduced through said entrance 56 will be defeated from reaching said attaching member 34.

12. The device of claim 5, wherein said second half 24 and said first half 26 further comprise a first pillar 62 and a second pillar 64 that extend therebetween outside of a line 99 traveled by said authorized probe, whereby an unauthorized probe that is inserted through said entrance 56 will be deflected from reaching and defeating said attaching member 34.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said second half 24 and said first half 26 further comprise a first pillar 62 and a second pillar 64 that extend therebetween outside of a line 99 traveled by said authorized probe, whereby an unauthorized probe that is inserted through said entrance 56 will be deflected from reaching and defeating said attaching member 34.

14. The device of claim 5, wherein said second half 24 further comprises an apex region 25 that extends outwardly in an opposing direction to said first half 22;

a plurality of partitions 66 extending inwardly from said first half 22 and defining a plurality of cavities 74 therebetween;

whereby, an unauthorized probe may not be inserted through said apex region 25 in order to reach and defeat said attaching member 34.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said plurality of partitions comprise a third partition 66, a fourth partition 68, a fifth partition 70, and a sixth partition 72 of varying heights extend towards said attaching member 34;

whereby, an unauthorized probe will enter a space created between said plurality of partitions and said attaching member 34 and will not be able to impart sufficient force to disengage said attaching member 34.

16. The device of claim 5, wherein said second half 24 further comprises an apex region 25 that extends outwardly in an opposing direction to said first half 22;

a third partition 66, a fourth partition 68, a fifth partition 70, and a sixth partition 72 of varying heights extend towards said attaching member 34 yet do not interfere with said attaching member'"'"'s 34 sliding action;

a space of varying sizes is created between said attaching member 34 and said third partition 66, said fourth partition 68, said fifth partition 70, said sixth partition 72, such that an unauthorized probe will enter said space and will not be able to disengage said attaching member 34.

17. A device for monitoring items through electronic article surveillance (EAS), comprising:

a tag body 20 having a first half 22 and a second half 24 that are joined around a perimeter of said tag body 20 by a first side wall 26 and a second side wall 28 extending inwardly from said first 22 and second halves 24 respectively;

an entrance 56 being defined through said first side wall 26 and said second side wall 28 at a front region of said tag body;

a detectable EAS sensor 124 enclosed within a compartment 76 toward a rear region of said tag body;

an attaching member 34 located between said first half 22 and said second half 24;

a first track 30 and a second track 32 extending in substantial parallel relation within said second half 24 and slideably receiving said attaching member 34 thereon;

a shaft 52 having a top 55, wherein said shaft 52 is inserted through an item to be monitored until said top 55 engages said item, and said shaft 52 enters said tag body through a hole 42 and is received securely by said attaching member 34;

a probe of a predetermined shape and path is inserted through an entrance 56 within said tag body and imparts a sufficient force on said attaching member 34;

whereby said attaching member 34 travels along said first track 30 and said second track 32 in a linear manner and allows extraction of said shaft 52 without requiring a channel to guide said probe to said attaching member 34.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said attaching member 34 further comprises a first lip 84 and a second lip 86 extending from opposing ends of attaching member 34 in substantially parallel relations;

said first lip 86 extending over said first track 30 and said second lip 88 extending over said second track 32, whereby attaching member 34 is slideably maintained thereon and travels in a linear manner along said first track 30 and said second track 32;

a first ridge 48 extending from an inner surface of said first half and a second ridge 50 extending from said inner surface;

said first ridge 48 and said second ridge 50 being in proximal relation to said first track 30 and said second track 32, respectively, such that attaching member is maintained in a substantially constant plane, yet allowing the sliding movement of attaching member 34 along said first track 32 and said second track 34.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said attaching member 34 further comprises a forward edge 75 and an opposing rearward edge 77 and said edges interconnecting said first lip 84 and said second lip 86;

a first jaw 96 and a second jaw 98 being defined by said forward edge 75;

an opening 38 is defined between said first jaw 96 and said second jaw 98 in an expandable and contracting manner;

a resilient member 36 is located on said rearward edge 77 and in a normal state forces attaching member 34 towards forward region 75 where it is stopped by a partition such that opening 38 and hole 42 are in axial alignment, whereby said opening 38 is adapted to receive said shaft 52 therein in a secure yet removable manner;

said probe engages said forward region 75 and forces said attaching member 34 to slide toward said resilient member 36 in a linear manner along said first track 30 and said second track 32, thereby allowing said shaft to be released from said opening 38.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said second half 24 and said first half 26 further comprise a first pillar 62 and a second pillar 64 that extend therebetween outside of a line 99 traveled by said authorized probe, whereby an unauthorized probe that is inserted through said entrance 56 will be deflected from reaching and defeating said attaching member 34;

and

a first pillar 62 and a second pillar 64 that extend between opposing inner surfaces of said second half 24 and said first half 26 and are positioned outside of a line 99 traveled by said authorized probe, whereby an unauthorized probe that is inserted through said entrance 56 will be deflected from reaching and defeating said attaching member 34.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein said second half 24 further comprises an apex region 25 that extends outwardly in an opposing direction to said first half 22;

a third partition 66, a fourth partition 68, a fifth partition 70, and a sixth partition 72 of varying heights extend towards said attaching member 34 yet do not interfere with said attaching member'"'"'s 34 sliding action;

a plurality of cavities defined within said third partition 66, said fourth partition 68, said fifth partition 70, said sixth partition 72, such that an authorized probe inserted through said apex will not be able to disengage the attaching member 34; and

a space of varying sizes is created between said third partition 66, said fourth partition 68, said fifth partition 70, said sixth partition 72, and the attaching member 34 such that an unauthorized probe will enter said space and will not be able to disengage said attaching member 34.

22. A device for monitoring items through electronic article surveillance (EAS), comprising:

a tag body 20 having a first half 22 and a second half 24 that are joined around a perimeter of said tag body 20 by a first side wall 26 and a second side wall 28 extending inwardly from said first 22 and second halves 24 respectively;

an entrance 56 being defined through said first side wall 26 and said second side wall 28 at a front region of said tag body;

a detectable EAS sensor 124 enclosed within a compartment 76 toward a rear region of said tag body;

a first track 30 and a second track 32 extending in substantial parallel relation within said second half 24 and slideably receiving an attaching member 34 thereon;

the attaching member 34 located between said first half 22 and said second half 24 and said attaching member 34 further comprising a first lip 84 and a second lip 86 extending from opposing ends of attaching member 34 in substantially parallel relations;

said first lip 86 extending over said first track 30 and said second lip 88 extending over said second track 32, whereby attaching member 34 is slideably maintained thereon and travels in a linear manner along said first track 30 and said second track 32;

a shaft 52 having a top 55, wherein said shaft 52 is inserted through an item to be monitored until said top 55 engages said item, and said shaft 52 enters said tag body through a hole 42 and is received securely by said attaching member 34;

a probe of a predetermined shape and path is inserted through an entrance 56 within said tag body and imparts a sufficient force on said attaching member 34;

whereby said attaching member 34 travels along said first track 30 and said second track 32 in a linear manner and allows extraction of said shaft 52 without requiring a channel to guide said probe to said attaching member 34.