Anti-theft tag
First Claim
1. An adjustable anti-theft tag for attachment to an article, comprising:
- a line constructed and arranged to secure the tag to the article, the line having a first end and a second, engagement end;
a housing including a base, a cover, at least one opening sized to receive the second, engagement end of the line, the housing being sized to support an electronic article surveillance sensor;
at least one crimping member supported internally within the housing in alignment with the at least one opening, the at least one crimping member including a crimping element constructed and arranged to crimp the line upon insertion of the line within the housing and into engagement with the crimping element; and
wherein upon crimping the line a loop is formed externally of the housing, the size of the loop being maintained at a maximum dimension by the crimping element which prohibits the portion of the line crimped by the crimping element from being removed from the housing.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An anti-theft security tag includes an engagement member having a first and second end securable within a housing by a crimping member for attachment to an article. In one embodiment, the housing supports an electronic article surveillance marker and may include a channel for receiving and securing at least one self crimping member. The self crimping member is sized to receive one end of the engagement member. The one or more crimping members may be disc shaped, including a plurality of fingers for securing one end of the engagement member, or may have a variety of other shapes. The self crimping members allow the engagement member to be moved downward, but not upward, so as to make the engagement loop smaller. In another embodiment, the crimping member is manual and a slot is disposed within the housing in alignment with the at least one crimping member, and is sized to receive a crimping tool to crimp the member and secure the line to the article within the housing.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An adjustable anti-theft tag for attachment to an article, comprising:
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a line constructed and arranged to secure the tag to the article, the line having a first end and a second, engagement end;
a housing including a base, a cover, at least one opening sized to receive the second, engagement end of the line, the housing being sized to support an electronic article surveillance sensor;
at least one crimping member supported internally within the housing in alignment with the at least one opening, the at least one crimping member including a crimping element constructed and arranged to crimp the line upon insertion of the line within the housing and into engagement with the crimping element; and
wherein upon crimping the line a loop is formed externally of the housing, the size of the loop being maintained at a maximum dimension by the crimping element which prohibits the portion of the line crimped by the crimping element from being removed from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An anti-theft tag for attachment to an article, comprising:
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an engagement member constructed and arranged to secure the tag to the article, the engagement member including;
a) a line having a first end and a second end; and
b) at least one crimping member, each crimping member having at least one crimping tooth, the at least one crimping tooth extending inward toward the line and constructed and arranged to crimp the line upon insertion of the second end into the at least one crimping member;
a housing including a base, the base having at least one wall bounding a cavity;
an electronic article surveillance sensor supported by the housing;
an opening disposed through the at least one wall and sized to receive at least one end of the engagement member; and
wherein the crimping member is supported within the cavity in alignment with the opening, the cavity including a space sized to receive at least one of the first and second ends of the line, the at least one crimping tooth extending into the space and constructed and arranged to engage and grip at least one end of the engagement member upon insertion within the crimping space such that the at least one end can only move further into the cavity and is restrained from moving in an opposite direction, out of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of attaching an anti-theft tag to an article comprising the steps of:
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providing a line constructed and arranged to secure the tag to the article, the line including a first end and a second end;
providing a housing including a base having at least one wall bounding an interior cavity, the cavity being sized to receive an electronic article surveillance sensor, a cover, and at least a first opening in communication with the cavity;
securing the first end of the line to the housing;
providing at least one crimping member constructed and arranged to receive the line therein, the crimping member allowing movement of the line there through in a first direction into the housing, and preventing movement of the line in a second direction out of the housing once the line is crimped by the at least one crimping member;
supporting the at least one crimping member within the cavity of the housing such that it is in alignment with the first or second opening and so that it remains longitudinally stationary within the housing during use. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification