Identification/surveillance device with removable tack button

• US 20060097872A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Ho, Wing K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 73/0052 of the magnetic 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 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/70 Operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet

Abstract

An identification/surveillance device including a tag portion and a tack. The tack includes a button and a pin having a dull end and a sharp end. The identification/surveillance device is secured to an article to be identified/surveilled by inserting the pin through the article and engaging the pin with the tag portion. The dull end of the pin is releasably engaged with either the button or the tag portion such that when the identification/surveillance device is removed from the article the sharp end of the pin remains engaged with either the tag portion or the button and only the dull end of the pin is exposed.

Claims

1. An identification/surveillance device comprising:

a tag;

a button; and

a pin comprising a first end and a second end, said first end being sharper than said second end;

said first end of said pin engageable with one of said tag or said button, and said second end of said pin releasably engageable with the other of said tag or said button.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said button comprises a clutch adapted to releasably engage said second end of said pin.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said clutch comprises a magnetically disengageable clutch.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said clutch comprises at least one ball bearing configured to engage an associated feature on said pin.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said clutch comprises a spring biasing said at least one ball bearing toward an engaged configuration.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said spring acts through a plunger to bias said at least one ball bearing toward an engaged configuration.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said plunger comprises a ferrous body.

8. A device according to claim 2, wherein said clutch comprises a locking member and a resiliently deformable member biasing said locking member toward a locked configuration.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said locking member is adapted to pivot against said resiliently deformable member to move between said locked configuration and an unlocked configuration.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein said resiliently deformable member comprises a compressible foam member.

11. A device according to claim 8, wherein said locking member comprises a ferrous member.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said pin is releasably engageable with the other of said tag or said button.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said tag comprises a clutch adapted to releasably engage said first end of said pin.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein one of said tag or said button comprises an EAS device.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein one of said tag or said button comprises an RFID device.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein one of said tag or said button comprises a marking device.

17. A device according to claim 1 wherein the second end of the pin has a flat end surface.

18. A device according to claim 1 wherein the first end of the pin is tapered.

19. A device comprising:

a tack comprising a button and a pin having a first end and a second end, said first end of said pin being sharper than said second end, said second end of said pin being releasably engaged to said button; and

a tag adapted to engage said first end of said pin.

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein said button comprises a magnetically releasable clutch releasably engaged to said second end of said pin.

21. A device according to claim 20 wherein said magnetically releasable clutch comprises at least one ball bearing configured to engage an associated feature on said pin.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein said clutch comprises a spring biasing said at least one ball bearing toward an engaged configuration.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein said clutch comprises a plunger at least partially disposed between said spring and said ball bearing.

24. A device according to claim 20, wherein said clutch comprises a ferrous locking member and a resiliently deformable member biasing said locking member toward an engaged configuration.

25. A device according to claim 24, wherein said locking member is configured to pivot against said resiliently deformable member.

26. A device according to claim 19, wherein said tag comprises a clutch adapted to releasably engage said first end of said pin.

27. A device according to claim 19, wherein said tag comprises a member defining and elastically expandable opening sized to non-releasably engage a radial groove in said pin.

28. A method of identifying/surveilling and article comprising:

providing a pin having a first end and a second end, said first end being sharper than a second end of said pin;

releasably engaging said second end of said pin to one of a button or a tag;

inserting said first end of said pin through said article; and

engaging said first end of said pin to the other of said button or said tag.

29. A method according to claim 28, comprising releasably engaging said second end of said pin to said button to form a tack.

30. A method according to claim 29, comprising inserting said pin of said tack through said article and engaging said first end of said pin to said tag.

31. A method according to claim 28, wherein engaging said first end of said pin to the other of said button or said tag comprises releasably engaging said first end of said pin to the other of said button or said tag.

32. A method of reducing hazard associated with attaching and detaching an identification/surveillance device from an article, said device including a removable tack button and a tag joined by a pin, said method comprising:

providing said pin with a first end sharper than a second end;

releasably engaging said second end of said pin to one of a button or a tag;

inserting said first end of said pin through said article;

engaging said first of said pin to the other of said button or said tag to secure said device to said article; and

disengaging said second end of said pin from said one of said button or tag to expose said second end of said pin upon removal of said device from said article.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein engaging said first end of said pin to the other of said button or said tag comprises releasably engaging said first end of said pin to the other of said button or said tag.

34. A method according to claim 32, further comprising forcing said pin into said other of said button or said tag after disengaging said second end of said pin from said one of said button or tag.

35. A method for detaching an identification/surveillance device comprising:

providing a magnet;

providing an identification/surveillance device comprising a tag, a button, and a pin, a first end of said pin engaged to said tag and a second end of said pin releasably engaged to said button;

positioning said magnet and said identification/surveillance device proximate one another;

disengaging said button from said pin; and

positioning said magnet and said identification/surveillance device away from one another, said button being magnetically retained to said magnet.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein said second end of said pin is releasably engaged to said button by a magnetically releasable clutch.

37. A method according to claim 35, wherein said magnet is selectively magnetizable.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein said magnet comprises an electromagnet.

39. A method according to claim 35, further comprising releasing said button from said magnet.

40. A method according to claim 35, further comprising forcing said pin into said tag after disengaging said button from said pin.

41. A method for detaching an identification/surveillance device comprising:

providing a first magnet and a second magnet;

providing an identification/surveillance device comprising a tag, a button, and a pin, a first end of said pin being releasably engaged to said tag and a second end of said pin being releasably engaged to said button;

positioning said first magnet and said tag proximate one another, and positioning said second magnet and said button proximate one another;

selectively disengaging one of said button or said tag from said pin.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein at least one of said first magnet and said second magnet are selectively magnetizable.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein at least one of said first magnet and said second magnet comprise an electromagnet.

44. A method according to claim 41, further comprising forcing said pin into the other of said button or said tag after selectively disengaging said one of said button or said tag from said pin.