Security system for preventing unauthorized removal of merchandise

• US 20080291029A1
• Filed: 07/07/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braeburn Asset Holdings, LLC, ES Holding Dragoer ApS
• Original Assignee: Eddie L. Stenild, Johan Skjellerup
• Inventors: Skjellerup, Johan, Stenild, Eddie L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,242,910 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 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag

Abstract

A security tag assembly and security system associated therewith to prevent the unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, such as a retail establishment. The security tag assembly comprises a base and at least one attachment member removably connected in an operative position on the merchandise being protected. A locking assembly including a locking member is structured to restrict detachment of the attachment member and is forcibly disposed out of movement restricting relation to said connector member when the base and the attachment member are separated. A detachment assembly and a data registering processor may include a two-way communication link which facilitates processing of the merchandise data disposed on the security tag assembly, such that the purchasing of the merchandise and the removal of the security tag assembly can be effectively accomplished without jeopardizing the security of the merchandise being sold.

Claims

1. A security system for discouraging unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, said security system comprising:

a security tag assembly comprising at least one attachment member and at least one base, said attachment member and said base being connectable in an operative position relative to the merchandise,

said security tag assembly further comprising a connector member structured to interconnect said attachment member and said base in said operative position,

a detachment assembly disposable in a removably engaging relation with said security tag assembly and structured to detach said base and said attachment member out of said operative position,

said detachment assembly comprising at least one detachment structure disposable in an at least partially forced engagement with said connector member of said security tag assembly, and

said at least one detachment structure being structured to at least partially separate said base from said attachment member via disposition of said detachment structure in said at least partially forced engagement with said connector member of said security tag assembly.

2. The security system as recited in claim 1 wherein said security tag assembly further comprises a locking assembly;

said locking assembly comprising a locking member mounted within said attachment member.

3. The security system as recited in claim 2 wherein said detachment structure of said detachment assembly is disposable in a forced engagement with said locking member.

4. The security system as recited in claim 3 wherein said detachment structure of said detachment assembly is structured to destructively remove said attachment member from said base.

5. The security system as recited in claim 4 wherein said detachment structure comprises a drive shaft.

6. The security system as recited in claim 5 wherein said drive shaft comprises an at least partially hollow interior configuration disposed adjacent a free, open end of said drive shaft.

7. The security system as recited in claim 6 wherein said at least partially hollow interior configuration of said drive shaft is dimensioned and configured to assume a covering relation to at least a portion of said connector member of said security tag assembly.

8. The security system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a holding assembly structured to at least partially engage at least a portion of said attachment member.

9. The security system as recited in claim 8 wherein said holding assembly is further structured to removably secure said security tag assembly to said detachment assembly.

10. The security system recited in claim 1 wherein said attachment member of said security tag assembly further comprises a cover member disposed in an at least partially aligned relation with said connector member.

11. The security system recited in claim 10 wherein said detachment structure of said detachment assembly is structured to destructively remove said cover member.

12. The security system recited in claim 11 wherein said connector member of said security tag assembly is at least partially disposed within a channel;

said channel comprising a proximal end and a distal end.

13. The security system recited in claim 12 wherein said cover member is disposed in an overlying relation to said distal end of said channel.

14. The security system recited in claim 1 wherein said detachment assembly further comprises a receiving structure structured to receive said security tag assembly in an operative orientation therewith.

15. The security system recited in claim 14 wherein said receiving structure comprises a holding assembly structured to at least partially engage at least a portion of said attachment member of said security tag assembly.

16. The security system as recited in claim 15 wherein said holding assembly is further structured to secure said attachment member of said security tag assembly to said detachment assembly at least while said detachment structure is disposed in said at least partially forced engagement with said connector member of said security tag assembly.

17. The security system recited in claim 16 wherein said holding assembly comprises a receiving channel.

18. The security system recited in claim 17 wherein said attachment member of said security tag assembly is disposable in a slidable relation within said receiving channel.

19. The security system recited in claim 18 wherein said holding assembly further comprises an entry aperture and an exit aperture disposed in a spaced relation from one another along a length of said receiving channel.

20. The security system recited in claim 19 wherein said entry aperture is structured and configured to dispose said attachment member of said security tag assembly therethrough and into said slidable relation within said receiving channel, and said exit aperture being structured and configured to dispose said attachment member therethrough and out of said slidable relation within said receiving channel.

21. The security system recited in claim 20 wherein said detachment structure of said detachment assembly is disposable within said receiving channel and into said at least partially forced engagement with said connector member of said security tag assembly between said entry aperture and said exit aperture.

22. The security system recited in claim 21 further comprising a detachment aperture disposed within said receiving channel in a receiving relation with said detachment structure.

23. The security system recited in claim 22 wherein said connector member of said security tag assembly is disposable in an aligned relation with said detachment aperture.

24. The security system recited in claim 23 wherein said detachment aperture is disposed along said length of said receiving channel and between said entry aperture and said exit aperture.

25. A security system for discouraging unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, said security system comprising:

a security tag assembly comprising at least one attachment member and at least one base, said attachment member and said base being connectable in an operative position relative to the merchandise,

said security tag assembly further comprising a connector member secured to said base and structured to interconnect said attachment member and said base in said operative position,

a detachment assembly disposable in a removably engaging relation with said security tag assembly and structured to detach said base and said attachment member out of said operative position,

said detachment assembly comprising at least one detachment structure disposable in an engaging relation with said connector member of said security tag assembly, and

said detachment assembly further comprising a holding assembly structured to at least partially engage at least a portion of said attachment member and secure said attachment member to said detachment assembly.

26. The security system recited in claim 25 wherein said at least one detachment structure is structured to at least partially separate said base from said attachment member via disposition of said detachment structure in said engaging relation with said connector member of said security tag assembly.

27. The security system recited in claim 26 wherein said holding assembly is further structured to define a receiving channel comprising a first end and a second end.

28. The security system recited in claim 27 wherein said attachment member of said security tag assembly is disposable in a slidable relation with said receiving channel.

29. The security system recited in claim 28 wherein said detachment structure of said detachment assembly is disposable within said receiving channel and into said engaging relation with said connector member of said security tag assembly.

30. The security system recited in claim 29 wherein said security tag assembly further comprises a locking assembly;

said locking assembly comprising a locking member mounted within said attachment member.

31. The security system recite din claim 30 wherein said detachment structure of said detachment assembly is structured to destructively remove said attachment member from said base.

32. A security system for discouraging unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, said security system comprising:

a security tag assembly comprising at least one attachment member and at least one base, said attachment member and said base being connectable in an operative position relative to the merchandise,

said security tag assembly further comprising a connector member secured to said base and structured to interconnect said attachment member and said base in said operative position,

a detachment assembly removably connectable to said security tag assembly and structured to detach said base and said attachment member out of said operative position,

said detachment assembly comprising at least one detachment structure disposable in an at least partially forced engagement with said connector member of said security tag assembly,

said detachment assembly further comprising a holding assembly structured to at least partially engage at least a portion of said attachment member and secure said attachment member to said detachment assembly, and

said holding assembly being structured to define a receiving channel, wherein said attachment member of said security tag assembly is removably disposable in a slidable relation with said receiving channel.

33. The security system recited in claim 32 wherein said at least one detachment structure is structured to at least partially separate said base from said attachment member via disposition of said detachment structure in said at least partially forced engagement with said connector member of said security tag assembly.

34. The security system recited in claim 33 wherein said detachment structure of said detachment assembly is structured to destructively remove said attachment member from said base.

35. The security system recited in claim 34 wherein said detachment structure comprises a drive shaft;

said drive shaft comprising an at least partially hollow interior configuration disposed adjacent a free, open end thereof.

36. The security system recited in claim 35 wherein said at least partially hollow interior configuration of said drive shaft is dimensioned and configured to assume a covering relation to at least a portion of said connector member of said security tag assembly.

37. The security system recited in claim 32 wherein said holding assembly comprises an entry aperture and an exit aperture disposed in a spaced relation with one another along a length of said receiving channel.

38. The security system recited in claim 37 wherein said receiving channel comprises a first end and a second end;

said entry aperture being disposed proximate said first end of said receiving channel, and said exit aperture being disposed proximate said second end of said receiving channel.

39. The security system recited in claim 37 wherein said security tag assembly comprises a plurality of attachment members;

at least one of said plurality of attachment members being disposed within said receiving channel and detachably disposed from said base.

40. The security system recited in claim 39 wherein said at least one detachably disposed attachment member is slidably forced out of said receiving channel via said exit aperture upon disposition of a second one of said attachment members in an abutting engagement therewith, said second one of said attachment members being slidably disposed within said receiving channel.

41. The security system recited in claim 32 wherein said holding assembly further comprises at least one ledge structured to at least partially define said receiving channel.

42. The security system recited in claim 41 wherein said attachment member comprises at least one groove disposed on a peripheral surface thereof, at least a portion of said groove being disposable in an engaging relation with said ledge of said holding assembly.

43. The security system recited in claim 42 wherein said ledge of said holding assembly and said groove of said attachment member are cooperatively structured to secure said security tag assembly to said detachment assembly at least during said at least partially forced engagement between said detachment structure and said connector member.

44. The security system recited in claim 43 wherein said ledge of said holding assembly is disposed in a sliding engagement with said groove of said attachment member.