Electronic Article Surveillance Tag Having a Detrimental Substance Expulsion System With Breakable Vial

• US 20090021378A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Valade, Franklin H., Cwik, Krystyna E., Szklany, Craig R., Lynch, John L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,134,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/002 by releasing a liquid, e.g. ill-smelling or dye
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/02 with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article

Abstract

An EAS/expulsion detrimental substance tag (101) in which the tag is held to an article by an attaching assembly, a part of which may be releasably prevented from being withdrawn from the body of the tag. The tag body may be provided with one or more sensors, that are disposed in the body. The sensors are positioned adjacent the detrimental substance. The Benefit Denial (Ink portion) of this tag may feature an ink vial. When the tag and its ink vial are attacked, the tag will expel the detrimental substance out and onto the article being protected.

Claims

1. A security tag, comprising:

a tack assembly;

a detrimental substance; and

a tag body, the detrimental substance to be disposed in the tag body.

2. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising a vial, the detrimental substance to be contained in the vial.

3. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors to be disposed in the tag body.

4. The security tag of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors comprises a magnetic sensor.

5. The security tag of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors comprises an acoustic magnetic sensor.

6. The security tag of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors comprises a radio-frequency sensor.

7. The security tag of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors comprises an RFID sensor.

8. The security tag of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors comprises a ferrite assembly.

9. The security tag of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors are to be positioned adjacent the detrimental substance.

10. The security tag of claim 3, further comprising a vial, the detrimental substance to be contained in the vial, the one or more sensors to be positioned adjacent the vial.

11. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising a spring clamp to be disposed in the tag body, the spring clamp to lock the tack assembly to the tag body.

12. The security tag of claim 11, wherein the spring clamp comprises two jaws, the spring clamp to lock the tack assembly to the tack body with the two jaws.

13. The security tag of claim 12, wherein the tack assembly comprises a tack body, the spring clamp to lock the tack assembly to the tack body with the two jaws by clutching the tack body with the two jaws.

14. The security tag of claim 12, wherein the spring clamp comprises a spring arm to bias the spring clamp toward a locking position.

15. The security tag of claim 11, wherein the tag body comprises a support wall having a slot, the spring arm positioned at least partially in the slot.

16. The security tag of claim 11, wherein the spring clamp comprises a spring clamp body, the spring clamp body including a mounting aperture to pivotably mount the spring clamp to the tag body.

17. The security tag of claim 1, wherein the tag body comprises a mount, the spring clamp comprises a spring clamp body, and the spring clamp body comprises a mounting aperture to pivotably mount the spring clamp on the mount.

18. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising one or more breaker plates to be disposed in the tag body.

20. The security tag of claim 1, wherein the tag body defines an arcuate channel to receive an arcuate probe.

21. The security tag of claim 20, further comprising a spring gate, the spring gate to be disposed at least partially within the arcuate channel.

22. The security tag of claim 21, wherein the spring gate comprises an abutment, the abutment including a catch.

23. The security tag of claim 21, wherein the spring gate comprises an abutment, the abutment having an L-shaped opening.

24. The security tag of claim 1, further comprising a retaining device to be disposed in the tag body, the retaining device to lock the tack assembly to the tag body.

25. The security tag of claim 24, wherein the retaining device includes a ball clutch that includes two or more balls.

26. The security tag of claim 24, wherein the retaining device includes a wedge.

27. A security tag, comprising:

a tack assembly;

a tag body;

the tack assembly to be locked to the tag body, the tack assembly to be unlocked from the tag body using an arcuate probe; and

a detrimental substance to be disposed in the tag body.

19. The security tag of claim 28, further comprising a vial, the detrimental substance to be contained in the vial, the one or more breaker plates to each be disposed adjacent the vial.

28. The security tag of claim 27, further comprising a vial, the detrimental substance to be contained in the vial.

29. The security tag of claim 27, wherein the detrimental substance includes ink.

30. The security tag of claim 27, wherein the tag body comprises an upper housing and a lower housing.

31. The security tag of claim 30, wherein the upper housing comprises an upper breaker plate compartment, the upper breaker plate compartment to receive a top breaker plate.

32. The security tag of claim 30, wherein the lower housing comprises a lower breaker plate compartment, the lower breaker plate compartment to receive a bottom breaker plate.

33. The security tag of claim 27, further comprising a vial, the detrimental substance to be contained in the vial, the tag body including a vial compartment to receive the vial.

34. The security tag of claim 27, further comprising one or more breaker plates to be disposed in the tag body.

35. The security tag of claim 34, further comprising a vial, the detrimental substance to be contained in the vial, the one or more breaker plates to be disposed adjacent the vial.

36. The security tag of claim 27, further comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors to be disposed in the tag body.

37. A security tag, comprising:

a tack assembly;

a spring clamp to lock the tack assembly thereto;

a detrimental substance;

a tag body comprising an arcuate channel to receive an arcuate probe to unlock the tack assembly from the spring clamp, the spring clamp and detrimental substance to be disposed in the tag body.