SELF-DETACHING ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR RETAIL ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A method for operating a security tag, comprising:
- communicating a wireless signal to the security tag attached to an article when a successful purchase of the article has been verified, where the wireless signal includes a detach command for initiating a detachment of the security tag from the article; and
causing a mechanical component of the security tag to be released in response to a reception of the wireless signal at the security tag, whereby a pin of the security tag transitions from an engaged position to an unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag;
wherein an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in a first portion of an enclosure spaced apart from a second portion of the enclosure by a gap when the pin is in the engaged position, and the pin is fully retracted into the second portion of the enclosure when the pin is in the unengaged position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems (100) and methods (1500, 1600) for operating a Security Tag (“ST”). The methods involve communicating a Wireless Signal (“WS”) to ST (132) tag attached to an article (102) when a successful purchase thereof has been verified. WS includes a detach command. A mechanical component (922) of ST is caused to be released in response to a reception of WS at ST, whereby a pin (308) of ST transitions from an engaged position to an unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to ST. An end (1002) of the pin resides within an aperture (1102) formed in a first portion (312) of an enclosure (302) spaced apart from a second portion (310) of the enclosure by a gap when the pin is in the engaged position. The pin is fully retracted into the second portion when it is in the unengaged position.
30 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for operating a security tag, comprising:
-
communicating a wireless signal to the security tag attached to an article when a successful purchase of the article has been verified, where the wireless signal includes a detach command for initiating a detachment of the security tag from the article; and causing a mechanical component of the security tag to be released in response to a reception of the wireless signal at the security tag, whereby a pin of the security tag transitions from an engaged position to an unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag; wherein an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in a first portion of an enclosure spaced apart from a second portion of the enclosure by a gap when the pin is in the engaged position, and the pin is fully retracted into the second portion of the enclosure when the pin is in the unengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A system, comprising:
-
a communication device communicating a wireless signal to a security tag attached to an article when a successful purchase of the article has been verified, where the wireless signal includes a detach command for initiating a detachment of the security tag from the article; and the security tag comprising a mechanical component that is caused to be released in response to a reception of the wireless signal at the security tag, whereby a pin of the security tag transitions from an engaged position to an unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag; wherein an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in a first portion of an enclosure spaced apart from a second portion of the enclosure by a gap when the pin is in the engaged position, and the pin is fully retracted into the second portion of the enclosure when the pin is in the unengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification