Article enclosure with magnetic marker deactivating means

• US 4,811,000 A
• Filed: 03/03/1988
• Issued: 03/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Humphrey, Floyd, Cantey, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/163,954
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 340/551, 340/572
• US Class Current: 340/551
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2411 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2442 Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details

Abstract

An enclosure for receiving and carrying an article provided with a magnetic marker wherein the enclosure includes magnetic means for deactivating the marker when the article is housed within the enclosure.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with an article, the article having affixed to it a magnetic marker for use in the detection of the article, the apparatus comprising:

enclosure means for receiving and carrying the article;

magnetic means affixed to the enclosure means for deactivating the marker of said article when said article is in said enclosure means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said magnetic marker comprises a soft magnetic material;

and said magnetic means comprises a hard magnetic material.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

said hard magnetic material is permanently magnetized.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

said hard magnetic material is continuous and has along its length adjacent sections of opposite magnetic polarization.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein:

said hard magnetic material comprises barium ferrite.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

said hard magnetic material comprises individual lengths of material adjacent ones of which are of opposite magnetic polarization.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

said hard magnetic material is flexible.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

said magnetic means is exclusive of soft magnetic material.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said magnetic means is affixed to said enclosure means such that said magnetic means is in adjacent relationship to said marker when said article is in said enclosure means.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein:

said marker is in strip form;

said magnetic means is in strip form;

and said marker strip and said magnetic means strip are in facing relationship when said article is in said enclosure.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein:

said marker strip comprises a soft magnetic material;

said magnetic means strip comprises a permanently magnetized hard magnetic material.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein:

the surface of said strip of hard magnetic material closest said marker strip has along its length adjacent areas of opposite magnetic polarization.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said article is a magnetic tape cassette;

and said enclosure means is a case for said tape cassette.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein:

said tape cassette has upper and lower walls, front and back walls and side walls;

said marker is disposed on one of said walls of said cassette;

said case has upper and lower walls, front and back walls and side walls;

and said magnetic means is disposed on the wall of said case facing said one wall of said tape cassette when said tape cassette is within said case.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein:

said marker comprises a strip extending along the length of said one wall; and

said magnetic means comprises a strip disposed along the length of the wall of said case facing said one wall of said tape cassette.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein:

said one wall is pivotable to allow access to the tape housed within said cassette.

17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein:

said magnetic marker strip comprises a soft magnetic material;

and said magnetic means strip comprises a permanently magnetized hard magnetic material.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein:

the surface of said strip of hard magnetic material facing said marker strip has along its length adjacent areas of opposite magnetic polarization.

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein:

said strip of hard magnetic material comprises barium ferrite.