Detection label for an anti-shop-lifting system

• US 5,068,641 A
• Filed: 02/23/1990
• Issued: 11/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek Nedap
• Original Assignee: N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek "Nedap"
• Inventors: Hogen Esch, Johannes H. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr. Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US07/483,226
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 340/551, 340/572
• US Class Current: 340/551
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• 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 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles

Abstract

A detection label for an anti-shoplifting system, comprises a housing (2) accommodating an electrical circuit (21) detectable by an electromagnetic interrogation field, a needle (1) for securing the detection label to an article to be safeguarded, and a locking device (4, 8, 9) for locking the needle. The housing includes a fixed clip (3) which together with the rest of the housing encloses a slot-like free space, a cavity (7) for receiving the tip of the needle (1) which is placed within the housing, an operating push button device (4, 6) for moving the needle towards the clip, and a guide bore (20) in a fabric clamp (6) for guiding the needle during its movement toward the clip.

Claims

1. A detection label for an anti-shoplifting system attachable to an article to be safeguarded comprising:

a housing;

a fixed clip on said housing having a part thereof spaced from a part of said housing forming a slot in said housing for insertion of a part of the article to be safeguarded;

a needle in said housing having a shank, an article piercing tip on one end thereof and a head on the other end thereof for attaching the detection label to the article in a secured position;

operating means movably mounted in said housing and engaging said needle for moving said needle and said tip thereof toward said clip into said secured position;

guiding means in said housing for guiding said needle during said movement of said needle;

a cavity in said clip for receiving said tip of said needle in said secured position;

locking means for locking said needle in said secured position; and

electrical circuit means in said housing detectable by an electromagnetic interrogation field;

said operating means comprising a push button engageable with said head of said needle; and

said guiding means comprising a fabric clamping device resiliently coupled to said push button and having a bore therein through which said shank of said needle extends.

2. A detection label as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising:

a hollow interior in said push button;

two contact springs in said housing having spaced contact lips thereon extending into said hollow interior of said push button; and

at least one battery in said hollow interior between said spaced contact lips and electrically engageable therewith.

3. A detection label as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said contact springs comprise part of said locking means and are electrically connected to said electrical circuit means; and

said at least one battery is electrically engaged with said contact lips when said needle is not in said secured position.

4. A detection label as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

said at least one battery is movable in said hollow interior between contact lip engaging and disengaged positions; and

when said needle is in said secured position, said needle head engages against said at least one battery and moves said at least one battery into said contact lip disengaged position.

5. A detection label as claimed in claim 4 and further comprising:

an electrically conductive compression spring disposed between said push button and said fabric clamping device resiliently urging said push button away from said clip, said compression spring being in contact with one of said contact lips.

6. A detection label as claimed in claim 5 and further comprising:

a contact strip on said fabric clamping device in contact with said compression spring;

an accessory removably insertable in said slot between said fabric clamping device and said clip;

a central space in said accessory;

a bore in said accessory for removably receiving said needle therethrough; and

an attachment cord having one end fixedly connected to said accessory and means for detachably connecting the other end of said cord to said accessory;

said cord comprising a flexible tubular housing and a core within said flexible tubular housing, said core having one end extending into said central space in said accessory, the other end of said core being fixedly connected to said flexible tubular housing, an enlarged metallic element on said one end of said core, a spring between said accessory and said enlarged metallic element resiliently urging said enlarged metallic element toward said bore in said accessory, a further contact strip on said accessory having a part thereof engageable with said contact strip on said fabric clamping device when said accessory is inserted in said slot.

7. A detection label as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

means are provided for electrically connecting said contact springs with said electrical circuit;

said head of said needle is in contact with one pole of said at least one battery;

an additional contact spring is provided in said clip engageable with said needle when in said secured position and electrically connected to the electrical circuit; and

the electrical circuit is arranged so that an alarm signal is generated when said contact between said needle and said additional contact spring is broken.

8. A detection label as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said electrical circuit means comprises a code generator for generating a coded signal.

9. A detection label as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said electrical circuit means comprises a transmission section for transmitting a radiographic alarm signal.

10. A detection label as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising:

an acoustic alarm generator within said housing connected to said electrical circuit means for operation thereby.

11. A detection label as claimed in claim 10 and further comprising:

openings in said housing in proximity to said acoustic alarm generator.

12. A detection label for an anti-shoplifting system attachable to an article to be safeguarded comprising:

a housing;

a fixed clip on said housing having a part thereof spaced from a part of said housing forming a slot in said housing for insertion of a part of the article to be safeguarded;

a needle in said housing having a shank, an article piercing tip on one end thereof and a head on the other end thereof for attaching the detection label to the article in a secured position;

operating means movably mounted in said housing and engaging said needle for moving said needle and said tip thereof toward said clip into said secured position;

guiding means in said housing for guiding said needle during said movement of said needle;

a cavity in said clip for receiving said tip of said needle in said secured position;

locking means for locking said needle in said secured position; and

electrical circuit means in said housing detectable by an electromagnetic interrogation field;

said locking means comprising a shoulder on said operating means and at least one catch in said housing engaging behind said shoulder when said needle is in said secured position.

13. A detection label as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

said at least one catch is removably engageable with said shoulder and magnetically attractable so that said at least one catch is unlockable by magnetic means.

14. A detection label for an anti-shoplifting system attachable to an article to be safeguarded comprising:

a housing having a frustoconically shaped part;

a fixed clip on said housing having a part thereof spaced from the larger base of said frustoconically shaped part forming a slot in said housing for insertion of a part of the article to be safeguarded;

a broadened intermediate part on said housing connecting said clip to an edge portion of said frustoconically shaped part;

a needle in said housing having a shank, an article piercing tip on one end thereof and a head on the other end thereof for attaching the detection label to the article in a secured position;

a push button operating means movably mounted in said housing for passing through the smaller base of said frustoconically shaped part and being fully enclosed within said housing when depressed in said secured position, said push button operating means engaging said needle for moving said needle and said tip thereof toward said clip into said secured position;

guiding means in said housing for guiding said needle during said movement of said needle;

a cavity in said clip for receiving said tip of said needle in said secured position;

locking means for locking said needle in said secured position; and

electrical circuit means in said housing detectable by an electromagnetic interrogation field.

15. A detection label as claimed in claim 14 and further comprising:

an acoustic alarm generator in said intermediate part connected to said electrical circuit means to be operated thereby.

16. A detection label for an anti-shoplifting system attachable to an article to be safeguarded comprising:

a housing;

a fixed clip on said housing having a part thereof spaced from a part of said housing forming a slot in said housing for insertion of a part of the article to be safeguarded;

a needle in said housing having a shank, an article piercing tip on one end thereof and a head on the other end thereof for attaching the detection label to the article in a secured position;

operating means movably mounted in said housing and engaging said needle for moving said needle and said tip thereof toward said clip into said secured position;

guiding means in said housing for guiding said needle during said movement of said needle;

a cavity in said clip for receiving said tip of said needle in said secured position;

locking means for locking said needle in said secured position; and

electrical circuit means in said housing detectable by an electromagnetic interrogation field.

17. A detection label as claimed in claim 16 wherein:

said electrical circuit means comprises a code generator for generating a coded signal.

18. A detection label as claimed in claim 16 wherein:

said electrical circuit means comprises a transmission section for transmitting a radiographic alarm signal.

19. A detection label as claimed in claim 16 and further comprising:

an acoustic alarm generator within said housing connected to said electrical circuit means for operation thereby.

20. A detection label as claimed in claim 19 and further comprising:

openings in said housing in proximity to said acoustic alarm generator.