Security tag having arcuate channel and detacher apparatus for same
DCFirst Claim
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1. An EAS tag comprising:
- a tag body;
means for attaching said tag body to an article, said attaching means having a part which is received in said tag body;
means within said tag body for releasably preventing said part of said attaching means from being withdrawn from said tag body;
means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means, said arcuate channel being adapted to receive and guide an arcuate probe to said preventing means for releasing said preventing means from preventing said part of said attaching means from being withdrawn from said tag body;
and an detectable EAS sensor.
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Abstract
An EAS tag in which the tag is held to an article by an attaching assembly a part of which is releasably prevented from being withdrawn from the body of the tag. The tag body is provided with an arcuate channel through which an arcuate detacher probe can be guided for releasing the attaching assembly part. A spring clamp provides the releasable preventing function and includes jaws specifically adapted to respond to in-plane torsional forces provided by the arcuate probe which is moved through the arcuate channel by rotation to reach the spring clamp. Hand and power actuated detacher assemblies incorporating the arcuate probe are also provided.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An EAS tag comprising:
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a tag body; means for attaching said tag body to an article, said attaching means having a part which is received in said tag body; means within said tag body for releasably preventing said part of said attaching means from being withdrawn from said tag body; means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means, said arcuate channel being adapted to receive and guide an arcuate probe to said preventing means for releasing said preventing means from preventing said part of said attaching means from being withdrawn from said tag body; and an detectable EAS sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A spring clamp for use in releasably clamping an EAS article attaching means to an EAS tag body comprising:
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a clamp body having first and second parts; jaws comprising first and second jaw sections attached to said first and second parts, respectively, of said clamp body; said first part of said clamp body being adapted to mount said clamp body to an EAS tag body so that said clamp body pivots about said first part of said clamp body; said second part of said clamp body being adapted to receive a torsional force acting on said second part of said clamp body to cause said clamp body to pivot about said first part of said clamp body; and said first and second jaw sections of said jaws being configured such that said pivoting of said clamp body about said first part of said clamp body caused by said torsional force acts to cause said first and second jaw sections of said jaws to open from a closed position, whereby when said clamp body is mounted to said EAS tag body and said first and second jaw sections of said jaws are in said closed position and gripping an EAS article attaching means, thereby clamping said EAS tag body to said EAS article attaching means, said opening of said first and second jaw sections from said closed position releases said grip of said first and second jaw sections on said EAS article attaching means to permit withdrawal of said EAS article attaching means from said first and second jaw sections, thereby releasing said EAS tag body from said EAS article attaching means. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A detaching device for use in detaching an EAS from an article, said EAS tag including:
- a tag body;
means for attaching said tag body to an article, said attaching means having a part which is received in said tag body;
means within said tag body for releasably preventing said part of said attaching means form being withdrawn from said tag body;
means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means; and
an EAS sensor;
said detaching device comprising;an arcuate probe configured to be received in and guided by said arcuate channel of said tag body; and means for moving said arcuate probe, whereby said arcuate probe is introduced into and guided by said arcuate channel to said preventing means in said tag body for releasing said preventing means from preventing said part of said attaching means from being withdrawn for said tag body, said arcuate probe being withdrawn from said tag body through said arcuate channel.
- a tag body;
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34. A detaching device in accordance with claim wherein:
said means for moving said probe causes said probe to rotate. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of detaching an EAS tag from an article, said EAS tag comprising:
- a tag body;
means for attaching said tag body to an article, said attaching means having a part which is received in said tag body;
means within said tag body for releasably preventing said part of said attaching means from being withdrawn from said tag body; and
means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means;
said method comprising;providing an arcuate probe configured to be received in and guided by said arcuate channel of said tag body; and moving said arcuate probe, whereby said arcuate probe is introduced into and guided by said arcuate channel to said preventing means in said tag body for releasing said preventing means from preventing said part of said attaching means from being withdrawn from said tag body, and said arcuate probe is withdrawn from said tag body through said arcuate channel. - View Dependent Claims (45)
- a tag body;
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46. An EAS system comprising:
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an EAS tag attached to an article;
said EAS tag comprising;
a tag body;
means for attaching said tag body to an article, said attaching means having a part which is received in said tag body;
means within said tag body for releasably preventing said part of said attaching means from being withdrawn from said tag body;
means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means, said arcuate channel being adapted to receive and guide an arcuate probe to said preventing means for releasing said preventing means from preventing said part of said attaching means for being withdrawn from said tag body; and
an EAS sensor;means for transmitting a first signal into a surveillance zone; and means for receiving a tag signal resulting from the interaction in said zone of said first signal with EAS sensor in said tag for detecting the presence of said tag and article in said zone.
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Specification