Theft prevention tab device having alarm mechanism housed therein

• US 5,570,080 A
• Filed: 10/28/1994
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Entremed, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Toshio Inoue
• Inventors: Inoue, Toshio, Asada, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/330,553
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/571, 340/568, 340/693
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18

Abstract

A tag device for theft prevention includes a tag body, a fastener for fastening the tag body to a merchandise, a wire extending from the tag body for fastening the tag body to a fixed member, a detector for detecting that the tag body has been detached from the merchandise, and an alarm for giving off an alarm if the detector detects that the tag body has been detached from the merchandise.

Claims

1. A tag device comprising:

a case;

a fastener for fastening said case to a piece of merchandise;

a limit switch having a plunger movable into and out of said case, said limit switch being in a first switch state when said plunger protrudes from said case and being in a second switch state when said plunger is pushed into said case when fastened to said piece of merchandise by coming into contact with the piece of merchandise;

a wire extending from said case for fastening said case to a fixed member;

a detecting means for detecting that said wire has been cut;

an alarm means for activating an alarm when said plunger of said limit switch protrudes from said case after having been pushed into said case by coming into contact with the piece of merchandise, and for also activating the alarm when said detecting means detects that said wire has been cut;

a small battery for powering said alarm means; and

an on/off switch for turning on and off said alarm means;

wherein said limit switch, said detecting means, said alarm means, said small battery, and said on/off switch are all housed in said case.

2. A tag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said on/off switch is a manual switch for connecting and disconnecting said small battery to and from said alarm means.

3. A tag device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an output means provided separately from said case for producing a predetermined signal;

said on/off switch being adapted to deactivate said alarm means when said on/off switch receives said predetermined signal from said output means.

4. A tag device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastener is a double-coated adhesive tape stuck on a same side of said case from which said plunger protrudes.

5. A tag device comprising:

a case;

a fastener for fastening said case to a piece of merchandise;

a light switch having a light-receiving surface on one side of said case, said light switch being in a first switch state when light is incident on said light-receiving surface and being in a second switch state when said light-receiving surface is covered by the piece of merchandise after said fastening;

a wire extending from said case for fastening said case to a fixed member;

a detecting means for detecting that said wire has been cut;

an alarm means for activating an alarm when said light-receiving surface receives light after having been covered by the piece of merchandise, and for also activating the alarm when said detecting means detects that said wire has been cut;

a small battery for powering said alarm means; and

an on/off switch for turning on and off said alarm means;

wherein said light switch, said detecting means, said alarm means, said small battery, and said on/off switch are all housed in said case.

6. A tag device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said on/off switch is a manual switch for connecting and disconnecting said small battery to and from said alarm means.

7. A tag device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an output means provided separately from said case for producing a predetermined signal;

said on/off switch being adapted to deactivate said alarm means when said on/off switch receives said predetermined signal from said output means.

8. A tag device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fastener is a double-coated adhesive tape stuck on said one side of said case having said light-receiving surface.

9. A tag device comprising:

a case, a double-coated adhesive tape stuck on one side of said case, and a wire extending from said case for fastening said case to a fixed member;

said case including therein a limit switch, a detector that detects a cutting of said wire, an alarm device coupled to said limit switch and said detector, a small battery and an alarm switch;

said limit switch having a plunger movable into and out of said case, said limit switch being in a first switch state when said plunger protrudes from said case and being in a second switch state when said plunger is pushed into said case by coming into contact with the piece of merchandise when said case is attached to the piece of merchandise by said double-coated adhesive tape;

said alarm device activating an alarm when said limit switch changes from said second switch state to said first switch state, and also activating the alarm when said detector detects that said wire has been cut;

said small battery coupled to and supplying electric power to said alarm device; and

said alarm switch being manually switchable by controlling a rod extending through a small hole formed in said case so as to turn on and off said alarm device.

10. A tag device comprising:

a case, a double-coated adhesive tape stuck on one side of said case, and a wire extending from said case for fastening said case to a fixed member;

said case including therein a light switch, a detector that detects a cutting of said wire, an alarm coupled to said light switch and said detector, a small battery and an alarm switch;

said light switch having a light receiving surface on said one side of said case, said light switch being in a first switch state when light is incident on said light receiving surface and being in a second switch state when said light receiving surface is covered by the piece of merchandise when said case is attached to the piece of merchandise by said double-coated adhesive tape;

said alarm device activating an alarm when said light switch changes from said second switch state to said first switch state, and also activating the alarm when said detector detects that said wire has been cut;

said small battery coupled to and supplying electric power to said alarm device; and

said alarm switch being manually switchable by controlling a rod extending through a small hole formed in said case so as to turn on and off said alarm device.