Theft deterrent garment tag with ink identification

• US 5,680,681 A
• Filed: 08/26/1996
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur Fuss
• Original Assignee: Arthur Fuss
• Inventors: Fuss, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Application Number:
  US08/697,528
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 24/704.1, 24/704.2, 24/711.4, 70/57.1, 340/572, 109/25
• US Class Current: 24/704.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/002 by releasing a liquid, e.g. ill-smelling or dye
• 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: Y10T 24/50 Readily interlocking, two-part fastener requiring either destructive or tool disengagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article

Abstract

A theft deterrent garment tag having a first housing with an internal cavity occupied by a pair of fragile vials fixedly held in position over slots or openings containing a garment staining substance such as ink and a movable vial fracturing element adjacent openings provided in the first housing permitting flow of released substance into the garment when tempered with by unauthorized personnel. An antenna including a diode is carried in the first housing suitable for use in an electronic surveillance situation and hold-down ribs are included for supporting the antenna in position in the first housing. A second housing includes a receptacle mid-way between its opposite ends for insertably receiving the shank of an elongated pin downwardly depending from the fracturing element movably carried on the first housing whereby securement of the housings is made on opposite sides of the fabric of the garment.

Claims

1. A theft deterrent garment tag comprising:

a first housing having an internal cavity in communication exteriorly via at least one slot;

at least one fragile vial containing a garment staining substance disposed adjacent to said housing slot;

fracturing means movably carried in said first housing operable to fracture said vial in response to movement of said fracturing means;

an electronic surveillance circuit mounted in said first housing operable to respond in the event of an unauthorized theft situation;

a second housing including a receptacle and attachable to said first housing;

a pin element projecting from said first housing insertably engageable with said receptacle to secure said first housing to said second housing;

said first housing includes a panel closing said cavity and at least a pair of slots spaced apart;

said panel having a central opening between said pair of slots movably supporting said fracturing means therein;

said fracturing means including a central portion with outwardly laterally projecting arms extending from opposite sides thereof; and

said pair of vials carried on said arms separated by said central portion.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said opening adapted to bear against said electronic surveillance circuit.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said arms include an open-ended receptacle occupied by said fragile vial.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said arm include one arm outwardly extending from opposite sides of said central portion; and

said fragile vial includes a pair of fragile vials, each one of said pair carried within said open-ended receptacle in each of said arms.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said electronic surveillance circuit and said fracturing means operate independently of each other in response to the event of an unauthorized theft situation.

6. A theft deterrent garment tag comprising:

an attachable housing for installation onto a garment;

said housing having a first section with combined electronic surveillance means and garment staining means and further having a second section with fastening means for securement with said first section;

said garment staining means having a pair of fragile vials containing a garment staining substance;

a movable fracturing element carried on said first section supporting said pair of fragile vials in spaced relationship with respect to said first section; and

said fragile vials adapted to engage said first section in response to movement of said fracturing element to break causing said garment staining substance to enter the garment.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 including:

said first section having a panel provided with a pair of spaced-apart slots;

said fragile vials normally supported in spaced relationship with respect to said slots by said fracturing element and brought into breakable relationship with respect to said panel and said slots in response to movement of said fracturing element.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 including:

an electronic surveillance circuit disposed in said first section in spaced-apart relationship with respect to said fracturing element whereby said fracturing element moves without interference with said electronic surveillance circuit.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said first section includes spacer ribs bearing against said electronic surveillance circuit maintaining said spaced-apart relationship between said electronic surveillance circuit and said fracturing element.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein:

said fracturing element includes a central portion separating a pair of arms;

each of said arms having a retainer means engageable with each of said pair of fragile vials for securing each of said fragile vials to said fracturing element; and

pivotal mounting means joining said fracturing element with said first section allowing lateral pivotal movement of said fracturing element about a longitudinal axis of said first section to break said fragible vials in response to unauthorized theft.