Marker for an article which is detected when it passes through a surveillance zone

• US 5,767,772 A
• Filed: 08/08/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerard Lemaire, Patrick Lorelle, Philippe Lemaire
• Original Assignee: Gerard Lemaire, Patrick Lorelle, Philippe Lemaire
• Inventors: Lemaire, Philippe, Lemaire, Gerard, Lorelle, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US08/693,478
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/572, 340/568, 340/693, 340/551, 174/117 A, 343/788, 343/895, 333/174, 365/173
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag

Abstract

A security device to monitor object displacement and unauthorized removal from an enclosure. A two-layer adhesive is supplied on the marker, the first stronger adhesive for affixing the marker on the object, a second, weaker adhesive with lower tear resistance than the first which modifies an electrical, chemical, or electrochemical feature for detection.

Claims

1. A marker intended to be detected when it passes through surveillance zones, and emitting an alarm signal as soon as an attempt is made to remove it from the article to which it is attached, of the type comprising an electronic circuit with an electronic module and a detecting means (15, 122, 130) of which one electric, chemical or electrochemical feature is modified when an attempt is made to remove said marker from the article to which it is attached, and an electronic module (13) capable of detecting the modification in the detecting means and of informing monitoring means thereof, characterized in that it comes in the form of an adhesive label comprising a bottom layer (100) bearing a first adhesive (102) by way of which it is applied to the article to be protected, and a peel-off layer (200) fixed to the bottom layer (100) by a second weaker adhesive (202) with lower tear resistance than said first adhesive (102) in order to ensure that said second adhesive (202) yields first when an attempt is made to remove the label from the article to which it is attached, thereby leading to a tearing of the peel-off layer (200) while the bottom layer (100) remains fastened to the article, and in that the detecting means (15, 122, 130) is located between the peel-off layer (200) and the bottom layer (100) so that its electric, chemical or electrochemical feature is modified when the peel-off layer (200) is removed.

2. Marker as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the electronic module (13) and the vital elements needed to communicate with the monitoring means are located in the bottom layer (100) in order to remain on the article after the label has been destroyed and to continue to protect it by enabling the surveillance systems to locate the article or to identify it at the exits from the enclosure.

3. Marker as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a means supplying energy to the electronic circuit, and in that this means is situated in the bottom layer (100).

4. Marker as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the detecting means is a loop of conducting wire (15) located on the non-adhesive upper side of the peel-off layer (200), and which passes through apertures (205) in said peel-off layer (200) to be made integral at (105) with the bottom layer (100).

5. Marker as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the detecting means is constituted by the adhesive film (222) located on the peel-off layer (200), the adhesive film (222) being a conducting adhesive ensuring electric continuity between a plurality of stubs (112) borne by the bottom layer (100), whose electric continuity is broken when the peel-off layer (200) is removed from the bottom layer (100).

6. Marker as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the detecting means is comprised of an electrochemical couple (130), said electrochemical couple (130) being of the metal/air type and being activated and supplying energy to the electronic module (13) by being brought into contact with air when the peel-off layer (200) is removed from the bottom layer (100).

7. Marker as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a top layer (300) formed of a substrate (301) and an adhesive (302) to affix it to the peel-off layer (200), this layer (300) protecting the detecting means and being susceptible of presenting commercial data such as the sale price or a decoration.

8. Marker as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises fuses which can be destroyed by a destruction signal induced in the electronic circuit.

9. Marker as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that a capacitor (103) forms an energy storage means, said capacitor (103) being susceptible of being housed between the substrate (101) and the first adhesive (102).

10. Marker as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the vital elements, e.g. the energy source or the antenna, are duplicated in order to protect the label against attempted destruction by scratching or laceration of the top layer (300).