Securing packages

• US 5,984,388 A
• Filed: 03/12/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Tag Company US LLC
• Original Assignee: Entertainment UK Limited
• Inventors: Bacon, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAYNE, DARNELL M
• Application Number:
  US08/814,934
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 292/307 R, 292/307 A, 340/572, 340/568, 340/571, 24/DIG. 11, 428/41.9, 70/57.1, 70/440, 70/439, 206/387.11, 206/807
• US Class Current: 292/307.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/32 Electrical or mechanical contacting means; Tape stop foils
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0483 for single disc boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/807 Tamper proof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/11 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/48 Seals

Abstract

A substantially conventional case for a CD is secured by a security tag. The security tag is formed from sheet material having an adhesive surface which is secured to both the lid and the base of the case to retain the case closed and to secure the CD therein. A security device is secured to the adhesive security tag. This security device is an article surveillance device detectible by detectors provided in gangway structures at the exits of retail outlets.

Claims

1. A method of securing a package, wherein the package comprises an openable and closable container including a lid displaceable relative to a remainder of said container so as to provide access to product disposed within the container, a juncture of the lid and the remainder of the container defining a seam, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a security tag comprising a sheet material having first and second opposed surfaces, and an adhesive provided on said first surface such that said security tag is an adhesive tag, and said security tag further comprising a security device including a structure that is detectable by at least one of an acoustic, a magnetic and an electronic assembly, so as to be detectable by a complementary detector independent of and remote from said security device, for detecting a prohibited transport of the security device, and

adhering the adhesive provided on said first surface of said sheet material of said security tag to the container such that the sheet material of the security tag is adhered to said lid, traverses a portion of said seam and is adhered to said remainder of the container thereby to retain the container closed whereby the product is retained and secured in the container and removal of the product is substantially prohibited, and

wherein the the step of adhering the adhesive provided on said first surface of said sheet material of said security tag comprises securing the sheet material of the security tag to said container with the security device disposed between said sheet material and said container, whereby said sheet material of said security tag secures the security device of the security tag to the container, whereby prohibited transport of the container bearing the security tag can be detected.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the complementary detector comprises an article surveillance device.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the complementary detector comprises one of a radio frequency, an electromagnetic, and an acoustic magnetic components.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing a said complementary detector for the security device at an exit from an area of authorized transport whereby prohibited transport out of said area can be detected.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the container to which the sheet material of the security tag is adhered has first and second generally parallel major surfaces, said lid comprising one of said major surfaces, and at least four wall portions extending between said major surfaces, and wherein said adhering step comprises applying said sheet material so as to be adhered at one end to one of said major surfaces, adhered at the other end to the other of said major surfaces and to extend across a portion of one of said wall portions that extends therebetween, said security device being disposed in parallel to said one of said wall portions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said container to which the sheet material of the security tag is adhered has a base portion generally in the form of a first tray, said lid is generally in the form of a second tray, and the lid and the base portion are interconnected by way of a spine, and wherein when the container is closed the lid and the base portion define an edge portion spaced from and opposed to said spine, and wherein said sheet material is applied so as to be adhered at one end to said lid, adhered at the other end to said base portion and to extend across a portion of said edge portion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said sheet material and security device of the security tag are applied to the container such that said security device is oriented to extend along said edge portion.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of disposing a multimedia product within the container before said adhering step.

5. An openable and closable package, in combination with a security tag formed from sheet material,

the package comprising an openable and closable container including a lid displaceable relative to a remainder of said container so as to provide access to product disposed within the container, a juncture of the lid and the remainder of the container defining a seam,

the security tag comprising a sheet material having first and second opposed surfaces, and an adhesive provided on said first surface such that said security tag is an adhesive tag, said adhesive provided on said surface of said sheet material being adhered to the container such that the sheet material of the security tag is adhered to said lid, traverses a portion of said seam and is adhered to said remainder of the container thereby to retain the container closed, whereby the product is retained and secured in the container and removal of the product is substantially prohibited,

said security tag further comprising a security device including a structure that is detectable by at least one of an acoustic, a magnetic and an electronic apparatus, so as to be detectable by a complementary detector that is independent of and remote from said security device, for detecting a prohibited transport of the security device,

wherein the security device is disposed between the sheet material of the security tag and the container, whereby said sheet material of said security tag secures the security device of the security tag to the container, whereby prohibited transport of the container bearing the security tag can be detected.

6. A package according to claim 5, wherein the security device is, or has a portion which is, sufficiently small and/or sufficiently flat to enable the security device to be secured by the adhesive tag.

7. A package according to claim 5, wherein the security device is attached to the adhesive tag.

12. The package of claim 5, wherein said container has first and second generally parallel major services, said lid comprising one of said major surfaces, and at least four wall portions extending between said major surfaces, and wherein said sheet material of said security tag is applied so as to be adhered at one end to one of said major surfaces, adhered at the other end to the other of said major surfaces and to extend across a portion of one of said wall portions that extend therebetween.

13. The package of claim 5, wherein said container has a base portion generally in the form of a first tray, said lid is generally in the form of a second tray, and the lid and the base portion are interconnected by way of a spine, and wherein when the container is closed the lid and the base portion define an edge portion spaced from and opposed to said spine, and wherein said sheet material of said security tag is applied so as to be adhered at one end to said lid, adhered at the other end to said base portion and to extend across a portion of said edge portion.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein said sheet material and security device of said security tag are applied such that said security device is oriented to extend along said edge portion.

15. The package of claim 5, wherein the product retained within the container is one of a CD, an audio tape, and a video tape.

16. The package of claim 5, in further combination with a complementary detector that comprises one of a radio frequency, an electromagnetic, and an acoustic magnetic components for detecting prohibited transport of the container bearing the security tag.