Tack assembly for electronic article surveillance tags

• US 6,255,950 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Thang Tat
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US09/420,430
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.9
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• 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

Abstract

A tack assembly for a security tag includes a housing having an open interior. A tack-head with a tack is movable within the housing between an extended position in which the point of the tack is extended from the housing and a retracted position in which the point of the tack is positioned within the housing. Biasing structure is provided to bias the tack-head and attached tack to the retracted position. A method for safely securing a security tag to and removing a security tag from an article is also provided.

Claims

1. A tack assembly for a security tag, comprising:

a housing having an open interior;

a tack-head with a tack, the tack having a point, said tack assembly being disengageable and separable from said security tag;

biasing structure, said biasing structure biasing said tack-head and the attached tack between a first, extended position in which the point of the tack is extended from the housing, and a second, retracted position in which the point of the tack is positioned within the housing.

2. The tack assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises an end wall with an opening, said button being movable through said opening, said tack-head having structure for preventing the tack-head from moving completely out of the opening under the action of said biasing structure.

3. The tack assembly of claim 2, wherein said tack-head comprises a flange, said flange contacting said end wall to prevent the movement of said tack-head out of said housing under the action of said biasing structure.

4. The tack assembly of claim 1, wherein said biasing structure is a compression spring.

5. The tack assembly of claim 4, wherein said tack-head has an open interior, and a spring seat positioned inside said open interior.

6. The tack assembly of claim 5, wherein said spring seat has a concentric interior spring locating post and one end of said tack is secured within said post.

7. The tack assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises an end wall, said end wall comprising a spring seat, said spring seat having an opening dimensioned to receive said tack.

8. The security tag/tack assembly of claim 1, wherein said tag is an electronic article surveillance tag.

9. A security tag/tack assembly, comprising:

a security tag having a receiving aperture for a tack, and engagement structure for releasably engaging said tack;

a tack assembly comprising a housing having an open interior, a tack-head with a tack having a point, said tack assembly being disengageable and separable from said security tag, said tack-head and tack being movable in said open interior of said housing between an extended position in which the point of the tack is extended from said housing, and a retracted position in which the point of the tack is retracted within said housing; and

biasing structure for moving said tack-head from said extended position to said retracted position.

10. The tag/tack assembly of claim 9, wherein said housing comprises an end wall with an opening, said tack-head being movable through said opening, said tack-head having structure for preventing the tack-head from moving completely out of the opening under the action of said biasing structure.

11. The tag/tack assembly of claim 10, wherein said tack-head comprises a flange, said flange contacting said end wall to prevent the movement of said tack-head out of said housing under the action of said biasing structure.

12. The tag/tack assembly of claim 11, wherein said biasing structure is a compression spring.

13. The tag/tack assembly of claim 12, wherein said housing comprises an end wall, said end wall comprising a spring seat, said spring seat having an opening dimensioned to receive said tack.

14. The tag/tack assembly of claim 13, wherein said tack-head has an open interior, and a spring seat positioned inside said open interior.

15. The tag/tack assembly of claim 14, wherein said spring seat has a concentric interior spring locating post, and one end of said tack is secured within said post.

16. A method for safely securing articles against theft, comprising the steps of:

providing a security tag/tack assembly comprising a security tag and a tack assembly having a housing with an open interior, a tack-head with a tack, the tack having a point, said tack assembly being disengageable and separable from said security tag, said tack-head and attached tack being movable within said interior between an extended position in which the point of the tack is extended from the housing and a retracted position in which the point of the tack is positioned within the housing;

depressing the tack-head to extend the point of the tack from the housing;

pushing the tack through an article that is to be secured;

engaging the tack to the security tag by positioning the tack in a receiving aperture of the security tag; and

,

removing the security tag from the tack, whereupon the point of the tack will be withdrawn into the housing by operation of the biasing structure.