Security apparatus for electronic article surveillance tag

• US 6,535,130 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Hogan, Dennis L., Hannes, Roy, Ferguson, David B., Perez, Sergio, Nguyen, Thang, Peluso, Michael A., Szklany, Craig, Soto, Manuel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/843,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20020158762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 70/571, 702/71, 247/041
• US Class Current: 340/572.9
• 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

An EAS tag in which the tag is held to an article by an attaching assembly a part of which is releasably prevented from being withdrawn from the body of the tag. The tag body is provided with an arcuate channel through which an arcuate detacher probe can be guided for releasing the attaching assembly part. A spring clamp provides the releasable preventing function and includes jaws specifically adapted to respond to in-plane torsional forces provided by the arcuate probe which is moved through the arcuate channel by rotation to reach the spring clamp. The tag has improved anti-defeat devices and methods including one or more of the following; a shield to protect the EAS sensor, a shield to protect the releasable spring clamp, a tag self-alarm that alarms upon various unauthorized defeat attempts, an LED to signal an armed condition of the tag alarm, a magnet switch to alarm the tag upon exposure to a relatively strong magnetic field, and a plurality of apertures to decoy the position of the alarm piezo.

Claims

1. An electronic article surveillance tag, comprising:

a tag body having a first opening leading into the interior of said tag body;

preventing means within said tag body for releasably preventing a tack assembly having an elongated tack body and a tack head from being withdrawn from said tag body, said elongated tack body being receivable in said first opening of said tag body and insertable into said tag body;

means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means, said arcuate channel being adapted to receive and guide an arcuate probe to said preventing means for releasing said preventing means from preventing said elongated tack body from being withdrawn from said tag body when therein;

a detectable electronic article surveillance sensor disposed in said tag body; and

,

shield means disposed in said tag body adjacent said sensor and extending substantially the full length of said sensor for preventing insertion of an instrument through said tag body into said sensor.

2. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said tag body includes a second opening leading into the interior of said tag body;

said preventing means includes means within the tag body for releasably receiving and clutching the tack body when the tack body is introduced into said tag body through said first opening, said receiving and clutching means upon receiving and clutching said tack body preventing withdrawal of said tack body from said tag body and including a release part which is adapted to be engaged by said arcuate probe to cause said receiving and clutching means to release clutching said tack body to permit said tack body to be withdrawn from said tag body; and

,

said arcuate channel leads from said second opening in said tag body to said release part of said receiving and clutching means, wherein said arcuate probe when introduced into said arcuate channel is brought into engagement with said release part of said receiving and clutching means to cause said receiving and clutching means to release clutching said tack body to allow withdrawal of said tack body from said tag body.

3. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

shield means disposed in said tag body adjacent said preventing means to prevent insertion through said tag body of means other than said arcuate probe from engaging said receiving and clutching means to release clutching said tack body.

4. An electronic article surveillance tag, comprising:

a tag body having a first opening leading into the interior of said tag body;

preventing means within said tag body for releasably preventing a tack assembly having an elongated tack body and a tack head from being withdrawn from said tag body, said elongated tack body being receivable in said first opening of said tag body and insertable into said tag body;

means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means, said arcuate channel being adapted to receive and guide an arcuate probe to said preventing means for releasing said preventing means from preventing said elongated tack body from being withdrawn from said tag body when therein;

a detectable electronic article surveillance sensor disposed in said tag body;

alarm means, disposed within said tag body, for sounding an audible alarm if said tack assembly is withdrawn from said tag body without said arcuate probe being guided through said arcuate channel to said preventing means; and

,

light emitting means for periodically flashing in response to an armed state of said alarm means, the periodic flashing of said light emitting means being visible on an exterior portion of said tag body.

5. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 4, wherein said light emitting means flashes at a first repetition rate in response to said armed state of said alarm means and flashes at a second repetition rate in response to an alarming state of said alarm means.

6. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a plurality of relatively small apertures disposed on said tag body to permit audible sound from said alarm means to travel from the interior of said tag body to the exterior of said tag body, said plurality of apertures covering a sufficient portion of said tag body to prevent external localization of the position within said tag body of sound emitting means for generating the sound from said alarm means.

7. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 4, further comprising magnet switch means for triggering said alarm means to sound said alarm when a relatively strong magnetic field is incident on said tag body.

8. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 4, wherein

said tag body includes a second opening leading to the interior of said tag body;

said preventing means includes means within the tag body for releasably receiving and clutching the tack body when the tack body is introduced into said tag body through said first opening, said receiving and clutching means upon receiving and clutching said tack body preventing withdrawal of said tack body from said tag body and including a release part which is adapted to be engaged by said arcuate probe to cause said receiving and clutching means to release clutching said tack body to permit said tack body to be withdrawn from said tag body; and

,

said arcuate channel leads from said second opening in said tag body to said release part of said receiving and clutching means, wherein said arcuate probe when introduced into said arcuate channel is brought into engagement with said release part of said receiving and clutching means to cause said receiving and clutching means to release clutching said tack body to allow withdrawal of said tack body from said tag body;

a first switch put into a first state by said tack body upon insertion into said tag body,

a second switch put into a first state by said tack head upon insertion of said tack body into said tag body,

a third switch put into a first state by said arcuate probe when said arcuate probe is introduced into said arcuate channel to engage said receiving and clutching means, said alarm means sounding said alarm when said first switch is put into a second state without said third switch in said first state, and said alarm means sounding said alarm when said second switch is put into a second state without said third switch in said first state.

9. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a lanyard, said lanyard having a first end secured to said tag body and a second end securable by said tack assembly, said alarm means sounding said alarm if said lanyard becomes discontinuous.

10. An electronic article surveillance tag, comprising:

a tag body having a first opening leading into the interior of said tag body;

preventing means within said tag body for releasably preventing a tack assembly having an elongated tack body and a tack head from being withdrawn from said tag body, said elongated tack body being receivable in said first opening of said tag body and insertable into said tag body;

means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means, said arcuate channel being adapted to receive and guide an arcuate probe to said preventing means for releasing said preventing means from preventing said elongated tack body from being withdrawn from said tag body when therein;

a detectable electronic article surveillance sensor disposed in said tag body; and

,

light emitting means for periodically flashing, said light emitting means being visible on an exterior portion of said tag body to simulate the presence of an alarm means within said tag body.

11. An electronic article surveillance tag, comprising:

a tag body having a first and a second opening leading into the interior of said tag body;

preventing means within said tag body for releasably preventing a tack assembly having an elongated tack body and a tack head from being withdrawn from said tag body, said elongated tack body being receivable in said first opening of said tag body and insertable into said tag body, said preventing means including means within said tag body for releasably receiving and clutching the tack body when the tack body is introduced into said tag body through said first opening, said receiving and clutching means upon receiving and clutching said tack body preventing withdrawal of said tack body from said tag body;

means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means, said arcuate channel being adapted to receive and guide an arcuate probe to said preventing means for releasing said preventing means from preventing said elongated tack body from being withdrawn from said tag body when therein, said preventing means including a release part which is adapted to be engaged by said arcuate probe to cause said receiving and clutching means to release clutching said tack body to permit said tack body to be withdrawn from said tag body, said arcuate channel leads from said second opening in said tag body to said release part of said receiving and clutching means, wherein said arcuate probe when introduced into said arcuate channel is brought into engagement with said release part of said receiving and clutching means to cause said receiving and clutching means to release clutching said tack body to allow withdrawal of said tack body from said tag body;

a detectable electronic article surveillance sensor disposed in said tag body;

alarm means, disposed within said tag body, for sounding an alarm if said tack assembly is withdrawn from said tag body without said arcuate probe being guided through said arcuate channel to said preventing means;

a first switch put into a first state by said tack body upon insertion into said tag body,

a second switch put into a first state by said tack head upon insertion of said tack body into said tag body,

a third switch put into a first state by said arcuate probe when said arcuate probe is introduced into said arcuate channel to engage said receiving and clutching means, said alarm means sounding said alarm when said first switch is put into a second state without said third switch in said first state, and said alarm means sounding said alarm when said second switch is put into a second state without said third switch in said first state;

light emitting means for flashing in response to an armed state of said alarm means, the flashing of said light emitting means being visible on an exterior portion of said tag body, said armed state defined by said first switch in said first state, said second switch in said first state, and said third switch in a second state; and

,

a plurality of relatively small apertures disposed on said tag body to permit sound from said alarm means to travel from the interior of said tag body to the exterior of said tag body, said plurality of apertures covering a sufficient portion of said tag body to prevent external localization of the position within said tag body of sound emitting means for generating the sound from said alarm means.

12. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 11, further comprising magnet switch means for triggering said alarm means to sound said alarm when a relatively strong magnetic field is incident on said tag body.

13. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a lanyard, said lanyard having a first end secured to said tag body and a second end securable by said tack assembly, said alarm means sounding said alarm if said lanyard is cut or broken.

14. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 11, further comprising shield means disposed in said tag body adjacent said sensor for preventing insertion of an instrument through said tag body into said sensor.

15. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 11 further comprising shield means disposed in said tag body adjacent said preventing means to prevent insertion through said tag body of means other than said arcuate probe from engaging said receiving and clutching means to release clutching said tack body.

16. An electronic article surveillance tag in accordance with claim 11, wherein said light emitting means flashes at a first repetition rate in response to said armed state of said alarm means and flashes at a second repetition rate when said alarm means sounds said alarm.

17. A method for alarming an electronic article surveillance tag having a tag alarm disposed within a tag body, the tag body adapted to receive a tack assembly for releasable attachment of the tag to an article, comprising:

providing an electronic article surveillance tag having an internal circuit for sounding an audible alarm in response to unauthorized detachment of said tag;

arming the tag alarm by insertion of a tack assembly into a tag body and sensing a first state of a tack switch, a first state of a plunger switch, and the first state of an on/off switch;

activating the tag alarm upon sensing a second state of said tack switch and the first state of said on/off switch;

activating the tag alarm upon sensing a second state of said plunger switch and the first state of said on/off switch;

unarming the tag alarm upon sensing the second state of said on/off switch.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising activating the tag alarm upon sensing a relatively strong magnetic field incident on said tag body.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising activating the tag alarm upon sensing a discontinuity in an attached lanyard.

20. An electronic article surveillance system, comprising:

an electronic article surveillance tag attachable to an article, said electronic article surveillance tag comprising;

a tag body having a first opening leading into the interior of said tag body;

preventing means within said tag body for releasably preventing a tack assembly having an elongated tack body and a tack head from being withdrawn from said tag body, said elongated tack body being receivable in said first opening of said tag body and insertable into said tag body;

means within said tag body defining an arcuate channel leading from the exterior of said tag body to said preventing means, said arcuate channel being adapted to receive and guide an arcuate probe to said preventing means for releasing said preventing means from preventing said elongated tack body from being withdrawn from said tag body when therein;

a detectable electronic article surveillance sensor disposed in said tag body; and

,

shield means disposed in said tag body adjacent said sensor and extending substantially the full length of said sensor for preventing insertion of an instrument through said tag body into said sensor;

means for transmitting a first signal into a surveillance zone; and

eans for receiving a tag signal resulting from the interaction in said surveillance zone of said first signal with said detectable electronic article surveillance sensor in said tag body for detecting the presence of said tag in said surveillance zone.