Tagging device

• US 6,693,543 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Guidance IP LLC (Spherix Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guidance Control Systems Limited
• Inventors: Stephenson, Kenneth T., Dampney, Ian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PREVIL, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US09/959,673
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.9, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/542, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.8, 340/568.3, 340/568.4, 241/68, 241/75, 241/37, 241/82, 24/23.R, 241/71, 244/55, 248/221.11, 248/114, 248/220.22, 248/205.1, 248/205.2, 248/229.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.9
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/005 Identification bracelets, e.g. secured to the arm of a person

Abstract

A tagging device comprises a strap attached to a housing. A latch plate is mounted on a first length of strap and a collar is slidably mounted on a second length of strap. The latch plate has two location pegs which fit into holes on the first length of strap such that a hole fits over the lug to make the strap the correct size for a user. Two flexible barbs are formed on the collar such that the collar slides over the plate and the barbs are deformed as they slide up slopes on the plate. As the barbs slide off the end of the slopes they return to their rest position and snap into slots. Moving the collar in relation to the plate once the barbs have snapped into place in the slots causes the barbs to break, giving an indication of tampering.

Claims

1. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device comprising:

a strap including electrical circuit means, the strap having a first free end and a second free end; and

fastening means to lock the strap on an object, wherein the fastening means comprises;

a latch plate on the first free end of the strap, the latch plate and the second end of the strap comprising corresponding retaining means such that the retaining means on the latch plate engages with the retaining means on the second free end of the strap to maintain the two ends of the strap in a fixed relative position when the fastening means is engaged and wherein the latch plate comprises a top plate and an actuator plate, the actuator plate having one or more lugs that engage with a hole from one side of the strap and the actuator plate and the top plate having corresponding mating means such that the top plate engages with the actuator plate from the other side of the strap and through the hole; and

a collar on the second free end of the strap, the collar being movable to a closed position on the latch plate to hold the two ends of the strap together when the retaining means on the latch plate and the second free end of the strap are in the engaged position, one of the collar and the latch plate further including engagement means and the other of the collar and the latch plate further including corresponding receiving means such that the engagement means engage with the receiving means when the collar is in the closed position and such that one of the engagement means and receiving means shows evidence of tampering if the collar has been disengaged from the latch plate;

and wherein the latch plate further comprises a connecting protrusion and the electrical circuit means in the first end of the strap includes a switch means such that when the collar is fitted over the latch plate the connecting protrusion is to create a contact in the switch means and when the collar is moved in relation to the latch plate the protrusion moves to release the contact in the switch means.

2. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 1 wherein the electrical circuit means comprises a flexible printed circuit board integrally moulded within the strap.

3. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 1 wherein the latch plate contacts the electrical circuit means within the strap to close a circuit around the device when the fastening means is closed.

4. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 1 wherein the engagement means on one of the collar or the latch plate comprises breakable elements that engage with receiving means in the form of slots on the other of the collar or the latch plate such that the elements snap when the collar is moved in relation to the latch plate.

5. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 4 wherein the breakable elements comprise barbs on the inside of the collar which deform to snap over ridges in corresponding receiving slots on the latch plate.

6. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 5 wherein the barbs are strong enough to hold the collar in position on the latch plate so that it is not inadvertently disengaged but are weak enough to break if the collar is forcibly moved in relation to the latch plate.

7. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means on the latch plate comprises a lug and the retaining means on the second free end of the strap comprises at least one corresponding hole such that the lug fits into the hole to hold the first and second free ends of the strap in a fixed relative position when the fastening means is engaged.

8. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 1 wherein the device further includes means to adjust the length of the strap to suit a wide variety of user sizes.

9. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 8 wherein the adjustment means comprises a plurality of holes on the second free end of the strap to correspond to a lug on the latch plate such that the lug engages with a hole at a position to provide a desired size of closed strap.

10. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 1 wherein the connecting protrusion comprises a switch actuator pin on the actuator plate, the switch actuator pin passing through the hole in the strap and through a corresponding hole in the top plate for contact with the switch means.

11. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 10 wherein the movement of the protrusion over the switch means closes the electrical circuit in the strap.

12. A strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 1 wherein the latch plate is arranged such that moving the collar causes the contact to be broken and an alarm to be activated.

13. A fastening means for a strap for a tagging device comprising:

a latch plate for positioning on a first free end of a strap, the latch plate comprising retaining means for engagement with retaining means on a second free end of the strap to maintain the two ends of the strap in a fixed relative position when the fastening means is engaged, and the latch plate contacts electrical circuit means within the strap to close a circuit when the fastening means is closed; and

a collar for positioning on the second free end of the strap, the collar being movable to a closed position on the latch plate to hold the two ends of the strap together when the retaining means on the latch plate and the second free end of the strap are in the engaged position, one of the collar and the latch plate further including engagement means and the other of the collar and the latch plate further including corresponding receiving means such that the engagement means engage with the receiving means when the collar is in the closed position and such that one of the engagement means and receiving means shows evidence of tampering if the collar has been disengaged from the latch plate; and

wherein the latch plate further comprises a connecting protrusion and the electrical circuit means in the first end of the strap includes a switch means such that when the collar is fitted over the latch plate the connecting protrusion is moved to create a contact in the switch means and when the collar is moved in relation to the latch plate the protrusion moves to release the contact in the switch means.

14. A fastening means for a strap for a tagging device according to claim 13, wherein the engagement means on one of the collar or the latch plate comprises breakable elements that engage with receiving means in the form of slots on the other of the collar or the latch plate such that the elements snap when the collar is moved in relation to the latch plate.

15. A fastening means for a strap for a tagging device according to claim 14, wherein the breakable elements comprise barbs on the inside of the collar which deform to snap over ridges in corresponding receiving slots on the latch plate.

16. A fastening means for a strap for a tagging device according to claim 15, wherein the barbs are strong enough to hold the collar in position on the latch plate so that it is not inadvertently disengaged but are weak enough to break if the collar is forcibly moved in relation to the latch plate.

17. A fastening means for a strap for a tagging device according to claim 13, wherein the retaining means on the latch plate comprises a lug and the retaining means on the second free end of the strap comprises at least one corresponding hole such that the lug fits into the hole to hold the first and second free ends of the strap in a fixed relative position when the fastening means is engaged.

18. A fastening means for a strap for a tagging device according to claim 17, wherein the latch plate comprises a top plate and an actuator plate, the actuator plate having one or more lugs that engage with a hole from one side of the strap and the actuator plate and the top plate having corresponding mating means such that the top plate engages with the actuator plate from the other side of the strap and through the hole.

19. A fastening means for a strap for a tagging device according to claim 18, wherein the connecting protrusion comprises a switch actuator pin on the actuator plate, the switch actuator pin passing through the hole in the strap and through a corresponding hole in the top plate for contact with the switch means.

20. A fastening means for a strap for a tagging device according to claim 19, wherein the movement of the protrusion over the switch means closes the electrical circuit in the strap.

21. A fastening means for a strap for a tagging device according to claim 20, wherein the latch plate is arranged such that moving the collar causes the contact to be broken and an alarm to be activated.

22. A combination of a strap and a fastening means for a tagging device, comprising:

a strap including electrical circuit means, the strap having a first free end and a second free end; and

fastening means according to claim 13.

23. A combination of a strap and a fastening means according to claim 22, wherein the electrical circuit means comprises a flexible printed circuit board integrally molded within the strap.

24. A combination of a strap and a fastening means according to claim 22, further including means to adjust the length of the strap to suit a wide variety of user sizes.

25. A combination of a strap and fastening means for a tagging device according to claim 24, wherein the means to adjust the length of the strap comprises a plurality of holes on the second free end of the strap to correspond to a lug on the latch plate such that the lug engages with a hole at a position to provide a desired size of closed strap.

26. A tagging device comprising:

a housing having electronic circuitry enclosed therein; and

a combination of a strap and fastening means according to claim 22.

27. A tagging device according to claim 26, wherein the electronic circuitry within the housing includes means for transmitting a signal to a location remote from the device.