Flexible merchandise security element

• US 6,724,307 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sentronik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Georg Siegel Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung Zur Verwertung Von Gewerblichen Schutzrechten
• Inventors: Siegel, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/576,814
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.5, 340/572.6, 340/551, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/572.2, 340/572.3, 340/572.4
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2411 Tag deactivation
• 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 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging

Abstract

Security elements that are flexible, that can be used for merchandise and preferably can remain on the merchandise, that are difficult to locate, that can be incorporated into the merchandise during its manufacture and that have a simple design, i.e., merchandise security elements that can be economically produced and used. A merchandise security element which is intended for use in connection with acoustomagnetic merchandise security systems formed of a flat section of a swingable metal foil and a flexible, magnetic metal foil which are arranged in an overlapping fashion within a predetermined surface region and which are fixed relative to one another by means of a non-conductive spacer that cannot be magnetized and is arranged in between the two metal foils within the overlapping surface region.

Claims

1. A merchandise security element for use in connection with acoustomagnetic merchandise security systems, comprising:

a flat section of swingable metal foil;

a flexible magnetic metal foil; and

a non-conductive spacer that cannot be magnetized;

wherein the flat section of swingable metal foil and the flexible magnetic foil are arranged in an overlapping fashion within a predetermined surface region and fixed relative to one another by means of the non-conductive spacer being arranged in between the two metal foils within an overlapping surface region;

wherein the overlapping surface region and/or mutual distance between the two metal foils is defined according to a desired reaction frequency,

wherein the spacer is plastic.

2. The merchandise security element according to claim 1 wherein the spacer has adhesive properties and is simultaneously used to fix the two metal foils.

3. The merchandise security element according to claim 1 wherein the two foils are fixed by embedding said foils in a flexible plastic.

4. The merchandise security element according to claim 1, further comprising a deactivating element.

5. The merchandise security element according to claim 4, wherein the deactivating element can be mechanically influenced.

6. The merchandise security element according to according to claim 1, wherein the security element contains stabilizing elements for influencing the flexibility of the foils.

7. The merchandise security element according claim 1, wherein at least one fastening element is arranged on the security element.

8. A merchandise security element for use in connection with acoustomagnetic merchandise security systems, comprising:

a flat section of swingable metal foil;

a flexible magnetic metal foil;

a non-conductive spacer; and

a deactivating element;

wherein the flat section of swingable metal foil and the flexible magnetic foil are arranged in an overlapping fashion with a predetermined surface region and fixed relative to one another by means of the non-conductive spacer being arranged in between the two metal foils within an overlapping surface region;

wherein the overlapping surface region and/or mutual distance between the two metal foils is defined according to a desired reaction frequency,

wherein the deactivating element causes a change in the mutual distance and/or the overlapping surface between the two foils when actuated.

9. The merchandise security element according to claim 8, wherein the deactivating element can be mechanically influenced.