Theft deterrent tag
First Claim
1. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise;
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
a first tag element carrying a one-piece first locking member;
a second tag element carrying a second locking member;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element by engaging the second locking member with the first locking member;
the first locking member being linearly slidable from the locked position to an unlocked position to allow the second locking member to be released; and
the first locking member being free of a camming engagement with the first tag element for moving the first locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable theft deterrent tag includes first and second elements that lock together through a portion of an item of merchandise to secure the tag to the item of merchandise. The first portion of the tag includes a first locking member having opposed teeth that are adapted to lockingly engage a second locking member that is carried by the second element of the tag. The second locking member is in the form of a stepped post that snaps between the opposed teeth to lock the post to the teeth. The tag may be unlocked by moving the teeth with respect to the post. In one embodiment of the invention, a portion of the body of the first element may be destroyed while moving the teeth from the locked position to the unlocked position.
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Citations
75 Claims
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1. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise;
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
a first tag element carrying a one-piece first locking member;
a second tag element carrying a second locking member;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element by engaging the second locking member with the first locking member;
the first locking member being linearly slidable from the locked position to an unlocked position to allow the second locking member to be released; and
the first locking member being free of a camming engagement with the first tag element for moving the first locking member from the unlocked position to the locked position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
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29. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise;
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
a first tag element carrying a first locking member;
a second tag element carrying a second locking member having a longitudinal axis and a cross sectional dimension;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element by engaging the second locking member with the first locking member;
the first locking member including opposed teeth that define a slot;
the second locking member including a portion that is disposed in the slot between the teeth when the first and second locking members are in a locked position;
the first locking member defining an opening sized larger than the cross sectional dimension of the second locking member;
the first locking member being movable from the locked position to an unlocked position where the second locking member is disposed in the opening of the first locking member to allow the second locking member to be released from the first locking member; and
the second locking member being removable from the first locking member without flexing the opposed teeth away from each other. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 44)
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
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50. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise;
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
a first tag element carrying an EAS tag and a one-piece first locking member having opposed teeth;
a second tag element in the form of a tack having a post extending from a head;
the post functioning as a second locking member;
the post being configured to pass through an item of merchandise and into the first tag element to engage the first locking member;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element by locking the first locking member to the post of the second tag element so that when the first locking member is in a locked position removal of the post from the first locking member is prevented by engagement of the post by each of the opposed teeth of the first locking member;
the first locking member being movable between locked position and an unlocked position;
the first locking element being non-pivotably and non-flexingly moveable from the locked position to an unlocked position; and
the post being removable from the first locking member when the first locking member is in the unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
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59. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise;
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
a first tag element carrying a first locking member;
a second tag element carrying a second locking member;
the second locking member being in the form of a post adapted to pass through a portion of the item of merchandise and into the first tag element to engage the first locking member;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element;
the first locking member being linearly slidable from a locked position to an unlocked position;
the unlocked position allowing the second locking member to be disengaged from the first locking member;
the first tag element including opposed ribs that are elongated and spaced from one another to define a portion of an opening sized to receive a key prong that moves the first locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position;
the key prong directly engaging the first locking members without engaging the ribs of the first tag element when the key prong is moving the first locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position; and
the first locking member being slidably mounted on the opposed ribs of the first tag element. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62)
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
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63. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise;
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
a first tag element carrying a first locking member;
a second tag element carrying a second locking member;
the second locking member being in the form of a post adapted to pass through a portion of the item of merchandise and into the first tag element to engage the first locking member;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element;
the first locking member being linearly slidable from a locked position to an unlocked position;
the unlocked position allowing the second locking member to be disengaged from the first locking member;
the first tag element including opposed ribs that are elongated and spaced from one another to define a portion of an opening sized to receive a key prong that moves the first locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position;
the key prong directly engaging the first locking member without engaging the ribs of the first tag element when the key prong is moving the first locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position; and
the first locking member defining an elongated slot in which the post is disposed in the locked position; and
wherein the elongate ribs of the first tag element are elongated in the elongated direction of the slot.
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
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64. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise;
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
a first tag element carrying a first locking member;
a second tag element carrying a second locking member;
the second locking member being in the form of a post adapted to pass through a portion of the item of merchandise and into the first tag element to engage the first locking member;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element;
the first locking member being linearly slidable from a locked position to an unlocked position;
the unlocked position allowing the second locking member to be disengaged from the first locking member;
the first tag element including opposed ribs that are elongated and spaced from one another to define a portion of an opening sized to receive a key prong that moves the first locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position;
the key prong directly engaging the first locking member without engaging the ribs of the first tag element when the key prong is moving the first locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position; and
the first locking member defining an elongated slot in which the post is disposed in the locked position; and
wherein the key prong moves in the elongated direction of the slot to move the first locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
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65. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise, the theft deterrent tag comprising:
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a first tag element carrying a one-piece first locking member;
a second tag element carrying a second locking member having an axis along which the second locking member is movable during connection and disconnection of the first and second tag elements;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element by engaging the second locking member with the first locking member in a locked position;
the first locking member being linearly movable only in a direction which is perpendicular to the axis from the locked position to an unlocked position to allow the second locking member to be released. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67)
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68. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise;
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
a first tag element carrying a first locking member;
a second tag element carrying a second locking member;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element by engaging the second locking member with the first locking member;
the first locking member including opposed teeth that define a slot there between;
the second locking member including a portion that is disposed in the slot between the teeth when the first locking member is in a locked position; and
the first locking member being movable from the locked position to an unlocked position to allow the second locking member to be released from the first locking member without spreading the opposed teeth away from each other. - View Dependent Claims (69)
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
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70. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise;
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
a first tag element carrying a one-piece first locking member;
a second tag element carrying a second locking member;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element by engaging the second locking member with the first locking member;
the first locking member including opposed teeth that define a slot there between;
the second locking member including a portion that is disposed in the slot between the teeth when the first locking member is in a locked position wherein removal of the portion of the second locking member from the first locking member is prevented by engagement of the portion by each of the opposed teeth; and
the first locking member being movable only in a single linear direction from the locked position to an unlocked position wherein the second locking member is removable from the first locking member. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73)
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
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74. A theft deterrent tag adapted to be locked to an item of merchandise;
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
a first tag element carrying a one-piece first locking member;
a second tag element carrying a second locking member;
the second tag element being lockable to the first tag element by engaging the second locking member with the first locking member;
the first locking member including opposed teeth that define a slot there between;
the second locking member including a portion that is disposed in the slot between the teeth when the first locking member is in a locked position wherein removal of the portion of the second locking member from the first locking member is prevented by engagement of the portion by each of the opposed teeth; and
the first locking member being non-pivotably and non-flexingly moveable from the locked position to the unlocked position wherein the second locking member is removable from the first locking member. - View Dependent Claims (75)
- the theft deterrent tag comprising;
Specification