Security system for preventing unauthorized removal of merchandise

• US 7,286,054 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braeburn Asset Holdings, LLC, ES Holding Dragoer ApS
• Original Assignee: Eddie L. Stenild, Johan Skjellerup
• Inventors: Skjellerup, Johan, Stenild, Eddie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US11/363,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20060208908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/573.8, 340/568.1, 340/572.9
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0062 with destructive disengagement
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0064 of the mechanical type
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2457 Lending systems using EAS tags wherein the tags are reusable, e.g. they can be activated and deactivated more than once, e.g. for a library
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3427 Clasp

Abstract

A security tag assembly and security system associated therewith prevent the unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, such as a retail establishment. The security tag assembly comprises a base and at least one attachment member removably connected in an operative position on the merchandise being protected. A locking assembly restricts detachment of the attachment member and is forcibly disposed out of movement restricting relation to said connector member when the base and the attachment member are separated. A detachment assembly and a data registering processor may include a two-way communication link which facilitates processing of the merchandise data disposed on the security tag assembly, such that the purchasing of the merchandise and the removal of the security tag assembly can be effectively accomplished without jeopardizing the security of the merchandise being sold.

Claims

1. A security tag assembly structured to discourage unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, said security tag assembly comprising:

an attachment member and a base collectively disposable in an operative position relative to the merchandise,

a connector member secured to said base and structured to interconnect said attachment member and said base in said operative position,

a locking assembly disposed within said attachment member and structured to assume at least a first position and a second position,

said first position at least partially defined by movement restricting engagement of said locking assembly with said connector member,

said second position at least partially defined by a forced deflection of said locking assembly into a predetermined orientation relative to said connector member and out of said movement restricting engagement therewith, and

said connector member rotationally connected to said base, and said attachment member rotationally movable with said connector member relative to said base when said base and said attachment member are interconnected in said operative position.

2. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking assembly comprises a first portion having an aperture formed therein, said aperture disposed and dimensioned to facilitate receipt and passage of said connector member there through upon entry of said connector member into said attachment member.

3. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said locking assembly further comprises a second portion anchored in a substantially fixed location within said attachment member.

4. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said first position is further defined by said first portion being angularly orientated relative to said connector member and peripheral portions of said aperture disposed in said movement restricting engagement with said connector member.

5. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said second position is further defined by said predetermined orientation being sufficiently transverse to dispose said peripheral portions of said aperture out of said movement restricting engagement.

6. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said second position is further defined by said predetermined orientation being sufficiently flattened to dispose said peripheral portions of said aperture out of said movement restricting engagement.

7. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking assembly comprises a first portion including a substantially elongated configuration terminating in a free end of said locking assembly, said first portion having an aperture formed therein, said aperture dimensioned and configured and cooperatively disposed and structured with said first portion to facilitate receipt and passage of said connector therethrough.

8. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said locking assembly further comprises a second portion including an opposite end of said locking assembly, said second portion anchored in a substantially fixed location within said attachment member.

9. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said first position is further defined by said first portion angularly oriented relative to said connector member and peripheral portions of said aperture disposed in said movement restricting engagement with said connector member.

10. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said second position is further defined by said predetermined orientation being sufficiently flattened to dispose said peripheral portion out of said movement restricting engagement.

11. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said base comprises a mounting segment connected to said connector member and removably attached to a remainder of said base.

12. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said connector member is removable with said mounting segment in detached relation to said base.

13. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said connector member is rotationally connected to said mounting segment.

14. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said base further comprises a display field disposed on an exterior thereof, said display field comprising predetermined data disposed thereon in an externally exposed position.

15. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising an indicator assembly including at least one indicator member connected to said base and structured to facilitate wireless communication between an outside receiver and said base.

16. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said one indicator member comprises a conductive material coil structured to facilitate RF communication with said base.

17. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 16 wherein said coil comprises a substantially annular configuration mounted within said base and extending along a periphery thereof.

18. A security tag assembly structured to discourage unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, said security tag assembly comprising:

at least one base and a plurality of disposable attachment members each independently connected to said base in an operative position,

a connector member secured to said base and disposed and structured to engage the merchandise and concurrently interconnect any one of said plurality of attachment members to said base in said operative position,

at least some of said attachment members including a locking assembly comprising a substantially elongated configuration and an aperture disposed and dimensioned to receive said connector member therethrough,

said locking assembly including a first portion movable between first and second positions and a second portion substantially fixedly anchored within said attachment member,

said first portion at least partially defined by movement restricting engagement of peripheral portions of said aperture with said connector member,

said second position at least partially defined by a forced deflection of said first portion into a predetermined orientation sufficient to remove said peripheral portions from said movement restricting engagement with said connector member, and

said connector member rotationally connected to said base, and said attachment member movable with said connector member relative to said base when said base and said attachment member are interconnected in said operative position.

19. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 18 further comprising a detachment assembly including a holding assembly structured to stabilize said security tag assembly relative to said detachment assembly to facilitate detachment of said base and said attachment member.

20. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said second position is further defined by said predetermined orientation being sufficiently transverse to dispose said peripheral portions out of said movement restricting engagement.

21. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 18 said second position is further defined by said predetermined orientation being sufficiently transverse to dispose said peripheral portions out of said movement restricting engagement.

22. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 18 wherein said base comprises a mounting segment connected to said connector member and removably attached to a remainder of said base.

23. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 22 wherein said connector member is movable with said mounting segment in detached relation to said remainder of said base.

24. A security tag assembly structured to discourage unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, said security tag assembly comprising:

an attachment member and a base collectively disposable in an operative position relative to the merchandise,

a connector member secured to said base and structured to interconnect said attachment member and said base in said operative position,

a locking member movably mounted within said attachment member and disposable into and out of movement restricting engagement with said connector member, and

said base comprising a mounting segment connected to said connector member and removably attached to a remainder of said base.

25. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 24 wherein said connector member is rotationally connected to said base.

26. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 25 wherein said attachment member is rotational with said connector member relative to said base when said base and said attachment member are interconnected in said operative position.

27. A mounting assembly for securing a scanner in an operative position on a detachment assembly for a security tag, said mounting assembly comprising:

a mounting structure including a platform and an attachment structure connected to said platform,

said mounting structure connected to a support pedestal of the detachment assembly,

said operative position of the scanner at least partially defined a spaced, overlying disposition of the scanner relative to a tag receiving portion of the detachment assembly, and

said mounting structure further including at least one mounting member connected to said platform and structured to engage and retain the scanner in said operative position.

28. A mounting assembly as recited in claim 27 wherein said mounting structure further includes a plurality of mounting members cooperatively disposed and structured to retain the scanner in said operative position.

29. A mounting assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein said plurality of mounting members extend outwardly from said platform in spaced relation to one another.

30. A mounting assembly as recited in claim 29 wherein said plurality of mounting members are cooperatively structured to removably engage and retain the scanner in said operative position.

31. A mounting assembly as recited in claim 28 wherein said plurality of mounting members are cooperatively structured to removably engage and retain the scanner in said operative position.

32. A mounting assembly as recited in claim 27 wherein said attachment structure is cooperatively dimensioned and configured with the support pedestal to be removably connected thereto.

33. A mounting assembly as recited in claim 32 wherein said attachment structure is removably insertable into the support pedestal.

34. A mounting assembly as recited in claim 27 wherein said at least one mounting member is cooperatively structured with the support pedestal to removably retain the scanner on the support pedestal in said operative position.

35. A mounting assembly as recited in claim 27 wherein said mounting structure comprises a plurality of mounting fingers extending outwardly from said platform and are structured to include a sufficient flexibility to releasably and at least partially surround a predetermined portion of the scanner.

36. A mounting assembly as recited in claim 35 wherein said plurality of mounting fingers are at least four in number and are disposed to collectively straddle opposite sides of the predetermined portion of the scanner.