Integrated theft deterrent device

• US 7,342,495 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Surveillance Corporation
• Original Assignee: Adel O Sayegh
• Inventors: Sayegh, Adel O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie
• Application Number:
  US10/860,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 702/82, 702/76, 247/041, 247/042, 247/062
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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: Y10T 24/50 Readily interlocking, two-part fastener requiring either destructive or tool disengagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/505 including additional fastener structure linking parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7124 Retracted electrically only

Abstract

An integrated theft deterrent tag 20 having a lanyard 38 emanating therefrom. The lanyard 38 having a pin 48 permanently attached thereto and the pin 48 being received within a locking mechanism 32 and enclosing an article to be protected.

Claims

1. An integrated theft deterrent device, comprising:

a tag body 20;

a locking mechanism 32 located within said tag body 20;

a lanyard 38 extending from within said tag body 20;

the lanyard 38 having a first end 40 and a second end 42, with the first end 40 inaccessibly coupled within an aperture 36 of the tag body 20 by an anchor 44 attached to the first end 40;

a pin 48 being permanently connected to the second end of said lanyard 38 at an end opposing said tag body 20;

an apex region 25 extending from said tag body 20 such that the apex region 25 causes the tag body 20 to a side such that the pin 48 is maintained in horizontal alignment with a flat surface to prevent injury from stepping thereon;

a first half 22 and a second half 24 that are joined around a perimeter of said tag body 20 by a first side wall 26 and a second side wall 28 extending inwardly from said first and second halves respectively;

the opening 30 being defined by said first half 22 for receiving said pin 48; and

the aperture 36 being defined by said first half 22 through which said lanyard 38 emanates;

with said pin 48 received within said locking mechanism 32 in a secure yet detachable manner; and

wherein said integrated theft deterrent device does not include a power source.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said apex region 25 is substantially dome shaped.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said tag body 20 defines the aperture 36, said aperture 36 being sufficiently sized to allow said lanyard 38 to pass therethrough yet preventing said anchor 44 from being withdrawn.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a reinforcement wall 46 extends inwardly into said tag body 20 and farther defines said aperture 36.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said first end 40 is attached to said anchor 44 by crimping.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said first end 40 is attached to said anchor 44 by soldering.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said lanyard 38 is made of stainless steel cable yet is flexible.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said tag body 20 further comprises a resonant tag circuit.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said aperture 36 is sufficiently sized to allow said lanyard 38 to pass therethrough yet preventing said anchor 44 from being withdrawn.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein a reinforcement wall 46 extends inwardly from said first half into said tag body 20 and further defines said aperture 36.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said first end 40 is attached to said anchor 44 by crimping.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein said first end 40 is attached to said anchor 44 by soldering.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein said lanyard 38 is made of flexible stainless steel cable.

14. A method of manufacturing an integrated theft deterrent device, comprising the steps of:

providing a tag body 20;

providing a first half 22 and a second half 24 that are joined around a perimeter of said tag body 20 by a first side wall 26 and a second side wall 28 extending inwardly from said first and second halves respectively;

defining an aperture 36 being through said first half 22 through which said lanyard 38 emanates;

whereby a first end 40 of the lanyard 38 is maintained by the tag body 20;

defining an opening 30 through said first half 22 for receiving said pin 48 attached to a second end of lanyard 38;

providing a locking mechanism 32 within said tag body 20;

excluding a battery from within said tag body;

providing an apex region 25 on tag body 20 such that said pin 48 is maintained in horizontal alignment with a flat surface on which the tag body 20 rests to prevent injury from stepping on said pin 48.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of enclosing a resonant tag circuit 34 within said tag body.

15. An integrated theft deterrent device, comprising:

a tag body 20;

a locking mechanism 32 located within said tag body 20;

a lanyard 38 extending from within said tag body 20;

a pin 48 being permanently connected to the second end of said lanyard 38 at an end opposing said tag body 20, with said pin 48 received within said locking mechanism 32 in a secure yet detachable manner;

a first half 22 and a second half 24 that are joined around a perimeter of said tag body 20 by a first side wall 26 and a second side wall 28 extending inwardly from said first and second halves respectively;

the opening 30 being defined by said first half 22 for receiving said pin 48; and

the aperture 36 being defined by said first half 22 through which said lanyard 38 emanates;

an apex region 25 extending from said tag body 20 such that the apex region 25 causes the tag body 20 to a side such that the pin 48 is maintained in horizontal alignment with a surface to prevent injury from stepping thereon; and

wherein said integrated theft deterrent device does not include a power source and the lanyard does not form and complete an electrical circuit.

16. The integrated theft deterrent device of claim 15, wherein:

the lanyard 38 has a first end 40 and a second end 42, with the first end 40 permanently and irremovably coupled within an aperture 36 of the tag body 20 by an anchor 44 attached to the first end 40.

18. The integrated theft deterrent device of claim 15, wherein a resonant tag component 34 is located within said tag body 20.