System and method for authenticated detachment of product tags

• US 7,450,013 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bremer, Peter, Schneider, Peter, Clancy, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Lam P
• Application Number:
  US11/736,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.9, 340/568.1, 235380-385, 235/492, 70/571, 70/58, 247/041, 247/042
• US Class Current: 340/572.9
• 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 24/50 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 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A system and method for releasing a security tag from an article automatically at a point of sale without the need for store employee involvement, assuming a valid sale is occurring. A system and method for releasing a security tag from an article automatically at a point of sale that tracks the detacher operation and the time and date of such operation.

Claims

1. A method for automatically detaching a security tag from an article only upon the sale of the article, said method comprising:

locating a reader at the point of sale (POS) that reads the security tag to identify the article being purchased;

providing a database in communication with said reader and wherein said database stores a status of the article, said database verifying that the status of the read article is ready for sale;

coupling a detacher to said database to be in communication with said database;

controlling said detacher by said database to release said security tag from the article only if said database verifies that said read article is ready for sale;

coupling a POS machine to said database to be in communication with said database; and

conveying the article identity and sales information to said POS machine upon said release of the security tag from the article.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the security tag comprises a locking mechanism having displaceable components containing small amounts of ferromagnetic material, and wherein said step of controlling said detacher comprises generating a magnetic field that interacts with said ferromagnetic material to cause said components to be displaced, thereby unlocking said locking mechanism.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of coupling a detacher to said database comprises providing a permanent magnet within said detacher having a weight that requires the use of a mechanism to move said permanent magnet proximate the security tag when said detacher is commanded to release the security tag.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of coupling a detacher to said database comprises providing an electromagnet that is energized for creating said magnetic field.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of tracking where an article is by said database, said database updating said status as the security tag attached to the article passes readers other than said reader at the POS, said readers other than said reader at the POS being in communication with said database.