Hard cover product with spine-disposed concealed security device

• US 7,602,300 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smartguard LLC
• Original Assignee: Smartguard LLC
• Inventors: Nichols, Dale Hunt Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/757,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/539.1, 340/540, 340/541, 340/825.69, 340/5.8, 340/693.5, 340/693.9, 340/693.12, 340/825.72, 235/487, 235/380, 235/492, 402/70, 402/73
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• 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

Abstract

A hard cover product having an outer liner attached to a pair of sheet members disposed in spaced-apart relation to define a gap. One of the hard sheet members defines a receiving zone that receives a security tag. An inner liner attaches overlying the pair of hard sheet members and concealing the security tag within the receiving zone. The gap between the pair of sheet members defines a spine for the hard cover product, whereby the opposing hard sheets defining a front cover and back cover that move together foldably.

Claims

1. A method of making by a bindery manufacturer a hard cover product having opposing foldable covers interconnected by a spine there between, comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching an outer liner to a major surface of a first cover sheet and to a second cover sheet disposed in spaced apart relation to define a spine portion in a gap there between, the first cover sheet and the second cover sheet pre-cut to a selected size and foldable towards each other on the outer liner along lines defined by a respective inner edge of the first and second cover sheet;

(b) attaching a security tag within the spine portion; and

(c) attaching a body in overlying relation to the first and second cover sheets, whereby the spine portion of the hardcover product defines a rigid base for holding the security tag safely during manufacture as well as in use for use in packaging with other of the hard cover products, including storing, shipping, retailing, and there is reduced opportunity for damage to the security tag due to weathering and delaminating of the hard cover product.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step (b) attaching comprises attaching the security tag in a recess defined in a spine member and attaching the spine member to the spine portion to face the security tag towards the outer liner.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step (b) attaching comprises attaching the security tag in a recess defined in a spine member and attaching the spine member to the spine portion to face the security tag towards the body.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step (a) providing comprises providing an outer liner that defines a coded indicia displayed on a portion of an exterior surface in the spine portion thereof and wherein step (b) further comprises disposing the security tag in substantial alignment with the coded indicia.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step (b) attaching comprises attaching a security tag that is a sheet electronic response device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the body attached in step (c) comprises a shell configured for receiving a disc.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the body attached in step (c) comprises a plurality of pages that define a loose-leaf book.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the body attached in step (c) comprises a ring member for receiving sheets.

9. A method of making by a bindery manufacturer a hard cover product having opposing foldable covers interconnected by a spine there between, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an outer liner;

(b) attaching in spaced-apart relation a pair of sheet members pre-cut to a selected size to a major surface of the outer liner to define a spine portion there between, wherein the sheet members are foldingly movable towards each other along respective opposing edges on the outer liner;

(c) attaching a spine member to the outer liner in the spine portion between the spaced-apart sheet members to define lateral gaps between the respective sheet member and a side edge of the spine member, the spine member defining a recess therein;

(d) attaching a security tag within the recess in the spine member; and

(e) attaching a body to the sheet members,

wherein the hard cover product thereby provides for being trackable by the security tag concealed within the recess being responsive to a remote interrogator; and

whereby the spine portion of the hardcover product defines a rigid base for holding the security tag safely during manufacture as well as in use for use in packaging with other of the hard cover products, including storing, shipping, retailing, and there is reduced opportunity for damage to the security tag due to weathering and delaminating of the hard cover product.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the step (d) attaching comprises attaching the security tag in the recess facing the outer liner.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the step (d) attaching comprises attaching the security tag in the recess facing the body.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of attaching an inner liner overlying the pair of sheet members.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the step (a) further comprises the outer liner defining a coded indicia displayed on a portion of an exterior surface in the spine portion thereof, and wherein step (d) further comprises disposing the security tag in substantial alignment with the coded indicia.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the step (d) comprises a sheet electronic response device.

15. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the body attached in step (e) comprises a shell configured for receiving a disc.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the body attached in step (e) comprises a plurality of pages that define a loose-leaf book.

17. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the body attached in step (e) comprises a ring member for receiving sheets.

18. A method of making in a bindery manufacturing facility a hard cover product having opposing foldable covers interconnected by a spine there between, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an outer liner having an exterior surface that includes graphics images and includes a coded indicia in a longitudinally medial portion thereof;

(b) disposing a pair of opposing sheet members in spaced-apart relation to define a spine portion in a gap there between;

(c) attaching the sheet members to an inner surface of the outer liner, wherein a perimeter portion of the outer liner overlaps laterally outward edge portions of the pair of sheet members, and wherein the sheet members are foldingly movable towards each other along respective opposing edges on the outer liner;

(d) defining a recess in a spine member;

(e) attaching the spine member to the outer liner in the spine portion between the spaced-apart members to define lateral gaps between the respective sheet member and a side edge of the spine member;

(f) attaching a security tag within the recess in the spine member;

(g) overlaying an inner liner on the pair of sheet members; and

(h) disposing a body within a space defined by the main sheet members folded together to define a front and back cover,

whereby the hard cover product thereby provides for tracking by a remote interrogator that senses a response by the concealed security tag to a signal; and

whereby the spine portion of the hardcover product defines a rigid base for holding the security tag safely during manufacture as well as in use for use in packaging with other of the hard cover products, including storing, shipping, retailing, and there is reduced opportunity for damage to the security tag due to weathering and delaminating of the hard cover product.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the body disposed in step (h) comprises opposing matingly engageable shells for receiving a disc, each one of the shells attached to a respective one of the front and back covers.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the body disposed in step (h) comprises a plurality of pages that define a loose-leaf book.

21. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the body disposed in step (h) comprises a ring member for receiving sheets.

22. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the security tag attached in step (f) comprises a sheet electronic response device.