Anti-theft tag

• US 7,626,501 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Packaging Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Display Technologies, Inc. (Rhode Island)
• Inventors: Feibelman, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/787,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 340/586.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.3, 340/568.4, 340/568.7, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 70/18, 70/49
• US Class Current: 340/568.2
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0041 for essentially round objects, e.g. bottles or racket handles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0329 having electronic sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0352 using cable lock
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0364 having rotary sealing means

Abstract

An anti-theft security tag includes an engagement member having a first and second end securable within a housing by a crimping member for attachment to an article. In one embodiment, the housing supports an electronic article surveillance marker and may include a channel for receiving and securing at least one self crimping member. The self crimping member is sized to receive one end of the engagement member. The one or more crimping members may be disc shaped, including a plurality of fingers for securing one end of the engagement member, or may have a variety of other shapes. The self crimping members allow the engagement member to be moved downward, but not upward, so as to make the engagement loop smaller. In another embodiment, the crimping member is manual and a slot is disposed within the housing in alignment with the at least one crimping member, and is sized to receive a crimping tool to crimp the member and secure the line to the article within the housing.

Claims

1. An anti-theft tag, comprising:

a housing configured to support an electronic article surveillance (EAS) marker;

a rotation member rotatably supported by the housing, the rotation member configured to capture at least a portion of a line to secure the anti-theft tag to an article;

wherein the rotation member is constructed and arranged to capture at least a portion of the line so as to form a loon exterior to the housing; and

wherein the loon engages an article to secure the anti-theft tag to the article, the loon and housing being rotatable relative to each other.

2. The anti-theft tag of claim 1, comprising the line, at least a portion of the line being disposed within the rotation member.

3. The anti-theft tag of claim 2, wherein the rotation member defines an aperture, the at least a portion of the line being disposed within the aperture.

4. The anti-theft tag of claim 1, comprising the line having a first end and a second end opposing the first end, the rotation member being configured and arranged to receive the first end and the second end of the line.

5. The anti-theft tag of claim 4, wherein the rotation member comprises a securing member, the securing member being operable to secure the first end and the second end of the line.

6. The anti-theft tag of claim 1, wherein the rotation member comprises a securing member constructed and arranged to (i) initially hold a first end of the line in a pre-attached manner and allow a second end of the line to move freely in an un-captured manner while the securing member is capable of rotating relative to the housing, and (ii) subsequently capture the second end of the line in a manner that enables the first and second ends of the line to rotate relative to the housing while remaining captured by the securing member.

7. The anti-theft tag of claim 6, wherein the loop, the first end of the line, the second end of the line, and the rotation member are configured to rotate relative to the housing about an axis of rotation of the rotation member.

8. The anti-theft tag of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a ledge disposed within the housing, the rotation member being supported by the ledge.

9. The anti-theft tag of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a cavity, the cavity having the EAS marker disposed therein.

10. An anti-theft tag, comprising:

a housing configured to support an electronic article surveillance (EAS) marker;

a line supported by the housing, the line having a first end and a second end opposing the first end, the line being constructed and arranged to form a loop relative to the housing to secure the anti-theft tag to an article, the first end and the second end of the line being rotatable relative to the housing; and

a rotation member rotatably supported by the housing, the rotation member configured to capture a portion of the line;

wherein the rotation member is constructed and arranged to capture at least a portion of the line so as to form a loon exterior to the housing; and

wherein the loon engages the article to secure the anti-theft tag to the article, the loon and housing being rotatable relative to each other.

11. The anti-theft tag of claim 10, wherein the rotation member defines an aperture, the at least a portion of the line being disposed within the aperture.

12. The anti-theft tag of claim 10, wherein the rotation member is configured and arranged to receive the first end and the second end of the line.

13. The anti-theft tag of claim 10, wherein the rotation member comprises a securing member, the securing member being operable to secure the first end and the second end of the line.

14. The anti-theft tag of claim 10, wherein the rotation member comprises a securing member constructed and arranged to (i) initially hold a first end of the line in a pre-attached manner and allow a second end of the line to move freely in an un-captured manner while the securing member is capable of rotating relative to the housing, and (ii) subsequently capture the second end of the line in a manner that enables the first and second ends of the line to rotate relative to the housing while remaining captured by the securing member.

15. The anti-theft tag of claim 14, wherein the loop, the first end of the line, the second end of the line, and the rotation member are configured to rotate relative to the housing about an axis of rotation of the rotation member.

16. The anti-theft tag of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a ledge disposed within the housing, the rotation member being supported by the ledge.

17. The anti-theft tag of claim 10, wherein the housing defines a cavity, the cavity having the EAS marker disposed therein.

18. An anti-theft tag, comprising:

a housing configured to support an electronic article surveillance (EAS) marker;

a line constructed and arranged to secure the anti-theft tag to an article;

a rotation member rotatably coupled to the housing, the rotation member constructed and arranged to capture at least a portion of a line;

wherein the rotation member is constructed and arranged to capture at least a portion of the line so as to form a loon exterior to the housing; and

wherein the loon engages the article to secure the anti-theft tag to the article, the loon and housing being rotatable relative to each other.

19. The anti-theft tag of claim 18, wherein the rotation member defines an aperture, the at least a portion of the line being disposed within the aperture.

20. The anti-theft tag of claim 18, wherein the rotation member comprises a securing member, the securing member being operable to secure the first end and the second end of the line.

21. The anti-theft tag of claim 18, wherein the rotation member comprises a securing member constructed and arranged to (i) initially hold a first end of the line in a pre-attached manner and allow a second end of the line to move freely in an un-captured manner while the securing member is capable of rotating relative to the housing, and (ii) subsequently capture the second end of the line in a manner that enables the first and second ends of the line to rotate relative to the housing while remaining captured by the securing member.

22. The anti-theft tag of claim 21, wherein the loop, the first end of the line, the second end of the line, and the rotation member are configured to rotate relative to the housing about an axis of rotation of the rotation member.