Security system for preventing unauthorized removal of merchandise

• US 7,817,041 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• 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: Stenild, Eddie L., Skjellerup, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US12/316,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20090128341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 304/572.1, 304/572.8, 304/572.3, 304/572.9, 304/568
• 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: E05B 73/0064 of the mechanical type
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03

Abstract

A security tag assembly and security system associated therewith to 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 including a locking member is structured to restrict 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 positionable into and out of a movement restricting engagement with said connector member,

said locking assembly including a positioning member and a locking member, said locking member formed of a one piece construction and including an aperture having an uninterrupted peripheral boundary,

said movement restricting engagement at least partially defined by said locking member and said peripheral boundary disposed at an angular orientation relative to said connector member concurrent to said peripheral boundary disposed into engaging relation with said connector member,

a supporting platform disposed within said attachment member and at least partially including an angular configuration substantially equal to said angular orientation of said locking member, and

said positioning member and said supporting platform disposed in engagement with opposite sides of said locking member and cooperatively structured therewith to maintain said locking member in said angular orientation at least while said locking member is disposed in said movement restricting engagement with said connector member.

2. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said positioning member is freely mounted within said attachment member and disposed in biased engagement between said locking member and an interior portion of said attachment member.

3. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking member comprises a locking ring;

said locking ring including a substantially flat, circular configuration.

4. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said locking ring is formed from a flexible, deformable material.

5. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking assembly further comprises a stabilizer disposable in an at least partially supporting relation with said locking member.

6. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said stabilizer is movably disposable out of said at least partially supporting relation with said locking member.

7. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said stabilizer is disposable between an operative, supporting orientation and a collapsed, non-supporting orientation relative to said locking member.

8. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said stabilizer comprises an at least partially attenuated segment, said attenuated segment structured for selective disposition of said stabilizer from said operative, supporting orientation to said collapsed, non-supporting orientation, relative to said locking member.

9. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 8 further comprising a detachment assembly structured to dispose said locking assembly out of said movement restricting relation with said connector member.

10. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said detachment assembly comprises at least one detachment structure disposable in an impacting relation with said stabilizer.

11. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said stabilizer is destructively disposed out of said at least partially supporting relation with said locking member and into said collapsed, non-supporting position upon disposition of said at least one detachment structure in said impacting relation with said stabilizer.

12. 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 having an elongated configuration and 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 positionable into and out of a movement restricting engagement with said connector member,

said locking assembly comprising a positioning member and a locking member, said locking member disposable in an at least partially surrounding and angularly engaging relation with said connector member,

said connector member including a smooth substantially continuous surface at least along a portion of thereof angularly engaged by said locking member, when said locking assembly is in said movement restricting engagement with said connector member,

said movement restricting engagement of said locking assembly being at least partially defined by disposition of said locking member in said angularly engaging relation with said connector member,

said locking member being operatively disposable between a locked orientation and a released orientation relative to said connector member,

said locking assembly further comprising a stabilizer disposable between an operative, supporting orientation and a collapsed, non-supporting orientation relative to said locking member, and

said positioning member and said stabilizer disposed in engagement with opposite sides of said locking member and cooperatively structured therewith to maintain said locking member in said angular orientation.

13. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said stabilizer is disposed in a substantially surrounding relation to at least a portion of said connector member.

14. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said stabilizer comprises an at least partially attenuated segment, said attenuated segment structured for selected disposition between said operative, supporting orientation and said collapsed, non-supporting orientation relative to said locking member.

15. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 14 further comprising a detachment assembly structured to dispose said locking assembly out of said movement restricting engagement with said connector member.

16. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said detachment assembly comprises at least one detachment structure disposable in a detaching relation with said connector member.

17. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said detachment assembly comprises at least one detachment structure disposable in an impacting relation with said stabilizer.

18. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 15 further comprising a plurality of detachment structures, each disposable in an impacting relation with a different portion of said stabilizer.

19. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said positioning member comprises a locking spring disposed in a continuously forced relation with said locking member, at least while said locking assembly is disposed in said movement restricting engagement with said connector member.

20. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 19 further comprising a supporting platform;

said supporting platform comprising an at least partially angled configuration equal to said angularly engaging relation of said locking member relative to said connector member.

21. A security tag assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein at least a portion of said locking member is disposable in an at least partially overlying relation to said supporting platform.

22. 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, said connector member comprising a continuous, substantially smooth surface along at least a majority of a length thereof,

a locking assembly disposed within said attachment member and further disposable into and out of a movement restricting engagement with said connector member,

said locking assembly comprising at least one locking member disposable in an at least partially surrounding relation with said connector member,

said locking member being operatively disposable between an angularly engaging orientation, wherein said locking member is structured to engage said connector member, and a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of said connector member,

said movement restricting engagement of said locking assembly being at least partially defined by engagement of said locking member with said continuous, substantially smooth surface of said connector member when disposed in said angularly engaging orientation, and

said locking assembly further comprising a stabilizer disposable in an at least partially supporting relation relative to said locking member, at least while said locking member is disposed in said angularly engaging orientation.