Wash destructible resonant tag

• US 7,839,352 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Iacono, Charles, Strauser, Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; HoangAnh T
• Application Number:
  US12/193,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 343/895, 343/700.MS, 343/702, 340/572, 340/572.1, 340/693
• US Class Current: 343/895
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2414 using inductive tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/242 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A resonant tag for use with a radio-wave detection system for the prevention of shoplifting or the like, which has a coil and capacitor circuit formed on opposite sides of an extremely thin substrate of a biaxially-oriented polypropylene, with one of the capacitor plates formed on one side of the substrate and the coil and other capacitor plate formed on the other side of the substrate, and paper layers on both sides of the tag, whereby the circuit is destroyed when the tag is washed in water or dry cleaned.

Claims

1. A resonant tag and carrier, the tag resonating with a radio wave at a predetermined frequency, the tag comprising:

a polypropylene film having a thickness of approximately 8 μ

m or less;

a first circuit comprising a first metal foil including a coil portion and a plate portion, which comprises a first plate of a capacitor, formed on one side of said polypropylene film;

a second circuit made of a second metal foil including a plate section which comprises a second plate of said capacitor, formed on the other side of said polypropylene film;

a first paper layer adhered to said first circuit side;

a second paper layer adhered to said second circuit side; and

wherein said both circuits comprise an LC circuit by being electrically connected;

the carrier comprising a fluid-permeable fabric;

wherein the tag is enclosed in the carrier such that when the carrier and tag are immersed in water, said paper layers are saturated with said fluid.

2. The resonant tag of claim 1 wherein said polypropylene film comprises a biaxially oriented polypropylene film.

3. The resonant tag according to claim 2, wherein said resonant tag has an area of 750 mm² or less.

4. The resonant tag of claims 2 wherein the predetermined resonant frequency is 5 to 15 MHz.

5. The resonant tag of claim 1 wherein said first and second metal foils comprise aluminum.

6. The resonant tag of claim 1 wherein said metal foils and said polypropylene film are laminated to each other by a styrene-based or olefin-based adhesive.

7. The resonant tag of claim 1 wherein said paper layers are adhered to said first and second circuit sides with a water-based adhesive.

8. The resonant tag and carrier of claim 1, wherein said fluid is water or dry-cleaning fluid.

9. A method for deactivating a resonant tag that resonates with a radio wave at a predetermined frequency, comprising:

forming the tag having;

a polypropylene film having a thickness of approximately 8 μ

m or less;

a first circuit comprising a first metal foil including a coil portion and a plate portion, which comprises a first plate of a capacitor, formed on one side of said polypropylene film;

a second circuit made of a second metal foil including a plate section which comprises a second plate of said capacitor, formed on the other side of said polypropylene film;

a first paper layer adhered to said first circuit side;

a second paper layer adhered to said second circuit side;

wherein said both circuits comprise an LC circuit by being electrically connected; and

immersing said tag in a washing fluid in a washing cycle;

saturating said paper sheets in said washing fluid;

wherein said metal foil and film are distorted, rendering the tag deactivated.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said first and second adhesives comprise a styrene-based or olefin-based adhesive.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said polypropylene film comprises a biaxially-oriented polypropylene film.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said resonant tag has an area of 750 mm² or less.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined resonant frequency is 5 to 15 MHz.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said first and second metal foils comprise aluminum.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said paper sheets are adhered to said first and second foil sides with a water-based adhesive.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said washing fluid is water or dry-cleaning fluid.

17. A method for deactivating a resonant tag comprising,

forming a resonant tag having a polypropylene film having a thickness of approximately 8 μ

m or less, a metal foil layer and a one paper layer;

immersing said tag in a washing fluid in a washing cycle;

saturating said paper layer in said washing fluid;

wherein said metal foil is distorted, rendering the tag deactivated.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said washing fluid is water or dry-cleaning fluid.