Pliable material loop tag

• US 7,978,080 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2008
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bryan T.R. Rowland, Frederick A. Bleckmann, James Brodzik
• Inventors: Rowland, Bryan T. R., Brodzik, James, Bleckmann, Frederick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Application Number:
  US12/264,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20090115615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/571
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0292 tamper indicating labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/04 to be fastened or secured by the material of the label itself, e.g. by thermo-adhesion by a separate adhesive layer G09F3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer

Abstract

A security tag that can be attached to an item or items that provides a zero or low impact to the item or items such as elegant or soft goods. The security tag includes a security element that is enclosed within a pliable material that is looped around the item or items it is protecting and then is closed on itself or on an extension of the pliable material. No puncturing, piercing or adhesive attachment to the elegant or soft goods occurs, thereby making a “zero or low impact” on the item while also making a pleasant presentation to customers when the item (or items) is displayed.

Claims

1. A security tag adapted for coupling to an item, said security tag comprising:

at least one security element that responds to a magnetic or electromagnetic field of a particular frequency or frequencies; and

a pliable material in which said security element is positioned and wherein said pliable material comprises dimensions that are greater than dimensions of said security element, said pliable material having upper and lower edges that are folded, said pliable material having closed opposing ends, transverse to said upper and lower edges, that can be looped around the item and over each other, said opposing ends being fixedly secured to each other.

2. The security tag of claim 1 further comprising a closure seam for fixedly securing said opposing ends to each other.

3. A security tag adapted for coupling to an item, said security tag comprising:

at least one security element that responds to a magnetic or electromagnetic field of a particular frequency or frequencies; and

a pliable material having a pocket or pouch formed therein and in which said security element is positioned, said pliable material further comprising an extension having a free end, said extension being manipulated to loop around the item and wherein said free end is fixedly secured within said pocket or pouch of said pliable material.

4. The security tag of claim 3 further comprising a closure seam for fixedly securing the looped free end of said extension within said pocket or pouch.

5. The security tag of claim 3 wherein said extension comprises an integral portion of said pliable material.

6. The security tag of claim 3 wherein said pouch or pocket is formed by a folded pliable material whose sides are closed.

7. The security tag of claim 3 wherein said pouch or pocket is formed by a cover portion that overlays and sandwiches said security element between said cover portion and said pliable material, said cover portion being secured to said pliable material along three sides.

8. The security tag of claim 3 wherein said extension is a discrete element having a first end positioned within said pouch or pocket.

9. A security tag adapted for coupling to an item, said security tag comprising:

at least one security element that responds to a magnetic or electromagnetic field of a particular frequency or frequencies; and

a pliable material having a pocket or pouch formed therein and in which said security element is positioned, said pliable material further comprising at least two extensions each having respective free ends, said extensions being manipulated to loop around the item and wherein said free ends are fixedly secured together.

10. The security tag of claim 9 further comprising a closure seam for fixedly securing said pocket or pouch closed.

11. The security tag of claim 10 wherein said at least two extensions comprise integral portions of said substrate.

12. A method for attaching a security tag to an item, said method comprising:

enclosing a security element within a pliable material wherein dimensions of said pliable material exceed dimensions of said security element around its periphery;

manipulating said pliable material around the item so that opposing sides of said pliable material pass over a portion of each other; and

fixedly securing said opposing sides of said pliable material together.

13. A method for attaching a security tag to an item, said method comprising:

forming a pouch or pocket of a pliable material;

disposing a security element within said pouch or pocket;

forming an extension of said pliable material that includes a free end;

manipulating said extension to loop around the item; and

fixedly securing said free end of said extension within said pouch or pocket.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of forming an extension of said pliable material comprises securing a first end of said extension within said pocket or pouch.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of manipulating said extension comprises folding or twisting said extension before fixedly securing said free end of said extension to said substrate.

16. A method for attaching a security tag to an item, said method comprising:

forming a pouch or pocket of a pliable material;

disposing a security element within said pouch or pocket;

forming at least two extensions of said pliable material and wherein each extension comprises a free end;

securing pouch or pocket closed;

manipulating said extensions to loop around the item;

fixedly securing said free ends of said extensions together.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of forming at least two extensions comprises using discrete extensions having first ends that are disposed within said pouch or pocket.