Anti-fraud tag

• US 9,324,221 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W G Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: W G Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Yang, Xiao Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): DARAMOLA, ISRAEL O
• Application Number:
  US14/606,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20150161863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.9, 247/041
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details

Abstract

A highly visible single use tag prevents the fraudulent return of garments. Two members are connected by a hinge. The hinge allows the members to move from an open configuration to a closed configuration where the members form and enclose a space. Complementary latch elements on the members engage and hold the members in the closed configuration. At least one of the members has a tack extending inwardly into the space enclosed by the members. This tack pierces a garment intended to be protected by the tag and maintains the tag on the garment. At least one of the members has at least one perforated line across the width of the member. This perforated line allows that member to be pulled apart and the tag removed without the need of any tool to do so.

Claims

1. A single use anti-fraud tag for an item, comprising:

a first member having an interior surface, a second member having an interior surface, and a hinge connecting said first and second members, said hinge allowing said members to move from an open configuration to a closed configuration wherein said interior surfaces face each other and enclose an interior space;

each said first member and second member having a complimentary latching element extending from its respective interior surface, said latching elements engaging with each other to maintain said first member and second member in said closed configuration, said latching elements being inaccessible when said members are in the closed configuration;

a tack extending from said interior surface of either said first member or said second member, said tack located away from said latching elements and at an end of either said first member or said second member opposite to said hinge, said tack inserting into said item when said first member and said second member are closed on the item in said closed configuration, said tack and said closed configuration maintaining the tag attached to the item; and

a continuous series of perforations in said first member, said continuous series of perforations allowing said first member to be manually parted from said second member to move into said open configuration by a forceful break along the perforations, to permit removal of the tag from the item without the use of any tool.

2. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 1, wherein:

said continuous series of perforations circumscribes the latching element on said first member where said latching element joins said first member.

3. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 1, wherein:

said continuous series of perforations extends across the width of said first member.

4. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 3, further comprising:

a tab attached to the exterior of said first member, said tab attached to said first member proximal to said continuous series of perforations.

5. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 4, further comprising:

a logo on said tab.

6. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 1, wherein:

the member not having said tack comprises an aperture positioned to receive said tack when said tag is in said closed configuration.

7. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 1, wherein:

said first member, said second member, and said hinge of said tag are of unitary construction.

8. A single use anti-fraud tag for an item, comprising:

a first member having an interior surface;

a second member having an interior surface;

each said first member and second member having a complimentary latching element extending from its respective interior surface;

a hinge connecting said first and second members, said hinge allowing said first member and said second member to move from an open configuration to a closed configuration with said interior surfaces facing each other, said complimentary latching elements latching and holding said first and second members in said closed configuration; and

a tack, located away from said latching elements and at an end of either said first member or said second member opposite to said hinge, extending from the interior surface of either said members and extending through said item to attach said tag to the item when said tag is closed on the item in said closed configuration; and

a continuous series of perforations in said first member, said continuous series of perforations allowing said first member to be manually parted from said second member to move into said open configuration by a forceful break along the perforations, to permit removal of the tag from the item without the use of any tool.

9. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 8, wherein:

said continuous series of perforations circumscribes the latching element on said first member where said latching element joins said first member.

10. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 8, wherein:

said continuous series of perforations extends across the entire width of said first member.

11. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 10, further comprising:

a tab attached to the exterior of said first member, said tab attached to said first member proximal to said continuous series of perforations.

12. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 11, further comprising:

a logo on said tab.

13. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 8, wherein:

the member not having said tack comprises an aperture positioned to receive said tack when said tag is in said closed configuration.

14. A single use anti-fraud tag for an item, comprising:

an elongated plastic piece having a hinge in the middle, one side of said plastic piece comprising internal surfaces;

said hinge dividing said plastic piece approximately into two halves, each half of said plastic piece being generally symmetrical in outline across said hinge;

each of said halves having complimentary holding elements extending from their respective internal surfaces, wherein when said plastic piece is folded at said hinge to a closed configuration and said internal surfaces are brought together, said holding elements engage each other to hold said plastic piece in said closed configuration;

one of said halves having a tack extending from its internal surface and located away from said holding elements and at an end of either of said two halves opposite to said hinge, wherein when said elongated plastic piece is folded to said closed configuration about said item, said tack pierces the item and maintains said tag on said item by said tack and said closed configuration; and

one of said halves having a continuous series of perforations, said continuous series of perforations allowing that half to be manually parted to remove the tag from the item without the use of any tool.

15. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 14, wherein:

said continuous series of perforations circumscribes the holding element on one of said halves where said holding element joins that half.

16. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 14, wherein:

said continuous series of perforations extends across the entire width of one of said halves.

17. The single use anti-fraud tag of claim 16, further comprising:

a tab attached to the exterior of the half having the continuous series of perforations across its width, said tab attached to that half proximal to said continuous series of perforations.