EAS device with installation switch and activating base

• US 9,830,792 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiao Hui Yang
• Original Assignee: Xiao Hui Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Xiao Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Point, Rufus
• Application Number:
  US15/375,247
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks
• 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 73/0058 for essentially box-shaped devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/02 Mechanical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2428 Tag details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

An electronic article surveillance device with an electronics housing and base attaches to an article to be protected. The housing and base have connecting interfaces which act together to attach the housing to the base. The housing has a switch on the underside and the base has an aperture partially covered by a flexible tab that aligns with the switch. The flexible tab normally protrudes away from the bottom surface of the base. When the base is attached to an article, the tab is pushed back into the aperture. When the housing is attached to the base, the switch contacts the tab. If the EAS device is removed from the base without disarming the device, the tab moves out of the aperture and allows the switch to detect the removal. The EAS device then issues an alarm. The flexible tab may a piercing element to pierce plastic wrapping, if present.

Claims

1. An electronic article surveillance apparatus comprising:

a housing enclosing electronic components, said housing having a bottom surface, a top surface and at least one side connecting said bottom surface and said top surface, said housing having a first attaching interface, said electronic components comprising a switch extending from said bottom surface of said housing; and

a base, said base having a top surface and a bottom surface, said base having a second attaching interface complimentary to said first attaching interface, said first attaching interface and said second attaching interface facilitating the releasable attachment of said housing to said base with said bottom surface of said housing facing said top surface of said base, said base comprising an aperture located to align with said switch when said housing is attached to said base, said base further comprising a first flexible tab extending into said aperture and aligning with said switch, said first flexible tab being biased to extend past said bottom surface of said base;

wherein,

when said base is attached to an article and said housing is attached to said base, said first flexible tab is pushed into said aperture and said switch contacts said flexible tab.

2. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said first flexible tab comprises a piercing element directed toward the article.

3. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said piercing element is a piercing protrusion extending from said first flexible tab and directed toward the article.

4. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said piercing element is the end of said first flexible tab, said end of said first flexible tab being formed to be sufficiently sharp to pierce plastic wrapping if present.

5. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second flexible tab extending into said aperture, said second flexible tab being biased to extend past said bottom surface of said base.

6. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

said second flexible tab is positioned opposite said first flexible tab.

7. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

said second flexible tab comprises a piercing element directed toward the article.

8. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said electronic components comprise a circuit board, a microprocessor, wireless communication elements, and a battery;

said microprocessor monitoring said switch.

9. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

said wireless communication elements comprise radio frequency communication circuitry.

10. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said wireless communication elements comprise an optical port and a light emitting diode.

11. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

said electronic components further comprise a sound generating element, said sound generating element generating audible cues and alarms.

12. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said electronic components comprises a passive electronic article surveillance element.

13. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said second attaching interface comprises at least two fixed hooks on said base, and said first attaching interface comprises at least one hook receiving slot in said housing and a latch hook slideably mounted on a sliding latch in said housing, wherein,

said at least one hook receiving slot receives a respective fixed hook and said latch hook slideably engages a respective fixed hook to maintain said housing on said base.

14. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a blocking component biased to shift position to a blocking position to block the return of said sliding latch when said sliding latch is moved to engage said latch hook into said respective hook receiving slot.

15. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

said blocking component is magnetically attractable to move it from said blocking position to allow the return of said sliding latch.

16. The electronic article surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said base is attached to an article with adhesive.