Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Patent
1996-12-20
1998-11-24
Hofsass, Jeffrey A.
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
G08B 1314
Patent
active
058413499
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an alarm tag comprising two parts one of which is provided with a pin attached to said one part to be located on one side of a product with the pin extending through the product into locking engagement with the other part located on the opposite aide of the product, said one part having means for activating an alarm device in said one part.
Existing alarm tags are of one or the other of two types. Either the alarm device is located in the alarm tag so that an alarm will be emitted from the alarm tag at theft of the protected product, or means in the alarm tag affect an external alarm device so that an alarm is emitted externally at theft. In both cases said one part has a completely passive element and comprises a head on the pin, most frequently of plastics, the only purpose of which is to maintain the alarm tag mechanically on the product. In both cases there are deficiencies regarding the securily against theft to be afforded by the alarm tag. Thus, it is possible to remove the alarm tag from the protected product by cutting off the pin or by crushing the plastic head, and if this is done no alarm will be given unless either the pin is withdrawn from the alarm tag or the alarm tag is carried into or out of an external field. It is thus possible to remove the alarm tag and then walk out carrying the product from the area protected against theft without an alarm being given.
The purpose of the invention is to provide an alarm tag which improves the security against unauthorized removal from the product to be protected against theft by means of the alarm tag of the kind referred to above according to the invention comprises two parts, one of which is provided with a pin attached to the one part to be located on one side of a product with the pin extending through the product into locking arrangement with the other part located on the opposite side of the product, the one part having means for activating an alarm device in the one part, characterized in that the one part comprises a bistable contact element operatively related to an electronic control circuit for the alarm device or a second alarm device, the contact element normally being in one stable position in which the alarm device is silent, but being constructed to be switched via the pin to the other stable position in order to activate the alarm device at the attempt to separate the two parts of the alarm tag.
In order to explain the invention in more detail reference is made to the accompanying drawing which discloses an illustrative embodiment and wherein
FIG. 1 is a side view of an alarm tag attached to a product which is shown fragmentarily in cross section, and
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of that part of the alarm tag which comprises a pin and a head.
In FIG. 1 there is disclosed an alarm tag which comprises a first part 10 containing means for initiating alarm from an alarm device which either is built into this part or consists of an external alarm device. The alarm is initiated when the alarm tag is carried out from a defined area in a department store or a shop due to the fact that the alarm tag then, at the exit from said area, will leave of an electromagnetic or electrostatic field maintained in said area, or it; carried through such a field maintained between bows located one at each side of the exit passage. This part of the alarm tag can be of any existing known construction. Part 10 is applied to one side of a product 11. The alarm tag also comprises a second part 12 consisting of a pin 13 with a head 14 said head being applied to the opposite side of product 11 with the pin extending through the product and being attached to part 10. The attachment is such that the parts cannot be moved apart for removal of the alarm tag from the product unless the attachment is operated magnetically or mechanically in a special device at the site where the product is to be paid, according to a well-known technique applied in connection with alarm tags.
The invention is based on the knowledge that each attemp
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patent: 5072213 (1991-12-01), Close
patent: 5275122 (1994-01-01), Stolz et al.
patent: 5367289 (1994-11-01), Bard et al.
Hofsass Jeffrey A.
LaPointe Dennis G.
Mason, Jr. Joseph C.
Tweel , Jr. John
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