Article identification and surveillance tag

Details Article identification and surveillance tag Article identification and surveillance tag

1999-07-09

2001-10-30

Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3627)

Locks

Special application

For antitheft signaling device on protected article

C292S30700B

Reexamination Certificate

active

06308539

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to article identification and protection and pertains more particularly to tags having size adaptiveness to articles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One type of article identification device having security aspects and having virtual universal applicability to articles is the so-called “seal”, such as is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,055. The seal of the '055 patent comprises a plastic body having a flexible cord passing through and secured in the body and extending outwardly of the body to a cord free end which has hooks secured thereto and of configuration providing for irreversible insertion in the plastic body. In addition to the body and the cord, the seal of the '055 patent has plates bearing logo/article indication applied to the plastic body to close the same. In use, the hook and cord are passed through an opening of, e.g., a watch band, and the hook is then inserted into the plastic body.
A widespread further practice in article security is the use of so-called anti-theft tags which incorporate electronic article surveillance (EAS) markers. Such tags are secured to articles and are removed or rendered inactive at checkout. Where fraudulent avoidance of checkout (shop-lifting) occurs, the markers are sensed by EAS systems, e.g., at store exits, and suitable alarm is generated.
One form of EAS marker in widespread use is in the form of a flat, thin, flexible, rectangular member which is applied adhesively to flat or curved surfaces of articles.
In pending, allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/088,839, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,909, commonly-assigned herewith, there is shown a seal incorporating therewithin an EAS marker.
Known seals, such as those above discussed, have a common shortcoming in that they are not adaptive to the size of articles with which they are assembled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the subject invention is to provide tags which are adaptive to the size of articles with which they are assembled.
In broad aspect, the invention provides tags, the article engaging elements of which can tightly circumscribe articles of different sizes. To this end, the invention provides tags having first and second separately fabricated housings having respective locking means for securing the housings to one another with articles of varying sizes securable interiorly of the secured housings.
More particularly, an article protection tag in accordance with the invention comprises a first housing defining a compartment therein, an EAS member disposed in the compartment and a second housing separate from the first housing, the first and second housings jointly defining means for locking the first housing to the second housing with any one of a plurality of predetermined fixed spacings between facing surfaces of the first and second housings interiorly of the locking means.
In another aspect, the invention comprises, in combination, an article of manufacture having a constituent component generally rectangular in cross-section and an article protection tag comprising a first housing defining a compartment therein, an EAS member disposed in the compartment and a second housing, the first and second housings jointly defining means for locking the first housing to the second housing, one of the housing means for locking including first and second locking members mutually spaced by at least a first dimension of the article of manufacture cross-section and having lengths exceeding a second dimension of the article of manufacture cross-section.
The invention will be further understood from consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments thereof and from the drawings where like reference numerals identify like parts throughout.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4299870 (1981-11-01), Humble
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patent: 5088165 (1992-02-01), Minasy et al.
patent: 5119652 (1992-06-01), Costa
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patent: 5306055 (1994-04-01), Mainetti
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patent: 5524463 (1996-06-01), Schenkel et al.
patent: 5655392 (1997-08-01), Holmgren
patent: 5945909 (1999-08-01), Kolton
patent: 5955951 (1999-09-01), Wischerop et al.
patent: 6082156 (2000-07-01), Bin

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