Theft-Deterrent Tape Rule Package

The present invention relates to a theft-deterrent package for a tape measure. The package carries an anti-theft device, such as an electronic article surveillance tag, wherein the package and the tape measure cannot be separated from one another without cutting the package with a knife or scissors, thus preventing separation of the tag from the tape measure.

Tape measures pose a significant theft problem in retail stores. With conventional tape measure packaging, e.g., using cardboard and/or plastic wrap, shop-lifters have been known to tear the package off the tape measure and wear the tape measure out of the store, clipped to the individual's belt.

Electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags have been used in retailing to reduce theft. The tags, which are attached to the retail article or its packaging, trip an alarm-sounding sensor of an EAS detection system when an attempt is made to remove the article from the store, unless the EAS tag is first disarmed by store personnel. Of course, if the tag becomes separated from the article, it is ineffective to prevent theft of the article.

EAS tags have been applied to tape measure packages displayed for sale in order to deter theft. EAS tags are only effective, however, if the tape measure remains with the part of the package carrying the tag. In present tape measure packages, separation of the tape measure from the EAS tag has been relatively easy to accomplish, thus enabling the tape measure to be removed from the store without tripping the EAS detection system sensor.

Accordingly, the need exists for a tape measure package that includes an EAS tag that cannot be separated easily from the tape rule measure.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problem noted above. This object is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing a theft-deterrent tape measure package, comprising a tape measure device including a coilable tape rule contained in a housing, and a belt clip secured to the housing; a surveillance tag carrier structure secured to the belt clip and defining a compartment; and an electronic article surveillance tag secured within the compartment. The surveillance tag carrier structure is of high strength plastic material inhibiting separation thereof from the belt clip and inhibiting manual access to the electronic article surveillance tag. The surveillance tag carrier structure requires cutting or otherwise destroying of the plastic material with an implement to enable separation thereof from the belt clip or manual access to the electronic surveillance tag.

The present invention is particularly suited for tape measure packages that provide a cardboard backing that facilitates display of the tape measure for sale. In accordance with this object, the present invention provides a theft-deterrent tape measure package, comprising a tape measure device having a coilable tape rule contained in a housing and a belt clip secured to the housing, the tape measure device mounted on one side of a cardboard backing. The cardboard backing has an opening therethrough for receiving the belt clip. A blister pack is disposed on a side of the backing opposite the one side, the blister pack including first and second molded sheet portions bonded together. The belt clip is secured to the blister pack between the first and second sheet portions. An electronic article surveillance tag is secured between the first and second molded sheet portions, the blister pack being made from high strength plastic material inhibiting separation thereof from the belt clip and inhibiting manual access to the electronic article surveillance tag. The surveillance tag carrier structure requires cutting or otherwise destroying of the plastic material with an implement to enable separation thereof from the belt clip or manual access to the electronic surveillance tag.

In a specific embodiment, the package employs a blister pack having two compartments, one for securing the tape measure belt clip, and the other for securing the EAS tag. Specifically, the present invention provides a theft-deterrent tape measure package, comprising a tape measure device having a coilable tape rule contained in a housing and a belt clip secured to the housing, the tape measure device mounted on one side of a cardboard backing, and the cardboard backing having an opening therethrough for receiving the belt clip. A blister pack is disposed on a side of the backing opposite the one side, the blister pack including first and second molded sheet portions bonded together and forming first and second compartments. The belt clip is secured to the blister pack between the first and second sheet portions and disposed within the first compartment. The blister pack forms a clip opening engagement structure that engages within the opening formed in the belt clip when the belt clip is disposed within the first compartment to prevent removal of the belt clip from the first compartment. An electronic article surveillance tag is secured between the first and second molded sheet portions and disposed within the second compartment. The blister pack is made from high strength plastic material inhibiting separation thereof from the belt clip and inhibiting manual access to the electronic article surveillance tag. The surveillance tag carrier structure requires cutting or otherwise destroying of the plastic material with an implement to enable separation thereof from the belt clip or manual access to the electronic surveillance tag.

Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a theft deterrent tape rule package in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the theft deterrent tape rule package in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 3--3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 4--4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of a tape rule package, generally indicated at 10, in accordance with the present invention. A tape rule device 12 having a housing 14 contains a coiled measuring tape, or measuring rule, therein. A hooked or flanged end 16 of the measuring tape is illustrated in FIG. 1. The coiled measuring tape is biased in a take-up direction in conventional fashion. The tape can also be locked in an extending measuring condition by actuation of the locking lever 18, also in conventional fashion.

The tape rule device 12 is contained in packaging 20. The packaging 20 comprises a large cardboard backing 22. The cardboard backing 22 is comprised of two cardboard sheets, including a front cardboard sheet 24 and a back cardboard sheet 26, which are adhered to one another. The front cardboard sheet 24 has within its boundary a cutout portion defined by edge 28, which generally conforms to the peripheral shape of the housing 14 (but is slightly larger). Thus, the housing 14 rests against a forwardly-facing surface 30 of the back cardboard sheet 26.

More particularly, the housing 14 of the tape rule device 12 is contained between the forwardly-facing surface 30 of the back cardboard sheet 26 and a clear plastic covering 34. The clear plastic covering 34 extends across the forward face of the housing 14 and then downwardly alone the edges of the housing 14 towards the edge 28. The clear plastic covering 34 has an outwardly-extending peripheral flange 36 which extends between the front cardboard sheet 24 and back cardboard sheet 26 and is adhered therebetween, to effectively secure the clear plastic covering 34 over the housing 14.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the tape rule package 10. As shown, the back cardboard sheet 26 has a generally rectangular shaped opening 40, which is smaller than the opening or cut-out portion in the front sheet 24 defined by edge 28. A tape rule clip 42 is shown fastened to the tape rule housing 14 by an appropriate fastener 46. The clip 42 has a generally rectangular opening 43 stamped therethrough. The clip 42 extends at least partially outwardly through the opening 40 of the back cardboard sheet 26.

A separately-formed plastic structure for carrying an EAS tag is provided, as generally indicated at 50. Preferably, the structure employed is what is known in the art as a "blister pack," although any high strength plastic structure that can secure the EAS tag to the belt clip 42 can be used.

The blister pack 50 is formed as a completed unit prior to being secured to clip 42. The blister pack 50 is formed from a clear plastic material. Particularly, the blister pack 50 comprises two molded plastic sheet portions, including an outer sheet 52 and an inner sheet 54, which are peripherally heat-sealed (e.g., to cause slight plastic melting and then bonding solidification as known in the blister pack art) to one another along peripheral bond or seal 56. The sheet portions 52 and 54 may be separately formed, or hinged an folded-over to be sealed to one another.

Preferably, an intermediate seal 58 secures the inner sheet 54 to the outer sheet 52, and divides the interior space between the inner sheet 54 and outer sheet 52 into two separate compartments or spaces 60 and 62. The compartment 62 receives the clip 42 through a clip insertion opening 64 formed in the inner sheet 54 and communicating with the compartment 62, which functions as a clip-receiving compartment.

The inner sheet 54 has formed therein a clip opening engagement structure, preferably in the form of a ramp or bubble 66, which extends inwardly into the compartment 62. The ramp 66 extends further inwardly into compartment 62 as it extends further downwardly towards the bottom of the package (towards the bottom of the sheet in FIG. 2). To secure the clip 42 to the blister pack 50, the blister pack 50 is manipulated so that the opening 64 receives the leading edge 70 of the clip 42. The blister pack 50 is slid in an upward direction (towards the top of the page in FIG. 2), so that the leading edge 70, which is preferably bent slightly outwardly, rides up the increasing slope of the ramp 66. During this sliding motion, the clip 42 is biased slightly outwardly away from the housing 14, until the lower edge 74 of the opening 43 in the clip 42 snaps over the bottom edge 78 of the ramp 66. The ramp 66 is subsequently trapped within compartment 62. The bottom edge 78 of the ramp 66 prevents the clip 42 from backing out through opening 64. As a result, the blister pack 50 is securely fastened to the tape rule device 12. Thus, the plastic sheets forming the compartment 62 define a clip securement structure. It can be appreciated that the ramp configuration permits the lip to be easily inserted into the compartment 62 without the necessity of tools of any sort.

The second compartment 60, which functions as a surveillance tag carrier structure, contains an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag 80, which is conventionally known and which utilizes magnetically vibrating elements that transmit a frequency which can be detected by a conventional detection system used in retail stores. Examples of such sensors are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,357,240; 5,313,192; 5,111,186; 4,510,489; and 4,510,490, the respective disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The EAS tag can be disarmed, for example, by being demagnetized at the cash register before the customer walks past the sensor at the store exit.

The substance forming the blister pack 50 is made of a strong plastic material which cannot be manually ripped or torn. Thus, the blister pack 50 and hence the EAS tag cannot be removed from the clip 42 unless the material of the blister pack is cut or otherwise destroyed, which typically requires a tool, such as a sharp edge blade or scissors. Preferably, the plastic material is a polyvinylchloride (PVC) film, having a thickness between about 0.01-0.03 inches. Most preferably, the film has a thickness of about 0.02 inches. The PVC film used is preferably of the non-recycled variety to ensure strength thereof. The high strength plastic material inhibits separation thereof from said belt clip and inhibits manual access to said electronic article surveillance tag.

It can be appreciated that the present invention contemplates that the surveillance tag carrier structure or blister pack 50 can be provided with only a single compartment, rather than two separate compartments, and that the EAS tag and the belt clip can be secured in the same single compartment.

Preferably, the surveillance tag carrier structure or blister pack 50 is of a dimension greater than that of the opening 40 in the rear cardboard sheet 26 of the cardboard backing 22 so that 1) the cardboard backing 22 is secured between the housing 14 and the surveillance tag carrier structure 50, and 2) the blister pack 50 remains on an opposite side of the cardboard backing 50 in relation to the housing 14. As a result, the housing 14 is secured to the cardboard backing 22 without relying on, or even requiring, clear plastic covering 34.

While the invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.