Anti-theft tag

[0001] The invention relates generally to an anti-theft tags and, more specifically to an improved anti-theft tag including an electronic article sensor for attaching to a product, such as a watch.

[0002] It is well known in the art to use electronic article surveillance (EAS) sensors in order to prevent the theft of consumer products. Such electronic sensors trigger an alarm if not detached or disarmed before the product is removed from the store. For many products, electronic sensors have been very effective in deterring theft. However, such sensors can be difficult to attach to certain products, for example jewelry, and can often be easily removed from such items even when attached. One higher price item where the difficulty of attaching electronic sensors is prevalent is watches. Often sensors cannot be attached to watch bands because they can be easily slipped off one end, and if the sensors are overly large they can limit the customer's ability to try on the watch before purchasing. Thus, electronic sensors attached to products such as watches must not only be tamper resistant in the hands of the consumer, but should also not interfere with the consumer's ability to try on the product. In addition, it is desirable to have sensors which can be readily attached to a variety of products, which can be attached in a convenient manner, and which are tamper resistant so that the EAS sensor cannot be readily removed by the consumer. A variety of tags containing EAS sensors have been developed over the past years in an attempt to address these and other concerns.

[0003] One such sensor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,320 to Kolton et al. The '320 patent discloses an article identification and surveillance tag having an article engaging loop (22) which is adjustable by pulling on end member (20b) which is accessible exteriorly of the tag body. The tag (10) includes a body formed of housings (12 and 14) which are joined together during use. A tail (20) includes a first tail end (20a) which is peripherally continuous with a first end of the housing (12) which defines loop (22) exteriorly of the housing. The tail (20) extends from the loop, into and through the housing and terminates in tail end piece (20b), which is accessible exteriorly of the tag (10). Housing (12) defines and interior channel (24), the walls of which are formed with facing ratchets (26 and 28). Secured to tail (20) interiorly of housing (12) is a collar (30) of pawl member (32). The outer walls of pawl member (32) are formed with teeth (34 and 36) which engage respectively with ratchets (26 and 28). The ratchets 26 and 28) and teeth (34 and 36), engage such that the pawl member (32) is moveable only in one direction, i.e., downwardly, so that the loop can only be made smaller. The ratchets and teeth thus from a one way clutch, which precludes upward movement of pawl member (32). In one embodiment, the tail (52) defines a loop (53) exteriorly of the housing, the tail extending from the loop and tail parts (52a, 52b), ends of which are joined inside member (52c), and which is accessible exteriorly of tag (42).

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,932 to Mainetti et al. discloses an anti-shoplifting device including a housing having a lower half (2) and an upper half (3), and a ferromagnetic plate (4) which is inserted into an internal cavity (5) formed by the upper and lower halves after they have been joined. A flexible and/or elastic cord (8) is supported on an edge of the lower half (2) and includes a spike (9) having flexible tongues (10), the spike (9) being insertable in an irreversible manner into opening (7) of the lower half (2) in order to for a loop which is attachable to a product.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,172 to Lamy et. al. discloses an anti-theft device for eyeglasses including a plate (1) having a link (7) extending therefrom. The plate includes a slot (14) for inserting the free end portion (15) of the link (7) and has fastening means for retaining the end portion (15). The fastening means includes a block (16) supported on the plate (1). The link (7) is connected to the plate (1) by inserting the link into a slot (18) until a bulged portion (17) is in abutment. After the link (7) has been looped around the bridge of the frame of a pair of eyeglasses, it is then inserted into the slot (14) to be locked therein. The link is fastened by a pin (22) which is moveable perpendicularly to the link and which projects into one of the holes (10) of the link under the action of a spring (23).

[0006] While generally effective, the aforementioned devices and others available in the art can still be difficult to attach to a variety of products, and can often be tampered with by the consumer. Accordingly, there is continued development in the art in order to further improve anti-theft tags.

[0007] One object of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft security tag including an electronic article surveillance marker which is capable of being readily assembled, while being tamper resistant after assembly.

[0008] In accordance with one aspect, there is provided an anti-theft security tag having an engagement member, for example a cable or wire, which includes a first and a second end securable within a housing for attachment to an article, for example a watch band. The housing preferably further includes a channel for receiving and securing a crimping sleeve, and supports an electronic article surveillance marker. A slot is preferably disposed within the housing for receiving a crimping tool in order to attach and secure the wire to the article, and within the housing, so that the ends of the wire are not readily accessible by a consumer. The combination of these features allows the anti-theft tag to be readily assembled and tamper resistant after assembly, as described in greater detail below.

[0025] An anti-theft security tag 10 including an electronic article surveillance marker 12 for attachment to an article, such as a watch band 13, is illustrated in FIGS. 1-15. As used herein, the term “article” refers to any type or style of consumer product. Also, as used herein, “watch” refers to any style or type of watch which may be worn by a user. However, it is expressly understood that the present invention is not limited to use with watches and may be used with any of a variety of articles as would be known to those of skill in the art.

[0026] Referring now to the FIGS. 1-9, a first embodiment of the anti-theft security tag 10 is illustrated. The tag 10 includes an engagement member 14 for securing the tag to an article, such as a watch, and a housing 16 for supporting an electronic article surveillance (EAS) marker 12. In the present embodiment, the housing 16 preferably includes a base 18a and a backing member 18b. The base preferably includes a front wall 19a, side walls 19b and 19c, a bottom wall 19d and a top wall 19e, the walls bounding a cavity 20 formed in the base. In the present embodiment, the top wall 19e includes a pair of holes sized to receive a first end and a second end 22a, 22b, respectively, of the engagement member 14, the holes providing access to a pair of channels 21a, 21b disposed within the base. The engagement member 14 may take any of a variety of forms, suitable for engagement with an article, and preferably includes a wire 24 and a pair of crimping sleeves 26a, 26b for retaining the first and second ends of the wire within the housing during use, as described in greater detail below. The wire is preferably sufficiently strong so as to withstand tampering. In the present embodiment, the wire is able to withstand about 40 to about 50 lbs of pressure before beginning to fail.

[0027] The crimping sleeves 26a, 26b are preferably cylindrical and are sized to loosely fit around the first and second ends 22a, 22b of the engagement member prior to crimping, and are also sized to fit within the channels 21a, 21b. The crimping sleeves are pliant so that a crimping tool 28 engaging the sleeves will force the sleeves inward so as to crimp around the ends of the engagement member, as is known in the art. The first end 22a of the engagement member 14 is preferably received through an opening 30a in the top wall 18e of the base 18a and into the crimping sleeve 26a disposed in channel 21a. The crimping sleeve 26a is preferably crimped by the manufacturer, and is sized larger than the opening 30a so that the first end is secured within the base 18a when received by a retail establishment. Although a channel is provided for the crimping sleeve 26a, it is an optional feature and may be eliminated as would be known to one of skill in the art. The second end 22b of the wire 24 is preferably not crimped at this point so that the tag can be attached to the article at a later date. However, crimping sleeve 26b is preferably held in place within channel 21b, in alignment with opening 30b and slot 33, which is sized to receive a crimping tool, as described in greater detail below.

[0028] A conventional EAS marker 12 is preferably placed over the crimping sleeves 26a, 26b and is supported within the cavity 20 of the base 18a. In the present embodiment, interior walls 32 aid in supporting the EAS marker and also define the channels 21a, 21b. The cavity 20 and walls 32 are preferably dimensioned so that the EAS marker is approximately flush with the perimeter of the walls 19b-19e. Once the EAS marker is in position, the backing member 18b is secured to the base 18a. In this manner, the EAS marker is hidden within the housing and is not readily accessible to the consumer. The backing member may have any of a variety of forms, and is an adhesive-backed plastic sticker in the present embodiment.

[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 5-9, connection of the tag to an article, such as a watch band 13 is illustrated. Although the backing member 18b is missing for purposes of illustration, in use the backing member would be in place. To attach the anti-theft security tag, the second end 22b is inserted about the article, here through a hole 34 in the watch band, and into opening 30b so as to form a loop 31 (FIGS. 5-6). The second end 22b is then inserted into crimping sleeve 26b disposed within channel 21b (FIG. 7). The crimping sleeve is in alignment with opening 30b so that the second end is easily received within the sleeve. In the present embodiment, a portion 32a of interior wall 32 prevents the second end 22b from being over-inserted and also aids in retaining the crimping sleeve. Slot 33 is sized to receive a crimping tool 38, and is disposed through side wall 19b in alignment with the side of the crimping sleeve 26b. After the second end 22b is inserted within the crimping sleeve 26, the crimping tool is inserted through the slot 33 and engages the sleeve 26b in order to force the sleeve inwardly so as to crimp it around the second end of the engagement member. Because the sleeve 26b is sized larger than the opening 30b, even in the crimped state, the second end 22b is secured within the housing. Once the second end is crimped within the housing, the size of loop 31 is fixed, and the anti-theft tag is securely attached to the article. It will be appreciated the anti-theft tag described herein is capable of being readily assembled, while being tamper resistant after assembly, and may be attached to any number of articles.

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 10-15, an alternate embodiment including an adjustable engagement member is illustrated. In this embodiment, all parts which are the same, or similar to, corresponding parts in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9 are noted with the same two last numbers, but preceded by the numeral “1”. As illustrated, the anti-theft tag 110 is identical to tag 10 described above, with the exception of channel 121b and the addition of a third opening 140 disposed through bottom wall 119d. In this embodiment, channel 121b extends the length of the base 118a, from opening 130b in top wall 119e down to opening 140 in bottom wall 119d. In addition, crimping sleeve 126b may preferably be positioned adjacent the bottom wall 119d. Likewise, the slot 133 for receiving the crimping tool is also positioned adjacent the bottom wall 119d, in alignment with crimping sleeve 126b. The remaining elements of the anti-theft tag 110 are the same as in the preceding embodiment, including the positioning of the first end 122a and crimping sleeve 126a within the base 118a.

[0031] By extending the channel the length of the base 118a, from opening 130b in top wall 119e down to opening 140 in bottom wall 119d the second end 122b can pass entirely through the base and out of opening 140 in bottom wall 119d (FIG. 13). In this manner, the size of loop 131 is adjustable by increasing or decreasing the length of the wire which exits the housing through opening 140. In use, the first end is first crimped, the EAS marker 112 is inserted and the backing member 118b is attached, as described above with respect the first embodiment. The second end 122b is then passed through or around the article, through the first opening 130b, into channel 121b, through sleeve 126b and out of opening 140. The wire continues to be fed through the opening 140 until loop 131 reaches the desired size. The sleeve 126b is then crimped by applying the crimping tool 138 through slot 133, as described above to secure the tag and set the size of loop 131. After crimping, the portion of the wire which extends from opening 140 may be cut, if desired.

[0032] It will be appreciated the anti-theft tag described in this embodiment is capable of being readily adjusted to fit a variety of articles while being tamper resistant after assembly, and may be attached to any number of articles.

[0033] It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, it should be understood that the channels may or may not be provided, that the backing member may take any of a variety of forms and be attached to the base in any known manner, and the wire may be formed of alternate materials, for example plastic. Also, although shown as rectangular, the housing may be other shapes, for example circular, in which case there would be more or less walls, depending upon the particular shape, as would be known to those of skill in the art. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of a preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope, spirit and intent of the invention.