Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120206263 | EAS TAG WITH ARMING SWITCH - An EAS tag has an arming switch protruding from its body to detect when the EAS tag is being forcibly removed from an object to which it is attached. A plate covers the arming switch to provide a broader surface for interacting with the attached object. The plate is capable of floating and moving when it is impinged upon by an attached object. When moved by an object when the EAS tag is attached to an object, the plate actuates the arming switch and changes its state. This can arm the EAS tag or can be a step in the arming process of the EAS tag. When the EAS tag is forcibly removed from an object, the plate and arming switch are released, and electronics onboard the EAS tag determine an alarm condition. | 08-16-2012 |
20120241522 | EAS TAG WITH TWIST PREVENTION FEATURES - An EAS tag includes a cap with a tack shaft and a body with a clutch for receiving and retaining the tack shaft. An aperture in the body gives access to the clutch. The cap is concave and shaped to fit over the body, and the tack shaft extends into the concavity of the cap. The shape of the body and cap and the position of the tack shaft provide an initial resistance to twisting the cap with respect to the body. Both the cap and body may have additional features with interact or interlock to prevent the cap from being twisted. Additional, the cap may have areas of reduced thickness to induce breaking away of parts of the cap when excessive stress is induced in the cap. | 09-27-2012 |
20120267436 | EAS TAG WITH SHACKLE - An EAS tag has a housing and a shackle. The shackle has a first segment with a first end and a second segment with a second end. The first segment of the shackle is slidably mounted in the housing while the second segment moves in and out of the housing in accord with the first segment. When the second segment is out of the housing, the shackle can be placed through an aperture in an object to be protected or around a portion of an object to be protected. The shackle is then slid into the housing so that the second segment inserts into the housing. A clutch within the housing prevents the shackle from being shifted until the clutch is released. The housing carries at least a passive EAS element. More advanced EAS electronic elements may also be carried in the housing. | 10-25-2012 |
20130002430 | ANTI-THEFT DEVICE - An anti-theft device monitors objects having a shaft, strap, or similar element. The anti-theft device is comprised of a two components hingably connected together. The two components can move from an open position to a closed position to enclose the shaft or similar element. One component has a first latch element and contains electronics including an arming switch. When the two components are moved to the closed position, the other component changes the status of the arming switch. The other component has a second latch element which combines with the first latch element to hold the two components in the closed position. The anti-theft device may be armed or disarmed by a remote device. The latching elements may be releasably lockable and may be released by a magnet. The anti-theft device may have passcode protection capabilities. | 01-03-2013 |
20130119145 | EAS Tag With Benefit Denial Features - An EAS tag includes a cap component with a tack shaft. The cap component is contoured to engage with a body component. The body component has a clutch for receiving and retaining the tack shaft. The shape of the body component and the cap component, along with the position of the tack shaft, provide an initial resistance to twisting the cap with respect to the body. Both the cap and body components may have additional features which interact or interlock to prevent the cap from being twisted. Additionally, the EAS tag may incorporate a staining agent-based benefit denial system. The EAS tag is further adapted to be reusable after actuation of the benefit denial system, and includes a visual indication of a compartment containing a staining agent to serve as a visual deterrent to shoplifters. | 05-16-2013 |
20130257619 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DEACTIVATE EAS MARKERS - This invention relates to a method and apparatus for deactivating EAS markers. The device utilizes deactivating magnetic fields created by energizing electrical coils to deactivate electronic article surveillance markers. It consists of housing having an internal structure holding an electrical coil arrangement. The coil arrangement comprises two electrical coils that are arranged essentially coplanar, arranged side-by-side. A third electrical coil is arranged such that each of its windings wraps around both the first and said second electrical coils. Current flowing through the coils generates a composite deactivating magnetic field above the housing. This deactivating magnetic field allows deactivation of a tag swept in any orientation, and does not require the tag to come into physical contact with the deactivating device. Flush mounting conserves space, allowing for ease of merchandise movement over the counter. A distinctive sound indicates the presence and deactivation of the label. | 10-03-2013 |
20130321153 | EAS TAG FOR BOTTLES - An anti-theft device monitors bottles. It is comprised of a two components hingably connected together. They can move from an open position to a closed position to enclose the neck of a bottle. One component has a first latch element and contains electronics including an arming switch. The other component has a second latch element. The latch elements combine to hold the two components in the closed position. When the two components are moved to the closed position, and a bottle is in position, the bottle changes the state of the arming switch. One of the components, or both, may have a protrusion that engages a feature on the bottle to keep the tag in place on the bottle. The anti-theft device may be armed or disarmed by remote devices. The latching elements may be releasably lockable such as by a magnet. The anti-theft device may have passcode protection capabilities. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321154 | EAS Tablet Housing - An EAS device with a housing. In one embodiment, the EAS housing is a one-piece tray-shaped device with the edges contoured so that the monitored object snaps into the tray or is slid into the tray. Other embodiments may include but are not limited to a two piece housing where one piece of the housing has a protrusion which, when closed together and fitted with the other piece of the housing, engages with a releasable clutch located within the back piece. A clutch within the housing prevents the two pieces of the housing from being disengaged until the clutch is released. The EAS devices carry at least a passive EAS element. More advanced EAS electronic elements may also be carried in the housing. | 12-05-2013 |
20140043163 | ASSET PROTECTION SYSTEM - An asset protection system uses a plurality of radiate and detect units to maintain a radio frequency field, or signal, in a monitored area. Each unit has a unique unit identifier code which it modulates onto its transmission of the field, and a zone where its transmission of the field will dominate. Assets have tags attached to them. The tags have a mechanism to attach them to the objects and have electronic components on board including a microprocessor, motion detector, radio frequency circuitry, audible alarm generator. The tags receive the field and when they are in a zone dominated by a unit, demodulate that units identifier code. The tags transmit a signal at a different frequency with the unit identifier code and its tag identifier code in the signal. The unit receives the tag signal with its code on it and adds the tag to the inventory for its area. | 02-13-2014 |
20140071643 | Anti-Theft Hang Tag - An anti-theft device comprised of a housing hingably connected to a cover. The housing and cover can move from an open position to a closed position to clasp and secure an article to be monitored. The housing and cover have latch components. When the housing and cover are rotated to a closed position in relation to one another, a latch component on the cover interconnects with a latch component of the housing to hold the housing and cover in a closed position. The latch components may be releasably lockable and may be released by application of a magnet to a blocking component in the housing which has a magnetically-attractable element associated with it, combined with manual manipulation of a latch switch to disengage the latching components of the housing and cover. The anti-theft device carries at least a passive electronic article surveillance element. More advanced electronic article surveillance elements may also be carried in the housing. | 03-13-2014 |
20140077953 | EAS TAG USING CONDUCTIVE WRAPPING ELEMENT - An electronic article surveillance apparatus for monitoring objects is comprised of a base, at least one electrically conductive wrapping element, and an electronics housing. The conductive wrapping element is long enough to wrap around an object to be protected and may be carried by a section of tape. The base rests on an object to be monitored, and the housing releasably latches onto the base, while each conductive element wraps around the object with each end of conductive element fixed between the base and housing. Electronics within the housing complete a circuit through each conductive element and monitor for continuity. If continuity is lost, either by cutting a conductive element, or unauthorized unlatching of the housing, an alarm can be sounded by the electronics within the housing. The electronic housing may be disarmed by a remote device and delatched from the base. Adhesive may be used to install the apparatus. | 03-20-2014 |
20140159902 | One Time Use Multi-Function Tag - An anti-theft tag has two slightly concave shells attached to each other by a hinge. One shell has an aperture through it and the other shell has a post located to insert through the aperture when the two shells are brought together. At least one catch tab extends laterally from the end of the post. The catch tab exceeds the width of the aperture and is constructed to give to allow the post to insert into the aperture, but to resist and prevent the extraction of the post. The post is severable to allow the remove of the catch tab to allow the opening of the tag. One of the shells also has a slot and the other has a tack. When the post is inserted through the aperture, the tack inserts into the slot. The tack passes through an object to be protected and maintains the tag in place. | 06-12-2014 |
20140232545 | ONE TIME USE TAG - Embodiments of the current invention entail a highly visible tag that can be attached to a product at a highly visible location on the product at a store, but can easily be removed once the purchaser buys the product and takes it home. Once the purchaser gets the product home, they can remove it themselves and use it in public. Once the tag is removed, it cannot be reattached by the consumer. Depending on the store policy, the product may not be returned, or an extra fee charged for returning the garment, or other similar policies. Absence of a tag makes it clear that the buyer has removed the tag and provides an indication that the product, such as a garment has been used or worn in public. The tag is most effective for products that are used in public, such as garments. The tag may carry EAS technology. | 08-21-2014 |
20140253290 | ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE RELAY DEVICE - An electronic article surveillance device attaches to an object having an electronic article surveillance RFID label in it. The EAS device interrogates the label for information and associates itself with the label. The device retransmits the information from the label to the broader system and over a longer range than the label can by itself. The device has a motion detector and periodically interrogates the label to insure the presence of the label, especially when motion is detected. The unexpected absence of the label is considered an alarm condition and the device will alarm in those circumstances. External devices arm and disarm the device and detach the device as well. | 09-11-2014 |
20150048947 | EAS TAG UTILIZING MAGNETOMETER - An EAS tag comprises a microprocessor, motion sensor, magnetometer, communication elements, and audible alarm generator. Various means of attaching the tag to an object to be protected can be used. The magnetometer can measure the magnetic fields around it and digitally transmit the information to the microprocessor for storage. After a certain period of inactivity as measured by the motion sensor, the tag enters a state of reduced activity to conserve energy. When the motion sensor determines that the tag is being moved, the magnetometer takes a current snapshot which is compared to a previous snapshot. If the two images differ over certain percentage, the tag alarms. The tag can also monitor the ambient magnetic fields in real time and, when the fields change abruptly, the tag alarms. This prevents defeating the tag by placing it in a metallic foil bag. | 02-19-2015 |