Abstract:
A system and method for preventing wardrobing is presented. A method loops the ribbon through a merchandise item. A branding tag is locked onto the ribbon so that the ribbon cannot be removed from the merchandise item without cutting the ribbon or breaking the branding tag. The branding tag contains branding information related to the merchandise item. When the item is returned, a determination is made if the ribbon and/or the branding tag have been tampered with. The method does not provide a refund when tampering has occurred.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus, system and method for the display of merchandise in a retail setting. More particularly, the apparatus, system and method relates to preventing a customer from returning a merchandise item after it has been purchased and used in a practice known as wardrobing. Specifically, the apparatus, system and method provides for attaching a flexible attachment to a merchandise item it so that if the attachment is removed, use of the item is detected. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    In the retail environment merchants desire displaying merchandise items so that consumers can view the items. In the case of clothing or jewelry, it is desirable to have a potential purchaser have the ability to try on the item before purchasing it in order to further increase the probability that the consumer will purchase that item. However, a problem exists that a consumer will purchase an item such as a dress, remove any labeling, then wear the dress one time, reattach the labeling and return the dress for a full refund. 
         [0005]    A variety of security devices can be attached to merchandise items to prevent their theft. However, these security devices are generally removed at the time of purchase before the item leaves the store because they are of sufficient value and/or can be reused. For example, wrap type protection devices are often used to protect electronic products. Wrap protection devices have a housing with a ratchet mechanism that allows cables to be wrapped about a merchandise item and are tightened around the item. Alarms are generated by the housing if the item is brought near an entrance of the store. Wrap devices are of sufficient cost so they are removed at the time of the purchase of the item they are protecting. A better way is needed to protect merchandise items and to prevent their anti-wardrobing return after purchase. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The preferred embodiment of the invention includes an anti-wardrobing device for attachment to a merchandise item. The anti-wardrobing device includes a ribbon, a branding plate and a lock. The ribbon has a first end and a second end adapted to be placed through the merchandise item. The branding plate is adapted to display information about the merchandise item and branding of the merchandise item. The lock is located at one end of the branding plate. The lock is adapted to be locked to the ribbon so that the ribbon is looped through the merchandise item and the lock so that the ribbon cannot be removed from the merchandise item without cutting the ribbon. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    One or more preferred embodiments that illustrate the best mode(s) are set forth in the drawings and in the following description. The appended claims particularly and distinctly point out and set forth the invention. 
           [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the invention. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of an anti-wardrobing device attached to an item of merchandise. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the anti-wardrobing device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the anti-wardrobing device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates another bottom perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the anti-wardrobing device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the anti-wardrobing device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the lock insert. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates another cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the lock insert. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the anti-ward robing device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a second configuration of the preferred embodiment of the anti-wardrobing device in an unlocked position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates another perspective view of a second configuration of the preferred embodiment of the anti-wardrobing device in a locked position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of a method using the preferred embodiment as an anti-ward robing device. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates the preferred embodiment of a security device  1  that is useful in the prevention of returning a merchandise item  100  after it has been purchased and used or worn (referred to as wardrobing). The security device  1  includes a lock device  10  and a ribbon  50 . Ribbon  50  has a first end  51  and a second end  52 . Ribbon  50  is placed through merchandise item  100  and locking portion  50  is locked onto the ribbon  50 . Now, if the buyer removes or attempts to remove security device  1  after purchase, its removal will be noticed and no refund will be given to the consumer. Ideally, the only way to remove security device  1  is to destroy device  1  or cut the ribbon  50 , an occurrence the merchant will recognize upon its return. Ribbon  50  can be any flexible material such as fabric, string, lanyards, or other material as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, the ribbon can be any color, have any pattern displayed on it, repeatedly display a trademark or any other pattern, or information as desired. 
         [0022]    Lock device  10  can be formed of a polymer or another material. In the preferred embodiment, device  10  will be rigid so that it cannot be deformed or it will be brittle so that if one does attempt to tamper with it, it will break apart and it will obvious that is has been tampered with. This would ensure that the security device  1  could not be taken apart and reassembled without its reassembly being detected. In the preferred embodiment, lock device  10  is formed with both a rigid material that significantly prevents deformation of the lock device  10  and somewhat easily breaks apart when tampered with. 
         [0023]    Lock device  10  is formed adjacent a brand plate  2 . Brand plate  2  has a left end  3 , a right end  4 , a bottom side  5 , and a top side  6  as well as a top  8  and a bottom  9 . In the preferred embodiment, a label  7  is imprinted onto the top  8  of the brand plate  2 . In the Figures, brand plate  2  is shown as an elongated rectangle, however brand plate  2  can be any shape and of sufficient size to display the label  7 . Label  7  can be any branding symbol, trademark information, information associated with the merchandise item  100  the security device  1  is adapted to be attached to or any other information a purchaser of merchandise item  100  may be interested in. Label  7 , brand plate  2  and ribbon  50  can be different colors and have any color scheme that is desired. Additionally, a warning such as “cannot be returned if removed” or the like can also be marked on the front and/or back of brand plate  2 . 
         [0024]    As best seen in  FIG. 3 , lock device  10  is formed with a lock housing  11  and a lock insert  12 . In the preferred embodiment, lock housing  11  is formed with a left side  13 , a right side  14 , a front side  15 , a back side  16  and a bottom side  17 . Bottom side  17  is at least partially formed where brand plate  2  merges with and becomes part of the lock housing  11 . The bottom side  17  is curved at edge  27  where it intersects front side  15 . These walls form a generally rectangular-shaped chamber  18 . Left side  13  further includes a pair of left lips located on left side  13  that project upwards above top edges  28  and  29  of the front side  15  and the back side  16  of the lock housing  11 . Right side  14  includes a right lip  20  that is also projected above the top edges  28  and  29  of the front side  15  and the back side  16  of the lock housing  11  that runs continuously between the front side  15  and the back side  16 . 
         [0025]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 4 , inside the chamber  18 , the bottom side  18  is formed with a protrusion  25  that is preferably formed with a point at its tip. As best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , right side  14  is formed with a tab  44  on its inside surface  47  facing chamber  18 . Tab  44  is generally tapered from the inside surface  47  of the right side  14  so that it forms a ledge  45  projecting from the inside surface  47 . 
         [0026]    As best seen in  FIG. 4 , lock insert  12  is connected to the lock housing  11  with a connector  21 . In the preferred embodiment, these components are formed of one continuous piece of plastic material. Connector  21  includes a left end  22 , a center portion  24  and a right end  23 . In the preferred embodiment and best seen in  FIG. 3 , center portion  24  is thinner at its center than where it intersects the left end  22  and the right end  23 . 
         [0027]    Lock insert  12  is attached to connector  21  at the connector&#39;s left end  22 . Lock insert  12  is formed with a front side  31 , a back side  32 , a left side  33 , a right side  34 , a top  35  and a bottom  36 . The lock insert  12  is generally rectangular in shape and its top is generally rounded. The lock insert  12  is sized so that it fits into the complementary chamber  18  of lock housing  11 . A lock insert cavity  37  is formed in the top  35  of lock insert  11  for receiving the protrusion of lock housing  11 . 
         [0028]    As best seen in  FIG. 2 , lock insert  12  further includes a partial channel  40  formed in the left side  33 . Channel  40  begins at the bottom  36  and extends partially across the left side  33  until it terminates to form a ridge  41 . In the preferred embodiment, lock insert  12  is formed with an opening  39  that opens on the bottom. This opening  39  gives lock insert  12  a small amount of flexibility. 
         [0029]    A second configuration of the preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . This configuration includes a barb  65 . Barb  65  is ideally pointed and sharp enough to dig into the ribbon  50  when lock device  10  is locked. Any attempt to pull ribbon  50  out of the lock device  10  will result in the barb  65  tearing ribbon  50  and it will easily be detected that an attempt to remove the security device was made. 
         [0030]    Having described the components and characteristics of the security devices, its functionality will now be described with reference to a method of using the security device. Example methods may be better appreciated with reference to flow diagrams. While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the illustrated methodologies are shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks can occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from that shown and described. Moreover, less than all the illustrated blocks may be required to implement an example methodology. Blocks may be combined or separated into multiple components. Furthermore, additional and/or alternative methodologies can employ additional, not illustrated blocks. 
         [0031]      FIG. 11  illustrates a method merchandise item  1100  of locking the security device  1  onto a merchandise item such as jewelry or clothing to prevent wardrobing (the wearing of the item one time then attempting to return the item for a full refund). The method begins by looping ribbon  50  through the merchandise item  100 , at  1102 . The ends of the ribbon are then wrapped around the top  35 , front side  31  and back side  32  of the lock insert  12 , at  1104 . The amount of excess ribbon between the first and second ends  51 ,  52  and the lock insert can be variable depending on the size of the merchandise item  100  and how it is displayed. 
         [0032]    Connector  21  acts as a living hinge and is best viewed in  FIG. 3 . It allows lock insert  12  to be rotated in the direction of Arrow R so that lock insert  21  can be slid into chamber  18  of the lock housing. The corresponding rotation for the second embodiment is shown by Arrow A in  FIG. 8 . With ribbon  50  wrapped over the top  35 , front side  31  and back side  32  of the lock insert  12 , the lock insert  12  is snapped into a locked position into the lock chamber  18 , at  1106 . The cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5  best shows how ribbon  50  is now sandwiched between lock insert  12  and the lock housing. In the snapped position, the tab  44  on the inside of right side wall  14  of the lock housing  11  has been slid into the channel  40  of the lock insert  12  so that the ledge  45  of the lock tab has been snapped over the ridge  41  of the lock insert  12  preventing the removal of the lock insert  12  from the lock housing  11 . Also, in the locked position, the protrusion  25  in the lock chamber  18  will have pushed into the ribbon  50  and into the cavity  37  of the lock insert to securely lock the ribbon  50  to the lock device  10 . 
         [0033]    With the security device  1  locked onto the merchandise item  100  it is now displayed for sale, at  1108 . The band plate  2 , label  7  and ribbon, further brand the item  100 , promote the manufacture of the item  100 , display trademarks, information about the item  100  and the like. Eventually the merchandise item  100  will be sold, at  1110 , to a customer with the security device  1  still attached to it. 
         [0034]    If the item is returned, then the merchant can inspect the returned merchandise item before a refund is given to determine if the security device has been tampered with or if the ribbon has been cut, at  1112 . Tampering may be evident when barb  65  of  FIGS. 7 and 8  has cut into ribbon  50  in an attempt to remove it or if lock device  10  has significant damage from trying to pry lock insert  12  out of lock housing  11 . If the ribbon was not cut and no tampering is evident, then a refund is given, at  1116 . However, if the ribbon has been cut or there is evidence of tampering, then a refund is not given, at  1116 , and the item  100  is returned to the customer. 
         [0035]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details, the representative embodiments, and illustrative examples shown and described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0036]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. References to “the preferred embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example”, “an example”, and so on, indicate that the embodiments) or example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in the preferred embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may.