Abstract:
An article surveillance tag that has a shock absorbing mechanism that prevents unauthorized removal of the tag by the application of a strike force to the tag by a blunt object. In one embodiment, the article surveillance tag is adapted to engage articles that cannot be penetrated by pins.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The contents of this application are related to United States design patent applications titled “ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE TAG” and “ELECTRONIC ARTICLE SURVEILLANCE UNIT” having serial numbers 29/240,195 and 29/240,196, respectively, filed on Oct. 11, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to theft deterrent security tags in general, and in particular to a security tag that is attachable to items to be monitored which items cannot be penetrated by a pin. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Various types of electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems are known having the common feature of employing a marker or tag which is affixed to an article to be protected against theft from a controlled area, such as merchandise in a store. When a legitimate purchase of the article is made, the marker can either be removed from the article, or converted from an activated state to a deactivated state. Such systems employ a detection arrangement, commonly placed at all exits of a store, and if an activated marker passes through the detection system, it is detected by the detection system and an alarm is triggered. 
   Such electronic detection arrangements, as used in the present invention, are well known in the art and are more clearly discussed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/410,486, titled “Article Surveillance Tag Having a Metal Clip,” filed on Apr. 8, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference. A discussion of the inventions in the field, known to the inventor, and their differences from the present invention is provided below. 
   U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,911,534 and 3,974,581 to Henry J. Martens et al. disclose a security tag having the pin contained on a first strip that is hingedly attached to a second strip that has the locking component thereon. The pin of the first strip penetrates the article that is to be secured and is received in the locking component of the second strip such that the article is maintained therebetween. The hinged attachment may lead to the bending of the pin when contacting the locking component because of the predetermined arc that it must travel as a result of the hinged arrangement. Some items of merchandise are solid and cannot be pierced with the attachment pin used by some EAS tags. Lanyards have been developed for these products. 
   The &#39;534 and &#39;581 patents also disclose a pin soldered to a chain at one end and the other end of the chain riveted to the tag cover. A drawback with existing lanyards is that they may be severed to remove the tag holder from the item of merchandise. Once severed, the tag holder is destroyed and must be replaced. Some existing lanyards are difficult to assemble and require both ends of the lanyard to be held in alignment while the sharp tack of the holder is threaded through the ends of the lanyard. 
   In addition, the prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,047 to Lynch, discloses pin clutch mechanisms that function by forcing a plurality of balls around the pin member by a resilient means, which balls are disengaged from said pin by the use of a magnet. However, such pin clutch mechanisms are defeated by sharply striking the tag with a tool, such as a hammer, which release the balls from engagement with the pin. The prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,836 to Hogan, discloses a tag that can be attached to articles without piercing the same with a pin. However, such devices may be defeated by simply cutting through the engaging member. Furthermore, because the engaging member is detachable from the tag, it can be misplaced or lost by the user. 
   The prior art does not address the need for an EAS tag that is difficult to defeat and easy to use. In addition, the prior art fails to provide a theft deterrent tag assembly that can be securely engaged to articles that cannot be penetrated by a pin. Therefore, there remains a long standing and continuing need for an advance in the art of EAS and theft deterrent tags that makes the tags more difficult to defeat, simpler in both design and use, more economical and efficient in their construction and use, and provide a more secure and reliable engagement of the article to be monitored. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. 
   It is another objective of the invention to provide a cost-efficient EAS tag. 
   It is another objective of the invention to provide an EAS tag that is durable. 
   It is a further objective of the invention to provide an EAS tag that is detachable when used with an authorized detaching unit. 
   It is a further objective of the invention to provide an EAS tag that provides a tag that can be attached to an item to be monitored without penetrating the item. 
   It is still a further objective of the invention to provide a theft deterrent device that can be quickly and easily secured to an article made of varying materials to prevent the unauthorized removal of the article. 
   It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a rugged theft deterrent unit to permit the repeated use thereof. 
   It is still a further object of the invention to provide a theft deterrent unit with a locking mechanism that can withstand a strike thereto by a hammer. 
   In keeping with the principles of the present invention, a unique EAS theft deterrent tag is disclosed wherein the tag is capable of engaging articles that are to be monitored without necessitating the puncture of the articles with a pin. In addition, by providing a first and second half that are hingedly attached, labor time and costs are reduced when removing the tag from an article being protected thereby because separate bins are not required for the two halves. In addition, replacement costs are further reduced because the mates to the tags cannot be separated and lost. 
   In addition, the magnetic force necessary to disengaged the attaching mechanism of the tag is greater than required in the prior art ball and clutch mechanisms. Furthermore, the attaching mechanism of the instant invention provides a shock absorbing mechanism to prevent defeat of the attaching mechanism by the application of a strike force thereto by a blunt object. 
   Such stated objects and advantages of the invention are only examples and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the invention herein will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the claims that follow. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for the purposes of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the tag of the instant invention in an unengaged state. 
       FIG. 2  is a front outer perspective view of the tag. 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the tag in an engaged state. 
       FIG. 4  is a left side perspective view of the tag in an engaged state. 
       FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view of the tag with the first left wall removed. 
       FIG. 6  is a partial cut-away view of a first half of the tag in an unassembled and unengaged state. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of first and second members as removed from the tag. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the tag taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 9  is a right side perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the tag in an unengaged state. 
       FIG. 10  is a front outer perspective view of the alternate preferred embodiment of the tag in an unengaged state. 
       FIG. 11  is a right side elevational view of the alternate preferred embodiment of the tag in an engaged state. 
       FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the alternate preferred embodiment of the tag in an engaged state. 
       FIG. 13  is a rear plan view of the alternate preferred embodiment of the tag in an engaged state. 
       FIG. 14  is a partial cut away side view of first member of the tag. 
       FIG. 15  is a partial cut away front view of first member of the tag. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a tag  20  is illustrated having a first half  22  and a second half  24 . First and second halves  22  and  24  are preferably made of a hard or rigid material and are adapted to attach to one another and form a front end  26  and a rear end  28 . A usable rigid or hard material might be a hard plastic such as, for purposes of illustration but not limitation, an injection molded ABS plastic. First and second halves  22  and  24  are hingedly attached at rear end  28  and are detachably attached at the front end  26  by an attaching means. 
   Now also referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , first half  22  has first left wall  30  and a first right wall  32  interconnected at the periphery thereof by a first outer wall  34  and a first inner wall  36 , thereby a space is formed therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, ABS plastic material is used to make tag  20  whereby first left wall  30  and, first outer wall  34 , and first inner wall  36  may be injection molded and then first right wall  32  is then joined with first outer wall  34  and first inner wall  36  via an ultrasonic weld, or adhesive, or other joining means known in the art. 
   First half  22  has a first compartment  38  defined therein which receives an electronic surveillance means  40 . Electronic surveillance means may be a resonant tag circuit which is not the subject of the instant invention and a detailed description thereof is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/410,486, titled “Article Surveillance Tag Having a Metal Clip,” filed on Apr. 8, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference. It is to be understood that alternate resonant tag circuitry that is known in the art may also be used with the instant invention. Electronic surveillance means  40  functions with electronic article surveillance systems that are well known in the art to prevent theft and similar unauthorized removal of articles from a controlled area. 
   A second compartment  42  is formed within first half  22  and an opening  44  to second compartment  42  is formed through first inner wall  36 . A first partition  46  and end partition  48  extend between first left wall  30  and first right wall  32 , wherein first partition  46  is substantially perpendicular to end partition  48 . A second partition  50  extends substantially perpendicularly from end partition  48  and from first right wall  32  and is substantially parallel to first partition  46 . Second partition  50  has a second semi-circular cut out region  52  defined therein and second partition  50  does not extend to first left wall  30 . A third partition  54  extends substantially perpendicularly from first right wall  32  and is substantially parallel to second partition  50 . Third partition  54  also defines a third semi-circular cut-out region  56  that is axially aligned with second semi-circular cut out region  52  of second partition  50 . A fourth partition  58  extends perpendicularly from first right wall  32  and is substantially perpendicular to third partition  54 . Fourth partition  58  also defines a fourth semicircular cut-out region  60 . Similar partitions as partitions  50 ,  54  and  58  extend from first left wall  30  in mirror fashion (not shown). 
   Now also referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an attaching mechanism  62  has a first member  64  and a second member  66 . First member  64  is substantially tubular having a first aperture  68  at a top end  70  and a second aperture  72  at a bottom end  74 , wherein said top end  70  curves inwardly such that first aperture  68  has a smaller circumference than second aperture  72 . First member  74  has a circumferentially extending first lip  76  that is of sufficient thickness to be received between second partition  50  and third partition  54  when the tag is in an assembled state. In addition, third partition  58  also engages top end  70  of first member  64  when the tag  20  is in an assembled state. When the tag  20  is in an assembled state, first aperture  68  is axially aligned with an orifice  77  defined through first outer wall  34  of first half  22 . 
   Second member  66  has a domed end  78  and a third aperture  80  defined at an opposing end  82 . A circumferential second lip  84  extends outwardly from second member  66  at a region closer to opposing end  82 . The domed end  78  extends through first aperture  68  of first member  64  such that second lip  84  engages top end  70  thereof and is securely maintained therein. The domed end  78  further extends through orifice  77  when tag  20  is in an assembled state. A first resilient means  86  is received and maintained within the domed end  78 , and in a preferred embodiment, first resilient means  86  is a spring. An attaching member  88  has a base region  90  and an elongated attaching region  92  and attaching member  88  is slideably received within second member  66  and engages first resilient means  86  at the base region  90  such that attaching region  92  extends away from domed end  78 . Resilient means  86  is positioned for forcing attaching member  88  toward third aperture  80 . Attaching member  88  is made of a material that responds to magnetic forces and in a preferred embodiment is made of stainless steel. A second resilient means  94 , which in a preferred embodiment is a spring, engages second lip  84  and extends towards third aperture  80 . 
   A cover  96 , that is substantially circular, is secured to first member  64  and covers second aperture  72  and encloses second member  66 , first resilient means  86 , attaching member  88 , and second resilient means  94 . A bore  98  is defined through cover  96  and is axially aligned with third aperture  80 . Bore  98  is of sufficient size to allow attaching region  92  to pass through yet engages base region  90  by cover  96 . 
   Second half  24  has a second left wall  100  and a second right wall  102  interconnected at the periphery thereof by a second outer wall  104  and a second inner wall  106 , thereby a space is formed therebetween. Second half  24  has a leading end  108  that is distal to rear end  28 . An attaching component  110  extends from leading end  108  and attaching component  110  is adapted to engage attaching member  88  in a secure yet releasable manner. Attaching component  110  defines a cavity  112  which is adapted to receive attaching region  92  of attaching member  88  therein in a secure manner. In a preferred embodiment, attaching component  110  has a front edge  114  that is beveled and when attaching component  110  is inserted into second compartment  42 , front edge  114  forces attaching region  92  towards domed end  78 . As attaching component  110  travels further into second compartment  42 , cavity  112  becomes axially aligned with attaching region  92  and first resilient means  86  forces attaching region  92  into cavity  112  and securely maintains attaching component  110  within second compartment  42 . 
   In such attached position, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , first inner wall  36  and second inner wall  106  oppose one another and can maintain an article to be monitored securely therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, first inner wall  36  and second inner wall  106  define a opening  116 , which is preferably circular in nature, that can receive an article to be monitored securely therein. Opening  116  can be made to predetermined dimensions to receive various sporting articles such as, but not limited to, baseball bats, golf clubs, tennis racquets, and baseball mitts. In a preferred embodiment, strips of material  118  (e.g. rubber or elastic material) may be attached to first and second inner walls  36  and  10  to provide additional friction in engaging the article retained therebetween. Additionally, a plurality of ribs  120  may extend inwardly from material  118  to add further friction in engaging the article retained therein. 
   In order to allow the removal of tag  20  from an article maintained therein, a magnet having a predetermined amount of magnetic force for overcoming the force applied by first resilient means  86  on attaching member  88  is applied to domed end  78 . When the predetermined amount of magnetic force is applied to domed end  78 , attaching member  88  is forced to move towards domed end  78  by compressing first resilient means  86  which thereby withdraws attaching region  98  from engagement with attaching component  110  and attaching component  110  can now be withdrawn from second compartment  42 . Upon removal of the magnetic force, resilient means  86  recoils and forces attaching region  92  to its attaching state to receive attaching component  110 . 
   The amount of magnetic force necessary to overcome the force applied by the first resilient means  86 , is greater than the force necessary to overcome the force applied by springs of the ball and clutch mechanisms in the prior art. Such stronger magnets are not as readily available to miscreants that would attempt to defeat the article surveillance provided by tag  20 . 
   Second resilient mans  94  acts as a shock absorber if tag  20  is struck with a hammer in an attempt to defeat tag  20 . When tag  20  is struck, second resilient means  94  absorbs the oscillations that may be caused by movement of second member  66  toward cover  96 . Furthermore, as a result of such movement, second resilient means  86  is compressed and applies greater force on base region  90  of attaching member  88  thereby maintaining secure engagement of attaching region  92  with attaching component  110 . 
   In a preferred embodiment, a biasing element  122  is installed in rear end  28  and functions with the hinged attachment thereof to maintain tag  20  in a normally unattached state as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Accordingly, when a magnetic force is applied to domed end  78  causing withdrawal of attaching region  92  from attaching component  110 , tag  20  assumes the unattached state as a result of biasing element  122 . In a preferred embodiment, biasing element  122  is a coiled member. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 9 through 15 , an alternate preferred embodiment of tag  20  is disclosed having another preferred attaching means. Second member  66  now has an opposing end  82  that is of a greater diameter than domed end  78  whereby a substantially conical form is achieved. A retaining wall  124  extends from first half  22  is adapted to retain second member  66  therein in a secure yet moveable manner. Retaining wall  124  has a top half  126  and a bottom half  128 , wherein bottom half  128  is injection molded with first half  22  and top half  126  is attached to bottom half  22  to enclose second member  66  therebetween. Top half  126  and bottom half  128  define a leading end  130  which defines a hole  132  through which domed end  78  extends. A trailing end  134  is formed at an end of retaining wall  124  that is distal to the leading and  130 . Trailing end  134  has cover  96  attached thereto with bore  98  that allows passage of attaching region  92 . By allowing second member  66  to move within retaining wall  124 , it allows shock absorption if tag  20  is struck by a hammer. Authorized disengagement of tag  20  is achieved in the manner as previously detailed by the application of a magnetic force sufficient to overcome the force applied by first resilient means  86 . 
   While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible without departing from the essential spirit of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.