Abstract:
A re-usable security hard tag for use with containers. The hard tag comprises two portions that are pivotally connected at first portion ends and the portions include semi-circular, outwardly extending flanges. A security tag is associated with one of the two portions. A displaceable pin of a latch mechanism locks together respective pin receptacles of each portion. The flanges couple to the bottom edge of either end of a container whereupon closure of the two portions&#39; free ends about a hinge causes the pin to latch through the pin receptacles. The only way retract the pin and thereby release the hard tag from the container is by positioning the hard tag/container assembly adjacent a properly sized magnet available at a point of sale in a retail establishment. Non-removal of the hard tag before leaving the retail establishment causes store electronics to detect the security tag and set off an alarm or other warning.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The current invention relates to security tags and more particularly, to re-usable security tags that can be used with containers such that an RF receiver is able to readily discern a return signal from the tag. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The prior art teaches various mechanisms of using security tags to secure a multitude of different products. Some examples of commonly known security tags are RF (radio frequency), AM (acousto-magnetic) tags and EM (electromagnetic) tags, traditionally known as electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags. Other security tags, e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, including UHF (ultra-high frequency) tags, make use of electronic integrated circuits. EAS, RFID and other types of electronic security tags can be and are used mounted or secured to many different products, e.g., books, pallets, containers, and electronics. 
     Currently, products that are housed in containers or cans having metallic portions, e.g., containers or cans for baby foods and other foodstuffs, etc., have not been effectively tagged. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, many containers for foods are made of plastic. However, plastic has inherent limitations for housing such products. For example, plastic may allow trace amounts of bacteria through it. Baby food manufacturers are particularly sensitive to the limitations of plastics as a container medium and consequentially, many such manufacturers make their containers or cans out of cardboard tubular midsection having a pressed, thin aluminum foil around the outside of the midsection as a means for preventing liquid leakage out of the container. Additionally, the lid and the base of the can or container are generally made of a thin aluminum sheet. A relatively thick, annular aluminum ring serves to join the lid to the cardboard midsection, a similar ring serves to join the base to the cardboard midsection. This arrangement provides an inexpensive, easily manufactured, waterproof container that can safely hold foodstuffs. However, such containers also include so much metal that they cannot be effectively tagged with an EAS, RFID or other electromagnetic radiation-based tag, since the metal of the container will interfere with the electromagnetic properties of the tag, e.g., the metal portion of the can will reduce the amplitude of the return signal from the tag. Moreover, the metallic portion of the container also tends to act as an antenna, thereby altering the frequency response of the tag. 
     Furthermore, many EAS tags used in retail establishments are termed “hard tags,” which refers to a re-usable tag which is intended to be removed from an article, e.g., merchandise, at the point of sale (POS) to be re-used on other merchandise. Hard tags typically have an injection-molded outer casing. This type of tag is typically found in the apparel industry. U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,968 (DeNood) and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0233042 (Piccoli, Anthony, F., et al.), both of whose entire disclosures are incorporated by reference herein, disclose various exemplary hard tag embodiments. 
     Thus, a need exists for a re-usable security hard tag which enables the effective tagging of containers, including those with substantial metallic portions, e.g., baby food containers, soup containers, etc. 
     All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus for attachment to a container, having first and second container ends (e.g., any lip, bead, or cover associated with either end of the container) and a container wall, onto which a security tag is desired to be secured and wherein the first and second container ends have diameters that are larger than the container wall diameter. The apparatus comprises: two portions having respective first ends pivotally coupled together, and wherein each of the two portions comprises an outwardly extending flange for engaging either one of the first or second container ends; a latching mechanism disposed on one of the two portions that cooperates with the other one of the two portions to latch the two portions together to secure the two portions to either one of the first or second container ends; and a security tag associated with one of the two portions, wherein the tag is capable of receiving a transmitted electromagnetic signal over the air from a transmitter and for returning a desired discernable electromagnetic signal to a receiver. 
     A method of tagging a container with a security tag whereby the container has first and second ends (e.g., any lip, bead, or cover associated with either end of the container) and a container wall and wherein the first and second container ends have diameters that are larger than the container wall. The method comprises: providing two portions having respective first ends that are pivotally coupled together and wherein each of the two portions comprises an outwardly extending flange; associating a security tag with one of the two portions wherein the tag is capable of receiving a transmitted electromagnetic signal over the air from a transmitter and for returning a desired discernable electromagnetic signal to a receiver; engaging the flanges with either one of the first or second container ends; and securing respective second ends of the two portions together so that the two portions are releasably secured to either one of the first or second container ends. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the security tag adapter of the present application secured to one end of a container, shown partially; 
         FIG. 2  is also an isometric view of the security tag adapter of  FIG. 1  shown in an open, unlocked condition around the end of the container; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the security tag adapter taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the bottom of the security tag adapter shown in an open, unlocked condition with a portion of the invention shown broken away, revealing the security tag associated therewith; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of the latch mechanism of the present invention positioned inside a magnetic detacher which retracts a pin of the latch mechanism, thereby allowing the security tag adapter portions to be disengaged and the adapter opened; and 
         FIG. 6  depicts a functional diagram of a transmitter/receiver system that interacts with the security tag associated with the adapter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The security tag adapter  20  for containers of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The security tag adapter  20  is arranged for releaseable securement to a lip or bead or cover which is positioned at either end of a container  10 . By way of example only, the container  10  may include, but is not limited to, metallic containers such as those used for infant formula, coffee, powdered food products, etc. It should be understood that the terms “lip” or “bead” or “cover” are used in their broadest sense and the important point is that the lip, bead or cover have a diameter that is slightly larger than the container wall  12  diameter, as is most clearly shown in  FIG. 2 . This “larger diameter” provides an overhang that permits the security tag adapter  20  to engage the lip, bead or cover, as will be discussed in detail later. Thus, the term “container end”  14  as used throughout this Specification includes any lip, bead, or cover associated with either end of the container  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the security tag adapter  20  comprises two semi-circular portions  22  and  24  that are pivotally coupled (e.g., a hinge  26 ) at respective first ends  22 A and  24 A, thereby allowing respective second ends  22 B and  24 B to move toward or away from each other. A latch mechanism  28  is associated with one of the two portions (e.g., portion  22 ) and is located at one of the second ends (e.g.,  22 B). Located at the second end (e.g.,  24 B) of the other portion  24  is a pin receptacle  30  (having a channel  31 ) for receiving a displaceable pin  32  ( FIGS. 3-5 ) from the latch mechanism  28  (as will also be discussed in detail later) when the two second ends  22 B and  24 B are brought together. The semi-circular portions  22 / 24  may comprise ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or may comprise a polycarbonate. The pin receptacle  30  comprises a metal material. 
       FIG. 4  depicts the underside or bottom of the security tag adapter  20  and shows the location of the security tag  16  in break-away. The security tag  16  may comprise an EAS or an RFID type of tag. By way of example only, an EAS tag, comprising an RF coil  34  and capacitor  36  that are tuned to operate in the 8.2 MHz frequency range, is shown. The security tag  16  is concealed under a cover  38  ( FIG. 3 ) in the portion  24 , although it is not limited to that portion. Access to the security tag  16  by appropriate personnel, when the adapter  20  is disengaged from the container  10 , can be obtained by removing the cover  38 . This is accomplished by sliding an integral sleeve  40  ( FIG. 3 ) off of a positioning pin  42 ; i.e., sliding the sleeve  40  out of the plane of the paper in  FIG. 3 . 
     To attach the security tag adapter  20  to the container  10 , a projecting, semi-circular, flange  21  (see  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 ) is provided on the bottom side of each portion  22  and  24 ; the bottom side of each portion  22  and  24  corresponds to the adapter side that is adjacent the container end  14  when the adapter  20  is attached to the container  10 . The flange  21  is integrally molded with the two portions  22  and  24  and the flanges  21  are outwardly extending with respect to the bottom side of each portion  22  and  24 ; the term “outwardly extending” is meant to cover a flange orientation whereby the flange  21  forms an angle α ( FIG. 3 ) with respect to the bottom side of the two portions  22  and  24  in the range of 20° to 100°. On the inside portion of the flange  21  is a shoulder  23 . Because the flange  21  is curved inward (e.g., towards a center  25  of the adapter  20 ; see  FIG. 1 ), when the flange  21  is brought into contact with the container end  14 , the edge  23  makes a close, tight fit underneath the container end  14  (cover or lip, or bead, etc.)  14 , i.e., with the bottom edge  15  of the container end  14 . As shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 , the flange  21  and its shoulder  23  of one of the portions (e.g.,  22 ) are brought into contact with the bottom edge  15  of the container end  14 . Once this portion  22  is positioned properly, an authorized individual then swings the other portion  24  toward the first portion  22  until the flange  21 /shoulder  23  of portion  24  is in tight contact with the bottom edge  15  of the container end  14  also. It should be understood that the either of the portions  22  or  24  could be secured to the container end  14  first followed by the other portion. All that is necessary is to lock the ends  22 B and  24 B together using the latching mechanism  28 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 5  provide a cross-sectional view of the latching mechanism  28 . In particular, the latching mechanism  28  comprises the displaceable pin  32  having an integral drive plate  44  which is biased by a spring  46 . The upper end of the spring  46  is disposed against a button  48 . A housing  50  contains the button  48 , the spring  46  and the drive plate  44 ; only the displaceable pin  32  protrudes out of the housing  50  through a channel  52  (see  FIG. 5 ) in the bottom surface  54  of the housing  50 , through a gap  56  and into a second pin receptacle  58  which includes its own channel  60  (see  FIG. 4 ). The housing  50  is formed integrally with the first portion  22 , thereby preventing access to the locking mechanism  28  by unauthorized personnel. To lock the two portions  22  and  24  together, the two ends  22 B and  24 B are move together such that the pin receptacle  30  passes into the gap  56 . As can be seen clearly in  FIG. 2 , the pin receptacle  30  is tapered  62  so that as the pin receptacle slides into the gap  56 , it drives the lower end of the displaceable pin  32  upward against the spring  46  bias. As the two portions  22  and  24  continue to move together, the pin  32  passes through the channel  31  in the pin receptacle  30  and through the channel  60  in the pin receptacle  58 , thereby locking the two portions  22  and  24  together. With the latch mechanism  28  activated, this renders it nearly impossible for someone to attempt to remove the adapter  20 , or the container end  14  of the container  10 , by trying to pry either one of them from the container  10 . 
     To unlock the latching mechanism  28 , a properly-sized magnet  66  ( FIG. 5 ) is required. This properly-sized magnet  66  forms a portion of a magnetic detacher (not shown) which is only available at the point-of-sale (POS) in the retail environment and is only accessible by approved personnel. In particular, and assuming that the container has been properly purchased, the approved sales personnel, inverts the container  10  with the security tag adapter  20  attached thereto and positions the latch mechanism housing  50  inside a receiving cavity  68  in the magnet  66  of the magnetic detacher (not shown). Because the integral drive plate  44  comprises a ferromagnetic material (e.g., iron), the magnetic field generated by the magnet attracts the drive plate  44  downward, against the bias of the spring  46 . This retracts the displaceable pin  32  out of the channel  60  in the pin receptacle  58  as well as out of the channel  31  in the other pin receptacle  30 , thereby allowing the store personnel to move the two second ends  22 B and  24 B away from each other, thereby releasing the security tag adapter  20  from the container  10 . 
     It should be understood that the internal displaceable components (e.g., the drive plate  44 ) of the latching mechanism  28  comprise as little ferromagnetic material as possible so that no ordinary hand-held magnet can displace these components; rather, only a sufficiently strong magnetic field can displace these components to retract the pin  32 . 
     As mentioned earlier, if the container  10  to which the adapter  20  is attached is purchased properly, the store personnel removes the adapter  20  from the container  10  and the patron can exit the store with the container  10 . However, as shown in  FIG. 6 , should an individual attempt to remove the container  10  with the adapter  20  still attached to the container  10 , as the combination is moved through a store and passes through exit pedestals (not shown) containing a transmitter  70 /receiver  72  combination, the transmitter  70  in that pedestal issues an interrogation signal IS (e.g., an electromagnetic signal in the 8.2 MHz frequency range) to which the security tag  16  in the adapter  20  responds. If the article invention  20  is attempted to pass through the pedestals at the exit, upon receipt of the security tag response signal (e.g., a back-scatter signal that is discernable) RS by the pedestal receiver  72 , an alarm or other alert indication (not shown) will immediately be set off to authorized personnel to prevent a theft of the container  10 . 
     Once the security tag adapter  20  is removed from the container  10  after a proper purchase transaction, the adapter  20  can then be re-applied to another container for further use. 
     To minimize any interference with the security tag  16  operation due to the presence of a metal lid/surface that is associated with the container end  14  to which the adapter  20  is attached, the outwardly extending flanges  21  are designed to maintain the security tag  16  at a predetermined distance d (see  FIG. 3 ) away from the metal lid/surface. In particular, the adapter  20  maintains the security tag  16  approximately 10-12 mm away from the metal lid/surface. 
     As also mentioned earlier, the EAS security tag  16  is used by way of example only. The security tag used with the adapter  20  may include various kinds of security tags, including RFID security tags. As a result, the transmitter  70 /receiver  72  pair shown in  FIG. 6  is also by way of example. They can be replaced by an RFID reader which emits an appropriate security tag signal and receives the RFID security tag response. Thus, it should be understood that the security tag associated with the security tag adapter does not limit the scope of the invention. 
     It should be understood that the pivotal coupling of the first ends  22 A/ 24 A is not limited to the hinge  26  as shown but may include other types of hinges, including living hinges. 
     It should also be understood that the latch mechanism  28  of the present invention is by way of example only and that other types of latch mechanisms can be used. For example, instead of using a spring  46  alone to bias the displaceable pin  32 , a variation of a ball clutch mechanism, similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,968 (DeNood), could be used. 
     While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.