Abstract:
A security tag holder and fastener assembly by which a security tag can be attached to a product to be tagged. The security tag holder comprises a housing adapted to receive and support the security tag. The tag-containing housing is attachable to a product and is maintained in attached condition by at least one fastener member. The security tag and housing can be removed from the product only by destruction of the at least one fastener member. The security tag and housing are reusable.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application, Ser. No. 60/045,618, filed May 5, 1997 in the names of Page L. Johnson, Stephen W. Sliger, and David J. Nesbitt and entitled SECURITY TAG HOUSING AND ATTACHMENT CLIPS THEREFORE. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a housing for a security tag together with one or more fasteners for attaching the housing to the product to be tagged, and more particularly to such a housing which fully receives the security tag; which is reusable; and which cannot be removed from the product without destroying the one or more attachment fasteners. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The present invention is directed to security tags of the type which, when they are caused to pass by appropriate sensor means, will set off an alarm, a silent alarm, or other appropriate security signal. Security tags of the type described have a great many uses. For example, such tags are used in large numbers in retail establishments to prevent shoplifting. The size and nature of the security tag does not constitute a limitation of the present invention. The same is true of the product to be tagged. For example, the security tag housing and attachment clips of the present invention could be applied to jewelry, clothing, or the like. For purposes of an exemplary showing, the present invention will be described in its application to the tagging of eyeglass frames. An exemplary and commonly used security tag in retail businesses and for other purposes is that manufactured by Sensormatic of Deerfield Beach, Florida, and is generally known as a rattler type security tag. The security tag is a relatively small, thin, rectangular element approximately 1.72″ long, 0.72″ wide and about 0.06″ thick. The security tag is generally affixed to the temple of an eyeglass frame. This is accomplished by the use of tape wrapped about the temple and the security tag. This method of attaching the tag to the eyeglass frame temple has a number of drawbacks. For example, the tape wrapping operation is time consuming. Furthermore, the security tag is relatively easily removed by a shoplifter through the use of a ring knife, a pocket knife, or a razor blade to sever the tape. Finally, at the time of the sale when the security tag is removed from the eyeglass frame, the tape generally leaves a sticky residue on the frame temple. Sometimes, removal of sticky residue from the temple can result in marring the temple. Since the security tag has several layers of tape on it, it is common practice to dispose of the security tag. Reuse of the security tag would result in considerable savings were it not for the time and effort required to remove the tape and any sticky residue from the tag. 
     The present invention is based upon the discovery that security tag may be located in a housing which may be attached to the temple of the eyeglass frame by fasteners such as clips. These clips can serve a multiple purpose. First of all, they attach the security tag housing to the temple. They can be configured to maintain the housing in a preferred orientation which does not interfere with the trying on of the eyeglass frames. The clips will not mar or leave a sticky residue on the frame temple, and the housing cannot be removed from the frame temple without cutting and destroying the clips. Finally, by substituting new clips, the security tag and the housing can be used over and over again. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention there is provided a security tag holder by which a security tag can be attached to a product to be tagged. The security tag holder comprises a housing configured to receive and support the security tag. The tag-containing housing is attachable to a product and is maintained in attached condition by at least one fastener member. A portion of the product to be tagged is surrounded by a portion of the housing, a portion of the at least one fastener, or portions of both. The security tag and housing can be detached from the product by removal of the at least one fastener member. The security tag and the housing are reusable. The security tag can be removed from the housing and either or both elements can be replaced. The portions of the housing, or the at least one fastener member, or both, may be configured to cooperate with the surrounded product portion in such way as to maintain the housing and the security tag in a desired orientation with respect to the product. The housing may additionally be used to support a label having price information and bar code information printed thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary security tag. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an eyeglass frame provided with a security tag-containing housing of the present invention mounted in an upright position on the eyeglass frame temple by clips of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the security tag housing of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the housing of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the housing of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along section  6 — 6  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view of an exemplary clip of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a right side elevational view of the clip of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates the clip of FIG. 7 mounted in an end of the housing. 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom, side and end perspective view of the housing and clip assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of teeth on the clips. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of security tag. 
     FIG. 13 is a bottom, side and end perspective view of another embodiment of the housing of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Like parts have been given like index numerals throughout the specification. Reference is first made to FIG. 1 which is a perspective view of an exemplary security tag generally indicated at  1 . The tag illustrated is the above-mentioned tag available from Sensormatic of Deerfield Beach, Florida. As indicated above, this particular sensor tag is a thin, rectangular member containing metallic pieces which send off high frequency waves which may be picked up by sensors as the tag is caused to pass therebetween. The sensors, in turn, will activate an appropriate alarm signal. 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which is a perspective view of an eyeglass frame, generally indicated at  2 . The eyeglass frame  2  is provided with a pair of temples  3  and  4 . A housing  5  of the present invention is shown affixed to the temple  4  by a pair of clips  6  and  7 . Housing  5  is intended to contain a security tag  1 . The housing  5  renders the security tag  1  tamper proof. The housing  5 , in conjunction with the clips  6  and  7 , maintain the tag at a preferred orientation with respect to temple  4 . As will be apparent hereinafter, the housing  5  and clips  6  and  7  can be easily and quickly applied to the temple. The housing  5  and tag  1  therein may be removed from the eyeglass frame temple by means of an appropriate tool which destroys the clips  6  and  7 . This cannot be accomplished by means of a simple razor blade, ring knife, pocket knife or the like. 
     As will be apparent hereinafter, the side of housing  5  has a central planar portion to which a label containing price and bar code information can be affixed. This information could be printed directly on housing  5 , if desired. The housing and attachment clips present a far better appearance than the security tag  1  affixed directly to the temple by tape. Furthermore, the housing  5  and security tag  1  can be used over and over again. Only the clips must be replaced. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that although the housing  5  is shown attached to temple  4 , it may be attached to temple  3  in the very same way. 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 3,  4 , and  6  wherein the security tag housing  5  is illustrated. Housing  5  has a central pocket portion  8  for receipt of security tag  1 . Housing  5  also has end portions  9  and  10  which receive the attachment clips  6  and  7  respectively, as will be apparent hereinafter. 
     The central pocket portion  8  is dimensioned to just nicely accommodate security tag  1  and comprises a closed top  11  and a pair of spaced side walls  12  and  13  (see FIG.  4 ). As is best shown in FIG. 5, the bottom edges  12   a  and  13   a  of side walls  12  and  13  define an opening  14  for access to the pocket  15  formed by side walls  12  and  13  and top  11 . The ends  15   a  and  15   b  of pocket  15  are closed by end portions  9  and  10 , respectively, as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     As will be developed further hereinafter, the housing  5  lends itself well to be molded of plastic and to constitute an integral one-piece molded member. The closed top  11  of the central pocket portion  8  has a pair of holes formed therein. These holes are shown at  16  and  17  in FIGS. 4 and 5. The holes  16  and  17  serve a number of purposes. First of all, they enable the thin mold member which forms the pocket  14  to be additionally supported during the molding procedure. Furthermore, they assist in stripping the housing  8  from the open mold. Finally, through the use of an appropriate two-pronged tool (not shown) they enable a security tag  1  to be easily removed from the housing  5  should either the security tag  1  require replacement or the housing  5  require replacement. 
     The end portion  9  comprises a rectangular block having sides  9   a,    9   b,    9   c,  and  9   d.  The side  9   a  constitutes one end of the housing  5 . The side  9   d,  opposite side  9   a,  is the side from which central pocket portion walls  12  and  13  and top  11  extend. As indicated above, and as shown in FIG. 5, the end  15   a  of security tag-receiving pocket  15  is closed by end portion  9 . 
     The end portion  9  also has a top  9   e  and a bottom  9   f.  End portion  9  has a pair of perforations  18  and  19  in parallel spaced relationship. The perforations  18  and  19  are both of rectangular transverse cross-section; both extend from the bottom  9   f  to the top  9   e  of end portion  9 ; and both are open ended. 
     Reference is made to FIG. 6, in addition to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line  6 — 6  of FIG.  4  and illustrates the perforations  18  and  19 . It will be noted that the perforations  18  and  19  define between them a web  20 . The web  20 , adjacent the bottom surface  19   f,  is provided with a pair of oppositely directed teeth  21  and  22 . The teeth  21  and  22  extend toward the sides  9   b  and  9   c,  respectively. It will be noted in FIG. 5 that the tooth  21  does not extend all the way to walls  9   a  and  9   d,  forming notches  23  and  24 . In a similar fashion, the tooth  22  does not extend all the way to walls  9   a  and  9   d,  forming another pair of notches  25  and  26 . The notches  23  and  24  and the notches  25  and  26  provide the teeth  21  and  22 , respectively, with a requisite amount of flexibility. The purpose of the teeth  21  and  22  will be apparent hereinafter. 
     It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the end portion  10  is a mirror image of end portion  9 . End portion  10  has a series of side walls  10   a,    10   b,    10   c  and  10   d  equivalent to the side walls  9   a,    9   b,    9   c  and  9   d,  respectively, of end portion  9 . End portion  10  is provided with a pair of perforations of rectangular transverse cross-section  18   a  and  19   a,  equivalent to the perforations  18  and  19  of end portion  9 . The perforations  18   a  and  19   a  define a web  20   a  equivalent to the web  20  of end portion  9  (see also FIG.  6 ). The web  20   a  is provided with a pair of teeth  21   a  and  22   a,  identical to the teeth  21  and  22  of end portion  9 . The teeth  21  a and  22   a  are separated from side walls  10   a  and  10   d  by notches  23   a - 24   a  and  25   a - 26   a,  respectively, similar to notches  23 - 24  and  25 - 26  of end portion  9 . It will be understood that a cross-sectional view through end portion  10  would be substantially the same as that shown in FIG.  6 . Again, the purpose of teeth  21   a  and  22   a  will be apparent hereinafter. 
     To complete the housing  5 , the bottom edges of sides  9   b  and  9   c  of end portion  9  are provided with notches  27  and  28  which are located opposite the teeth  21  and  22 , respectively. In a similar fashion, the bottom edges of side walls  10   b  and  10   c  of end portion  10  are provided with notches  27   a  and  28   a  opposite teeth  21   a  and  22   a,  respectively. The purpose of notches  27 ,  28 ,  27   a  and  28   a  will be apparent hereinafter. 
     Finally, as is shown in FIG. 3, the exterior of side wall  12  of central pocket portion  8  may be provided with a label  29 . The label  29  may bear any appropriate indicia, as for example, pricing information and bar code information. It will be understood that the exterior of the other side  13  of the pocket portion  8  may similarly be provided with an indicia bearing label, if desired. The indicia could be printed directly on the side walls  12  and  13 . 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein the clip  6  is illustrated. It will be understood that clip  7  is identical to clip  6 , and thus a description of clip  6  can stand a description of clip  7  as well. 
     The clip  6  comprises a U-shaped member having a base portion  6   a  and upstanding leg portions  6   b  and  6   c  in parallel spaced relationship. The base  6   a  is provided with a centrally located closed end slot  30  which opens into the space between legs  6   b  and  6   c.  The inside surfaces of the legs  6   b  and  6   c  are provided with sets of teeth  31  and  32 , respectively. The sets of teeth  31  and  32  terminate short of the upper ends of legs  6   b  and  6   c,  forming smooth pilot surfaces  33  and  34 , respectively. 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which is similar to FIG. 6, but shows clip  6  mounted in end portion  9  of security tag housing  5 . To accomplish this, the U-shaped clip  6  is caused to straddle the temple portion of an eyeglass frame (see FIG.  2 ). The slot  30  is sized to accommodate the typical temple of a metallic eyeglass frame. Thereafter, the pilot portions  33  and  34  of legs  6   b  and  6   c  are caused to enter perforations  18  and  19  in the security tag housing end portion  9 . As viewed in FIG. 9 an upward pressure is applied to clip  6   a,  or a downward pressure is applied to housing  5 , or both, causing clip  6  to seat in perforations  18  and  19  in end portion  9 . The teeth  21  and  22  are slightly flexible as a result of the material from which they are molded and as a result of the provision of notches  23 - 24  and  25 - 26 . Slight flexure of legs  6   b  and  6   c  as they pass about teeth  21  and  22  is permitted by notches  27  and  28 . A determination of the appropriate depth of notches  27  and  28  is well within the skill of the ordinary worker in the art depending upon the purpose to which the housing  5  and clip  6  is to be directed, the size of the housing and clip, and the material from which they are molded. Once clip  6  has been inserted in perforations  18  and  19  and at least the first teeth of sets  31  and  32  have passed teeth  21  and  22 , respectively, the clip can no longer be removed from perforations  18  and  19 . The depth to which clip  6  will enter the perforations  18  and  19  will depend upon the size of the temple straddled by clip  6 . If the temple is completely received within the slot  30 , then the clip can be fully seated as shown in FIG.  9 . It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the insertion of clip  7  in the bores  18   a  and  19   a  of housing end portion  10  is accomplished in the same way, with the same result. Where the housing is to be applied to an eyeglass frame having plastic temples which are thicker than the slot  30  of clip  6  and the slot  30   a  of the clip  7 , the temple may be located between the clip legs and the clips  6  and  7  may be partially inserted in the housing end portion  9  and  10 , as shown in FIG.  10 . In either instance, i.e. when the temple is located in slot  30  or when the temple is located between the legs  6  and  7 , the clips  6  and  7  will usually tend to maintain housing  5  in a particular desired orientation with respect to the temple. 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of the lower left corner of housing  5  as viewed in FIG.  9 . FIG. 11 illustrates notch  27   x  similar to but having a preferred shape slightly different from the shape of the notch  27  in FIG.  9 . Furthermore, the tooth  21   x  of FIG. 11 is differently shaped from the tooth  21  of FIG. 9, as are the teeth  31   x  of the clip leg  6   b  when compared to the teeth  31  of FIG.  9 . The shapes illustrated in FIG. 11 are preferred. It will be noted that notch  27   x  has a 45° relief as at  27   y.  The teeth  31   x  of the clip have a flat vertical space  31   y  therebetween. Finally, the tooth  21   x  of the housing slopes upwardly and outwardly at an angle of 45° and has a flat surface  21   y,  which adds to its strength. It will be understood that the other notches of the housing will be similarly shaped to notch  27   x.  All of the clip teeth will be shaped in the manner shown in FIG.  11 . The same is true of all of the housing teeth. 
     As stated above, the housing  5  lends itself well to being injection molded of plastic material. The same, of course, is true of clips  6  and  7 . Excellent results have been achieved using acetol copolymer plastic. This plastic demonstrates a lack of shrinkage so that close tolerances can be maintained, adequate strength for both the housing  5  and the clips  6  and  7  and just the right amount of flexibility to enable insertion of clips  6  and  7  into housing  5  and to prevent deformation of the clip teeth  31  and  32  and the housing teeth  21 ,  22 ,  21   a  and  22   a.  The strength of the plastic material is such that clips cannot be easily severed by a ring knife, a razor blade or a pocket knife. An appropriate cutting tool which exerts greater force is required. 
     As indicated above, both the security tag  1  and the housing  5  therefor are reusable. When a housing is to be removed from the temple of an eyeglass frame, the clips  6  and  7  are severed at the junction of their legs with their base portions. This frees the housing  5  from the temple easily and without marring the temple. The clip leg portions remaining in the perforations  18 ,  19 ,  18   a  and  19   a  may be shoved out of these perforations through the upper ends thereof by an appropriate tool. In fact, in most instances the act of reinserting a new set of clips will shove the previous clips out of these perforations. 
     The manufacture of the housings and clips, including the molding thereof, lends itself well to automation in conventional ways well known in the art. The loading of a security tag in the housing  5  and the application of the housing  5  to the temple of an eyeglass frame also lends itself well to automation. It would be within he scope of the invention to provide some housings with no security tag, or with a simulated security tag, for application to eyeglass frames as a theft deterrent. Some housings may be molded without a pocket  15 , for this purpose. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a housing  5  was molded having an overall length of about 1.98″ and a distance from top to bottom of about 0.80″. The pocket  15  had an overall length of about 1.73″ and a width of about 0.75″ to accommodate the sensor  1  of FIG. 1 having a length of about 1.72″, a width of about 0.72″ and a thickness of about 0.06″. The perforations  18 ,  19 ,  18   a  and  19   a  were substantially identical and had a transverse length of about 0.15″ and a transverse width of about 0.7″. The housing tooth  21  had a length between notches  23  and  24  of about 0.12″ and extended from the web  20  by width of about 0.2″. The other housing teeth  22 ,  21   a  and  22   a  were substantially identical. 
     Clip  6  (see FIG. 7) had an overall length of about 0.75″ and an overall width of about 0.24″ and a thickness (as viewed in FIG. 8) of about 0.13″. Notch  30  had a width of about 0.4″ and a length of about 0.8″. Each of the clip legs as viewed in FIG. 7 had a width in the pilot areas  33  and  34  of about 0.3″. This width increased to about 0.5″ in those portions of the legs carrying teeth  31  and  32 . The distance between the row of teeth  31  and the row of teeth  32  was about 0.3″. 
     When the sensors which react to the security tag are sufficient in number and are properly placed, a somewhat smaller security tag and housing may be used. For example, the aforementioned Sensormatic of Deerfield Beach, Florida, makes a smaller rattler type security tag. This smaller security tag has a length of 1.77″, a width of 0.42″ and a thickness of 0.06″. Such a security tag is shown at  35  in FIG.  12 . 
     The housing for security tag  35  is shown at  36  in FIG.  13 . Housing  36  has a central pocket portion for receipt of security tag  35 . The distance between the housing sides  37  and  38  enables the acceptance of the security tag  35  therebetween. The housing  36  has an overall length of about 2.06″ and a top to bottom width of about 0.472″ and a thickness of about 0.285″. 
     The housing  36  is provided with ends  39  and  40  which close the ends of the pocket containing side walls  37  and  38 . Ends  39  and  40  are identical to ends  9  and  10  except that they are shorter from top to bottom (as viewed in FIG. 12) having a top to bottom dimension of about 4 0.72″. Each of ends  9  and  10  are provided with top to bottom perforations equivalent to perforations  18  and  19  of end member  9  and perforations  18   a  and  19   a  of end member  10 . Perforations  18  and  19  of end member  9  and  18   a  and  19   a  of end member  10  have webs therebetween equivalent to webs  20  and  20   a  of FIG.  5 . The webs of ends  39  and  40  are provided with teeth as shown at  21  and  22  for web  20  and at  21   a  and  22   a  for web  20   a  in FIG.  5 . 
     The ends  39  and  40  of FIG. 10 may both be provided with notches equivalent to notches  27  and  28  of FIG.  9 . Alternatively, they may be provided with notches equivalent to  27   x - 27   y  shown in FIG.  11 . 
     The embodiment of FIG. 13 may be provided with a pair of clips  41  and  42  which may be identical to the clip of FIGS. 7 and 8, with the exception that they have an overall length of 0.50″. The clips  41  and  42  may be provided with teeth of the type shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, or they may be provided with teeth of the type shown in FIG.  11 . Each of clips  41  and  42  may have notches  41   a  and  42   a,  which are identical to notches  30  and  30   a  of FIG. 12, and are intended to serve the same purpose. 
     As in the case of housing  5 , housing  36  lends itself well to being molded of plastic and to constitute a one-piece, integral, molded member. The top surface of housing  36  may be provided with a pair of holes equivalent to holes  16  and  17  of housing  5  (see FIGS.  4  and  5 ). Such holes serve the same purpose as holes  16  and  17 . These holes may be eliminated in the embodiment of housing  36 , particularly if the housing and the security tag therein are not intended for reuse. 
     It will be understood by one skilled in the art that housing  36  and security tag  35  will be used in precisely the same manner as housing  5  and security tag  1 . Security tag  35  and housing  36  may be reused when accompanied by a new set of clips  41  and  42 . Either of security tag  35  and housing  36  may be replaced. It is also within the scope of the invention to use a security tag  35  and housing  36  therefor once, and thereafter discard them. 
     The security tag  35  and housing  36  provide all of the advantages of security tag  1  and housing  5 . Security tag  35  and housing  36  have the additional advantage of being smaller. As in the case of housing  5 , the flat sides of housing  36  may support labels bearing appropriate indicia such as pricing information and bar code information. It is within the scope of the invention to print such information directly on the sides of housing  36 . The loading of a security tag  35  in housing  36  and the application of housing  36  to the temple of an eyeglass frame lend themselves well to automation. Again, as in the case of housing  5 , it would be within the scope of the invention to provide some housings  36  with no security tag, or with a simulated security tag. Some housings  36  could be molded without a pocket. 
     Modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of it. It will be understood that the dimensions and the shape of housings  5  and  36  could be modified to accommodate a sensor tag having a different shape and/or different dimensions. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a housing which is capable of enclosing a sensor tag and affixing the housing to the temple of an eyeglass or the like by means which cannot be severed or destroyed by simple manual means such as a ring knife, a razor blade, or a pocket knife. For example, it would be possible to make the housing  5  or the housing  36  in two halves hinged together and appropriately notched so that the housing, containing an appropriate security tag could be closed about the temple of an eyeglass frame and maintained in a closed position by appropriate fasteners such as the clips above described or appropriate pin-like means having heads which must be severed to permit the housing to be opened and removed from the temple. A particular desired orientation of the housing with respect to the temple could be provided by the shape of the housing slots.