Label which can emit an alarm signal and which can be attached to a commercial article, and a corresponding device for detaching the label from the commercial article

Abstract: A label which can be attached to a commercial article for the emission of an alarm signal, comprising a body of the label (18) capable of containing means which can be perceived by suitable detection equipment for emission of said alarm signal, a band (20) for attachment of said article for the connection of said body of the label (18) to the same article, and means for restraining said band (20) and said body of the label (18) firmly one to the other and comprising, on said label body (18), a housing (26) suitable for being entered by said band (20). The band having an end band section and an intermediate section of the same which oppose each other and are compressed one in relation to the other in said housing (26). The band (20) having, along at least part of one longitudinal face, securing toothing (28) and said toothing (28) on the band (20) being such that the portions of toothing (28) on the parts of the band (20) in contact in said housing (26) are in turn pressed strongly one against the other in such a way as to block relative sliding of the portions of band (20) in said housing (26) during disengaging of the portion of article whereto the band (20) is secured.

Description: The present invention relates to a label which can be attached to a commercial article to emit an alarm signal, as well as a device suitable for achieving disengaging of the label from the article whereto it is attached. Such a kind of label has been made the subject of a previous Italian patent application no. MI97A 002319, also owned by the present Applicant. US-A-5 437 172 also describes such a label, share a securing band comprises teeth on a front portion thereof, which engage with a restraining element in a housing. The present invention relates to improvements made to the label described in said prior patent applications. More particularly the present invention intends providing a label of the type referred above whereby it is possible to obtain securing of the band around the article to be secured which is particularly effective and capable of avoiding any risk of withdrawal of the label from the object whereto it is attached. The previous object is achieved thanks to a label having the features of claim 1. The fact that portions of the toothing of the securing band, which portions come into contact one with the other and are pressed strongly in the housing for insertion of the label, enables any relative sliding of the portions of band in said housing to be blocked with particular efficacy, avoiding any risk of loosening of the securing band and consequent fraudulent removals of the same label from the article whereto it is attached. A device for disengagi ng the label from the article whereto it is attached is claimed in claim 12. The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments. The present invention, together with further features and advantages of the same, will in any case be made clearer on reading the following description, relating to preferred embodiments to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the label attached to a pair of eyeglasses; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the label without the article whereto it is attached; Figure 3 is a perspective view of only the band for attaching the present label; Figure 4 represents the label in an assembled condition, and the condition of attachment to the commercial article in a sectioned view; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tool which is particularly suitable for cutting the band and freeing the label from the article whereto it is attached; Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an action of disengaging of the label from the object whereto it is attached. Figure 1 shows a preferred application of the present label for emitting an alarm signal, which application is a security element for preventing and signalling the theft of eyeglasses displayed to the public in a sales outlet. As indicated in Figure 1, the label 12 for holding the signalling element is firmly attached to a shaft 14 of eyeglasses 16 so as to rest, when the eyeglasses are worn during a test, at a distance from the face of the wearer and do not disturb or interfere with this test process. With reference also to the ensuing Figure 2, the label essentially comprises a body of the label 18, capable of containing means (not shown in the figures) which can be perceived by suitable detection apparatus for the emission of said alarm signal and a series of bands 20 for attachment to a portion of said article for attachment of the body of the label 18 to the same article. The bands 20 being restrained to the body 18 of the label by suitable restraining means which will be illustrated in greater detail hereinbelow. The body 18 of the label has a prismatic shape with a rectangular base defined by the prismatic box or container 22, which is closed by a lid 24 to define an internal chamber for housing the device for emission of a signal which can be perceived and used by suitable apparatus for detection and emission of a possible alarm signal. Inside the body of the label an electroacoustic device is preferably inserted, having a vibrating portion for emission of an acoustic signal which can be perceived by appropriate detectors or other suitable devices, such as for example a magnetic bar of the type generally known in the field. Obviously the shape and structure of the containing body 18 may be of any suitable type, also different from that of the preferred embodiment shown here. The prismatic body of the label 18 is formed preferably in a rigid plastic material, while the bands 20 are preferably made in an extremely soft and flexible plastic material in order to surround and secure portions of the article, whereto the label is attached, of any shape and size, also extremely small in size, without any risk of withdrawal of the item from the securing band. Although not expressly shown in the figures, on the external faces of the body 18 of the label appropriate trademarks and brands may be reproduced. As shown in the present embodiment, said means for reciprocal restraining between the band 20 and the prismatic body of the label 18 comprise, on said label body, a triad of housings 26 projecting from the same side of the body of the label and aligned one with the other, as well as suitable for being entered by a respective band 20, and portions, which can be engaged reciprocally, in said housings 26 and on said bands 20 respectively. In particular provision is made for said engaging portion of said attachment band to be arranged in such a way as to be accessible from the outside in order to be cut and allow removal of said band from said label body, without it being necessary to break or disassemble said prismaticbody of the label. The use of a higher number of attachment bands than the individual band provided in the embodiment of the Italian application M197A 002319 leads to greater security in the restraining of the label to the article whereto it is attached. Even in the case wherein a band is faulty or in the case of faulty attachment of a band, the presence of at least one other attachment band enables the risks of removal of the label from the article whereto it is attached to be avoided. A safer grip is obtained also in the case wherein the band has to surround objects of extremely small diameter, such as for example shafts for eyeglasses which are particularly thin. In this case, the co-operation of several bands allows an overall action to be provided, contrasting withdrawal, which is much greater than that which can be obtained with a single band. Therefore, in the extreme cases wherein a single band would not be capable of effectively contrasting an action of removal along the axis of the portion of object to be restrained, the synergy developed by a series of bands enables however a firm restraint without the possibility of withdrawals of the object whereto the label is attached. As shown in particular in Figure 3, said attachment band 20 is in the form of an elongated element, which element has securing toothing 28, as well as a first and second projection, 30 and 32 respectively, at a tail end 34 of the band, used for engaging the band with the prismatic body 18 of the label. Said securing toothing 28 is made to project from the longitudinal surface of the original body with rectangular section of the band, on the side opposite to that wherefrom the aforementioned projections 30 and 32 project transversely from said longitudinal face of the band 20. Referring to the subsequent Figure 4, it can be seen how each individual securing band 20 has, during use, an end section 34 of the band and an intermediate section 36 of the same which oppose each other and are compressed one in relation to the other in said housing 26 so that portions of toothing 28 situated on said opposing sections of the band are in turn pressed strongly one against the other. This allows any relative sliding between the portions of band compressed in said housing to be blocked extremely effectively and any undesirable disengaging of the band from the article whereto it is attached to be prevented. Said securing toothing 28 comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned teeth each having a saw tooth shape including a longitudinal slanting slide section 38 and a transverse end section 40 for locking so that, should the band 20 be pulled longitudinally to the same, in the direction marked by the arrow S in Figure 4, to obtain securing of the same band around the portion of article to be engaged 14, said teeth of the two band portions 20, which oppose each other in said housing 26, slide freely one on the other thanks to the sliding engaging between the respective longitudinal slanted sections 38, while traction exerted on the band in the direction opposite that of securing brings the transverse sections 40 of the band portions 20 into contact in said housing 26, thereby effectively preventing any relative sliding of the teeth, meshing one with the other, in the case of traction exerted in this direction of loosening of the band from the object 14 whereto it is attached. During said aforesaid action of blocking sliding of the band it is sufficient for at least one pair of teeth, meshing one with the other, to be reciprocally engaged in said housing 26. Advantageously, according to the embodiment shown, it is preferable that two pairs of opposing teeth 28' and 28" and meshing one with the other 28' and 28", respectively, are reciprocally engaged in said housing 26. Said housings 26 are in the form of a hole open at the ends and wherein a protuberance 42 is formed, having a face 44 for engaging of the portion 30 provided on the tail of the band, as well as having a further face 46, opposite the face 44, for engaging of the other transverse portion 32 of the band housed in the housing. With the aid of Figure 4, it is possible to understand how attachment of the label to the required article takes place first by inserting for a first time said band 20 in the hole or housing 26 until the engaging portions 30 and 32, at the tail of the band, contrast with the opposing engaging portions 44 and 46 provided in the housing. Subsequently the band 20 is wrapped around the shaft 14 of the eyeglasses and said band is returned, in an overturned position, into said hole or housing 26 to exit from the side opposite the one of insertion. After which the band 20 is firmly tightened around the shaft 14, exploiting co-operation between the teeth 28' and 28" of the opposing sections of band in said housing 26. As already referred, the arrangement of the saw teeth mentioned being such as to allow said band only to slide towards the side opposite that of the shaft and does not allow in any way any return movement of the band in the direction of said shaft 14. In this way firm securing of the band around the shaft 14 of the eyeglasses is obtained. Said through hole 26 defining the housing has a substantially rectangular shape, with width or height of the hole 26 which is equal to approximately twice the height of the band, in such a way as to allow insertion with pressure of two overlapping layers of said band and maintaining of the parts of said band in said housing in reciprocal compression so as to achieve said firm securing of the band in said housing of the body of the label. Said face 44 of the protuberance 42 for engaging of the projection 30 of the band is positioned as recessed in relation to the edge of the insertion hole and enables, in an engaging condition, the tail end 34 of said band to be entirely contained in said hole or housing 26. Following securing the tip 20' of the band projecting from the side opposite the one of attachment is cut by means of a suitable device, for example scissors. The abovementioned protuberance 42, extending transversely from the longitudinal body of the band on the same side as said engaging protuberance 30 has the function of preventing any retracting or sliding backwards of the tail 34 of the band once inserted in said housing which, should this occur, by making the rear part of the tail with said engaging portion 30 exit, could encourage a cutting action with traditional devices, for example a blade or other, by dishonest persons who intend separating the label from the object whereto it is attached in order to elude the security devices used for reporting any attempt at theft. In order to fulfil the abovementioned function, the anti-retracting protuberance 32 engages with the aforementioned face 46 of the protuberance 42 which is also positioned as recessed in relation to the corresponding body of the housing 26 so that said engaging portion 32 of the band is arranged, during use, entirely housed in the housing 26. A main advantage of the present invention concerns the operation of detaching of the label from the object whereto it is attached which, according to the teachings of the present invention, is performed easily and rapidly and also such as to allow reuse of the rectangular body of the label 18 containing the anti-theft device. Thus provision has been made to create a specific tool or device to perform rapidly and easily this operation of disengaging. As shown in the following Figures 5 to 6, this tool for detaching the aforementioned label from the article whereto it is attached comprises, basically, a base 48 for support of the body of the label and cutting means in the form of blades 50, aligned one with the other, extending perpendicularly to said support base 48 and such as to engage, following pressure exerted on said body of the label, with said first engaging portions 30 of said bands 20 for cutting of the same. Said support base 48 is formed on the upper face of a support block 52 with a general rectangular prismatic shape, whereto said blades 50 are connected by suitable support means comprising a locking element 54 which secures, under the effect of thrust screws 56, said blades 50 against an opposing wall of the support block 52. The support block made in metal, for example brass, also comprises a housing suitable for receiving said body of the label in order to maintain it positioned during the cutting operation. Said housing comprises a series of lateral walls 58 which extend perpendicularly to said support base 48 and define with their faces 60, turned towards the interior of the housing, a shaped profile suitable for receiving an external profile of said body of the label 18. In the front wall of the housing there is also an opening 62 between whose side edges 63, during cutting, said projections defining the housings 26 of said body of the label are housed. The cutting blades 50 are provided exactly at said opening 62 in the shaped profile of the housing. Each cutting blade 50 also extends from said support base 48 for a height equal at least to the thickness of said engaging portion 30 in a suitable position for achieving complete shearing of the same. To perform cutting of the portions 30 of the bands it is sufficient therefore to rest the body of the label on the support base within the corresponding shaped profile so that the blades 50 rest on the respective bands at the engaging portion 30 of each of them and to press downwards 64 until the same engaging portions 30 are cut. After shearing the engaging portions 30 of the band it is possible to remove the band from the side opposite the one of insertion of the blade, freeing the article 14. The bands 20 can therefore be removed from the respective prismatic body 18 which holds the anti-theft device, in view of reuse of the latter in combination with new bands. It must naturally be understood that what has been written and shown with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been given purely by way of a non-limiting example of the principle claimed.

Claims: A label which can be attached to an article for the emission of an alarm signal, comprising a body of the label (18) capable of containing means which can be perceived by suitable detecting apparatus for the emission of said alarm signal, a band (20) for the attachment for said body of the label (18) to said article, and means for reciprocally restraining said band (20) and said body of the label (18) firmly with respect to each other; wherein said means for reciprocal restraint between the band (20) and the body of the label (18) at least comprises, on said label body (18), a housing (26) suitable for being entered by said band (20), and portions (44, 30; 46, 32) in said housing (26) of the label body (18) and on said band (20) which can be reciprocally engaged with each other, and wherein said band (20) has an end section and an intermediate section which, in use, oppose each other and are compressed one in relation to the other in said housing (26), and wherein said band (20) has along at least part of one of its longitudinal faces securing toothing (28), characterised in that said toothing (28) on the band (20) is such that, in use, the toothing portions on the end and intermediate sections of the band (20) come into contact in said housing (26), and are in turn pressed strongly one against the other in such a way as to block relative sliding of the band portions (20) in said housing (26) in such a direction as to prevent a disengagement of the band (20) from the article to be secured. A label according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises one or more further housings (26) suitable for being entered by respective bands (20) for attachment of said article for the connection of said body of the label (18) to the same article and portions (44, 30; 46, 32), which can be engaged reciprocally, in said housings (26) of the label body (18) and on said bands (20) respectively. A label according to claim 2, characterised in that said engaging portions (30) of said attachment bands (20) can be reached from the exteriorto be cut and to allow removal of said bands (20) from said label body (18). A label according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said housings are respectively in the form of a hole (26) open at the ends, and in that said engaging portions (30) of said bands (20) inserted in said holes can be reached from an open end of said holes (26) defining the housings. A label according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said band (20) has a further engaging portion (32) longitudinally distanced in relation to said first engaging portion (30) and engaging with a corresponding second portion (46) of the body of the label in such a way as to prevent retracting of the tail (34) of the band (20) inserted in said housing (26). A label according to claim 5, characterised in that for each housing (26) and relative band (20), said engaging portion (30) on the band (20) and said second engaging portion (32) on band (20) are in the form of a respective protuberance (30, 32) extending transversely to the body of the band (20), and in that said portions for engaging in the housing (44, 46) of the body of the label (18) are each in the form of faces for engaging at the opposite sides of a protuberance (42) extending transversely to the axis of the hole (26); said engaging faces (44, 46) of the body of the label (18) being positioned as recessed in relation to the external edges of the respective hole (26) for insertion to allow, in an engaged condition, the tail end (34) and the engaging portion (30), as well as the engaging portion (32) of the band (20), to be entirely contained in said hole (26). A label according to any one of the previous claims 2 to 6, characterised in that said housings (26) extend from the same side of the body of the label (18) and are aligned one with the other. A label according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said securing toothing (28) comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned teeth, each having the shape of a saw tooth including a longitudinal slanted slide section (38) and a transverse end blocking section (40), so as, by pulling the band (20) to secure the same around the portion of article to be engaged, said opposing teeth (28', 28") of the two band portions (20) which oppose each other in said housing (26) bring into contact one against the other the respective longitudinal slanted sections (38) so as to allow the reciprocal sliding of the same one on the other and tightening of the band (20) around the portion to be engaged, while, in the case of traction exerted on the band (20) in the direction opposite the one of tightening, the transverse sections (40) of the band portions (20) are brought into contact in said housing (26), preventing any relative sliding in this direction of the band (20). A label according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that at least one pair of teeth (28', 28"), reciprocally meshing one with the other, are reciprocally engaged in said housing (26). A label according to claim 9, characterised in that preferably two pairs of teeth (28', 28"), meshing one with the other, are reciprocally engaged in said housing (26). A label according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said securing teeth (28) are made to project from the longitudinal surface of the original body of the band (20), on the side opposite to that wherefrom the aforementioned engaging projections (30, 32) of the band (20) project. A device for detaching the label, according to any one of the previous claims, from the article whereto it is attached, characterised in that it comprises a support base (48) for the body of the label and cutting means (50) extending perpendicularly to said support base (48) and such as to engage, following pressure exerted on said body of the label (18), with said first engaging portions (30) of said bands (20) for cutting the same. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that , perpendicularly to said support base (48), a shaped profile (60) extends, suitable for receiving the profile of said body of the label (18), said shaped profile (60) having a side opening (62) wherein said housings (26) are housed for insertion for said bands (20) of said body of the label (18), said cutting means (50) being provided at said opening (62) in said shaped profile (60). A device according to any one of the previous claims 12 and 13, characterised in that said cutting means comprise respective cutting blades (50) for each housing (26) for insertion of a respective band, said cutting blades (50) extending from said base (48) for a height equal to the thickness of said engaging portions (30) of said bands (20) to achieve complete shearing of the same. A device according to any one of the previous claims 12 to 14, characterised in that it comprises a support block (52) with a general prismatic shape having said support base (48) and support means (54, 56) of said cutting blades (50) at said support block (52).

Inventors: BRENTINI ATTILIO, BRENTINI, ATTILIO
Applicants: LANSA HOLDING SA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G09F3
IPC codes: G09F3, E05B73