Abstract:
A device supports an electronic tag to extending neck of a bottle where the extending neck includes a perimetrical undercut thereabout. The device includes a housing formed of a pair of matable housing portions for attachment about the neck of the bottle. At least one of the housing portions supports an electronic tag. A rim portion is formed on each housing portion. The rim portions are mutually aligned. The rim portions form a housing rim which is seatable in the undercut of the neck to prevent longitudinal movement of the mated housing portions along the neck.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/566,807, filed on Sep. 25, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/102,532, filed on Oct. 3, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a holder for an electronic tag. More particularly, the present invention relates to a holder for an electronic tag which may be applied to a bottle neck. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Electronic tags are used for a wide variety of purposes, including the tracking of items which contain the tag, inventory control, security, and also provide information which may be electronically readable. 
         [0004]    These tags or markers may include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags. EAS tags may be used to provide theft deterrence. These tags are used in combination with an alarm system which monitors undesired movement of the article containing the EAS tag. 
         [0005]    Devices such as holders or housings for such tags have been developed which accommodate the electronic tag and which attach the tags to the desired article. It is desired that the tags be securely supported to the article in such a manner where it remains with the article until the time of purchase. 
         [0006]    With respect to some articles, such as beverage bottles, various housings have been developed to secure the tag to different locations on the bottle. One troublesome location to apply tags is to the outside surface of the neck of the bottle. While this is a desirous location to apply the tag, it is difficult to retain the tag thereon, as the tag housing can normally be removed by sliding the housing up over the extending neck. 
         [0007]    It is therefore desirable to provide a tag housing which may be secured to the outside surface of a bottle neck and can not be readily removed therefrom. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a device for supporting an electronic tag to an extending neck of the bottle where the bottle includes a perimetrical undercut thereabout. The device includes a housing formed of a pair of matable housing portions for attachment about the neck of the bottle, at least one of the housing portions providing support for the tag. A rim portion is formed on each of the housing portions. The rim portions of each housing portion are mutually aligned. The rim portions of the housing portions are seatable in the undercut of the neck to prevent longitudinal movement of the mated housing portions along the neck. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the housing portions may be hermaphroditically configured. 
         [0010]    Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the housing is designed to engage an undercut formed in the bottle neck. However, the undercut may also consist of the bottom edge of a label placed on the neck of the bottle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective showings of the electronic tag housing of the present invention attachable to the neck of a bottle. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a plan view, partially in section, of the electronic tag housing of the present invention attached to the bottle neck. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional showing of the bottle neck showing the tag housing attached thereto. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views of the housing portions forming the tag housing of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a bottle neck of an alternative configuration to which the tag housing of the present invention may be attached. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective showing of a further embodiment of the electronic tag housing of the present invention attachable to a neck of a bottle. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional showing of the assembled tag housing of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0018]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show respectively, plan and perspective views of the housing base of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are plan and perspective showing of the housing strap of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The present invention provides a device for supporting electronic tag on the neck of a bottle. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the device of the present invention includes a tag holder or housing  10  which is designed to be supported on the neck  12  of a bottle  14 . The housing  10  supports an electronic tag  16  ( FIG. 6 ) such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, an electronic article security tag (EAS) tag or any similar electronic tag. 
         [0022]    The present invention is designed to attach the tag  16  to the bottle  14  where the bottle includes a perimetrical undercut  20  which in this case is a circumferential undercut, in order to prevent the tag housing  10  from being removed from the neck of the bottle. 
         [0023]    The housing  10  includes two semi-cylindrical housing halves or portions  22  and  24 . One housing portion  22  is shown in  FIG. 5 , while the other housing portion  24  is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing  10 , when assembled, is generally a cylindrical body having a central bore  10   a  with a diameter which is designed to accommodate the extending neck  12  of bottle  14 . The tag  16  may be secured to one of the housing portions  22  or  24 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , one housing portion  22  may include a recessed portion  15  in the inner wall  22   a  thereof. The tag  16  may be secured to the inner wall  22   a  within the recessed portion  15 . Any securement technique such as adhesive may be used to attach the tag  16  to the wall  22   a  of housing  22 . 
         [0025]    The housing portions  22  and  24  are interlockable to secure the mated housing about the neck  12  of bottle  14 . The housing portions provide cooperative mating structures. As shown in detail in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in order to provide such mating connection, housing portion  22  includes a pair of extending surfaces  21  at diametrically opposed locations. Each projecting surface  21  includes a row of vertically spaced projecting fingers  26 . Similarly, housing portion  24  includes a pair of extending surfaces  23  at diametrically opposed locations. Each projecting surface  23  includes a row of vertically spaced slots  28  which receive the projecting fingers  26  when the housing portions are mated around the neck  12  of bottle  14 . The fingers  26  are configured at an angle to permit one way insertion into slots  28 . 
         [0026]    While in the preferred embodiment, housing portions  22  and  24  include either fingers or slots for mutual engagement, it is contemplated that the housing portions could include both slots and fingers for mutual engagement. More specifically, the housing portions could be formed to be identical hermaphroditic components. 
         [0027]    The housing portions  22  and  24  are constructed such that the configuration of the projections and the slots permit one way mating attachment. Detachment of the housing portions can not be readily achieved without damage to the housing  10 . In this manner, the electronic tag  16  can not be removed without destructive disassembly of the housing. 
         [0028]    As noted above, the present invention provides a tag housing  10  which is designed to be accommodated on a neck  12  of a bottle  14  where the neck includes a circumferential undercut. This circumferential undercut is used in combination with features of the housing to prevent the mated housing from being removed from the neck  12  by sliding the housing up over the neck. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , each of housing portions  22  and  24  include, around the bottom edge thereof, inwardly projecting semi-circular rims  30  and  32 , respectively. When assembled and as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the semi-circular rims  30  and  32  form a complete circumferential rim  34  which is inwardly directed and extends around the bottom edge of housing  10 . 
         [0030]    As the housing portions  22  and  24  are mated about the extended neck  12 , the rim  34  formed by the two housing portions  22  and  24 , seats within the circumferential undercut  20 . Since the mated housing  10  can not be disassembled or otherwise enlarged, this seating of the rim  34  within undercut  20  prevents the housing  10  from sliding upward along the neck  12  of bottle  14 . This prevents the unauthorized removal of housing  10  therefrom by sliding the housing up over the neck. 
         [0031]    While the rim  34  is shown at the lower end of mated housing  10 , it can also be provided at the upper end thereof, or for that matter, any location along the length of the housing  10 . The upper end of housing  10  also includes an inwardly directed lip  35 . The lip  35  closes the housing  10  preventing access to the tag  16  when the housing is mated about the neck  12 . If the rim  34  is located at the upper end of the mated housing  10 , the lip  35  is positioned at the lower end. 
         [0032]    While the rim  34  is positioned so as to mate with the undercut  30  provided on the neck  14  of the bottle  16 , it is also contemplated that the housing of the present invention may be applied to a bottle neck having an undercut formed by a label placed around the neck of the bottle. 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , a neck  12   a  of bottle  14   a  has a label  17  wrapped therearound. The lower circumferential edge  17   a  of label  17  forms the undercut which may be accommodated by the rim  34  of housing  10  to prevent slidable removal therefrom. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a further embodiment of the tag housing of the present invention is shown. The tag housing  110  of the present embodiment is substantially similar to the housing  10  shown above. Accordingly, similar reference numerals will be used to denote similar structure. 
         [0035]    The tag housing  110  is also designed to be supported on extending neck  112  of bottle  114 . This embodiment of tag housing  110  includes a base housing  122  and a strap housing  124  which is attachable to the base housing  122  about elongate neck  112  of bottle  114 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , base housing  122  is designed to support an electronic tag  116  therein. Tag  116  may be secured in any conventional fashion within a cavity  122   a  of base housing  122 . The base housing  122  includes upper and lower spaced apart planar surfaces  123  and  125  and a partial perimetrical wall  127  extending therebetween. The elongate end extent  127   a  of perimetrical wall  127  may be used to support tag  116  on an inner surface  127   b  thereof. The opposite outer surface  127   c  of elongate extent  127   a  may support a label  127   d  or the like ( FIG. 8 ). The spaced apart planar surfaces  123  and  125  include arcuate cutouts which define a semi-circular neck engagement portion  126  for engagement with the neck  112  of bottle  114 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9 ,  12  and  13 , strap housing  124  is shown. Strap housing  124  is generally a U-shaped member having a semi-circular arcuate wall  140 . A pair of extending latch arms  142  and  144  extend outwardly therefrom. The latch arms are deflectable so as to provide one-way snap fit accommodation within recesses  129  on wall  127   a  of base housing  122 . Adjacent latch arms  142  and  144  are extending fingers  142   a  and  144   a  which serve as alignment posts aligning strap housing  124  with the base housing  122  to secure the housing  10  around the neck  112  of bottle  114 . 
         [0038]    As particularly shown in  FIG. 10 , upper planar surface  123  includes adjacent the arcuate cutout, an extending arcuate or semi-circular rim  130 . Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 12 , strap housing  124  includes an arcuate or semi-circular rim  132  along an upper edge thereof. Similar to the embodiments shown above, when strap housing  124  is assembled to base housing  122 , the circular rims  130  and  132  form a nearly complete circumferential rim which is inwardly directed and extending adjacent the top edge of housing  110 . As the base housing  122  and strap housing  124  are mated about the extending neck  112 , the rims  130  and  132  seat within a circumferential undercut  120  in the neck of bottle  112 . Since the mated housing  110  cannot be disassembled or otherwise enlarged, the seating of the rims  130  and  132  within undercut  120  prevents the housing  110  from sliding along the neck  112  of bottle  114 . This prevents unauthorized removal of the housing  110  by sliding the housing over the neck. While the rims  130  and  132  are shown to be positioned adjacent the top edge of the housing  110 , they could also be located adjacent the bottom edge for a differently positioned undercut in neck  112 . 
         [0039]    Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures would now be evident to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.