Abstract:
A housing for supporting an electronic tag on a zipper for a zippered container including a housing and an electronic tag supported by the housing. The housing has a configuration which is attached to at least one zipper of a zippered container. The housing is attached to the exterior of the container to limit movement of the zipper about the container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/773,545, filed Feb. 15, 2006, and entitled, “A ZIPPER TAG HOUSING”, herein incorporated by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an electronic tag housings used to support electronic tags. More particularly, the present invention relates to a zipper tag housing which supports an electronic tag and which limits access to products contained within a zippered container. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is widely known to use electronic tags for various purposes. Electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags as well as radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags are used for purposes such as tracking sales and shipments of products to which they are attached. They also may be used to provide theft deterrence to articles to which they are attached. 
   It is also known to apply such electronic tags to various product containers for tracking product, provide product information and/or security purposes. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,696,955 and 6,324,838 show housings for EAS markers which are used in combination with containers having an inlet/outlet port. The marker housing is configured to be passable through the port for residence within the container. 
   Devices which provide tamper evidence specifically directed to zipper mechanisms are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,347,885 and 6,257,763. These devices are directed to providing a completely new design for the zippering mechanism. 
   While these devices serve adequately for its intended purpose, it is desirable to provide an electronic tag housing which may be easily applied to the exterior surface of a variety of zipping mechanisms. 
   It is desirable to provide an electronic tag housing which may be easily applied to the exterior packaging zipper of a product, and provide for limited access to a packaged product therein. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a housing for supporting an electronic tag on a zipper for a zippered container. The housing is designed to support an electronic tag. The housing has a configuration which is attached to at least one zipper of a zippered container. The housing is attached to the exterior of the container to limit movement of the zipper about the container. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a disassembled view of the first embodiment of the zipper tag housing of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows a front view of the tag housing of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  attached to a zipper packaged product. 
       FIG. 5  shows a bottom perspective view of the second embodiment of the zipper tag housing of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  shows a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  in the locked position. 
       FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  in the locked position. 
       FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  attached to a zippered product. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a housing for supporting an electronic tag such an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag or a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The housing is designed to attach to the zipper and/or zipper packaging so as to be unobtrusive and so that its position will not interfere the ability of a potential purchaser to have limited access to the product within. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  of the present invention, a first example of one such tag housing is shown. Housing  10  is a molded plastic component to accommodate packaging having double zippers, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Housing  10  includes a base  11 , a cover  13  and a U-shaped arm  12 . The base  11  and cover  13  are generally planar and trapezoidal in shape. The base  11  and cover  13  include two parallel sides one being longer then the other, and two non-parallel sides connecting the parallel sides. The non-parallel sides are slightly bowed inwardly as shown in  FIG. 1 . The base  11  further includes two concaved recesses  14  dramatically opposed and positioned closer to the longer side of base  11 . Each recess  14  has an aperture  15  there through positioned adjacent rounded corners of the base. The cover  13  includes two apertures  16  similarly positioned as the apertures  15  closer to the long side of the cover  13 . The apertures  15  of base  11  are positioned on the base to line up with the corresponding apertures  16  of the cover  13  when the cover  13  is positioned over the base  11 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   The base  11  includes a ridge  17  to provide a framed portion  18  for housing a tag  30  therein. The tag  30  may be secured to the housing  10  by adhesive or the like. The cover  13  may be placed over the tag  30  and the base  11  to enclose the tag  30  therein. 
   The U-shaped arm  12  is may be a variety of shapes and sizes. The arm  12  has two ends  19  which are designed to interlock with the aperture  15  and recess  14  of the base  11 .  FIG. 2  shows arm  12  spans the distance between the apertures  15  of the base  11 . The ends  19  of the arms  12  include tips  20 . The tips  20  are generally conical with lead-in geometry. A reduced diameter cylindrical portion  22  connects the tips  20  to the main portion of the arm  12 . Further included in the arm  12  is a ridge  21  which is defined as the point where the cylindrical portion  22  connects to the tip  20 . Once the tip  20  and ridge  21  pass though the aperture  15  of the base  11 , the recess  14  engages with the ridge  21  to prevent the tip  20  from exiting back out of the aperture  15 . The arm  12  further includes a necked down portion  23  which is a reduced diameter or weakened portion of the arm  12 . The user may remove the housing  10  by cutting through the necked down portion  23 , and removing the zippers  32  from the housing  10 . 
   The thickness or diameter of the U-shaped arm  12  is small enough to allow the arm  12  to be threaded through the eye  31  of zipper  32 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Additionally, the arm  12  must be thick enough to maintain its mechanical integrity preventing premature snapping and removal of the housing  10  from the packaged product. 
   Housing  10  is assembled by securing a tag  30  to the base  11 . The tag  30  may be covered by aligning cover  13  over base  11 . The apertures  16  of cover  13  are aligned with the apertures  15  of the base  11 . Arm  12  is threaded through one or more eyes  31  of zippers  32 . The tips  20  of the arms  12  are pushed through apertures  16  of the cover  13 . The tips  20  are pushed through apertures  15  of the base  11  until ridges  21  pass through recesses  14  and aperture  15  to allow the arm  12  to become irreversibly locked into the base  11 . The zippers  32  may be moved about the arm  12  to provide limited access to the product within the container. Upon breaking of the arm  12  at the necked down portion  22  the zippers  32  can be removed from the housing  10  allowing for full access to the product within. 
     FIGS. 5-9  show the second embodiment of the present invention including a housing  40  which is secured to the packaging to prevent the zipper from opening beyond the placement of the housing  40 . 
   Housing  40  includes a generally planar rectangular portion  41  and a tail  42  depending therefrom. The planar portion  41  includes a recessed area  43  to provide for attachment of a tag (not shown). The tag may be secured to the planar portion  41  by adhesive or the like. A cover may be placed thereover. 
   The planar portion  41  further includes a concaved recess  44  with an aperture  45  therethrough. The concaved recess  44  is positioned at the opposite side of the planar portion  41  from the tail  42 . 
   The tail  42  includes a button  46  which is similar to tip  20  as above described in reference to  FIG. 1 . Button  46  is perpendicularly projection portion with a tip  47  and a ridge  48  to mate with the aperture  45  of planar portion  41 . The tail  42  is designed to bend at the bend point  49 . The tail  42  folds back over the planar portion  41  at the bend point  49  such that the button  46  aligns with recess  44 . The button  46  is manually pushed through opening  45  until the ridge  48  passes through the aperture  45  to prevent the tip  47  from being removed once it has attached or snap-locked into the aperture  45  and recess  44 . The locking of the button  46  and the housing  40  prevent the zipper from being removed therefrom. 
     FIG. 9  shows housing  40  attached to packaging  29  inserting tail  42  through a hole made in the packaging  29 . The tail  42  crosses over one side of the zippering portion  33  and the planar portion  41  crosses over the other side of the zippering portion  33 . The tail  42  is locked into the planar portion  41  by a cooperative locking mechanism defined by the aperture  45  and button  46  interlock. The zipper  32  cannot advance beyond the housing  40  which traverses its path to allow for viewing the product with limited access thereto. 
   Having described particular embodiments of the present invention herein, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the contemplated scope thereof. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, the true scope of the invention being set forth in the claims appended hereto.