Abstract:
A security tag having a lanyard member that engages an article and the lanyard is secured to the tag body in a moveable manner such that the application of a turning force to the lanyard does not cause the lanyard to twist.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from non-provisional U.S. design patent application Ser. No. 29/249,235, filed on Sep. 27, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to theft deterrent and security tags in general, and in particular to a disposable tag body containing a swiveling engagement having a marker comprised of either an electronic article surveillance (EAS) or for RFID device, or a combination of both. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Various types of theft deterrent and article monitoring devices are known in the art. Electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems are known having the common feature of employing a marker or tag which is affixed to an article to be protected against theft, such as merchandise in a retail store. When a legitimate purchase of the article is made, the marker can either be removed from the article, or converted from an activated state to a deactivated state. Such systems employ a detection arrangement, commonly placed at all exits of a retail store, and if an activated marker passes through the detection system, it is discovered by the detection system and an alarm is triggered. In addition, other tags are known that utilize ink vials that break and release a permanent staining fluid onto the article if the tag is not removed by an authorized individual. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,911,534 and 3,974,581 to Henry J. Martens et al. disclose a security tag having the pin contained on a first strip that is attached by a hinge to a second strip that has the locking component thereon. The hinged attachment may lead to the bending of the pin when contacting the locking component because of the predetermined arc that it must travel as a result of the hinged arrangement. Furthermore, the hinged arrangement allows the pin to protrude vertically when the device has fallen to the floor and may lead to injury. The &#39;534 and &#39;581 patents also disclose a pin soldered to a chain at one end and the other end of the chain riveted to the tag cover. The riveting of the chain on the outside of the tag body may subject the tag to easy defeat by unscrupulous individuals. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,918 to Paskert discloses a releasably attachable clip for attachment to certain cloth articles, wherein the pin component is incorporated into the tag. However, the pin once again is held in a substantially hinged relation to the locking component and may lead to bending of the pin as a result of the arc which must be traveled in order to engage the locking component. Furthermore, the &#39;918 patent may only be used with articles made of cloth and cannot engage solid components as disclosed in the instant invention. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,829 to Humble et al. discloses a security tag having the pin contained on a first strip that is attached by a hinge to a second strip that has the locking component thereon. The hinged attachment may lead to the bending of the pin when contacting the locking component because of the predetermined arc that it must travel as a result of the hinged arrangement. In addition, the hinged arrangement allows the pin to protrude vertically when the device has fallen to the floor and may lead to injury. Furthermore, the &#39;829 patent may only be used with articles made of cloth and cannot engage solid components as disclosed in the instant invention. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,130 to Nguyen et al. discloses a complex electronic tag having visual and audible alarm systems incorporated into the tag body itself. The tag also incorporates a lanyard that is made of an electrical circuit wire that will cause an audible or visual alarm in the tag body to be activated should the lanyard be cut. The Nguyen device, however, uses a traditional independent pin having a head to attach the lanyard to an article, thereby possibly leading to work place injuries when the pin is dropped on the floor. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,933,847 to Feibelman discloses an anti-theft tag that utilizes a lanyard where an additional crimping tool and open access to the interior of the tag is necessary in order to attach one end of the tag to the lanyard. The crimping tool of Feibelman may be easily lost and is difficult to negotiate by a user when attempting to hold the article to be tagged and the tag itself during such complex attachment manipulation. In addition, the Feibelman device may be defeated by an unscrupulous individual that inserts a screwdriver or similar tool within the loop created by the lanyard and continues turning the tool until the lanyard twists around itself and leads to failure of the lanyard or the plastic housing. 
         [0009]    The prior art does not address the need for an integrated security tag that is difficult to defeat and easy to use. In addition, the prior art fails to provide a theft deterrent tag assembly that allows attachment of the lanyard to the tag without the need for a separate tool. Therefore, there remains a long standing and continuing need for an advance in the art of security devices and theft deterrent tags that makes the tags more difficult to defeat, simpler in both design and use, more economical and efficient in their construction and use, and provides a more secure engagement of the article. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. 
         [0011]    Therefore, it is a primary objective of the invention to provide a security tag that is more difficult to defeat. 
         [0012]    It is another objective of the invention to provide a security tag that is cost-efficient in use and manufacture. 
         [0013]    It is a further objective of the invention to provide a security tag that may be disposable. 
         [0014]    In keeping with the principles of the present invention, a unique security tag is disclosed wherein a lanyard passes through an article to be monitored and is securely maintained within the tag body by an attaching member that receives the lanyard. The attaching member being maintained within the tag body in a secure yet moveable manner such that a turning force applied to the lanyard does not cause the lanyard to twist. The attaching member also has an attaching mechanism that does not require a tool to be inserted into the tag body to secure the lanyard within the attaching member in a secure manner. 
         [0015]    Such stated objects and advantages of the invention are only examples and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the invention herein will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the claims that follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for the purposes of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front end perspective view of the tag of the instant invention in an assembled state. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the tag of the instant invention in an assembled state. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of the tag of the instant invention showing the inside of the tag body and the attaching member. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the attaching member removed from the tag body. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the attaching member removed from the tag body. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the cap, biasing member, and ball of the attaching member of the instant invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is perspective partial cutaway view of the attaching member without the cap showing the biasing member and ball maintained therein. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the cap with the biasing member resting thereon. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a partial cutaway side elevational view of the attaching member with the engaging element maintained therein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , a tag body  20  is illustrated having a first half  22  and a second half  24 . First and second halves  22  and  24  are preferably made of a hard or rigid material and are adapted to attach to one another and form a front end  21  and a rear end  23 . A usable rigid or hard material might be a hard plastic such as, for purposes of illustration but not limitation, an injection molded ABS plastic or like material. 
         [0027]    Second half  24  has a peripheral wall  26  extending inwardly from an inner surface  28   a  of second half  24  and securely engaging—along a substantial portion of the periphery thereof—first half  22 . Peripheral outer wall  26  of tag  20  encloses the tag body except for the front end  21 . If plastic or like material is used for the body of tag  20 , the mating of peripheral wall  26  to first half  22  can be accomplished via an ultrasonic weld or like joining mechanism. However, it is to be understood that other joining methods, such as adhesives for example, may also be used. Inner surface  28   b  of first half  22  and inner surface  28   a  of second half  24  create a cavity  30  within which a marker  32  is enclosed. 
         [0028]    Marker  32  may be an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) device or any electronic means of monitoring an article to which it is attached. Conventional EAS devices or tags include a resonator that, when activated, causes an alarm to sound when the EAS tag is brought within operative proximity of detection apparatus (which is typically located at the exit of a store). Marker  32  may also be a radio-frequency (“RFID”) device. RFID is a generic term for technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify objects such as tagged products. There are several conventional methods of identifying objects using RFID, the most common of which is to store a serial number (and other information if desired) that identifies the object on a microchip that is attached to an antenna. The chip and the antenna, together with any supporting substrate, herein are called an RFID device or an RFID tag. The antenna enables the chip to transmit the identification information to a reader. The reader converts the radio waves from the RFID device into a form that can then be utilized by a computer and read by a user. Marker  32  may also be any transponder or a combination of both an EAS and RFID device, and can also incorporate any later developed technology to track inventory or surveil articles. Marker  32  is adapted to operate along the lines of a frequency modulated (FM) radio and also amplitude modulated (AM) radio signals. 
         [0029]    A chamber  34 —defined between first half  22  and second half  24 —securely maintains an attaching member  36  therein in a swiveling or rotating manner. Chamber  34  is created by a first protrusion  38  extending outwardly from first half  22  and a second protrusion  40  extending outwardly from second half  24 . In one preferred embodiment, chamber  34  is located proximal to front end  21  of tag body  20 . First protrusion  38  and second protrusion  40  have an inwardly extending lip  44  such that lip  44  defines an opening  42 . Inner surface of first protrusion  38  and second protrusion  40  are substantially concave and form a substantially cylindrical chamber  34  when the tag body is attached. Although a cylindrical embodiment is herein presented, it is to be understood that attaching member  36  and chamber  34  may be substantially spherical, or any other appropriate shape that would allow the swiveling of attaching member  36  within chamber  34 . In fact, attaching member  36  may take any shape that does not prevent it from being moveably maintained within chamber  34 . And, as a further example, attaching member  36  may be substantially conical. 
         [0030]    Now also referring to  FIGS. 5 through 9 , an engaging element  46  has a first end  48  and a second end  50 , at points distal to one another, and a middle region  52  therebetween. Engaging element  46  may be a lanyard preferably formed of stainless steel cable or like material that is flexible yet strong. A first catch  54  is attached to first end  48  and a second catch  56  is attached to second end  56  and are preferably cylindrical in shape. First catch  54  and second catch  56  may be formed by crimping a metal element onto first end  48  and second end  50 , respectively, or by soldering thereon. In addition, first and second catches  54  and  56  may also preferably be formed by crimp splices. In one preferred embodiment, first catch  54  has a smaller diameter than second catch  56  such that first catch  54  can pass through a first aperture  58  defined through attaching member  36 , as defined below in greater detail. 
         [0031]    Attaching member  36  is substantially cylindrically shaped having a leading end  60  and a trailing end  62 . In one preferred embodiment, leading end  60  has a smaller diameter than trailing end  62  such that a peripherally extending ridge  64  is formed at the transition between leading end  60  and trailing end  62 . Ridge  64  is engaged by lip  44  of tag body  20  in a swiveling yet secure manner such that leading end  60  is substantially flush with front end  21  when assembled. First aperture  58  is defined by the attaching member and traverses from leading end  60  to trailing end  62 . First catch  54  is fed through aperture  58  from trailing end  62  such that first catch  54  emanates from leading end  60 . However, as a result of the larger diameter of second catch  56 , it cannot pass through the aperture  58  and is securely maintained within attaching member  36 . 
         [0032]    A second aperture  66  is also defined by and extends from leading end  60  to trailing end  62  of attaching member  36 . First end  48  of engaging element  46  is passed through an article to be monitored and first catch  54  is inserted into second aperture  66  and is securely therein via an attaching mechanism  68 . In such a state, the article to be monitored is maintained within a loop formed by engaging element  46 . Furthermore, in said state, an unscrupulous individual will not be able to insert a screw driver or similar tool within the loop and turn the same into a tightening helical form in an attempt to break the engaging element  46  or cause failure of the tag body  20 . Attempts to turn the screw driver in order to twist the engaging element  46  upon itself will not be successful because it will result in the swiveling of the attaching member  36  within tag body  20 . 
         [0033]    Attaching mechanism  68  is comprised of a cap  70 , a biasing member  72 , and a ball  74 . Ball  74  is larger in diameter than second aperture  66  and cannot travel therethrough. Cap  70  is substantially disc shaped and is adapted to be received on trailing end  62  of attaching member  36 . Cap  70  has an elevated region  76 —that is substantially shaped like a right triangle—extending inwardly therefrom. Cap  70  also has a first hole  78  and a second hole  80  defined through the disc region thereof. First hole  78  and second hole  80  have the same size as and are axially aligned with first aperture  58  and second aperture  66 , respectively. Elevated region  76  has a first side  82  that is inclined and is similar to a hypotenuse of a right triangle, a second side  84  extends downwardly from a top portion  86  of first side  82  in a substantially perpendicular manner to disc region of cap  70 . A third side  88  is defined on said flat region of the cap  70  and forms the final side of the triangular elevated region  76  and attaches to a bottom portion  90  of first side  82 . Bottom portion  90  is distal to top portion  86  of first side  82 . 
         [0034]    A base  92  emanates vertically from disc region of cap  70  at bottom portion  90  of first side  82 . Base  92  is adapted to receive one end of biasing member  72  thereon such that biasing member  72  is maintained in parallel alignment with and rests on top of first side  82 . The other end of biasing member  72  rests proximal to top portion  86  of first side  82 . 
         [0035]    In one preferred embodiment, first side  82  and second side  84  have an axially extending concavity along the lengths thereof such that a first channel  94  is defined along first side  82  and a second channel  96  is defined along second side  84 . Biasing member  72  and ball  74  are adapted to travel on top of the side rail like structures created by first channel  94  without falling into second channel  96 . 
         [0036]    Now referring more particularly to  FIG. 7 , a crevice  98  is formed within attaching member  36  from trailing end  62  thereof, the apex of crevice  98  communicating with second aperture  66 . A first wall  100  and a second wall  102  oppose one another, with first wall  100  being angled such that it is in parallel alignment with first side  82  and first wall  100  culminating at second aperture  66 . Second wall  102  being vertically aligned such that it is in substantial parallel alignment with second side  84 , and second wall  102  culminating at second aperture  66  at one end and at second hole  80  at another end. 
         [0037]    When attaching mechanism  68  is inserted into crevice  98  of attaching member  36 , ball  74  is maintained at top portion  86  of first side  82  by the application of force from biasing member  72  thereto. Ball  74  and biasing member  72  are moveably maintained between first side  82  and first wall  100  and maintained within first channel  94 . Now referring more particularly to  FIG. 9 , when first catch  54  is inserted into second aperture  66 , it pushes ball  74  toward biasing member  72 , whereby biasing member  72  is compressed and ball  66  moves away from top portion  86  and toward base  92 . First catch  54  travels into second channel  96  defined between second wall  102  and second side  84 . When first catch  54  is inserted up to a predetermined length such that first end  48  is proximal to ball  74 , biasing member  72  expands and forces ball  74  toward top portion  86  and second aperture  66  thereby occluding second aperture  66  and preventing withdrawal of first catch  54 . A loop is thereby formed by engaging element  46  such that an article to be monitored can securely be maintained therein. 
         [0038]    It is to be understood that while a ball mechanism is illustrated herein, other attaching mechanisms known in the art may be substituted therefor without departing from the essence of the invention. In a single use theft deterrent device, the authorized user is provided with a cutting tool that is capable of cutting engaging element  46  from the article that is enclosed within the loop. 
         [0039]    While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible without departing from the essential spirit of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.