Abstract:
A tag having an integral locking ring for attachment to a bottle neck with a perimetrical undercut thereabout. The tag includes a housing having upper and lower portions, a retaining device and a cable tie. The housing is formed by an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion that defines an interior. The housing portions have corresponding openings therethrough and corresponding notches that form a passage into the interior. The retaining device is located inside the housing and has an aperture that is adjusted by tightening the cable tie. After the neck of the bottle is inserted through the openings in the housing and the adjustable aperture of the retaining device, the cable tie is tightened to seat the retaining device in the undercut of the neck and secure the tag to the bottle. The housing can also provide support for an electronic security and/or identification device.

Description:
This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 61/362,979, filed on Jul. 9, 2010, and from provisional application Ser. No. 61/362,986, filed on Jul. 9, 2010, both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to tags attached to the necks of bottles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tag that may be applied to bottle necks using a locking ring for securing the tag to the bottle. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Electronic tags attached to articles have a wide variety of uses, including tracking, inventory control and security. These electronic tags can also provide electronically readable information pertaining to the articles. 
     These tags or markers may include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags. EAS tags may be used with an alarm system to provide theft deterrence by monitoring the location of the tags and any unauthorized movement of the article containing the EAS tag from a predetermined area. The tags can be enclosed in or attached to a variety of different devices, such as holders or housings, which accommodate the electronic tag and are used to attach the tags to articles. The tags are secured to the article so that they remain with the article until after the time of purchase. 
     With respect to some articles, such as bottles containing beverages or other liquids, various housings have been developed to secure the tag to different locations on the bottle. A convenient but troublesome location for application of the tags is the outside surface on the necks of bottles. 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. 
     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 
     In accordance with the present invention, a tag having an integral locking ring for attachment to a bottle neck is provided, wherein the neck has a perimetrical undercut thereabout. The tag includes a housing having upper and lower portions (also referred to herein as the upper housing and the lower housing, respectively), a retaining device and a cable tie. The housing is formed by an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion that defines an interior. The housing portions have corresponding openings therethrough for receiving the neck of the bottle and each housing portion has a perimetrical wall extending from the interior surface to a top edge with corresponding notches that form a passage into the interior when the housing portions are joined together. The lower housing has an edge around the opening and can also include an interior wall offset from and extending circumferentially around the edge. 
     The retaining device is located inside the housing and has an adjustable aperture that has a diameter and is aligned with the openings in the housing. When the tag is assembled, the openings in the housing portions and the adjustable aperture in the retainer are aligned. The retaining device is secured by a cable tie having a locking mechanism on one end and a tail on the opposite end. The cable tie is disposed around the retaining device and the tail extends through the passage in the housing. After the neck of the bottle is inserted through the openings in the housings and the adjustable aperture of the retaining device, the cable tie is tightened to seat the retaining device in the undercut of the neck to secure the tag to the bottle. 
     Each housing portion can include one or more latching mechanisms extending from the interior surface. The latching mechanisms in the upper and lower housing portions are correspondingly located and engage each other to attach the housing portions together. 
     The tag can include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag located inside the housing. This allows the bottle to which the tag is attached to be electronically identified and also provides security against theft. 
     In a first embodiment, the retaining device is a plurality of flexible fingers. Each finger extends upwardly and inwardly from a base on the edge of the opening of the lower housing portion to a distal end. The opening in the lower housing portion has a diameter and the distal ends of fingers extending from opposing sides of the opening are separated by a distance equal to less than 75% of the diameter of the opening. Each finger has a front surface that contacts the bottle neck and a back surface. Preferably, the distal ends of the flexible fingers extend above the perimetrical wall of the lower housing portion and one or more of the fingers has a spur extending from the back surface and the cable tie is positioned between the bases of the fingers and the spurs. Tightening the cable tie around the plurality of flexible fingers decreases the diameter of the adjustable aperture. The spurs prevent the cable tie from moving above the distal ends of the fingers when the cable tie is tightened. 
     In a second embodiment, the retaining device is a retainer comprising an annular wall with a gap. The annular wall defines the adjustable aperture and the gap allows the diameter of the adjustable aperture to vary. The retainer has a plurality of opposing members and each member extends outwardly from the annular wall to a distal end. The members are positioned on the annular wall so as to form a track for receiving the cable tie. Preferably, a leg extends from the distal ends of two or more of the members in the direction of the opposing members to capture the cable tie. The retainer is positioned between the edge and the interior wall of the lower housing portion and the cable tie is located between the retainer and the interior wall. 
     The cable tie is disposed around the retainer and the tail extends through the passage formed in the housing. Tightening the cable tie around the retainer decreases the diameter of the adjustable aperture. After the neck of the bottle is inserted through the openings in the housing portions, the cable tie is tightened to seat the retainer in the undercut of the neck to secure the tag to the bottle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The preferred embodiments of the tag for a bottle neck having an integral locking ring, as well as other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent from the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the tag showing the tag being secured to the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1  attached to the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1  secured to the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1  secured to the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1  attached to the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the exterior of the upper housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the upper housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of the interior of the upper housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a view of the curved end of the upper housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of section A-A of the upper housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the exterior of the upper housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the interior of the upper housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of the exterior of the lower housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the lower housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 15  is a plan view of the interior of the lower housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 16  is an end view of the lower housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of section A-A of the lower housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of section B-B of one of the flexible fingers of the lower housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the exterior of the lower housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the interior of the lower housing of the first embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 21  is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the tag. 
         FIG. 22  is a top perspective view of the curved end of the assembled first embodiment of the tag. 
         FIG. 23  is a bottom perspective view of the assembled first embodiment of the tag. 
         FIG. 24  is a top perspective view of the straight end of the assembled first embodiment of the tag. 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the tag for a bottle neck having a separate locking ring. 
         FIG. 26  is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 27  is a plan view of the exterior of the upper housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 28  is a plan view of the interior of the upper housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective view of the exterior of the upper housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view of the interior of the upper housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 31  is an end view of the upper housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 32  is a side view of the upper housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 33  is a cross-sectional view of section A-A of the upper housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 34  is a plan view of the exterior of the lower housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 35  is a plan view of the interior of the lower housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 36  is a side perspective view of the interior of the lower housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 37  is an end perspective view of the interior of the lower housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 38  is an end view of the lower housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 39  is a side view of the lower housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 40  is a cross-sectional view of section A-A of the lower housing of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 35 . 
         FIG. 41  is a side perspective view of the retainer for the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 42  is a top perspective view of the retainer for the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 43  is a top plan view of the retainer for the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 44  is a cross-sectional view of section A-A of the retainer for the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 43 . 
         FIG. 45  is a cross-sectional view of section B-B of the retainer for the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 43 . 
         FIG. 46  is a bottom plan view of the retainer for the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 47  is a side view of the retainer for the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 48  is side view of the open side of the retainer for the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 49  is a side view of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25  secured to the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 50  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25  secured to the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 51  is a side view of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25  secured to the neck of a bottle with section A-A for the bottle neck and tag. 
         FIG. 52  is a cross-sectional view of section A-A of the bottle neck and the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 51 . 
         FIG. 53  is a detail B of cross-section A-A of the bottle neck and the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 52 . 
         FIG. 54  is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 26  being secured to the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 55  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25  attached to the neck of a bottle. 
         FIG. 56  is a top view of the second embodiment of the tag shown in  FIG. 25  attached to the neck of a bottle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The first embodiment of the tag for a bottle neck having an integral locking ring is described in more detailed with respect to the drawings in  FIGS. 1 to 24 .  FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of the tag  10  being installed on a bottle  90 . The tag  10  includes a housing  11  formed by an upper housing portion  12  and a lower housing portion  14 , a retaining device  16 , a cable tie  18  and, optionally, a label  20  and/or a security device  22 . The electronic security device  22  can be an EAS or RFID device that provides electronic identification of the tag  10 . The neck  94  of the bottle  90  has a perimetrical undercut  96  located between the base of the neck  94  and its distal end. Below the perimetrical undercut  96 , the outer diameter of the neck  94  decreases and provides an attachment point for the tag  10 .  FIGS. 2-4  show the tag  10  after it is secured to the neck  94  of the bottle  90 .  FIG. 5  shows a top view of the tag  10  attached to the bottle  90 . 
       FIGS. 6-8  show the exterior, side and interior, respectively, of the upper housing  12  of the tag  10 .  FIG. 9  shows the curved end  38  of the perimeter wall  28 .  FIG. 10  shows cross-section A-A of the upper housing  12  from  FIG. 8 . The upper housing  12  has a substantially flat exterior surface  24  with a centrally located opening  26  for receiving the neck  94  of a bottle  90  (see  FIG. 1 ). A perimetrical wall  28  extends from the edge of the exterior surface  24  to a top edge  25  to define an interior  30 . The perimetrical wall  28  has two substantially parallel sides  32 ,  34  connected to two ends  36 ,  38 . The first end  36  is substantially perpendicular to the sides  32 ,  34  and the second end  38  is curved. A plurality of posts  40  extends substantially perpendicular to the interior surface  42  of the upper housing  12 . The posts  40  are offset from and extend around the opening  26 . In addition, flexible members  46  extend from the interior surface  42  to distal ends  48 . Latching mechanisms  50  ( FIG. 10 ) extend from the distal ends  48  and these latching mechanisms  50  are used to attach the upper housing  12  to the lower housing  14  as described in more detail below. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show perspective views of the exterior surface  24  and interior surface  42 , respectively, of the upper housing  12  of the tag  10 . The curved end  38  of the perimeter wall  28  has one or more notches  52  that form a passage  53  ( FIG. 22 ) in the housing  11  to allow a cable tie  18  to pass through when the upper and lower housing portions  12 ,  14  are joined together. 
       FIGS. 13-15  show the exterior, side and interior, respectively, of the lower housing  14  of the tag  10 . The lower housing  14  has a substantially flat exterior surface  54  with a centrally located opening  56  for receiving the neck  94  of a bottle  90  (see  FIG. 1 ). A perimetrical wall  58  extends from the edge of the exterior surface  54  to a top edge  55  to define an interior  60 . The perimetrical wall  58  has two substantially parallel sides  62 ,  64  connected to two ends  66 ,  68 . The first end  66  is substantially perpendicular to the sides  62 ,  64  and the second end  68  is curved. The retaining device  16  is formed by a plurality of flexible fingers  70  around the perimeter of the opening  56 . Each flexible finger  70  extends from a base  69  located on the interior surface  72  of the lower housing  14  to a distal end  74 . The flexible fingers  70  converge towards the center of the opening  56  so that the distance between the distal ends  74  of the flexible fingers  70  is less than the diameter of the opening  56 . Preferably, when a force is applied to move the flexible fingers  70  inwardly, the distal ends  74  contact each other near the center of the opening  56 . Accordingly, the flexible fingers  70  have a length (measured from the base  69  to the distal end  74 ) equal to at least 50% and, preferably more than 75% of the diameter of the opening  56 . In addition, members  76  extend from the interior surface  72  to distal ends  78 . Latching mechanisms  80  extend from the distal ends  78  and these latching mechanisms  80  ( FIG. 20 ) engage the latching mechanisms  50  on the upper housing  12  to connect the upper housing  12  to the lower housing  14 . 
       FIG. 16  shows the curved end  66  of the perimeter wall  58  of the lower housing  14  and  FIG. 17  shows cross-section A-A of the lower housing  14  from  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 16  shows the distal ends  74  of the flexible fingers  70  that form the retaining device  16  extending above the perimeter wall  58  of the lower housing  14 .  FIG. 18  shows cross-section B-B of one of the flexible fingers  70  from  FIG. 15 .  FIGS. 19 and 20  show perspective views of the exterior surface  54  and interior surface  72 , respectively, of the lower housing  14  of the tag  10 . The curved end  68  of the perimeter wall  58  has one or more notches  82  that form a passage  53  to allow a cable tie  18  to pass through the housing  11  when the upper and lower housings  12 ,  14  are joined together (see  FIGS. 1 and 22 ). 
       FIG. 21  is an exploded view of the tag  10  and shows the upper housing  12 , lower housing  14  and a security device  22  installed inside the housing  11 . The upper housing  12  is slightly larger than the lower housing  14  so that the perimeter wall  28  of the upper housing  12  fits snugly over and around the perimeter wall  58  of the lower housing  58 . However, in other embodiments, the perimeter wall  58  of the lower housing  14  can be dimensioned so that it fits snugly over and around the perimeter wall  28  of the upper housing  12 .  FIG. 21  also shows a spur  71  extending from the outer surface of some of the flexible fingers  70 . The cable tie  18  is positioned over the flexible fingers  70  between the base of the flexible fingers  70  and the spurs  71 . When the cable tie  18  is tightened, the spurs  71  prevent the cable tie  18  from sliding up and over the distal ends  78  of the flexible fingers  70 .  FIGS. 22 and 23  show top and bottom views, respectively, of the assembled housing  11  formed by the upper and lower housings  12 ,  14  with the passage  53  for the cable tie  18  (not shown—see  FIG. 1 ).  FIG. 24  shows a top perspective view of the assembled housing  11  with the retaining device  16  formed by the plurality of flexible fingers  70 . 
     The second embodiment of the tag for a bottle neck having a separate locking ring is described in more detailed with respect to the drawings in  FIGS. 25 to 56 .  FIG. 25  shows the tag  110  after all of its components have been assembled.  FIG. 26  shows an exploded view of the tag  110  and the individual components. The tag  110  includes a housing  111  formed by an upper housing  112  and a lower housing  114 , a retainer  116 , a cable tie  118  and optionally a label  120  and/or a security device  122 . The upper housing  112  matingly fits over and snugly engages the lower housing  114  with the retainer  116  and cable tie  118  residing inside the housing  111 . 
       FIGS. 27 and 28  show the exterior and interior, respectively, of the upper housing  112  of the tag  110 . The upper housing  112  has a substantially flat exterior surface  124  with a centrally located opening  126  for receiving the neck  194  of a bottle  190  (see  FIG. 54 ). A perimetrical wall  128  extends from the edge of the exterior surface  124  to a top edge  125  to define an interior  130 . The perimetrical wall  128  has two substantially parallel sides  132 ,  134  connected to two ends  136 ,  138 . The first end  136  is substantially perpendicular to the sides  132 ,  134  and the second end  138  is curved. An interior wall  140  extends substantially perpendicular to the interior surface  142  of the upper housing  112 . The interior wall  140  is offset from and extends around the opening  126  so as to form a ledge  144  between the interior wall  140  and the opening  126 . In addition, flexible members  146  extend from the interior surface  142  to distal ends  148 . Latching mechanisms  150  extend from the distal ends  148  and these latching mechanisms  150  are used to attach the upper housing  112  to the lower housing  114  as described above with respect to the housing  11  shown in  FIGS. 21-24 . 
       FIGS. 29 and 30  show perspective views of the exterior surface  124  and interior surface  142 , respectively, of the upper housing  112  of the tag  110 . The curved end  138  of the perimeter wall  128  has one or more notches  152  that form a passage  153  to allow a cable tie  118  to pass through the housing  111  when the upper and lower housings  112 ,  114  are joined together ( FIGS. 25 ,  49  and  51 ).  FIG. 31  shows the first end  136  of the perimeter wall  128  and  FIG. 32  shows one of the sides  132 ,  134 .  FIG. 33  shows cross-section A-A of the upper housing  112  from  FIG. 27 . 
       FIGS. 34 and 35  show the exterior and interior, respectively, of the lower housing  114  of the tag  110 . The lower housing  114  has a substantially flat exterior surface  154  with a centrally located opening  156  for receiving the neck  194  of a bottle  190  (see  FIG. 54 ). A perimetrical wall  158  extends from the edge of the exterior surface  154  to a top edge  155  to define an interior  160 . The perimetrical wall  158  has two substantially parallel sides  162 ,  164  connected to two ends  166 ,  168 . The first end  166  is substantially perpendicular to the sides  162 ,  164  and the second end  168  is curved. An interior wall  170  extends substantially perpendicular to the interior surface  172  of the lower housing  114 . The interior wall  170  is offset from and extends around the opening  156  so as to form a ledge  174  between the interior wall  170  and the opening  156 . In addition, members  176  extend from the interior surface  172  to distal ends  178  that include latching mechanisms  180  ( FIG. 40 ). These latching mechanisms  180  engage the latching mechanisms  150  on the upper housing  112  and connect the upper housing  112  to the lower housing  114 . 
       FIGS. 36 and 37  show perspective views of the interior surface  172  of the lower housing  114  of the tag  110 . The curved end  168  of the perimeter wall  158  has one or more notches  182  that form a passage  153  to allow a cable tie  118  to pass through the housing  111  when the upper and lower housings  112 ,  114  are joined together ( FIGS. 25 ,  49  and  51 ).  FIG. 38  shows the first end  166  of the perimeter wall  158  and  FIG. 39  shows one of the sides  162 .  FIG. 40  shows cross-section A-A of the lower housing  114  from  FIG. 35 .  FIG. 40  shows the interior wall  170  and one of the members  176  with the latching mechanism  180  for connecting the upper and lower housings  112 ,  114  together. 
       FIGS. 41 and 42  are perspective views of the retainer  116 , which has an annular wall  184  with a plurality of members  186  extending outwardly therefrom. The retainer  116  also has an aperture  185  for receiving the neck  194  of a bottle  190  (see  FIG. 54 ) and a gap  188  in the annular wall  184 . The members  186  are located on upper and lower portions of the annular wall  184  and some of the members  186  have legs  187  on the ends. The legs  187  on the lower portions of the annular wall  184  and the legs  187  on the upper portions of the annular wall  184  are directed towards each other to form a track  189  ( FIG. 45 ) around the annular wall  184  for receiving a cable tie  118  (see  FIG. 26 ). After the neck  194  is inserted in the aperture  185  in the retainer  116 , the cable tie  118  is tightened and the gap  188  allows the diameter of the retainer  116  to decrease so that the retainer  116  can be firmly secured around the neck  194  of the bottle  190 . 
       FIG. 43  shows the top of the retainer  16  and cross-sections A-A and B-B.  FIGS. 44 and 45  show cross-section A-A and cross-section B-B, respectively, and illustrate how track  189  is formed for receiving the cable tie  118 . The track  189  prevents the cable tie  118  from slipping off the retainer  116  (see  FIGS. 52-54 ).  FIG. 46  shows the bottom of the retainer  116  and  FIGS. 47 and 48  show side views of the retainer  116 . 
       FIGS. 49-51  show a bottle  190  with a body  192  and a neck  194  extending upwardly therefrom. The tag  110  shown in  FIG. 25  is secured to the neck  194  of the bottle  190 .  FIG. 51  includes a cross-section A-A of the neck  194  and tag  110 .  FIG. 52  shows section A-A and illustrates how the tag  110  is secured below a perimetrical undercut  196  in the neck  194 . Below the perimetrical undercut  196 , the outer diameter of the neck  194  decreases. The attachment of the tag  110  under the perimetrical undercut  196  is further illustrated in Detail B in  FIG. 53 . After the tag  110  is positioned on the neck  194 , the cable tie  118  is tightened to secure the retainer  116  around the neck  194 . 
       FIG. 54  shows an exploded view of the tag  110  as it is being secured around the neck  194  of a bottle  190 . A label  120  on the outer surface of the tag  110  and/or an electronic security device  122 , such as an EAS or RFID device, can be placed in the tag  110 .  FIG. 55  shows the tag  110  after it is secured around the neck  194  of the bottle  190 .  FIG. 56  shows a top view of the tag  110  attached to the bottle  190 . The size of the tag  110  is preferably designed so that it does not extend beyond the body  192  of the bottle  190  and does not interfere with other bottles when placed on shelves for sale to customers. 
     Thus, while there have been described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to include all such further modifications and changes as come within the true scope of the claims set forth herein.