Patent Publication Number: US-7595733-B2

Title: Lockable pinless EAS tag with lanyard

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to the field of electronic article surveillance (“EAS”), and more particularly relates to a novel EAS tag and companion lanyard which can be placed in releaseably lockable engagement with an article over which security precautions are being exercised without the use of a locking pin. 
   2. Related Art 
   Devices used to affix EAS tags to retail merchandise and other items over which security precautions against theft is desired are legion. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,900 to Humble et al. which shows a reusable security tag comprised of a housing containing a detectable element, such as a passive tuned circuit being responsive to a surveillance signal, in the form of, for example, electromagnetic, acousto-magnetic or radio frequency energy, and a pin adapted to be passed through a garment and through one or more corresponding apertures in the housing. The pin is held in place within the housing by a metal clutch lock to thereby sandwich the garment between the tag housing and the pin. The pin is removed from engagement with the clutch lock by a special detachment apparatus, which applies force to the clutch lock in such a way as to cause the clutch lock to disengage from the pin. The object of this device is to permit for easy attachment of the tag to the garment or article to be monitored but to prevent easy removal by unauthorized hands. On the other hand, the retail clerk must have a simple convenient means for readily removing tags from garments which, due to purchase or other reasons, may be removed legitimately from the premises. 
   Numerous other EAS tag attachment apparatus have been proposed, the vast majority of Them being of the type which also utilize a releaseably securable pin as discussed above. Some of these other devices employ a strap or lanyard, similar to the well-known “tie wraps”, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,943 to Scott et al. which discloses a bundling strap having an elongated thin strap body connected to a locking head end, the strap being adapted to be looped back upon itself and inserted into the head end. The head end defines an aperture or passage corresponding generally in shape to the cross-sectional configuration of the strap. Serrations or ratchets defined by the strap body matingly engage corresponding teeth defined by the passage in the head end to permit the strap to be inserted into and passed through the passage in one direction but not to be withdrawn therefrom. Such arrangements have been used to attach EAS tags to merchandise using pin-type attachments, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,463 to Schenkel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,839 to Sayegh, and others. 
   Many articles of merchandise are not susceptible to having an EAS tag attached thereto using a pin, as either the dimensions of the article or the material out of which the article is made are not susceptible of being pierced by a pin. Therefore, attaching an EAS tag to an article using a releaseably secured lanyard that does not utilize a pin and that is of simple construction and inexpensive is desired. 
   It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a theft deterrent tag and attachment assembly which can be attached to irregularly shaped articles. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a theft deterrent tag and attachment assembly which is of simple construction and is inexpensive to use. 
   It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a theft deterrent tag and attachment assembly which is adapted to permit conventionally-shaped EAS housings to be attached to articles without the use of a pin-type attachment structure. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the above and other objectives are realized in a theft deterrent tag and attachment assembly in which the attachment assembly comprises a strap or lanyard which is either integrally formed (e.g. molded) or otherwise cooperates with an EAS tag housing, the strap being comprised of a first end either releaseably or integrally attached to the EAS tag housing and a second end adapted to be looped back upon itself (and around a portion of an article to be secured) and passed through a passage defined by the EAS tag housing. The lanyard defines a plurality of ratchet or teeth-like projections adapted to be engaged by a corresponding pawl member pivotally secured within the EAS tag housing. The pawl member is normally biased into a first position in which it engages the ratchets on the lanyard body, the pawl member being pivotable into a second position in which it is disengaged from the ratchets on the lanyard body such that the lanyard body can be removed from the passage in the housing and thereby separated from the article. The pawl member may be moved from the first position to the second position using any one of the standard detachment devices (i.e., detachers) known to those of skill in the art. However, any apparatus capable of bringing about the results described herein is within the scope of the invention therefore. Numerous structural arrangements for facilitating the positioning and reciprocating movement of the pawl member are contemplated by the invention. 
   The objects and advantages, as well as the particular structural arrangements, of the instant invention recited herein are only examples and should not be construed as limiting the invention. The invention will be further understood from consideration of the following description of various aspects and embodiments thereof and from the drawings herein. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention and claims that follow. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the theft deterrent tag and attachment assembly of this invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the inside of a first half of the tag housing of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the first tag housing half shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view of the tag housing half of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of one example of a suitable pawl member which can be used with the invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a left side elevational view of the pawl member. 
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a second housing half of the invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a rear elevational view of the second housing half of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of an assembled tag in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 11  is bottom plan view of the assembled tag of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12A  is a cross-sectional front elevational view of the invention taken along lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11  showing the pawl member in the engaged position. 
       FIG. 12B  is a cross-sectional front elevational view of the invention taken along lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11  showing the pawl member in the disengaged position. 
       FIG. 13A  is a right side cross-sectional left side elevational view of the invention taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 10  showing the pawl member in the engaged position. 
       FIG. 13B  is a right side cross-sectional elevational view of the invention taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 10  showing the pawl member in the disengaged position. 
       FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the second housing half in an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 15A  is a front cross-sectional elevational view of the second embodiment of the invention similar to the view of the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 12A  showing the pawl member in the engaged position. 
       FIG. 15B  is a front cross-sectional elevational view of the second embodiment of the invention similar to the view of the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 12B  showing the pawl member in the disengaged position 
       FIG. 16A  is a left side cross-sectional elevational view of the second embodiment of the invention similar to the view of the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 13A  showing the pawl member in the engaged position. 
       FIG. 16B  is a left side cross-sectional elevational view of the second embodiment of the invention similar to the view of the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 13B  showing the pawl member in the disengaged position. 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a security tag, affixed to a product via a lanyard, in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a theft deterrent tag and attachment assembly in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As is well known in the art of electronic article surveillance, tag systems such as that shown and described herein utilize a passive tuned circuit that is responsive to electromagnetic, acousto-electric or radio frequency energy (an example of which is shown as “C” in  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B,  15 A and  15 B) which, when placed within the space or chamber defined by first and second housing halves  16 ,  18 , will cause an alarm to sound when the tag is moved into a surveillance zone, such as the space between one or more EAS antenna in a retail establishment. Utilization of the present invention facilitates the easy and inexpensive attachment and detachment of these security tag systems to large or irregularly shaped articles or articles which are not susceptible of being penetrated by attachment pins, while at the same time permitting the detachment of the tags from the articles through use of conventional detachment mechanisms. By doing so, EAS tags and the securement structure employed by the present invention can be implemented in the market place without requiring retailers or other users of EAS tags to purchase additional detachment equipment. Alternatively, the attachment structure of the invention may be implemented in EAS tags of any configuration, even those not presently in existence, it being understood that the particular structural arrangements disclosed herein are merely examples of the numerous implementation structures of the invention. 
     FIGS. 1 through 13B  show a theft deterrent EAS tag system  10  which is generally comprised of a housing, the housing including first and second housing halves  16 ,  18 , and a lanyard or elongated strap  14 . In the embodiments shown herein, strap  14  has connected to its proximal end a head  15  which is dimensionally wider than the elongate body of strap  14  for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter. However, it is to be understood that strap  14  may be integrally connected to, and/or formed with or as part of, second housing half  18  without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. One exemplary embodiment of a tag attachment assembly  100  that includes a housing  112  having an integrally formed lanyard or strap  114  is illustrated in  FIG. 18 . In this embodiment the lanyard or strap  114  is integrally formed into the outer surface of one of the housing members  112 . When the assembly is placed into use, the lanyard  114  is looped around the article to be protected and passed through strap aperture  124 , such tat serrations defined by the strap  124  are engaged by the pawl member situated within the assembly  100  as described in detail below. To integrally form the strap  114  as part of the housing member  112 , the housing member  112  and the strap  114  may be molded as one piece or combined after manufacture in any known manner such as ultrasonic welding, adhesion, other fastening or the like. 
   First housing half  16  is adapted to be mated together with second housing half  18  such that their inner surfaces form an interior volume or chamber therebetween. Extending into the interior volume are one or more force exertion projections, such as dimples  32 ,  34  and a biasing member  30 . Second housing half  18  defines, on its bottom exterior surface, first and second strap passages  24 ,  26 , as well as a strap head end stop member  22 . Second housing half  18  also defines, on its interior facing surface, one or more pawl access windows  78  (one shown) and pawl member retention posts  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76 . 
   Pawl  40  in the preferred embodiment is a generally T-shaped member comprised of a rectangular element  48  connected to a yoke  51 , which is turn supports one or more claws, arms, protrusions, or other strap engagement elements  42 . Pawl  40  has a slight bend formed therein at or near the juncture of rectangular element  48  and yoke  51 , forming a fulcrum line  46  about which pawl  40  is permitted to pivot against the interior surface of second housing half  18 , generally along dashed line  80  shown in  FIG. 8 . Second housing half  18  also defines pawl retention posts  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76 , which retain pawl  40  in pivotal engagement with second housing half  18 . Pawl  40  also defines a bearing surface  49 , the purpose of which will be described more fully hereinbelow. 
   A biasing member  30  is employed to retain pawl  40  in its at rest position shown in  FIGS. 12A and 13A . Biasing member  30  may be integrally formed with first housing half  16  (as shown as  FIGS. 1 through 13A ), or may be a helical spring  130  as shown in  FIGS. 14 through 16B . Alternatively, the biasing member  30  may be a leaf spring or any structure which will exert a force on yoke  51  of pawl  40  sufficient to retain pawl  40  in the engaged position shown in  FIGS. 12A ,  13 A,  15 A and  16 A, when the device  10  is at rest, but which will permit pawl  40  to pivot to the disengaged position shown in  FIGS. 12B ,  13 B,  15 B and  16 B when dimples  32 ,  34  (or other force exerting structure) are forcibly placed into engagement with bearing surface  49  of pawl  40 . Dimples  32 ,  34 , which extend into the space between housing halves  16  and  18 , exert force against bearing surface  49  of pawl  40  to cause pawl  40  to pivot from the at rest position shown in  FIGS. 12A ,  13 A,  15 A and  16 A to the detached position shown in  FIGS. 12B ,  13 B,  15 B and  16 B when engaged from the exterior of tag  12  by a tool such as a standard detachment device. 
   In one embodiment, strap  14  defines an elongated groove or channel  17  between teeth  19  which are adapted to nest with raised tabs or projections  27  and  29  when strap  14  is passed through first and second strap passages  24 ,  26 , respectively. Tabs  27 ,  29  prohibit the introduction of a tool into passageways  24 ,  26  while strap  14  is disposed therein, which could otherwise be used in an attempt to thwart the device by removing strap  14  in an unauthorized manner. It is to be understood, however, that the invention  10  will work quite suitably without the employment of tabs  27 ,  29  and corresponding slot  17  in strap  14 . 
   Briefly described, when it is desired to attach one of the EAS tag devices  10  of this invention to an article, strap  14  is passed through first strap-receiving aperture  24  defined by second housing half  18  such that head end  15  sits between the U-shaped structure  20  and head and stop member  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  9 ,  10 ,  12 A,  12 B,  15 A and  15 B. Strap  14  defines a plurality of teeth, projections, serrations, or ratchets  19 , which are arranged in such a way that, when strap  14  is looped back upon itself and passed through second strap aperture  26 , the serrations will be engaged by pawl member  40  situated within tag  12 , thereby precluding strap  14  from being moved other than in the direction indicated by the arrow “A” shown in  FIG. 13A  until pawl member  40  is rotated about fulcrum  46  such that engagement claws  42  are caused to be moved out of engagement with teeth  19 . 
   It is to be understood, however, that the step of passing strap  14  through aperture  24  will be unnecessary in the event strap  14  is integrally formed with or integrally connected to housing member  18 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 14   16 B, an alternative embodiment is shown in which a helical spring  130  is used as the biasing member in place of biasing member  30 . In all other respects, the invention works as described in connection with  FIGS. 1 through 13B , with the exception that spring  130  retains pawl  40  in its at rest position by exerting a biasing force on yoke  51 , thereby causing pawl  40  to remain normally rotated into the position shown in  FIGS. 15A , and  16 A. When dimples  32 ,  34  (or other force exerting structure) are imposed upon bearing surface  49  of pawl  40  with sufficient force to overcome the spring force of spring  130 , pawl  40  will rotate about fulcrum  46  into the detached position shown in  FIGS. 15B , and  16 B. 
   In all cases it is to be understood that the above described configurations are merely illustrative of the many possible specific embodiments which represent applications of the present invention. Numerous and varied other configurations can be readily devised in accordance with the principles of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.