Patent Publication Number: US-7714721-B1

Title: Anti-theft ring tag

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   It is well known in the art of theft deterrence to use electronic article surveillance (EAS) sensors in order to discourage the theft of consumer products. In use, EAS sensors trigger an alarm if not detached or disarmed before the product is removed from the store. For many products, electronic sensors have been very effective in deterring theft. However, such sensors can be difficult to attach to certain products, for example jewelry, and can often be easily removed from such items even when attached. One higher price item that is difficult to effectively attach an electronic sensor to is a ring. It can be difficult to attach sensors to the band of a ring because if the sensors are overly rigid or cumbersome they can limit the customer&#39;s ability to try on the ring before purchasing. However, if the tag is easily removed it will not serve as a deterrent. Thus, tags to prevent theft are often attached to rings by using a thin, yet flexible, tear resistant plastic strap. One such tag is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,498. In the &#39;498 patent the anti-theft tag includes an elongated housing that is attached to the ring by a tear resistant strap that is secured to an outer surface of the tag by a pressure sensitive adhesive. The tag is inserted within a ring display system including slots for receiving the body of the anti-theft tag. While generally effective, attaching the strap to the outside of a tag allows a consumer to tamper with the attachment of the strap in an attempt to remove it. 
   SUMMARY 
   The anti-theft tag of the present application addresses the need of providing an anti-theft tag that is easily attached to a ring, is comfortable when trying on, and is tamper resistant. 
   The anti-theft tag includes an elongated housing for accommodating an EAS marker, a product support member that locks into the housing and which supports the ring, and a flexible, tear resistant strap for securing the ring to the support member, the strap being disposed at least partially within the housing during use. In one embodiment, the support member includes an arcuate seat portion for supporting a circular shank portion of the ring, and a locking member that locks into a corresponding cavity in the housing. In use, the tear resistant strap extends over the ring shank and the ends of the strap are received within the cavity of the housing in order to protect the strap from unauthorized removal by a consumer. 
   The anti-theft tag described herein discourages unauthorized removal of a ring from the tag, does not improperly interfere with a consumer trying on the ring, is readily attached to the ring and is aesthetically pleasing. The features of the anti-theft tag as described herein may be used with any of a variety of rings, as discussed below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary anti-theft tag for use with a ring according to the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged front view of the product support member of the anti-theft tag of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the anti-theft tag of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a ring display system utilizing the anti-theft tag of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
   The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an anti-theft tag for use with a ring. As used herein, the term “ring” refers to any jewelry item having a generally circular shank and an ornamental portion, including but not limited to finger rings, toe rings and bellybutton rings. As also used herein, the term “electronic article surveillance” tag or marker refers to any conventional electronic article surveillance (EAS) sensor that triggers an alarm if not detached or disarmed before the product is removed from a designated area, such as a store. 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , an exemplary anti-theft tag  10  used to deter theft of a ring  12  and which can be inserted within a ring display system  14  ( FIG. 4 ) is illustrated. The anti-theft tag  10  includes an elongated housing  16  for supporting an EAS marker  18 , a product support member  20  that locks into the housing  16  and which supports the ring  12 , and a flexible, tear resistant engagement strap  24  for securing the ring to the support member  20  and within the housing  16 . 
   In the present embodiment, the housing  16  may be molded from a substantially rigid plastic material, for example Mylar, and includes first and second opposing halves  16   a ,  16   b  respectively, which when secured together form the housing  16 . A pair of cavities  34 ,  36  is disposed between the opposing halves. In the present embodiment, the cavities are both formed within the second half  16   b , with the first cavity  34  having a shape and size to receive the EAS marker  18  therein, and the second cavity  36  having a shape and size to lockingly receive the support member  20 , as described in greater detail below. The housing  16  also includes a first end  26  and a second end  28  opposite the first end, the first end  26  having an opening  30  that opens into the second cavity  36 . The first end  26  may also be flared to support the support member  20 , while the remainder of the housing may include a low profile for insertion within the ring display  14 , as described in greater detail below. 
   As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the support member  20  includes a body  32  having a support end  38  and a locking end  40 , opposite the support end. The locking end  40  includes a pair of legs  42   a, b  to secure the support member within the housing during use. Locking legs  42   a ,  42   b  each include a shoulder  48   a, b  that engages with corresponding ledges  50   a, b  disposed within the second cavity  36  so as to lock the support member  20  within the cavity during use. In particular, the legs  42   a ,  42   b  are designed to flex slightly in the direction of arrows “A” as they contact the sloping walls  41   a ,  41   b  of the second interior cavity  36 , so as to compress as they are inserted within the cavity. When fully inserted within the cavity, the legs  42   a ,  42   b  return to their non-compressed configuration. In the non-compressed state the ledges  50   a, b  act as a stop and abut the shoulders  48   a, b  of the locking legs to prevent removal of the support member  20  from within the housing  16 . 
   Support end  38  of body  32  includes an enlarged shoulder portion  52 , which abuts the first end  26  of the housing when the support member is inserted within the housing. Extending from the enlarged shoulder is neck  54  that supports a seat member  46 . Seat member  46  preferably has an arcuate shape for receiving and supporting the shank  22  of the ring  12  in abutting relation thereon during use. 
   Engagement strap  24  is provided to secure the shank  22  of the ring to the seat member  46  and to the housing  16 . The engagement strap  24  may be stamped from a thin, yet flexible, tear resistant plastic, such as nylon, and has a first end  24   a  and a second end  24   b  opposite the first end. The strap  24  may have a generally rectangular shape, as illustrated, and has a thickness designed to fit within the opening  30  in housing  16  and also between body  32  and the interior walls of housing  16 . Adhesive  56  is preferably provided on an inner surface of the strap  24  adjacent the first and second ends  24   a ,  24   b  to further secure the strap  24  to opposing sides of the body  32  during use. Use of the anti-theft tag will now be explained with reference to the Figures. 
   In use, the tag may be pre-assembled during manufacturing with the first and second sides  16   a ,  16   b  of the housing  16  secured together to enclose cavities  34 ,  36 , and the EAS marker  18  supported within the cavity  34 . The support member  20  is a separate piece that is secured within the housing once the ring  12  is available for display. The ring is positioned on the seat  46  and the engagement strap  24  is extended over the shank  22  of the ring and seat member  46  and either end  24   a ,  24   b  of the strap is inserted within the opening  30  formed in housing  16 . The locking end  40  of the product support member  20  is inserted within opening  30  and into cavity  36 , so that the first and second ends  24   a ,  24   b  are sandwiched between the interior walls of the housing  16  and the body  32  of the support member in order to secure the strap to the housing, and the ring to the seat member. Preferably, the strap is secured by a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to an inner surface of the strap  24  adjacent the first and second ends  24   a ,  24   b . The adhesive may be a permanent adhesive that makes a permanent bond with either side of the body of the support member, although other methods of attachment are also contemplated. As the locking end  40  is inserted within the cavity  36 , the legs  42   a ,  42   b  flex in the direction of arrows “A” as they contact the sloping walls  41   a ,  41   b  of the second interior cavity  36 . When fully inserted within the cavity, the legs  42   a ,  42   b  return to their non-compressed configuration. In the non-compressed state the ledges  50   a, b  act as a stop and abut the shoulders  48   a, b  of the locking legs to prevent removal of the support member  20  from within the housing  16 . Since the strap  24  is relatively thin, the ring  12 , with the tag  10  attached thereto, can be tried on without interference. However, when a potential purchaser tries on the ring  12 , the elongated housing  16  is highly visible and thus greatly increases the chances of theft detection or prevention. To display the ring, the elongated housing  16  is inserted within one of a variety of slots  58  formed within display  14 , as would be known to those of skill in the art. 
   It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the materials disclosed herein may be readily changed, as may the dimensions and geometric configurations of the tag, i.e. the tag need not be rectangular, but can have other shapes as well. Also, the tag may or may not be used with a display as disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope, spirit and intent of the invention.