Abstract:
An article identification tag comprises a body defining a channel extending therethrough, an article engaging element forming a loop exteriorly of the body and a portion continuous with the loop extending into and through the channel to a pulling member accessible exteriorly of the body, a size of the loop being changeable by pulling of the pulling member, and structure disposed in the body for maintaining the loop in its changed size.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to article identification and protection and pertains more particularly to tags having size-adaptiveness to articles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One type of article identification device having security aspects and having virtual universal applicability to articles is the so-called “seal”, such as is shown in Mainetti U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,055. The seal of the &#39;055 patent comprises a plastic body having a flexible cord passing through and secured in the body and extending outwardly of the body to a cord free end which has hooks secured thereto and of configuration providing for irreversible insertion in the plastic body. In addition to the body and the cord, the seal of the &#39;055 patent has plates bearing logo/article indication applied to the plastic body to close the same. In use, the hook and cord are passed through an opening of, e.g., a watch band, and the hook is then inserted into the plastic body. 
     A widespread further practice in article security is the use of so-called anti-theft tags which incorporate electronic article surveillance (EAS) markers. Such tags are secured to articles and are removed or rendered inactive at checkout. Where fraudulent avoidance of checkout (shop-lifting) occurs, the markers are sensed by EAS systems, e.g., at store exits, and suitable alarm is generated. 
     One form of EAS marker in widespread use is in the form of a flat, thin, flexible, rectangular member which is applied adhesively to flat or curved surfaces of articles. 
     In pending, allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/088,839, commonly-assigned herewith, there is shown a seal incorporating therewithin an EAS marker. 
     Known seals, such as those above discussed, have a common shortcoming in that they are not adaptive to the size of articles with which they are assembled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the subject invention is to provide tags which are adaptive to the size of articles with which they are assembled. 
     In broad aspect, the invention provides tags, the article engaging elements of which can tightly circumscribe articles of different sizes. To this end, the tag body of tags in accordance with the invention supports the article engagement element or elements in the form of a loop which can take on a diameter adaptive to the size of an article inserted through the loop. To ensure maintenance of tight engagement between the encircling loop and the article, applicants embody means for precluding or substantially limiting movement of the article engagement element once tight engagement is achieved. 
     More particularly, the invention provides a tag comprising a body having a tail with one tail end peripherally continuous with a first end of the body and defining a loop exteriorly of the body, the tail extending from the loop into the body, the body including means for precluding tail movement or substantially limiting movement of the tail relative to the body to a single direction of movement. 
     The body defines an interior compartment and the tag further may include an EAS marker situated in the body interior compartment. 
     The body preferably defines an interior channel opening into the body first end, the movement precluding/limiting means being disposed in the channel and preferably being a one-way clutch. 
     The body may comprise first and second body members closable upon one another, the first body member defining the interior compartment and the second body member defining the channel. 
     The invention will be further understood from consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments thereof and from the drawings where like reference numerals identify like parts throughout. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan elevation of one body part of a first tag embodiment in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan elevation of a second body part of the first tag embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan elevation of the assembled first tag embodiment, shown in engagement with a temple of eyeglasses. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan elevation of one body part of a second tag embodiment in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan elevation of a second body part of the second tag embodiment. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan elevation of the assembled second tag embodiment, shown in engagement with a temple of eyeglasses. 
     FIG. 7 is a plan elevation of one body part of a third tag embodiment in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan elevation of the assembled third tag embodiment. 
     FIG. 9 is an underside elevation of the FIG. 8 tag embodiment. 
     FIG. 10 is a plan elevation of one body part of a fourth tag embodiment in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a plan elevation of the assembled fourth tag embodiment. 
     FIG. 12 is an underside elevation of the FIG. 11 tag embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, tag  10  is a plastic body comprised of housings  12  and  14  having respective sets of projections  16  and openings  18  for guiding assembly of the housings which are then mutually secured as by heat welding of their mating faces about the periphery of tag  10 . 
     Tail  20  has one tail end  20   a  peripherally continuous with a first end of housing  12  and defines a loop  22  exteriorly of the housing, the tail extending from the loop into the housing and therethrough to tail end piece  20   b , which is accessible exteriorly of tag  10 . 
     Housing  12  defines an interior generally rectangular channel  24 , the walls of which are formed with facing ratchets  26  and  28 . Secured to tail  20  interiorly of housing  12  is a collar  30  of pawl member  32 . The outer walls of pawl member  32  are formed with teeth  34  and  36 , which are in engagement respectively with ratchets  26  and  28 . 
     As is evident from the configurations of ratchets  26  and  28  and teeth  34  and  36 , pawl member  32  is movable only in one direction, i.e., downwardly in FIG. 1, upon downward pulling of tail end piece  20   b . The ratchets and teeth thus form a one-way clutch, which precludes upward movement of pawl member  32 . 
     Turning to FIG. 2, housing  14  defines an interior compartment  38 , in which is disposed EAS member  40 . 
     In assembly of tag  10 , pawl member  32  is inserted from above into channel  24 , desirably in the uppermost end of the channel, i.e. somewhat above its disposition shown for clarity in FIG.  1 . This permits the dimension of loop  22  to be at its maximum. EAS member  40  is placed in compartment  38  of housing  14  and the housings are then secured to one another. 
     In FIG. 3, tag  10  is shown assembled with eyeglass temple T. In reaching this assembly, temple T is guided into and through loop  22 . Then tail end piece  20   b  is pulled downwardly, reducing the dimensions of loop  22 , such that tail  20  is tightly secured to temple T. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4-6, second embodiment tag  42  is a plastic body comprised of housings  44  and  46  having respective sets of projections  48  and openings  50  for guiding assembly of the housings which are then mutually secured as by heat welding of their mating faces about the periphery of tag  42 . 
     Tail  52  defines a loop  53  exteriorly of the housing, the tail extending from the loop in tail parts  52   a  and  52   b , ends of which are joined in member  52   c , which is accessible exteriorly of tag  42 . 
     Housing  44  defines an interior generally rectangular channel  54 , the walls of which are formed with facing ratchets  56  and  58 . Secured to tail  52  interiorly of housing  44  is a pawl member  60 . The outer walls of pawl member  60  are formed with teeth  62  and  64 , which are in engagement respectively with ratchets  56  and  58 . 
     As is evident from the configurations of ratchets  56  and  58  and teeth  62  and  64 , pawl member  60  is movable only in one direction, i.e., downwardly in FIG. 5, upon downward pulling of member  52   c . The ratchets and teeth thus form a one-way clutch, which precludes upward movement of pawl member  60 . 
     Tail  66  defines a loop  68  exteriorly of the housing, the tail extending from the loop in tail parts  66   a  and  66   b , ends of which are joined in member  66   c , which is accessible exteriorly of tag  42 . 
     Housing  44  defines a second interior generally rectangular channel  70 , the walls of which are formed with facing ratchets  72  and  74 . Secured to tail  66  interiorly of housing  44  is a pawl member  75 . The outer walls of pawl member  75  are formed with teeth  78  and  80 , which are in engagement respectively with ratchets  74  and  72 . 
     As is evident from the configurations of ratchets  72  and  74  and teeth  78  and  80 , pawl member  76  is movable only in one direction, i.e., downwardly in FIG. 5, upon downward pulling of member  66   c . The ratchets and teeth thus form a one-way clutch, which precludes upward movement of pawl member  76 . 
     Turning to FIG. 4, housing  14  defines an interior compartment  82 , in which is disposed EAS member  84 . 
     In assembly of tag  42 , pawl members  60  and  75  are inserted from above into channels  54  and  70 , desirably in the uppermost end of the channel, i.e. in their FIG. 5 dispositions. EAS member  84  is placed in compartment  82  of housing  46  and the housings are then secured to one another. 
     In FIG. 6, tag  42  is shown assembled with eyeglass temple T. In reaching this assembly, temple T is guided into and through loops  53  and  68 . Then, members  52   c  and  66   c  are pulled downwardly, reducing the dimensions of loops  53  and  68 , such that tails  52  and  66  are tightly secured to temple T. 
     Turning to FIGS. 7-9, third embodiment tag  86  includes housing  88  which supports ratchet wheels  90  and  92  for rotation. Tail  94  has its end  94   a  secured with housing  88  and its end  94   b  secured to end member  94   c , which is in turn secured to wheel  90  for rotation therewith. Peripheral teeth  90  of wheel  90  are configured with stop members  96  and  98  to permit only counterclockwise movement of wheel  90  and hence only movement of tail end  94   b  counterclockwise in FIG.  7 . 
     Tail  100  has its end  102   a  secured with housing  88  and, to show an alternative means in accordance with the invention, its end  102   b  molded with wheel  92 . Peripheral teeth  92   a  of wheel  92  are configured with stop members  96  and  98  to permit only clockwise movement of wheel  92  and hence only movement of tail end  100   b  clockwise in FIG.  7 . 
     Housing  108 , which desirably contains an EAS member, is sealed to housing  88  to form tag  86 . 
     As is seen in FIG. 8, housing  88  defines circular windows  88   a  and  88   b , which permit access to keys  90   b  and  92   b  of wheels  90  and  92 , whereby a user can effect turning of the wheels to tighten tails  94  and  100  upon a temple of eyeglasses or other object desired to be identified and protected. Logo, bar code data and price data may of course be provided on the surface of housing  88 . 
     Turning to FIGS. 10-12, fourth tag embodiment  110  includes housing  112  which defines wedge-shaped channels  114  and  116  extending from its bottom surface and terminating within housing  112  as illustrated in FIG.  10 . Wedge members  118  and  120  define respective teeth  118   a  and  120   a  and are configured to move into channels  114  and  116 . 
     Tails  122  and  124  have first ends thereof secured to housing  112  and second ends secured to end members  126  and  128 , which are accessible exteriorly of housing  112 . 
     In the illustration of tail  124  in FIG. 10, the tail defines a full loop above housing  112  and end member  128  can be pulled downwardly, tail  124  not being restrained by teeth  120   a  of wedge member  120 , which has not yet been inserted fully into channel  116 . In the illustration of tail  122  in FIG. 10, on the other hand, end member  126  has been pulled down for securement of the tail tightly to an article (not shown) and wedge member  118  has been fully inserted into channel  114  with teeth  118   a  tightly engaging the tail and precluding upward or downward movement of the tail. 
     Various changes may be introduced in the disclosed preferred embodiments without departing from the invention. For example, while the tails are shown as being disposed in the housing not defining the EAS member compartment, they may be disposed jointly with the EAS member in the housing defining the EAS member compartment. Further, the EAS member compartment may include plural recesses for residence of plural EAS components. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the true spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.