Abstract:
Embodiments of the current invention entail a highly visible tag that is attached to products at a highly visible locations. It can easily be removed once purchasers buy the product. To remove it, purchasers must destroy the tag to use the product in public, and it cannot be reattached by the purchaser. Absence of a tag makes it clear that the buyer has removed the tag and provides an indication that the product has been used. A retailer&#39;s policies determines how an attempt to return a tagless product is handled. The tag is most effective for products that are used in public. The tag has an optical code to prevent a counterfeit tag from being attached to the product in order to return it, when it has been used by the purchaser. The optical code may be alphanumeric or machine readable. The tag may carry EAS technology.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 14/099,788, filed on Dec. 6, 2013, Ser. No. 14/184,786, filed on Feb. 20, 2014, and Ser. No. 14/606,351, filed on Jan. 29, 2015. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/099,788 published as U.S. 2014/0159902 A1 and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/734,478, filed on Dec. 7, 2012. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/184,786 published as U.S. 2014/0232545 A1 and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/767,147, filed on Jan. 20, 2013. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/606,351 is itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/099,788. The entirety of U.S. application Ser. Nos. 14/099,788, 14/184,786, and 14/606,351, and U.S. Provisional Applications 61/734,478, and 61/767,147, including both the figures and specifications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the prevention of the fraudulent return of purchased goods. More specifically, this invention relates to the prevention of the return of garments which have been purchased, worn, and then returned to the store after having been worn, or the return of a lesser valued good on the purchase receipt of a greater valued good. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Theft of goods in the retail environment is a serious concern. Theft cuts into the margins of a business making it more difficult for a business to compete and succeed. One type of theft is fraudulently returned garments. This type of theft involves purchasing a garment, perhaps a more expensive high end garment, and wearing it at least once. After the garment has been worn, it is fraudulently returned to the retail outlet where it was purchased. This allows the purchaser to get the benefit of the product without paying for it. This frequently occurs when a person purchases a more expensive article of clothing for a particular occasion, wears the garment, and then returns it. This technique of theft is sometimes called wardrobing in the retail industry. 
         [0004]    One measure that is employed against this type of theft employs a highly visible anti-wardrobing tag placed on the garment. The tag is placed in a highly visible location so that the garment cannot be worn without the tag being seen. Once a garment is bought, the tag can be removed by a purchaser, but with the removal of the tag, the garment may not be returned, or can only be returned with a mark-down from purchase price, or other return policies may be applied. 
         [0005]    In response to the deployment of anti-wardrobing tags, additional theft techniques have been developed and encountered in the retail sales environment. One technique employed to counter anti-wardrobing tags is the counterfeiting of the anti-wardrobing tags. Since they are disposable, anti-wardrobing tags are very simple devices and do not have distinguishing characteristics to identify individual tags, or to identify a tag with a specific item, or garment. Because of this, if a reasonably similar tag is substituted for a removed anti-wardrobing tag, the garment may be accepted in a return transaction when the garment has actually been worn. 
         [0006]    Another theft technique is the unequal exchange of garments. In this technique, two garments are acquired by a thief, one garment being much more expensive than the other. The thief then returns the less expensive garment with the sales receipt for the more expensive garment. The thief then gets the difference in cost between the two garments. This technique also requires a counterfeit anti-wardrobing tag to be placed on the returned garment in order for the garment to be accepted. 
         [0007]    There remains a need for a means of identifying individual anti-wardrobing tags to defeat counterfeit tags. This means of identification needs to be as inexpensive as the tags themselves. It also needs to be flexible to adapt to different retailers and different retail situations. 
       SUMMARY FOR EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Embodiments of the current invention entail a highly visible tag that can be attached to the garment at the store, but can easily be removed once the purchaser buys the garment and takes it home. Once the purchaser gets the garment home, they can remove it themselves and wear it. Once the tag is removed, it can not be reattached by the consumer. Depending on the store policy, the garment may not be returned, or there may be an extra fee for returning the garment, or other similar policies. The use of a tag makes it clear that the buyer has removed the tag and provides an indication that the garment has been worn in public. 
         [0009]    Each tag has an optical code, or identifier, located on it. This optical code may be clearly visible or it may be hidden from being viewed in the normal course of activity. The optical code may be a unique identifier unique to each tag, it may be a group identifier, i.e., it may identify the lot from which the tag originated, or the optical code may be a chronological indicator and reflect a date/time. 
         [0010]    In at least one embodiment, the optical code is an alphanumeric code visible on the exterior of the tag. In other embodiments, the optical code is a machine readable code such as a bar code, a two dimensional code, or other similar code. One type of commonly known two dimensional code is a QR code. In some embodiments, the optical code is on the exterior of the tag but only visible when exposed to light produced by an ultraviolet, or black light, bulb. Embodiments having optical codes that are only visible in an ultraviolet light environment may achieve this effect with ultraviolet light reactive ink, or ultraviolet light reactive plastic. 
         [0011]    In at least one embodiment the tag consists of an elongated plastic piece having a head and a lanyard extending from the head. The head has a relatively large flat face and a hub extending from behind the face. The face provides a large surface for a logo, an optical code, and/or a statement about removal of the tag, etc. The hub tapers as it extends away from the face and is sized to be pressed through an aperture on garment such as a buttonhole. The hub has an aperture through it generally aligned with the lanyard and sized to accept the insertion of the lanyard. The lanyard also presents a suitable surface for locating an optical code. 
         [0012]    The lanyard has several cleats along its length. When the free end of the lanyard is passed through the aperture in the hub and pulled, these cleats pass through the aperture as well and prevent the lanyard from being pulled back out of the aperture in the hub. A short distance along its length from the head, the lanyard has a tab and break lines formed along each side of the tab across the width of the lanyard. This tab and the break lines to each side of it facilitate the parting of the lanyard into sections. Pulling the tab parts the lanyard into a stub section still attached to the head and a tail section passing through the aperture. The tab section itself may also become separated from both of the other sections of lanyard. Once the lanyard is separated, the tag may pressed out of the aperture to allow the garment to be worn. If necessary the tail section of the lanyard may be pull the rest of the way through the aperture in the hub of the head of the tag. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments of the tag, the head will enclose an EAS device. The EAS device would interact with a larger EAS system to provide security and tracking functions. Due to size and cost factors, the EAS device would most likely be passive, but active EAS devices would also be possible. In some cases, the EAS device may actually be a dummy device which produces a rattle within the body of the tag to deceive would be thieves that an EAS device is housed in the tag. Of course, in the latter case the dummy device would not interact with the larger EAS system. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the tag consists of an elongated plastic piece having a hinge in the middle so that it can fold over. Toward one end of the unfolded tag is a post, and at the other end, coincident with the post when the tag is folded, is an aperture through the tag. At least one flexible tab extends laterally from the post. When the tag is folded, the post inserts through the aperture. The flexible tab is located at a height on the post such that, when the post is inserted through the aperture, it is bent and passes through the aperture. After the tab is forced through the aperture, it springs back to its extended position and acts to keep the tag in its folded configuration. Once the tag is folded and attached to an article of clothing, the exterior of the folded tag presents broad smooth surfaces for locating optical codes. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, a tack is located between the post and its respective end and it is located on the same side and directed in the same direction as the post. At the opposite end of the unfolded tag, an aperture is located to coincide with the tack when the tag is closed. When the tag is closed over a piece of cloth, i.e. a garment, the tack passes through the garment and inserts into the aperture. The aperture may be formed by a raised rim on that side of the tag. The relative positions of the tack and aperture may be reversed. 
         [0016]    Generally, each half of the folded tag has a rim around its edge that matches and presses against the rim of the other half when the tag is folded. However, in the area of the tack and aperture, the rim is not present. This leaves a gap that accommodates the cloth of a garment when the tag is installed on a garment. 
         [0017]    To remove a tag from a garment or other item, the end of the tag where the post is located is squeezed. This pushes the post even further through the aperture, so that the body of the post beneath the flexible tab is exposed outside the tag. The post can then be cut beneath the flexible tab to remove the flexible tab, which is what normally retains the tag in a folded configuration. In use, the tag would be removed by the purchaser of the garment when the purchaser wears the garment in public. 
         [0018]    In at least one embodiment the hinge between the two portions of the body of the tag is a compound hinge. The hinge folds at its middle and also where it attaches to the two portions of the body. This allows the hinge to fold into the interior of the body of the tag when the tag is in the folded configuration, and prevents access to the hinge by any who may want to tamper with the tag. 
         [0019]    Some embodiments of the tag will enclose an EAS device. The EAS device would interact with a larger EAS system to provide security and tracking functions. The EAS device may range from passive, to semi-passive, to active. In some cases, the EAS device may actually be a dummy device which produces a rattle with the body of the tag to deceive would be thieves that an EAS device is housed in the tag. Of course, in the latter case the dummy device would not interact with the larger EAS system. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment of a folding tag employing a tack to maintain the tag, it is the body of the tag that is the destructible element. In proximity to the tack is a first element for holding the tag in a folded position, and in proximity to the aperture of the tack is a second element for holding the tag in a folded position. These two elements engage each other when the tag is folded and keep the tag in the folded state. This keeps the tack inserted through the aperture and garment. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the tag has a medallion, or seal, attached to the body of the tag and there is a continuous series of perforations through the body of the tag in proximity to the medallion. The medallion has an exposed edge which presents a tab for grasping. In embodiments having the medallion and perforations, one way to remove the tag from the garment is to part the tag at the perforations. A buyer turns or pulls the exposed edge (tab) of the medallion and tears the body of the tag into multiple pieces along the lines of the perforations in the tag. Once the body of the tag is torn in this fashion the holding elements can be disengaged with ease and the tag removed from the garment without damaging the garment. The face of the medallion, provides a large surface for an optical code, and/or a statement about removal of the tag, etc, and/or a logo, or seal. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments of this latter embodiment of folding tag, the first holding element, the second holding element or both, have a continuous series of perforations around them where they join the body of the tag. To remove the tag, a buyer pulls the two ends of the tag apart, tearing the perforations around a holding element and parting the tag. When the perforations around a holding element tear, the holding elements can remain joined, while the two ends of the tag separate. With the separation of the ends of the tag, the tack is withdrawn from the slot and the garment, and the tag can be removed from the garment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Additional utility and features of the invention will become more fully apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, which illustrate some of the primary features of preferred embodiments. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a tag having an anti-counterfeiting optical code before application to an object with the tag having a lanyard. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a tag having an anti-counterfeiting optical code before application to an object with the tag having a lanyard. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a tag having an anti-counterfeiting optical code with the tag being attached to an object by a lanyard. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a back perspective view of an embodiment of a tag having an anti-counterfeiting optical code with the tag being attached to an object with a lanyard. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hinged tag having an anti-counterfeiting optical code, the tag being in an opened configuration. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hinged tag having an anti-counterfeiting optical code, the tag being in a closed configuration, showing the post inserted through the aperture and the flexible tabs external to the tag. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the embodiment of the hinged tag of  FIG. 6  in a closed configuration showing the post trimmed and the flexible tabs removed. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the embodiment of the hinged tag of  FIG. 5  in an opened configuration, showing the post trimmed and the catch tabs removed. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a hinged tag having an anti-counterfeiting optical code, the tag being in an opened configuration. 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of a hinged tag of  FIG. 9  in an opened configuration. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of a hinged tag of  FIG. 9  in a closed configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of one-time-use tag  10  before application to an object. Tag  10  has a head  20  with lanyard  40  extending from it. Head  20  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  is round and has a large face appearing like a seal  22 . Seal face  22  is large enough to allow a cosmetic logo to be applied to it. 
         [0036]    Additionally, optical code  23  may be located on seal face  22 . While  FIG. 1  shows optical code  23  sharing seal face  22  with a logo, optical code  23  could be alone on seal face  22 . Optical code  23  may be an alphanumeric code as shown in  FIG. 1 , or it may be a machine readable code such as a bar code or a two dimensional code. Among other functions, optical code  23  serves to defeat the replacement of a removed single-use tag with a counterfeit tag. Although a thief may be able to obtain a counterfeit tag that sufficiently approximates a retailer&#39;s one-time-use tag, without the correct optical code, the replacement tag will not pass closer inspection. 
         [0037]    Lanyard  40  extends from head  20  and is comprised of three parts. These three parts are stub  28  which attaches to head  20  and extends from it, tab  60  and tail  42 . Stub  28  is relatively short and extends a short way from head  20 . Tab  60  is attached to the end of stub  28  and tail  42  of lanyard  40  is attached to tab  60 . Where tab  60  attaches to stub  28  and tail  42  of lanyard  40 , two break lines  62  run across the width of lanyard  40 . As will be discussed later, these break lines  62  assist in the separation of the sections of lanyard  40 , making tag  10  a one-time-use tag. Like optical code  23 , optical code  43  on lanyard  40  of tag  10  defeats the use of counterfeit tags. Optical code  43  may be a machine readable code such as a bar code or two dimensional code as shown in  FIG. 1 , or it may be an alphanumeric code. 
         [0038]    Optical code  23  and optical code  43  may be normally visible, or they may require application of ultraviolet light to make optical codes  23  and  43  visible. Optical codes  23  and  43  may be a unique identifier for one-time-use tag  10  or it may be a group identifier, i.e. be a lot identifier for tag  10 . Optical codes  23  and  43  may be placed on one-time-use tag  10  by several methods, including printing, transfer stamping, hot stamping, foil stamping, plastic welding, engraving, laser marking, or pin stamping. Ultraviolet light reactive ink, paint, and plastics are available for applications in which optical codes  23  and  43  are used in conjunction with ultraviolet light to create a normally invisible code. It is not necessary that both optical code  23  and optical code  43  be used on a tag. The presence of both in the figures is only for illustration of options. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of tag  10  shown in  FIG. 1  before application to an object. In  FIG. 2 , hub  24  extends upward from the back of head  20  of tag  10 . Aperture  26  passes through hub  24  and is generally aligned with lanyard  40 . Hub  24  is intended to pass through an aperture in a garment, such as a button hole or similar aperture. Lanyard  40  with its three sections is also visible in  FIG. 2 . Cleats  46  are located on the back side of tail  42  of lanyard  40 . Several cleats  46  are spaced at regular intervals and run for a good section of tail  42 . Tail  42  terminates in free end  44  of lanyard  40 . To install tag  10  on an object hub  24  of head  20  is pressed through a button hole, or other aperture, in the object and free end  44  of lanyard  40  is passed through aperture  26  in hub  24 . As free end  44  is pulled, more of tail  42  passes through aperture  26 . As tail  42  passes through aperture  26 , cleats  46  pass through aperture  26  and prevent tail  42  from being removed from aperture  26 . This keeps tag  10  in location on the object being protected. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of tag  10  applied to object  100 , and  FIG. 4  is a back perspective view of tag  10  applied to object  100 . In the embodiments of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , object  100  is shown as a garment but could be a shoe or other product, as well. Head  20  of tag  10  is highly visible and prevents the wearing of garment  100  in a public fashion. This prevents a person from wearing a purchased garment, or other product,  100  in public and then returning it. If a person should decide that they want to wear the garment in public and remove tag  10 , this can easily be accomplished by pulling tab  60 . Break lines  62  formed by a line of perforations along across the width of lanyard  40  to either side of tab  60  facilitate the parting of the segments of lanyard  40 . Once tag  10  is removed that particular tag cannot be replaced and its absence serves as a clear indication that the garment has been worn in public. While perforations are shown in the figures, the same effect could be accomplished by reducing the thickness of lanyard  40  at the desired locations. When tag  10  is in position, optical code  23  is positioned to be easily observed. Optical code  23  may be normally visible, or it may require application of ultra-violet light to make optical code  23  visible. Optical code  23  may be a unique identifier for tag  10  or it may be a group identifier, i.e. be a lot identifier for tag  10 . Optical  23  prevents the replacement of one-time-use tag  10  with a counterfeit tag. 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 4 , hub  24  may be seen protruding through aperture  102  in object  100 . Lanyard  40  is inserted through aperture  26  in hub  24  and is pulled through to maintain tag  10  in position. Attached end  48  of lanyard  40  attaches to tab  60 . Again perforation line  62  running across the width of lanyard  40  facilitates the separation of tag  60  from tail  42  or stub  28 . Once this separation occurs tag  10  may be removed from the garment. Once the separation is accomplished tag  10  may simply be pushed through the aperture, or tail  42  of lanyard  20  may be pulled all the way through aperture  26  in hub  24  of tag  10 . This further facilitates the removal of tag  10  from garment, or object,  100 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 4 , optical code  43  is placed on the side of lanyard  40  that faces outward when tag  10  is in place. In this position, optical code  43  is more easily referenced. Alternatively, optical code  43  could be placed on the same side of tag  10  as cleats  46  in a position more likely to conceal optical code  43 . Optical code  43  on lanyard  40  of tag  10  may be normally visible, or it may require application of ultra-violet light to make optical code  43  visible. Optical code  43  may be a machine readable code such as a bar code or two dimensional code as shown in  FIG. 4 , or it may be an alphanumeric code. 
         [0043]    As previously mentioned in the summary section, tag  10 , may also have EAS electronics. Returning to  FIG. 2 , head  20  comprises EAS electronic components. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the EAS electronic components comprise passive EAS element  70 . EAS element  70  is of the core and coil type of passive element which produces a detectable signal when subjected to an interrogation field produced by a larger EAS system, but other types of passive elements, such as acousto-magnetic labels, could be used. Also, with the current state of miniaturization technology and manufacturing technology, active EAS electronics could also be employed on tag  10 . These EAS electronics could be powered by electro-magnetic fields, or onboard power supplies such as batteries, which would power processor chips, communication elements, location other monitoring elements, etc. 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a one-time-use hinged tag  110  in an opened configuration. In general, one-time-use tag  110  comprises a top shell  120 , a bottom shell  140 , and a compound hinge  160  connecting top shell  120  and bottom shell  140 . Top  120  and bottom  140  shells are each concave and have edges  142  generally matching each other. Compound hinge  160  is made of two panels, upper panel  161  and lower panel  162 . Upper panel  161  and lower panel  162  are connected by central hinge  163  while upper panel  161  is connected to top shell  120  by upper hinge  64  and lower panel  162  is connected to bottom shell  140  by lower hinge  165 . When tag  110  is folded at compound hinge  160  to bring top shell  120  together with bottom shell  140 , they form a generally hollow body. See  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Compound hinge  160  bends at central hinge  163 , upper hinge  162  and lower hinge  165  to allow upper panel  161  and lower panel  162  to fold into the interior of tag  110 . 
         [0045]    Tag  110  may have ridges  122  along the interior of edges  142  of top shell  120  or bottom shell  140  which will fit along the interior of edge  142  of its opposite shell. This provides greater rigidity when tag  110  is in the closed configuration. Both top shell  120  and bottom shell  140  have recessed steps  138  and  154  respectively at their ends to create gap  156  (See  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) between their ends when tag  110  is closed. This leaves some space for the material of the garment when tag  110  is closed on a garment. 
         [0046]    Post  144  is located within bottom shell  140 . Post aperture  124  is located in top shell  120 . Post  144  and post aperture  124  are positioned within their respective shells so that when tag  110  is closed post  144  inserts through post aperture  124 . Post  144  has at least one catch tab  146  extending from its top  148 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , post  144  has several catch tabs  146 . Catch tabs  146  are flexible and post aperture  124 , post  144 , and catch tabs  146  are sized so that post  144  can insert through post aperture  124  by the flexing of catch tabs  146  down against the body  150  of post  144 . When tag  110  is fully closed and top  148  of post  144  has passed through post aperture  124 , catch tabs  146  extend out again. Catch tabs  146  prevent the retraction of post  144  back through post aperture  124  which keeps tag  110  closed (see  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0047]    To keep a closed tag  110  attached to a garment, tack  152  is located on the interior of bottom shell  140  and directed toward the concave side of bottom shell  140 . Tack aperture  126  on the interior surface of top shell  120  is position to receive tack  152  when tag  110  is closed. When tag  110  is closed on a garment tack  152  passes through the garment and inserts into tack aperture  126 . This keeps tag  110  attached to the garment. 
         [0048]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of one-time-use hinged tag  110  in a closed configuration showing top  148  of post  144  inserted through post aperture  124  and catch tabs  146  external to the top shell  120  of tag  110 . Catch tabs  146  prevent post  144  from passing back through post aperture  124 . To open tag  110  and remove it from a garment, top  148  of post  144  is cut off, including catch tabs  146 . This may be accomplished by pressing the ends of top shell  120  and bottom shell  140  together to expose the body  150  of post  144  beneath catch tabs  146  for access by scissors. Alternatively, a single sharp edge could be used and slid under catch tabs  146  to cut body  150  of post  144 . Some embodiments of tag  110  may also have excess height in post  144  which would inherently leave body  150  of post  144  exposed. 
         [0049]    Optical code  123  on top shell  120  may be an alphanumeric code as shown in  FIG. 6 , or it may be a machine readable code such as a bar code or a two dimensional code. Optical code  143  may be a machine readable code such as a bar code or two dimensional code as shown in  FIG. 6 , or it may be an alphanumeric code. It is not necessary that both optical codes  123  and  143  be present on one-time-use tag  110 . Rather, they are shown to illustrate options. Among other functions, optical codes  123  and  143  serve to defeat the replacement of a removed single-use tag with a counterfeit tag. Although a thief may be able to obtain a counterfeit tag that sufficiently approximates a retailer&#39;s one-time-use tag, without the correct optical code, the replacement tag will not pass closer inspection. Optical codes  123  and  143  may be normally visible, or they may require application of ultraviolet light to make optical codes  123  and  143  visible. Optical codes  123  and  143  may be a unique identifier for one-time-use tag  110  or they may be a group identifier, i.e. be a lot identifier for tag  110 . Optical codes  123  and  143  may be placed on one-time-use tag  110  by the several methods discussed with respect to optical codes  23  and  43  and one-time-use tag  10 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 7  is the perspective view of  FIG. 6  of an embodiment of tag  110  in a closed configuration showing post  144  trimmed and catch tabs  148  removed. With catch tabs  148  removed, the tag  110  can be opened. When tag  110  is opened, tack  152  can be disengaged from the garment, and tag  110  removed.  FIG. 8  is the perspective view of  FIG. 5  of an embodiment of tag  110  in an opened configuration showing post  144  trimmed and catch tabs  148  removed. 
         [0051]    In both  FIGS. 5 and 8 , EAS element  170  is visible. EAS element  170  is located on the interior surface of top shell  120 . EAS element  170  may be passive, semi-passive, or active. Because tag  110  is rendered unusable in the process of removing it, it can only be used once. Because of this, for uses where tag  110  will be removed by the consumer, EAS element  170  will be as inexpensive as practicable. Some embodiments of tag  110  may actually enclose a dummy element which only rattles. For applications where tag  110  will be removed by an authorized person, EAS element  170  may be removably attached to the interior of tag  110 . In those applications, the person removing tag  110  could retrieve EAS element  170  for multiple uses. 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a one-time-use hinged tag  210  in open configuration. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , tag  210  comprises a top member  220 , a bottom member  240 , and a hinge, or hinges,  260  connecting top member  220  and bottom member  240 . Top  220  and bottom  240  members are each concave and have edges, or perimeters,  242  generally matching each other. When tag  210  is folded at hinge  260  to bring top member  220  together with bottom member  240 , they form a generally hollow body (See  FIG. 11 ). Edges  242  of top member  220  and bottom member  240  may have complimentary ridges  222  and  244 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , ridges  222  are outside ridges and ridges  244  are inside ridges. Ridges  222  and  244  overlap each other when tag  210  is closed to provide greater ridgity in the closed configuration. Rib  252  on the interior surface of bottom member  240  provides rigidity in bottom member  240  and to anti-fraud tag  210  when it is in close configuration. Both top member  220  and bottom member  240  have recessed steps  238  and  254  respectively at their ends to create gap  256  (See  FIG. 11 ) between their ends when tag  210  is closed. This leaves some space for the material of the garment. 
         [0053]    Opposing hooks  246  are located within bottom member  240 . Peg  224  is located within top member  220 . Hooks  246  and peg  224  are positioned on the interior surface of their respective members so that when tag  210  is closed, peg  224  inserts in between hooks  246 . Peg  224  has an expanded head  226  on it which creates shoulders  227 . When peg  224  inserts between hooks  246 , hooks  246  latch to shoulders  227  on peg  224  and hold tag  210  in a closed position. 
         [0054]    Tack  250  is also located within bottom member  240 . Aperture  228  is also within top member  220 . When tag  210  is closed, tack  250  passes through the garment to which tag  210  is attached and inserts into aperture  228 . This keeps tag  210  attached to the garment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , aperture  228  is elongated. 
         [0055]    Top member  220  has a continuous series of perforations  229  through it around the base of peg  224 . To remove tag  210  from a garment, the buyer pulls top member  220  and bottom member  240  apart at the ends with enough force to tear perforations  229  about peg. This parts peg  224  from the rest of top member  220  which allows tag  210  to be fully opened, removing tack  250  from the garment, which allows the removal of tag  210  from the garment. This also prevents the forced separation of the holding elements while the tag stays intact. Perforations  220  in top member  220  cause the peg  224  to break away and part from top member  220  before the holding elements peg  224  and hooks  246  disengage. 
         [0056]    Turning now to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of tag  210  in an open configuration. This view shows the surfaces that will be the external surfaces of tag  210  in its closed configuration. Medallion  230  is located on the top of top member  220  of tag  210 . The edge of Medallion  230  extends from top member  220 , presenting a tab. Returning to  FIG. 9 , panel  232  may be seen on the bottom of top member  220 . Medallion  230  and panel  232  are joined together. Notches  234  at the edges  242  of top member  220  align generally with panel  232  and medallion  230 . Referencing  FIG. 9 , perforations  236  extend through top member  220  in general alignment with notches  234  and extend across top member  220  in vicinity of panel  232  and medallion  230 . Notches  234  may also be seen in  FIGS. 9 and 11 . Perforations  229  around peg  224  can also be seen in  FIGS. 9 and 11 . 
         [0057]    Optical code  223  on top member  220  may be an alphanumeric code as shown in  FIG. 10  (and  FIG. 11 ), or it may be a machine readable code such as a bar code or a two dimensional code. Optical code  243  on bottom member  240  may be a machine readable code such as a bar code or two dimensional code as shown in  FIG. 10 , or it may be an alphanumeric code. It is not necessary that both optical codes  223  and  243  be present on one-time-use tag  210 . Rather, they are shown to illustrate options. Among other functions, optical codes  223  and  243  serve to defeat the replacement of a removed single-use tag with a counterfeit tag. Although a thief may be able to obtain a counterfeit tag that sufficiently approximates a retailer&#39;s one-time-use tag, without the correct optical code, the replacement tag will not pass closer inspection. Optical codes  223  and  243  may be normally visible, or they may require application of ultraviolet light to make optical codes  223  and  243  visible. Optical codes  223  and  243  may be a unique identifier for one-time-use tag  210  or they may be a group identifier, i.e. be a lot identifier for tag  210 . Optical codes  223  and  243  may be placed on one-time-use tag  210  by the several methods discussed with respect to optical codes  23  and  43  and one-time-use tag  10 . 
         [0058]    In use, tag  210  is closed upon an object, such as a garment, and tack  250  passes through the garment, or object, and into aperture  228 . Peg  224  fits into hooks  246  which latch onto shoulders  226  on peg  224  to hold tag  210  in the closed position attached to the garment. A buyer purchases the garment and takes it home. When the buyer decides to keep and wear the garment, the buyer may remove the tag. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , removal of the tag is accomplished by breaking perforations  229  around peg  224  or perforations  236  across the width of top member  220  and parting one-time-use tag  210 . 
         [0059]    Breaking the set of perforations  236  along medallion  230  is facilitated by pulling or turning medallion  230 . Notches  234  and perforations  236  in top member  220  allow the pulling or turning of medallion  230  to separate top member  220  into pieces. Once top member  220  is parted, peg  224  can be removed from hooks  246  which allows tag  210  to be removed from the garment. 
         [0060]    Alternatively, a buyer can break perforations  229  around peg  224 . To do this, a buyer pull or pries apart the ends of top member  220  and bottom member  240 . When perforations  229  around peg  224  are broken, tag  210  can be opened, which withdraws tack  250  from the garment, allowing tag  210  to be removed. This also prevents tag  210  from being removed from the garment intact, in which case it could be reattached. 
         [0061]    Once one-time-use tag  210  is removed by destroying it, it cannot be reattached to the garment by the purchaser. The absence of tag  210  allows a retailer to assume that the garment, or item, has been worn, or used, and the retailer can act with return policies conceived for those situations. The presence of optical code  223  or  243  prevents the installation of a counterfeit tag to deceive the retailer into believing the item has not been worn, or used. 
         [0062]    When a retailer uses any of the several embodiments of one-time-use tags having an optical code, it is much more difficult for a thief to employ a counterfeit tag. When the optical code requires the presence of ultraviolet light to observe the code, this difficulty is increased. Further, when the optical code of a one-time-use tag on an item is recorded in association with the purchase of that item, the optical code then provides a separate confirmation code in addition to the inventory ID of the purchased item. The combination of two distinct identifiers increases the effort required to effectively reproduce the combination of numbers in order to return an item. When the optical code is machine readable, the recordation of the optical code at purchase of the item can be automated. 
         [0063]    It is to be understood that the embodiments and arrangements set forth herein are not limited in their application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned, but the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments. The embodiments disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, including various combinations and sub-combinations that may not have been explicitly disclosed. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims. 
         [0064]    Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the invention be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.