Patent ID: 8294583

Claim:
A theft deterrent tag, comprising: an adjustable housing comprised of a plurality of portions movably coupled with one another, forming an adjustable enclosure; a marker; wherein: a portion of the plurality of portions is movably coupled with a next, subsequent adjacent portion of the plurality of portions, a first section of a first portion of the plurality of portions detachably, and adjustably accommodating a final portion of the plurality of portions to form the adjustable enclosure; wherein: the first portion includes an opening defined through the first section that receives a free leading end of the final portion, and further includes a second chamber that can variably accommodate and lock a desired length of the final portion; the first portion further includes a first chamber that accommodates a lock mechanism that locks in the desired length of the final portion within the second chamber; wherein: the lock mechanism includes: a resilient member that forces an interlock element towards the final portion inserted within the second chamber to lock a desired length of the final portion within the second chamber; a two-step disengagement arrangement, wherein: the interlock element remains interlocked and engaged with the final portion when the force exerted by the resilient member is removed; and the interlock element is released and disengages from the final portion when the force exerted by the resilient member is reversed and the final portion is further pushed into the second chamber to release and disengage the interlock member while the reversed force pulls the interlock member away from the final portion.