GB2563249A

GB2563249A - Security tag

Info

Publication number: GB2563249A
Application number: GB1709079.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Napthine Chris
Original assignee: Sekura Global LLP
Current assignee: Sekura Global IP LLP
Priority date: 2017-06-07
Filing date: 2017-06-07
Publication date: 2018-12-12
Also published as: GB201709079D0

Abstract

A security tag 10 comprises a first portion 24 housing a retractable pin 88 in fixed relation to a second portion 26 housing a latching mechanism for retaining the pin. A slot 22 is between the first and second portions. The pin is movable between a first position fully retracted within the first portion and second position in which it is retained by the latch. The pin is biased, e.g. spring, toward the first position when the latch is released. The pin may be housed in a telescopic button 44. Preferably the latch is sprung biased ball bearing clamping against the pin. Preferably the first portion has a walls forming guide passage 36 for guiding the pin; the second portion includes a pin aperture 108 and may be tapered 112. The tag may be an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag and include a sensor 12.

Description

Security Tag

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to security tags and in particular to electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags. The invention relates in particular to hard security tags that are removeably attached to items in a retail environment. A number of electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems are well known and are used in areas such as retail stores to deter or prevent the theft of articles or items of merchandise from the area.

One known EAS tag is commonly referred to as a hard tag and includes an acousto-magnetic sensor in a hard, or semi-rigid, plastic body. Such hard tags are typically physically or mechanically attached to an article by means of a pin, cable or lanyard. When the article is purchased, the tag is detached from the article by a detacher located at the point of sale.

Hard security tags including pins are typically attached to items such as clothing with the pin piercing a part of the fabric of the clothing. The head of the pin sits on one side of the fabric and the distal end of the pin is retained within the hard tag on the other side of the fabric. A mechanism within the hard tag grips the distal end of the pin so that the tag cannot be removed from the clothing without deactivating the grip mechanism. When the grip mechanism is deactivated, the hard tag can be removed from the end of the pin and the pin can be removed from the clothing.

The pin is separate from the body of the hard tag and, as such, the sharp distal tip of the pin is exposed when the pin is released from the body of the tag. There is, therefore, a risk that the user of the tag will prick their hand on the sharp distal tip of the pin. Furthermore, the pin may be accidentally left in a pocket of an item of clothing and may prick the hand of a person when they reach into the pocket, or the pin may fall on the floor and be trodden on.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved security tag that overcomes some of the problems with current pin tags.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a security tag comprising: a main body having a slot, a first portion of the main body being on a first side of the slot and a second portion of the main body being on a second side of the slot, the first and second portions being in fixed positions with respect to each other; a pin having a tip, the pin being movable between a first position in which the pin is fully housed within the first portion of the main body and a second position in which the pin extends from the first portion of the main body, across the slot and into the second portion of the main body; a latch mechanism within the second portion of the main body configured to releasably retain the tip of the pin in the second portion of the main body when the pin is in the second position; and biasing means configured to urge the pin into the first position when the latch mechanism is released.

The security tag of the invention will typically be attached to an item of clothing in a retail store or similar to deter or prevent theft of the item of clothing.

The security tag preferably comprises an actuating button connected to the pin, the button being moveable between a first position in which the button protrudes a first distance from the main body and a second position in which the button protrudes a second, smaller distance from the main body. In use, the button is moveable from the first position to the second position to cause the pin to move from the first position to the second position against the force of the biasing means.

In preferred embodiments of the security tag the button does not protrude from the main body when the button is in the second position.

The actuating button preferably comprises at least two telescopically engaged segments.

In some embodiments the pin comprises a head and the head of the pin is connected to the button.

To guide movement of the pin from the first position to the second position, the first portion of the main body preferably includes a guide tube and the tip of the pin is located in the guide tube when the pin is in the first position. The guide tube is aligned with an aperture in the first portion of the main body through which the pin extends when the pin is in the second position.

Preferably the latch mechanism comprises gripping means configured to grip the pin proximate the tip; and means for releasing said gripping means from the pin upon application of a magnetic field to the main body.

In preferred embodiments the depth of the slot, defined as the distance between the first and second portions of the main body, is between 2 mm and 10 mm. More preferably the depth of the slot is between 4 mm and 6 mm. The depth of the slot is less than the length of the pin, from the head of the pin to the tip of the pin. Furthermore, the depth of the slot is preferably less than a width or thickness of a person’s finger such that there is no possibility of a person placing their finger within the slot and injuring themselves with the sharp tip of the pin.

The second portion of the main body includes a hole through which the pin extends when the pin is in the second position, and preferably the hole is disposed in a recess in the main body.

The security tag of the present invention is preferably an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag, and an EAS sensor is disposed in the main body.

In preferred embodiments the main body has a first end and a second end, the pin and the latch mechanism are disposed proximate the first end of the main body, and the first and second portions of the main body are connected together in a fixed configuration at the second end of the main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a security tag according to the present invention in a disengaged configuration with an actuating button extended;

Figure 2 is an end view of the security tag of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the security tag of Figure 1 with an article in the form of a piece of material located in a slot of the security tag;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the security tag of Figure 1 in an engaged configuration with the actuating button depressed;

Figure 5 is an end view of the security tag of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side view of the security tag of Figure 4 with an article in the form of a piece of material located in a slot of the security tag and pierced by a pin of the tag;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the security tag of Figure 1 in the disengaged configuration with the actuating button extended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1 to 7 illustrate a security tag 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The security tag 10 is designed to be releasably attached to an article 4, such as an item of clothing, in a retail store. The security tag 10 includes an electronic article surveillance (EAS) sensor 12 that generates detectable signals. A suitable EAS detector (not shown) is typically located at the exit of the retail store. If an article 4 with a security tag 10 attached is removed from the store and, therefore, passes the detector, the detector detects the signals emitted by the EAS sensor 12 and triggers an alarm.

To allow an article 4 to leave the store without triggering the alarm, for example after purchase of the article, the security tag 10 is detached from the article 4. Typically the tag 10 is detached at the point of sale of the article 4 by a suitable detacher system (not shown).

The security tag 10 of the present invention comprises a main body 14 having a first end 16, a second end 18 and two sides 20 extending between the first and second ends 16, 18. The tag 10 includes a slot 22 that extends from the first end 16 towards the second end 18. The slot 22 extends across the full width of the tag 10 between the sides 20. A first, engagement portion 24 of the main body 14 is defined on a first side of the slot 22 and a second, retaining portion 26 of the main body 14 is defined on an opposite second side of slot 22. In particular, a surface of the engagement portion 24 forms a first surface or first wall 28 of the slot 22 and a surface of the retaining portion 26 forms an opposing second surface or second wall 30 of the slot 22. The slot 22 does not extend fully along the length of the main body 14 and the first and second portions 24, 26 of the main body 14 are joined at the second end 18 of the main body 14 by a root portion 32.

The first and second portions 24, 26 of the main body 14 are maintained, by the root portion 32, in a fixed position with respect to each other. In this way the slot 22 has fixed dimensions and the distance between the first and second walls 28, 30 of the slot 22 does not vary. A depth of the slot 22, defined as the distance between the first and second walls 28, 30, is preferably between 2 mm and 10 mm, more preferably between 3 mm and 7 mm, and most preferably about 5 mm.

The first portion 24 of the main body 14 comprises a pin housing 34, which in this embodiment is disposed proximate the first end 16 of the main body 14. The pin housing 34 comprises a guide passage 36 that is aligned with an aperture 38 in the first wall 28 of the slot 22. In this embodiment the guide passage 36 is provided by a bore of a guide tube 40 that is integrally formed with the main body 14 and extends from the first wall 28 of the slot 22 towards a top wall 42 of the first portion 24. The pin housing 34 further comprises an actuating button 44 that is disposed in the top wall 42 of the engagement portion 24 of the main body 14.

In a preferred embodiment the actuating button 44 comprises a first button segment 46, a second button segment 48 and a third button segment 50. The first button segment 46 comprises a top plate 52 and a side wall 54 that extends substantially perpendicularly from the top plate 52 around a perimeter of the top plate 52. A flange or rim 56 extends outwards from an edge of the side wall 54 furthest from the top plate 52. The rim 56 preferably extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the side wall 54 around the complete perimeter of the side wall 54.

The second button segment 48 comprises a tubular side 58 wall having a first end and a second end. An inwardly extending flange 64 extends around the first end and an outwardly extending flange 66 extends around the second end. An edge 68 of the inwardly extending flange 64 defines an opening 70 of the second button segment 48. Similarly, the third button segment 50 comprises a tubular side wall 72 having a first end and a second end. An inwardly extending flange 78 extends around the first end and an outwardly extending flange 80 extends around the second end. An edge 82 of the inwardly extending flange 78 defines an opening 84 of the third button segment 50.

The first, second and third button segments 46, 48, 50 are telescopically arranged such that there is a sliding fit of the first button segment 46 within the second button segment 48, and a sliding fit of the second button segment 48 within the third button segment 50. In particular, the first button segment 46 extends through the opening 70 of the second button segment 48, and the outwardly extending flange 56 of the first button segment 46 and the inwardly extending flange 64 of the second button segment 48 retain the first and second segments 46, 48 in cooperation with each other. Similarly, the second button segment 48 extends through the opening 84 of the third button segment 50, and the outwardly extending flange 66 of the second button segment 48 and the inwardly extending flange 78 of the third button segment 50 retain the second and third segments 48, 50 in cooperation with each other.

The third button segment 50 extends through an opening 86 in the top wall 42 of the engagement portion 24 of the main body 14. The outwardly extending flange 80 at the second end 76 of the third button segment 50 retains the third segment 50 and, therefore, the actuating button 44, in engagement with the first portion 24 of the main body 14.

An elongate pin 88 is connected to the actuating button 44 and extends through the guide passage 36. In a preferred embodiment a first end or head 90 of the pin 88 is joined to the first button segment 46. A distal end or tip 92 of the pin 88 is preferably sharp so as to be able to pierce an article 4, such as an item of clothing, to which the security tag 10 is to be attached.

The actuating button 44 is configured to move from an extended configuration, in which the third button segment 50 protrudes from the main body 14, the second button segment 48 protrudes from the third button segment 50 and the first button segment 46 protrudes from the second button segment 48, to a collapsed or depressed configuration in which the third button segment 50 does not protrude from the main body 14, the second button segment 48 does not protrude from the third button segment 50 and the first button segment 46 does not protrude from the second button segment 48. In the collapsed configuration both the first, second and third button segments 46, 48, 50 are, therefore, preferably retained within the main body 14 of the tag 10.

In the fully collapsed position the heights of the side walls 54, 58, 72 of the first, second and third button segments 46, 48, 50 are preferably such that the top plate 52 of the first button segment 46 and the inwardly extending flanges 64, 78 of the second and third button segments 48, 50 are contiguous and coplanar.

When the actuating button 44 is in the extended configuration the tip 92 of the pin 88 is disposed within the main body 14 of the tag 10 and, in particular, within the guide passage 36. When the actuating button 44 is in the depressed configuration the pin 88 extends through the aperture 38 in the main body 14 and across the slot 22, and the tip 92 of the pin 88 locates in a latch mechanism 94 disposed in the retaining portion 26 of the main body 14. Accordingly, when the actuating button 44 is extended the pin 88 is retracted, and when the actuating button 44 is depressed the pin 88 is extended and spans across the slot 22 in the tag 10.

It will be appreciated that the pin 88 is disposed in the pin housing 34 such that a longitudinal axis of the pin 88 is perpendicular to the plane of the slot 22. Additionally, in preferred embodiments, the actuating button 44 is moved from the extended configuration to the depressed configuration by applying a force to the actuating button 44 in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the pin 88.

Biasing means 96 are disposed in the pin housing 34 and configured to apply a force to the actuating button 44 to urge the actuating button 44 into the extended configuration. In a preferred embodiment the biasing means 96 is in the form of a compression spring 96 disposed between the first wall 28 of the slot 22 and the top plate 52 of the first button segment 46. The spring 96 may be located around the guide tube 40 such that the pin 88 extends through a bore of the spring 96.

The extension of the button segments 46, 48, 50 is limited by the abutment of the rim 56 of the first button segment 46 with the inwardly extending flange 64 of the second button segment 48, the abutment of the outwardly extending flange 66 of the second button segment 48 with the inwardly extending flange 78 of the third button segment 50, and the abutment of the outwardly extending flange 80 of the third button segment 50 with the top wall 42 of the first portion 24 of the main body 14 around the opening 86.

The latch mechanism 94 within the second portion 26 of the main body 14 is configured to releasably retain the tip 92 of the pin 88. Suitable latch mechanisms are known in the art and will not be described in detail; however, in this example the latch mechanism 94 includes a plurality of ball bearings or spheres 98 retained in a volume defined by a tubular or conical retaining wall 100. In this embodiment the latch mechanism 94 further comprises an annular metal press plate 102 and biasing means in the form of a spring 104, the annular press plate 102 being positioned between the ball bearings 98 and an end of the spring 104.

When the pin 88 is inserted into the second portion 26 of the main body 14, the tip 92 of the pin 88 extends between the ball bearings 98 so that the ball bearings 98 surround the pin 88. The latch mechanism 94 is biased into a first, gripping position, in which the ball bearings 98 are urged towards the pin 88 by the spring 104. A shaft of the pin 88 proximate the tip 92 may include one or more circumferential or annular grooves in which the ball bearings 98 are at least partially seated when the latch mechanism 94 is in the gripping position.

It will be appreciated that other latch mechanisms for applying a releasable gripping force to the pin are also well known and may alternatively be utilised in a security tag according to the present invention.

The second wall 30 of the slot 22 includes a hole 108 for receiving the tip 92 of the pin 88. The hole 108 is aligned with an opening 110 at the end of the retaining wall 100 of the latch mechanism 94. In this way, during use of the tag 10, the tip 92 of the pin 88 is able to extend through the hole 108 in the second wall 30 and into the volume defined by the retaining wall 100 to be retained by the latch mechanism 94. In preferred embodiments the hole 108 in the second wall 30 of the slot 22 has side walls 112 that are tapered inwardly in a direction away from the slot 22. Alternatively, the hole 108 may be disposed in a recess (not shown) in the second wall 30 of the slot 22. The tapered side walls 112 and/or the recess are preferably provided to assist in locating and guiding the tip 92 of the pin 88 through the hole 108.

The security tag 10, therefore, has a disengaged configuration in which the button 44 is extended and the pin 88 is retracted and fully housed within the first portion 24 of the main body 14, and an engaged configuration in which the button 44 is depressed or collapsed, the pin 88 extends across the slot 22 and the tip 92 of the pin 88 is retained in the second portion 26 of the main body 14 by the latch mechanism 94.

In preferred embodiments the security tag 10 is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag and may, for example, be a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. Accordingly, the tag preferably comprises an electronic article surveillance (EAS) sensor 12 that generates detectable signals. The sensor 12 is preferably housed in the first or second portion 24, 26 of the main body 14. The sensor 12 may be an acousto-magnetic (AM) sensor.

To affix the security tag 10 to an article 4 such as an item of clothing, for example, the tag 10 is slid over an edge of the clothing with the tag 10 in the disengaged configuration such that a part of the material of the clothing is located within the slot 22, as illustrated in Figure 3.

The button 44 is then pressed to move the button segments 46, 48, 50 into the collapsed configuration. During this movement the tip 92 of the pin 88 protrudes through the aperture 38 in the first wall 28 of the slot 22 and pierces the material disposed within the slot 22. The tip 92 of the pin 88 then enters the retaining portion 26 of the main body 14 through the hole 108 in the second wall 30 of the slot 22.

The action of inserting the pin 88 into the retaining portion 26 of the main body 14 pushes the tip 92 of the pin 88 into the conical volume of the latch mechanism 94 from the narrow end. The tip 92 of the pin 88 pushes between the ball bearings 98 and through an opening in the centre of the press plate 102, such that the ball bearings 98 and the press plate 102 then surround the pin 88. The action of the spring 104 causes the ball bearings 98 to press against and grip the pin 88, thereby retaining the tip 92 of the pin 88 within the retaining portion 26 of the main body 14. This, in turn, retains the button 44 in the collapsed configuration against the force of the spring 96. The tag 10 is thus in the engaged configuration and attached to the article of clothing as illustrated in Figure 6.

When it is desired to release the tip 92 of the pin 88 from the latch mechanism 94, a magnetic force is applied to the press plate 102 to draw the press plate 102 in a direction away from the narrow end of the conical volume, against the force of the spring 104. This reduces the gripping force of the ball bearings 98 on the pin 88, such that the pin 88 is retracted into the first portion 24 of the main body 14 by the force of the spring 96. In particular, the spring 96 applies a force to the top plate 52 of the first button segment 46 to urge the first button segment 46 in a direction away from the first wall 28 of the slot 22. When the gripping force applied to the tip 92 of the pin 88 by the latch mechanism 94 is less that the force applied to the first button segment 46 by the spring 96, the spring 96 causes the first button segment 46 to move away from the first wall 28 of the slot 22 and draws the tip 92 of the pin 88 out of the latch mechanism 94 due to the attachment of the head 90 of the pin 88 to the first button segment 46. The force of the spring 96 returns the button 44 to the expanded configuration and the pin 88 is withdrawn fully into the first portion 24 of the main body 14.

Importantly, because the first and second portions 24, 26 of the main body 14 are fixed in position with respect to each other, during use of the tag 10 the pin 88 is not exposed in such a way that it can injure a user of the tag 10. The tip 92 of the pin 88 only extends from the main body 14 of the tag 10 as it crosses the slot 10 and pierces the article 4 to which the tag 10 is being attached. Furthermore, when the pin 88 is released from the latch mechanism 94, it is automatically withdrawn into the pin housing 34 in the first portion 24 of the main body 14. In this way, only a single action is required to fully release the tag 10 from the article 4. In prior art security tags it was necessary to engage the tag with a detacher to release the tip of the pin and then a second action was required to pull the pin out of the tag body and separate the pin from the article of clothing.

The security tag 10 of the present invention also has the advantage that the tag 10 is of a one piece design such that the tag 10 does not include a separate pin and tag body as in prior art designs of security tags.

It will be appreciated that, although in the above embodiment the button 44 is described as comprising button segments that are telescopically arranged, in other embodiments the button 44 may have any suitable configuration that enables the button to move from an expanded configuration, in which the pin 88 is fully housed within the pin housing 34, to a collapsed configuration in which the pin 88 protrudes from the pin housing 34. In some embodiments the button may include a section of resilient material that is compressed when the button is moved into the collapsed configuration. Furthermore, in the above embodiment the button 44 had three button segments 46, 48, 50; however, in other embodiments the button may have fewer segments or more segments depending on the dimensions of the segments and the length of the pin 88.

Claims

1. A security tag comprising: a main body having a slot, a first portion of the main body being on a first side of the slot and a second portion of the main body being on a second side of the slot, the first and second portions being in fixed positions with respect to each other; a pin having a tip, the pin being movable between a first position in which the pin is fully housed within the first portion of the main body and a second position in which the pin extends from the first portion of the main body, across the slot and into the second portion of the main body; a latch mechanism within the second portion of the main body configured to releasably retain the tip of the pin in the second portion of the main body when the pin is in the second position; and biasing means configured to urge the pin into the first position when the latch mechanism is released.

2. A security tag as claimed in Claim 1 comprising an actuating button connected to the pin, said button being moveable between a first position in which the button protrudes a first distance from the main body and a second position in which the button protrudes a second, smaller distance from the main body, and wherein, in use, the button is moveable from the first position to the second position to cause the pin to move from the first position to the second position against the force of the biasing means.

3. A security tag as claimed in Claim 2, wherein, in the second position, the button does not protrude from the main body.

4. A security tag as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the actuating button comprises at least two telescopically engaged segments.

5. A security tag as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the pin comprises a head and the head of the pin is connected to the button.

6. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first portion of the main body includes a guide tube and the tip of the pin is located in the guide tube when the pin is in the first position.

7. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the latch mechanism comprises: gripping means configured to grip the pin proximate the tip; and means for releasing said gripping means from the pin upon application of a magnetic field to the main body.

8. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the depth of the slot, defined as the distance between the first and second portions of the main body, is between 2 mm and 10 mm.

9. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second portion of the main body includes a hole through which the pin extends when the pin is in the second position, and wherein the hole is disposed in a recess in the main body.

10. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tag is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag, and an EAS sensor is disposed in the main body.

11. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main body has a first end and a second end, and wherein the pin and the latch mechanism are disposed proximate the first end of the main body, and the first and second portions of the main body are connected together in a fixed configuration at the second end of the main body.