GB2440420A

GB2440420A - Anti-theft item tag

Info

Publication number: GB2440420A
Application number: GB0712434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Henry Hulin
Original assignee: Premier Security Products Ltd
Current assignee: Premier Security Products Ltd
Priority date: 2006-07-24
Filing date: 2007-06-27
Publication date: 2008-01-30
Also published as: GB0614655D0; GB0712434D0

Abstract

An anti-theft tag comprising a tag body incorporating an EAS tag, an attaching means for attaching the tag body to an article, and locking means for releasably preventing the attaching means from being removed from the article, wherein the locking means includes a locking member moveable between a locking position wherein the attaching means is prevented from being removed from the article and a release position wherein the attaching means can be detached from the article, biasing means being provided for urging the locking member towards its locking position, wherein at least a portion of the tag body surrounding the biasing means incorporates or is formed a heat and/or cut resistant material.

Description

Anti-theft Tag The present invention relates to an anti-theft item

tag.

The theft of items in retail is a common problem. Tags are well known and have been designed to prevent unauthorized removal of an item from an area such as a shop. A typical Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tag may be part of an EAS system comprising a monitoring system and one or more security tags. The monitoring system may create a surveillance zone at an access point for the controlled area. A tag may be secured to the item such as a bottle or an item of clothing, and the like. lf the tagged item enters the surveillance zone, an alarm may be triggered to indicate unauthorized removal.

Some item tags comprise an attachment means and a housing containing a locking system and an alarm device which is fitted into the tag. The locking system of such tags can be easily damaged, thus allowing unauthorized release of the item. Consequently, there is a need for improved techniques in security devices in general, and systems for securing the item tags to items.

Thus according to the present invention, there is provided an anti-theft tag comprising a tag body incorporating an EAS tag, an attaching means for attaching the tag body to an article, and locking means for releasably preventing the attaching means from being removed from the article, wherein the locking means includes a locking member moveable between a locking position wherein the attaching means is prevented from being removed from the article and a release position wherein the attaching means can be detached from the article, biasing means being provided for urging the locking member towards its locking position, wherein at least a portion of the tag body surrounding the biasing means incorporates or is formed a heat and/or cut resistant material.

Thus, common techniques used to cause damage to the tag to release the biasing means and hence unlock and detach the tag from an article, are inhibited if not prevented, such as cutting the housing with a knife or heating the housing with a flame. The use of a resistant material within or as part of the tag body and protecting the biasing means increases the security of the tag.

The locking member may be formed from, or incorporate, a magnetic or ferromagnetic material whereby the locking member can be moved from its locking position to its release position by the placing the tag in the

proximity of a strong magnetic field.

Alternatively the locking means may incorporate, or is adapted to cooperate with, a mechanical detaching means for moving from locking member from its locking position to its release position.

In one embodiment the attaching means may comprise an elongate member having one end secured to the tag body and a distal end insertable into or through an aperture in the tag body whereby the attaching means can be wrapped around an article. Preferably the locking means engages a portion of the elongate member when the elongate member is inserted into or through the said aperture and when the locking member is in its locking position to retain the elongate member within said aperture. The elongate member may be at least partly coated or covered in a soft and/or fabric outer sheath to prevent damage to the item.

In an alternative embodiment the attaching means may comprise a pin, spike or similar elongate member extending from a base portion and being insertable through an article, or through an aperture in the article, and into a receiving aperture in the tag body to be retained therein by means of the locking member.

Preferably the locking member is located within a cup-like recess within the tag body, the biasing means being located within said cup-like recess beneath the locking member for urging the locking member towards its locking position. At least a portion of said cup-like recess may be formed from or lined with said heat and/or cut resistant material. Preferably said material comprises a metallic material. Said metallic material may comprise a non-ferrous material so as not to interfere with the application

of a magnetic field to the locking member.

Preferably wherein the heat and/or cut resistant material extends partly, substantially or wholly around at least one end of biasing means, preferably the end not engaged with the locking member.

Preferably the biasing means comprises a compression spring.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an anti-theft item tag for use with an item, said tag comprising a securing member and a housing, the housing having an alarm means and a locking means for securing the securing member to the item, the locking means comprising a locking member and a biasing means, wherein at least a portion of the housing around the biasing means is protected by a resistant material.

engage with the securing member and so lock it or release it as required.

Preferably the securing member is attached to the housing at one end.

In one embodiment the securing member can be an elongate securing member such as a wire. Preferably the elongate securing member involves a wire cable, cord or rope of similar strength. The elongate securing member may comprise a first wire part and a second wire part, optionally the second wire part being in a spiral arrangement around the first part. Suitably, the elongate securing member can be tightened around an item unidirectionally by a user when the locking means is engageable with the elongate securing member to lock the elongate securing member in different positions.

In another embodiment the securing member can be a pin or other arm or locking means adapted to be inserted into a recess, aperture, jack or port of the housing and be engageable with the locking member of the locking means.

Preferably the biasing means is a spring, for example, a compression spring.

The resistant material may be separately or integrally formed with the tag body.

Preferably the resistant material around the biasing means can be one or more of the following; heat resistant, melt resistant, knife resistant, or otherwise so as to prevent damage. More preferably, the resistant material is metallic. Even more preferably the resistant material is a non-ferrous metal. The non-ferrous metal may be a casting, stamping or metal injection moulding.

Preferably the resistant material does not affect the pull on a magnetic detacher when releasing the tag.

The attaching member may have a gripping means at one end, which assists handling, especially movement of the securing member by a user to engage or disengage the tag with an item.

Alarm systems for monitoring a tag are known in the art.

The tag may be used to protect any type of item such as a portable article of merchandise found in a retail unit for example clothing, alcohol, perfume, luxury items such as perfume or jewellery, dangerous chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the anti-theft item tag of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the anti-theft item tag of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an aerial view of the anti-theft item tag of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an exploded view of the anti-theft item tag of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a half sectional view of the anti-theft item tag.

Referring to the drawings, the anti-theft item tag according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongate securing member I and a housing 2 comprising a locking means and an EAS tag 16.

The elongate securing member comprises a first wire 3 surrounded by a second spiral wire 4. At least part of the elongate securing member I is covered in a fabric sheath or coat 5. The elongate securing member is attached to the housing 2 at one end 6. A gripping means or handle 7 is attached to the other end of the elongate securing member 1 for ease of use when tightening the tag around a bottle (not shown). The housing 2 comprises circular pieces 11 and 14, a perpendicular barrel projection 9 for housing a plunger 12, and a nipple portion 15.The elongate securing member 1 is received through a first hole 8 on the barrel 9 of the housing 2 and passes through the barrel 9 at a second hole 10. The barrel 9 is preferably metallic.

The anti-theft tag is equipped with a locking means for selectively tightening the elongate securing member 1 around a bottle or the like.

Within the barrel 9, the elongate securing member 1 is secured and is selectively engageable with the locking means.

The locking means has a locking member such as a plunger 12 which is moveable inside the barrel 9. The plunger 12 is engageable with a biasing means being a compression spring 13 which is housed within the housing 2. The nipple portion 15 comprises a bowl-shaped non-ferrous metal moulding in which the compression spring 13 sits at one end.

The housing 2 also includes an EAS tag 16 which is known in the art, such that if the monitored item possessing a tag enters a surveillance zone, an alarm may be triggered to indicate unauthorized removal.

In use, when the anti-theft item tag is positioned around the neck of a bottle, the gripping means 7 is pulled by the user to tightened the tag around the neck of the bottle. The compression spring 13 biases the plunger 12 in a first direction so that the plunger 12 engages with a region of the elongate securing member I which is thereby locked in different positions depending on the size of the bottle to which the tag is attached.

The anti-theft item tag can be detached from the item by means of a magnetic detacher (not shown) such that when the tag is engaged with a magnetic detacher, the plunger 12 is pulled downward by the magnetic force to disengage or detach it from the elongate securing member 1. The elongate securing member I can then move freely so as to release the anti-theft item tag from the bottle.

It will be realised that such tags can be easily damaged. Existing bottle tags all involve a one piece plastic moulding, that makes up the housing part of the tag. When heat is applied to the tag from, for example, a lighter, it melts and or burns the plastic nipple portion, and the spring, which is under compression, pushes out through the softened plastic allowing the tag wire to run freely, resulting in illegal removal of the tag.

The present invention provides a means of prevention of removal of a tag from an item. It has a separate damage resistant portion or bowl shape nipple which protects and holds the biasing means or compression spring.

The nipple mould can extend into the housing and engage with the edges of the metal barrel such that the locking means can be wholly or substantially surrounded by a damage resistant material. Thus if a person attempts to damage the tag by for example a lighter, the nipple will heat up but not deform, thus protecting the spring so that the spring can not be pushed through. Thus the present invention provides an increased means of preventing the unauthorized removal of items in for example a shop or retail unit.

Claims

Claims 1. An anti-theft tag comprising a tag body incorporating an EAS

tag, an attaching means for attaching the tag body to an article, and locking means for releasably preventing the attaching means from being removed from the article, wherein the locking means includes a locking member moveable between a locking position wherein the attaching means is prevented from being removed from the article and a release position wherein the attaching means can be detached from the article, biasing means being provided for urging the locking member towards its locking position, wherein at least a portion of the tag body surrounding the biasing means incorporates or is formed a heat and/or cut resistant material.

2. An anti-theft tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member is formed from or incorporates a magnetic or ferromagnetic material whereby the locking member can be moved from its locking position to its release position by the placing the tag in the proximity of a strong

magnetic field.

3. An anti-theft tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means incorporates, or is adapted to cooperate with, a mechanical detaching means for moving from locking member from its locking position to its release position.

4. An anti-theft tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attaching means comprises an elongate member having one end secured to the tag body and a distal end insertable into or through an aperture in the tag body whereby the attaching means can be wrapped around an article.

5. An anti-theft tag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking means engages a portion of the elongate member when the elongate member is inserted into or through the said aperture and when the locking member is in its locking position to retain the elongate member within said aperture.

6. An anti-theft tag as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein elongate member is at least partly coated or covered in a soft and/or fabric outer sheath to prevent damage to the item.

7. An anti-theft tag as claimed in any of claims ito 3 wherein the attaching means comprises a pin, spike or similar elongate member extending from a base portion and being insertable through an article, or through an aperture in the article, and into a receiving aperture in the tag body to be retained therein by means of the locking member.

8. An anti-theft tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locking member is located within a cup-like recess within the tag body, the biasing means being located within said cup-like recess beneath the locking member for urging the locking member towards its locking position.

9. An anti-theft tag as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least a portion of said cup-like recess is formed from or lined with said heat and/or cut resistant material.

10. An anti-theft tag as claimed in claim 10, wherein said material comprises a metallic material.

11. An anti-theft tag as claimed in claim 10, wherein said metallic material comprises a non-ferrous material so as not to interfere with the application of a magnetic field to the locking member.

12. An anti-theft tag as claimed in any of claims 9 to II, wherein the heat and/or cut resistant material extends partly, substantially or wholly around at least one end of biasing means, preferably the end not engaged with the locking member.

13. An anti-theft as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the biasing means comprises a compression spring.

14. An anti-theft item tag for use with an item, said tag comprising: a securing member and a housing, the housing having an alarm means and a locking means for securing the securing member to the item, the locking means comprising a locking member and a biasing means, wherein at least a portion of the housing around the biasing means is protected by a resistant material.

15. An anti-theft item tag substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.