CA1061527A - Tool for opening reusable security tags - Google Patents
Tool for opening reusable security tagsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1061527A CA1061527A CA294,259A CA294259A CA1061527A CA 1061527 A CA1061527 A CA 1061527A CA 294259 A CA294259 A CA 294259A CA 1061527 A CA1061527 A CA 1061527A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tag
- jaws
- pin
- pair
- lips
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Labeling Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A reusable security tag has an enclosure containing a cruciate sheet metal clutch lock. A pin for piercing a garment is secured at the end of a lever arm which is hinged to said enclosure for controlled movement into said clutch lock. Said pin is released from said clutch lock by application to said enclosure of a special tool having a pair of jaws coupled with a pair of spaced apart fingers for oppositional movement for deforming said clutch lock to spread its jaws and release the pin.
Description
~6~5;~7 This application is a division of our Application No.
216,361 filed December 18, 1474. The present invention relates to an unlatching tool for a reusable security tag adapted to be secured to an article to b~ maintained under surveillance.
In the Ganadian patent No. 947,398 of John Welsh et al., issued May 14, 1974, for "Article Surveillance Method and System", there is disclosed inter alia a system for maintaining security through a surveillance zone by establishing thro~ghout said zone an interrogating radio wave field and affixing tags to articles under surveillance which are adapted to reradiate a discernible and distinguishable radio wave signal when passing through said zone. As described in said patent~ the active portion of the tag may take the form of a simple nonlinear impedance, e.g., a semiconductor diode, directly coupled to antenna elements. Such surveillance system is particularly useful when employed for con trolling the~t from retail stores or the like.
The present invention provides an unlatching tool for a reusable tag for securi~g ~ reradiating e~ement, such as that disclosed in said patent, to an article to be maintained u~der surveillance. Said tag is adapted to be secured to the fabric of a garment or to other material through which a pin can be passed.
It wîll be understood that or such system to ~perate satisactorl1y, the tags cvntaining the detectable elements mu~t be easily atta~hable to the garment or article yet not readily re-moved by unauthorized hands. On the other hand, ~he retail clerk must have a simple convenient means for readily removing tags from garments which, due to purchase or other reasons, may be re-moved legitimately from the premises. ~
~0Ç;~27 It is, therefore, an object of the pre.se.nt .invention to provide an unlatching tool whereby a reusable security tag of the aforesaid type, which is easily secured to a garment or the like and non-removable except through the use of authorized non-destructive release means, can be easily released.
In accordance with the pxesent invention there is provided an unlatching tool for a reusable security tag of generally flat rectan~ular configuration with opposite broad surfaces extending between substantially parallel side edges, lQ comprising in operationally interconnected relationship a pair of confronting jaws spaced apart and arranged to straddle said tag with a close fit alongside said side edges, each jaw having a portion for disposition alongside a corresponding side edge and an inwardly directed lip projecting toward the other jaw but not connected thereto for overlying and engaging a gi~en one of the broad surfaces of said tag to prevent movement of said tag from between said ja~s in a direction past said lips, and a pair of spaced apart fingers mounted for oppositional movement relative to the lips of said jaws for engaging the other broad 2Q surface of said tag to apply pressure to said tag against the restraint of said jaw lips, said fingers being located in a plane passing between said jaws so as to engage said tag at points on a line which.is spaced from and substantially parallel to said por ions of sa;d jaws.
The invention will be better understood after reading the following detailed description o~ a presently preferred embGdiment thereof with reference to the appende~ drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a reusable tag embodying the subject invention and showing the component ~6~1L5;27 parts thereof;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tag partially assembled showing certain details of construction;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 but showing the tag fully assembled and applied to the garment;
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the pin, clutch lock and retaining member;
-2a-... .
.. . . .. . ..
~ S~ 7 Figure 5 is a transverse view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a side view of the clutch lock member;
Figure 7 is an exploded view of the principal elements of a release tool about to be applied to a tag secured to a garment;
Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 3 showing the tool of Figure 7 in place;
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the ~ool of Figure 7 in place;
Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 with release force applied; and Figure 11 is a view similar ~o Figure 10 wi~h the pin released.
The same reference numerals are used throughout the appended drawings to designate the same or similar parts.
Re~erring now to the drawings, the detectable element is designated generally by the reference charactPr 10 and may take the form of a thin elongated laminated structure containing a suitable sensor emitter circuit, not shown. The details of such circuit do not form a part of the present invention and, there-fore, are not described herein. Reerence may be had to the aforesaid Canadian patent No. 947,398 or description of ~everal examples thereof.
The enclosure for the lock means, described in detail in our main application identified above, comprises a ~ousing 11 formed of plsstic material. The housing 11 has first and second ma~ing parts 12 and 13, respectivel:y, which when united provide , 1~
. - .
: ; . . . .. .
~ 6~ S~7 a cavity 14 within to receive both the lock means 15 and the detectable element 10. During assembly, after inserting the detectahle element 10 and the lock means 15 in the corresponding sections of cavity 14, (see Fig. 2~, the mating part 13 is fold-ed over upon the part 12 such that the plurality of studs 17 in the part 12 pass through the slotted apertures 18 in the part 13, whereupon the studs 17 are upended or hot-formed to produce a head thereon preventing withdrawal from said apertures 18.
The part 12 of the housing has a pintle 19 at one end positioned remotely from the end enclosing the lock means 15.
Said pintle 19 receives the end 20 of a plastic lever 21 whose opposite end has secured thereto a pin 2~ by means of a retaining member 23.
Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 7, it will be seen that the lever 21 has at its free end a zone 24 separated from the remainder of said lever 21 by frangible means in the form of the very thin radial spokes 25. Said pin 22 is joined to said zone 24 by passing therethrough, and the head 26 of said pin is keyed to said zone 24 by having a noncircular con~iguration as shown. Such keying of the pin to the zone 24 prevents rotation of the pin with respect thereto for a reason that will be apparent hereina~ter.
Now referring to Figs. 4 and 51 it will be observed tha~
the pin 22 has a shank 27 joining its ends which is formed with a plurality of axially spaced annular grooves 28 having elliptical cross sections in planes normal to the pin axis and with the major axes of said grooves lying in a common plane. The groovas 28 pro-vide a roughened surace to the pin for cooperation with the lork ~ 6 ~ ~Z~
means as will be better understood hereinafter. This is accom-plished due to the el~iptical configuration at minimal sacrifice of tensile strength in the shank 27 so as to afford maximum re-sistance to unauthorized withdrawal of the pin from the lock means.
Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, it will be seen that the clutch lock means 15 comprise a cruciate member with one pair of arm~ 29a and 29b at right angle to another pair of arms 30a and 30b and formed from spring sheet metal with oppo~ing jaws 31 and 32 raised on one side thereof from itg central region. The longitudinal axes of said jaws 31 and 32 are parallel ~o the a~is of said one pair o~ arms 29a and 29b and arranged such that manipulation of said pairs of arms respective-ly in opposite directions in one direction will cause separation of said jaws 31 and 32. From Figo 6 it will be seen that the enti~e cruciate member 15 is cylindrically curved with the concave side being on the same side as the opposing jaws 31 and 32. The jaws 31 and 32 are ~prung apart when the arms 29a and 29b are : urged in a direction toward the convex side of the member, while the arms 30a and 30b are urged~in the opposite direction. ~ibs 33 and 34 are provided to prevent~lexure of said arms other than immediately adjacent said jaws 31 and 32 such tha~ any 1exing ~Eorce applied to said arms is cornmunicated directly ~o said ~aws.
The edges of the jaws are circularly notched, as best seen in Fig. 5, to cooperate with the grooves 28 in the sha~k o the pin 22.
It now should be readily apparent that the manner of hinging the lever 21 to the housing 11 is such that the pin 22 :, ~ 2 7 is constrained for movement along a path intersecting the lock means 15. See Figs. 1 and 3.
Once the pin is inserted in the lock means it preferably should require a pull in excess of 200 lbs. to separate the pin 22 from the lock means 15 in the abs~nce of the application of a special tool thereto for releasing the same. If an attempt is made to withdraw the pin by applying prying force to the lever 21 the frangible spokes 25 will give way freeing the zone 24 along with the head 26 of the pin 22 from the lever. It will be understood that such action will fail to release the tag from a garment to which it is secured.
Referring now to Fig. 7, there is shown the essential com-ponents of an unlatching tool 36 for the subject security tag.
Only the operative elements of the tool are shown since the mechanism for manipulating the same may take ma~y obvious forms.
In particular, such mechanism may either be hand operable or machine operable. Specifically, said unlatching tool comprises a pair of confronting jaws 37a and 37b having inwardly directed lips for embracing the housing 11 of the tag adjacent the ends of one pair of arms 30a and 30b of the lock means lS. The tool fur~her includes a pair of spaced apart fingers 38a and 38b mounted for oppositional movement relative to the confronting jaws 37a and 37b for engaging th~ housing 11 at 39 and 40 to effect deformation thereof adjacent the other pair o arms 29a and 29b of said lock means sufficient to cause manipulation of said arms ~o r lease said lock mean~. See particularly Figs. 8, 9, 10 and llo From the foregoing it should be understood that the housing 11 for the tag should have a size~ shape and rigidity related , , . . .. .. . . ,. ~ .. .. . .. .. .... .. . .. . .... . . ......... . . .
: .. . . . ., . . . . . ., . ~ . . .. . .
to that of the lock means 15 such as to bar unassisted manual release of said lock means while communicating to said lock means sufficient force to effect releasing manipulation thereof upon the application to the housing of said unlatching tool 36.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, it should be observed that the cavity formed in housing part 12 for receiving the lock means 15 is proportioned to afford ~learance at the ends 29c and 29d of arms 29a and 29b, respectively, while surrounding the arms 30a and 30b with a reasonably close fit. Said clearance at ends 29c and 29d accommodates outward movement of arms 29a and 29b as the lock means 15 is flattened during an unlocking manipulation.
However, the close fit between the housing part 12 and arms 30a and 30b functions to center th lock means such that the opening in jaws 31 and 32 is maintained in proper registration or re-ceiving pin 22.
From the foregoing it should be apparent that arms 30a and 30b may be shortened or truncated retaining only sufficient projection to afford said centering action for the lock means ~5~
In such case, however, the housing part 13 will requlre reinforcing sufficient ~o communicate releasing force to the lock means 15 from the jaws 37a and 37b of the unlatching tool 36.
216,361 filed December 18, 1474. The present invention relates to an unlatching tool for a reusable security tag adapted to be secured to an article to b~ maintained under surveillance.
In the Ganadian patent No. 947,398 of John Welsh et al., issued May 14, 1974, for "Article Surveillance Method and System", there is disclosed inter alia a system for maintaining security through a surveillance zone by establishing thro~ghout said zone an interrogating radio wave field and affixing tags to articles under surveillance which are adapted to reradiate a discernible and distinguishable radio wave signal when passing through said zone. As described in said patent~ the active portion of the tag may take the form of a simple nonlinear impedance, e.g., a semiconductor diode, directly coupled to antenna elements. Such surveillance system is particularly useful when employed for con trolling the~t from retail stores or the like.
The present invention provides an unlatching tool for a reusable tag for securi~g ~ reradiating e~ement, such as that disclosed in said patent, to an article to be maintained u~der surveillance. Said tag is adapted to be secured to the fabric of a garment or to other material through which a pin can be passed.
It wîll be understood that or such system to ~perate satisactorl1y, the tags cvntaining the detectable elements mu~t be easily atta~hable to the garment or article yet not readily re-moved by unauthorized hands. On the other hand, ~he retail clerk must have a simple convenient means for readily removing tags from garments which, due to purchase or other reasons, may be re-moved legitimately from the premises. ~
~0Ç;~27 It is, therefore, an object of the pre.se.nt .invention to provide an unlatching tool whereby a reusable security tag of the aforesaid type, which is easily secured to a garment or the like and non-removable except through the use of authorized non-destructive release means, can be easily released.
In accordance with the pxesent invention there is provided an unlatching tool for a reusable security tag of generally flat rectan~ular configuration with opposite broad surfaces extending between substantially parallel side edges, lQ comprising in operationally interconnected relationship a pair of confronting jaws spaced apart and arranged to straddle said tag with a close fit alongside said side edges, each jaw having a portion for disposition alongside a corresponding side edge and an inwardly directed lip projecting toward the other jaw but not connected thereto for overlying and engaging a gi~en one of the broad surfaces of said tag to prevent movement of said tag from between said ja~s in a direction past said lips, and a pair of spaced apart fingers mounted for oppositional movement relative to the lips of said jaws for engaging the other broad 2Q surface of said tag to apply pressure to said tag against the restraint of said jaw lips, said fingers being located in a plane passing between said jaws so as to engage said tag at points on a line which.is spaced from and substantially parallel to said por ions of sa;d jaws.
The invention will be better understood after reading the following detailed description o~ a presently preferred embGdiment thereof with reference to the appende~ drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a reusable tag embodying the subject invention and showing the component ~6~1L5;27 parts thereof;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tag partially assembled showing certain details of construction;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 but showing the tag fully assembled and applied to the garment;
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the pin, clutch lock and retaining member;
-2a-... .
.. . . .. . ..
~ S~ 7 Figure 5 is a transverse view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a side view of the clutch lock member;
Figure 7 is an exploded view of the principal elements of a release tool about to be applied to a tag secured to a garment;
Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 3 showing the tool of Figure 7 in place;
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the ~ool of Figure 7 in place;
Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 with release force applied; and Figure 11 is a view similar ~o Figure 10 wi~h the pin released.
The same reference numerals are used throughout the appended drawings to designate the same or similar parts.
Re~erring now to the drawings, the detectable element is designated generally by the reference charactPr 10 and may take the form of a thin elongated laminated structure containing a suitable sensor emitter circuit, not shown. The details of such circuit do not form a part of the present invention and, there-fore, are not described herein. Reerence may be had to the aforesaid Canadian patent No. 947,398 or description of ~everal examples thereof.
The enclosure for the lock means, described in detail in our main application identified above, comprises a ~ousing 11 formed of plsstic material. The housing 11 has first and second ma~ing parts 12 and 13, respectivel:y, which when united provide , 1~
. - .
: ; . . . .. .
~ 6~ S~7 a cavity 14 within to receive both the lock means 15 and the detectable element 10. During assembly, after inserting the detectahle element 10 and the lock means 15 in the corresponding sections of cavity 14, (see Fig. 2~, the mating part 13 is fold-ed over upon the part 12 such that the plurality of studs 17 in the part 12 pass through the slotted apertures 18 in the part 13, whereupon the studs 17 are upended or hot-formed to produce a head thereon preventing withdrawal from said apertures 18.
The part 12 of the housing has a pintle 19 at one end positioned remotely from the end enclosing the lock means 15.
Said pintle 19 receives the end 20 of a plastic lever 21 whose opposite end has secured thereto a pin 2~ by means of a retaining member 23.
Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 7, it will be seen that the lever 21 has at its free end a zone 24 separated from the remainder of said lever 21 by frangible means in the form of the very thin radial spokes 25. Said pin 22 is joined to said zone 24 by passing therethrough, and the head 26 of said pin is keyed to said zone 24 by having a noncircular con~iguration as shown. Such keying of the pin to the zone 24 prevents rotation of the pin with respect thereto for a reason that will be apparent hereina~ter.
Now referring to Figs. 4 and 51 it will be observed tha~
the pin 22 has a shank 27 joining its ends which is formed with a plurality of axially spaced annular grooves 28 having elliptical cross sections in planes normal to the pin axis and with the major axes of said grooves lying in a common plane. The groovas 28 pro-vide a roughened surace to the pin for cooperation with the lork ~ 6 ~ ~Z~
means as will be better understood hereinafter. This is accom-plished due to the el~iptical configuration at minimal sacrifice of tensile strength in the shank 27 so as to afford maximum re-sistance to unauthorized withdrawal of the pin from the lock means.
Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, it will be seen that the clutch lock means 15 comprise a cruciate member with one pair of arm~ 29a and 29b at right angle to another pair of arms 30a and 30b and formed from spring sheet metal with oppo~ing jaws 31 and 32 raised on one side thereof from itg central region. The longitudinal axes of said jaws 31 and 32 are parallel ~o the a~is of said one pair o~ arms 29a and 29b and arranged such that manipulation of said pairs of arms respective-ly in opposite directions in one direction will cause separation of said jaws 31 and 32. From Figo 6 it will be seen that the enti~e cruciate member 15 is cylindrically curved with the concave side being on the same side as the opposing jaws 31 and 32. The jaws 31 and 32 are ~prung apart when the arms 29a and 29b are : urged in a direction toward the convex side of the member, while the arms 30a and 30b are urged~in the opposite direction. ~ibs 33 and 34 are provided to prevent~lexure of said arms other than immediately adjacent said jaws 31 and 32 such tha~ any 1exing ~Eorce applied to said arms is cornmunicated directly ~o said ~aws.
The edges of the jaws are circularly notched, as best seen in Fig. 5, to cooperate with the grooves 28 in the sha~k o the pin 22.
It now should be readily apparent that the manner of hinging the lever 21 to the housing 11 is such that the pin 22 :, ~ 2 7 is constrained for movement along a path intersecting the lock means 15. See Figs. 1 and 3.
Once the pin is inserted in the lock means it preferably should require a pull in excess of 200 lbs. to separate the pin 22 from the lock means 15 in the abs~nce of the application of a special tool thereto for releasing the same. If an attempt is made to withdraw the pin by applying prying force to the lever 21 the frangible spokes 25 will give way freeing the zone 24 along with the head 26 of the pin 22 from the lever. It will be understood that such action will fail to release the tag from a garment to which it is secured.
Referring now to Fig. 7, there is shown the essential com-ponents of an unlatching tool 36 for the subject security tag.
Only the operative elements of the tool are shown since the mechanism for manipulating the same may take ma~y obvious forms.
In particular, such mechanism may either be hand operable or machine operable. Specifically, said unlatching tool comprises a pair of confronting jaws 37a and 37b having inwardly directed lips for embracing the housing 11 of the tag adjacent the ends of one pair of arms 30a and 30b of the lock means lS. The tool fur~her includes a pair of spaced apart fingers 38a and 38b mounted for oppositional movement relative to the confronting jaws 37a and 37b for engaging th~ housing 11 at 39 and 40 to effect deformation thereof adjacent the other pair o arms 29a and 29b of said lock means sufficient to cause manipulation of said arms ~o r lease said lock mean~. See particularly Figs. 8, 9, 10 and llo From the foregoing it should be understood that the housing 11 for the tag should have a size~ shape and rigidity related , , . . .. .. . . ,. ~ .. .. . .. .. .... .. . .. . .... . . ......... . . .
: .. . . . ., . . . . . ., . ~ . . .. . .
to that of the lock means 15 such as to bar unassisted manual release of said lock means while communicating to said lock means sufficient force to effect releasing manipulation thereof upon the application to the housing of said unlatching tool 36.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, it should be observed that the cavity formed in housing part 12 for receiving the lock means 15 is proportioned to afford ~learance at the ends 29c and 29d of arms 29a and 29b, respectively, while surrounding the arms 30a and 30b with a reasonably close fit. Said clearance at ends 29c and 29d accommodates outward movement of arms 29a and 29b as the lock means 15 is flattened during an unlocking manipulation.
However, the close fit between the housing part 12 and arms 30a and 30b functions to center th lock means such that the opening in jaws 31 and 32 is maintained in proper registration or re-ceiving pin 22.
From the foregoing it should be apparent that arms 30a and 30b may be shortened or truncated retaining only sufficient projection to afford said centering action for the lock means ~5~
In such case, however, the housing part 13 will requlre reinforcing sufficient ~o communicate releasing force to the lock means 15 from the jaws 37a and 37b of the unlatching tool 36.
Claims
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An unlatching tool for a reusable security tag of generally flat rectangular configuration with opposite broad surfaces extending between substantially parallel side edges, comprising in operationally interconnected relationship a pair of confronting jaws spaced apart and arranged to straddle said tag with a close fit alongside said side edges, each jaw having a portion for disposition alongside a corresponding side edge and an inwardly directed lip projecting toward the other jaw but not connected thereto for overlying and engaging a given one of the broad surfaces of said tag to prevent movement of said tag from between said jaws in a direction past said lips, and a pair of spaced apart fingers mounted for oppositional movement relative to the lips of said jaws for engaging the other broad surface of said tag to apply pressure to said tag against the restraint of said jaw lips, said fingers being located in a plane passing between said jaws so as to engage said tag at points on a line which is spaced from and substantially parallel to said portions of said jaws.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA294,259A CA1061527A (en) | 1973-12-27 | 1978-01-03 | Tool for opening reusable security tags |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US05/428,827 US3942829A (en) | 1973-12-27 | 1973-12-27 | Reusable security tag |
CA216,361A CA1028147A (en) | 1973-12-27 | 1974-12-18 | Reusable security tag |
CA294,259A CA1061527A (en) | 1973-12-27 | 1978-01-03 | Tool for opening reusable security tags |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA1061527A true CA1061527A (en) | 1979-09-04 |
Family
ID=27163752
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA294,259A Expired CA1061527A (en) | 1973-12-27 | 1978-01-03 | Tool for opening reusable security tags |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CA (1) | CA1061527A (en) |
-
1978
- 1978-01-03 CA CA294,259A patent/CA1061527A/en not_active Expired
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