EP0212061A2 - Antipilferage marker for clothing or similar articles - Google Patents
Antipilferage marker for clothing or similar articles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0212061A2 EP0212061A2 EP86105466A EP86105466A EP0212061A2 EP 0212061 A2 EP0212061 A2 EP 0212061A2 EP 86105466 A EP86105466 A EP 86105466A EP 86105466 A EP86105466 A EP 86105466A EP 0212061 A2 EP0212061 A2 EP 0212061A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- marker
- article
- pin
- head
- smooth
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B73/00—Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices
- E05B73/0017—Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to antipilferage systems and markers for use therein. More particularly, the invention provides markers that may be securely fastened to a soft article, such as clothing, without damaging the material or fabric when removed following purchase.
- Advanced electronic systems employed to prevent theft of clothing articles generally comprise a marker element secured to the article and an electronic interrogater adapted to detect a signal produced by the marker (note, for example, U.S. patent 4,298,862 to Gregor et al).
- the interrogater includes a transmitting apparatus, including a drive coil, situated on one side of a passage leading to an exit and a receive coil for detecting the signal from the marker at the other side of the passage.
- the drive coil produces an interrogation signal that energizes the marker.
- the marker When energized, the marker produces an identifiable response signal detected by the receive coil. Detection of the presence of the response signal indicates that the article has not been properly checked out by the cashier and may, in fact, be stolen.
- the manner of fastening the marker to the clothing or similar articles is the manner of fastening the marker to the clothing or similar articles.
- the marker must be securely fixed to the article so as to prevent unauthorized removal by shoplifters.
- the marker must allow easy removal by authorized personnel, such as the cashier, following purchase of the article by a customer.
- U.S. patent 3,858,280 to Martens discloses a marker fastening system addressing this problem.
- the system includes a marker securing pin with an enlarged head, smooth shaft and sharp point for piercing the article and a retainer connected to the body of the marker for releasably clamping the shaft of the pin extending through the article.
- a special tool is required to release the pin from the retainer.
- the Martens device can. be forced open.
- the smooth pin simply fails to provide positive locking action and can be pulled from the retainer by a shoplifter and the surveillance marker then removed from the article.
- the grooved pin of the Humble device is likely to cause damage to the fabric of the cloth article. Specifically, the edges of the grooves often catch on the threads of the fabric and pull or break those threads as the pin is pressed through or removed from the article. This, of course, can cause unsightly and totally unacceptable holes and distortion in the material or fabric. In fact, marker manufacturers recommend against the use of grooved pins with some fabric, such as knits, since the damage is so common and severe.
- the present invention is directed to overcoming this problem of damage to the cloth in an article of clothing or the like.
- the present invention solves the problem by providing an article surveillance marker including a dual pin fastening structure.
- the fastening structure is capable of providing positive retention of the marker to clothing or other cloth articles so as to resist unauthorized removal by a shoplifter, while allowing attachment and authorized removal without damage to the article.
- the article surveillance marker of the present invention includes a housing having a head section and a body section. Dual pin means are provided on the head section for (1) attaching the marker to the cloth article, and (2) securing the head and body housing sections together so as to prevent unauthorized removal of the marker from the article.
- a grooved pin is utilized to positively secure the head and body housing sections of the marker together. It should be recognized, however, that the grooved pin does not pass through the cloth article. Instead, a separate smooth pin passes through and attaches the marker to the article. The distal end of the smooth pin that passes through the article is received in an aperture in the body section of the housing when the head and body housing sections are locked together. The grooved pin is received in a recess having a locking mechanism. Thus, the two pins received in the housing prevent the article from slipping free, and the head section from being surreptiously pulled free to release the article.
- the dual fastening structure of the marker of the present invention not only provides the desired positive retention and securing of the marker to an article characteristic of a grooved pin, but also provides an advancement in the art of providing a separate smooth pin that passes through the article. Since only the smooth pin passes through the article, damage to the article upon marker attachment and removal is eliminated, and a larger diameter groved pin can be utilized to strengthen the marker fastening structure and prevent unauthorized separation of the head and body thereof.
- the signal generating portion of the article surveillance marker of the present invention may be of any of several different types that are known in the art.
- the marker can be either the resonant circuit or ferromagnetic harmonic generating type.
- the marker is the magnetomechanical type.
- the marker includes an elongated, amorphous metal strip of ferromagnetic material adapted to be magnetically biased and thereby armed to resonate mechanically at a frequency within the frequency band of an applied magnetic interrogation field.
- FIG. 1 shows the article surveillance or antitheft marker 10 of the present invention.
- the marker 10 is adapted for securely fastening to a cloth article, such as shown at A, to allow surveillance or identification of that article.
- the marker lO includes a head section 12 and a body section 14.
- the marker lO includes one or more elongated, ductile ribbons 16 of magnetostrictive material housed in the body section.
- Each ribbon 16 is preferably a strip of amorphous metal adapted to be magnetically biased and, thereby, armed to resonate mechanically at a standard or known frequency to generate an identifiable signal.
- the magnetic biasing may, for example, be provided by a separate ferromagnetic slab or plate 18 of high magnetic coercivity positioned adjacent the ribbon 16 as shown.
- the marker 10 is positively attached to the article A to be protected, and is designed to prevent unauthorized or forced removal. Further, the marker does not damage the article A when attached or removed, for example, by a stock person during shelf stocking or by a cashier following purchase by a customer.
- the present invention provides a novel and improved dual pin fastening structure addressing and solving this important problem.
- the marker 10 includes a smooth pin 20 for piercing the article A and attaching the marker thereto.
- the smooth pin 20 is mounted to the head section 12.
- the pin 20 is pushed or extended through the article so that the distal or pointed end 22 of the pin is retained in the receiving aperture 24 in the body section.
- the positioning of the end 22 within the aperture 24 prevents the removal of the marker 10 from the article without the separating of the head and body housing sections 12, 14, respectively.
- the lock assembly 28 includes a pair of cooperating chocks 30 biased together by means of a spring 32 and cooperating cam surfaces 34.
- inwardly extending flanges on the chocks 30 are received within one of the grooves 38 of the pin 26 to positively lock and prevent forced removal of the pin. This relationship prevents removal of the marker 10 from the article A by the shoplifter.
- the head and body sections 12, 14 of the housing may, however, be easily separated by authorized personnel, such as a cashier, using a specially designed electromagnetic device that may be conveniently located at the checkout counter.
- the present invention includes a grooved pin 26 for superior locking action that resists unauthorized removal of the marker 10 from the article A.
- the article damage problem characteristic of grooved pins is overcome by the utilization of a second, separate smooth pin 20 that is extended through the article A with the distal end 22 securely retained within an aperture 24 in the marker housing.
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- Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
- Adornments (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates generally to antipilferage systems and markers for use therein. More particularly, the invention provides markers that may be securely fastened to a soft article, such as clothing, without damaging the material or fabric when removed following purchase.
- Theft of clothing and other cloth articles from retail stores is a very serious problem. The cost of replacing the stolen articles annually runs in the billions of dollars and is increasing.
- Advanced electronic systems employed to prevent theft of clothing articles generally comprise a marker element secured to the article and an electronic interrogater adapted to detect a signal produced by the marker (note, for example, U.S. patent 4,298,862 to Gregor et al). Typically, the interrogater includes a transmitting apparatus, including a drive coil, situated on one side of a passage leading to an exit and a receive coil for detecting the signal from the marker at the other side of the passage. The drive coil produces an interrogation signal that energizes the marker. When energized, the marker produces an identifiable response signal detected by the receive coil. Detection of the presence of the response signal indicates that the article has not been properly checked out by the cashier and may, in fact, be stolen.
- One of the major considerations with such theft detection systems is the manner of fastening the marker to the clothing or similar articles. Clearly, the marker must be securely fixed to the article so as to prevent unauthorized removal by shoplifters. Conversely, the marker must allow easy removal by authorized personnel, such as the cashier, following purchase of the article by a customer.
- U.S. patent 3,858,280 to Martens discloses a marker fastening system addressing this problem. The system includes a marker securing pin with an enlarged head, smooth shaft and sharp point for piercing the article and a retainer connected to the body of the marker for releasably clamping the shaft of the pin extending through the article. In order to prevent unauthorized marker removal from a protected article, a special tool is required to release the pin from the retainer.
- While initially appearing to solve the overall problem, it has been found that the Martens device can. be forced open. Disadvantageously, the smooth pin simply fails to provide positive locking action and can be pulled from the retainer by a shoplifter and the surveillance marker then removed from the article.
- U.S. patent 3,942,829 to Humble, et al recognizes this additional problem of secure retention and provides for positive locking action with the utilization of a grooved pin. Advantageously, the grooves of the pin provide peripheral edges of engagement on the pin for secure and positive locking of the latching device. Thus, the pin better resists forced, unauthorized removal. This solution to the fastening problem proposed in Humble, however, unfortunately creates another problem.
- During attachment and removal, the grooved pin of the Humble device is likely to cause damage to the fabric of the cloth article. Specifically, the edges of the grooves often catch on the threads of the fabric and pull or break those threads as the pin is pressed through or removed from the article. This, of course, can cause unsightly and totally unacceptable holes and distortion in the material or fabric. In fact, marker manufacturers recommend against the use of grooved pins with some fabric, such as knits, since the damage is so common and severe.
- The present invention is directed to overcoming this problem of damage to the cloth in an article of clothing or the like.
- The present invention solves the problem by providing an article surveillance marker including a dual pin fastening structure. The fastening structure is capable of providing positive retention of the marker to clothing or other cloth articles so as to resist unauthorized removal by a shoplifter, while allowing attachment and authorized removal without damage to the article.
- Briefly stated, the article surveillance marker of the present invention includes a housing having a head section and a body section. Dual pin means are provided on the head section for (1) attaching the marker to the cloth article, and (2) securing the head and body housing sections together so as to prevent unauthorized removal of the marker from the article.
- Specifically, a grooved pin is utilized to positively secure the head and body housing sections of the marker together. It should be recognized, however, that the grooved pin does not pass through the cloth article. Instead, a separate smooth pin passes through and attaches the marker to the article. The distal end of the smooth pin that passes through the article is received in an aperture in the body section of the housing when the head and body housing sections are locked together. The grooved pin is received in a recess having a locking mechanism. Thus, the two pins received in the housing prevent the article from slipping free, and the head section from being surreptiously pulled free to release the article.
- Advantageously, the dual fastening structure of the marker of the present invention not only provides the desired positive retention and securing of the marker to an article characteristic of a grooved pin, but also provides an advancement in the art of providing a separate smooth pin that passes through the article. Since only the smooth pin passes through the article, damage to the article upon marker attachment and removal is eliminated, and a larger diameter groved pin can be utilized to strengthen the marker fastening structure and prevent unauthorized separation of the head and body thereof.
- Of course, it should be realized that the signal generating portion of the article surveillance marker of the present invention may be of any of several different types that are known in the art. For example, the marker can be either the resonant circuit or ferromagnetic harmonic generating type. Preferably, however, the marker is the magnetomechanical type. Thus, the marker includes an elongated, amorphous metal strip of ferromagnetic material adapted to be magnetically biased and thereby armed to resonate mechanically at a frequency within the frequency band of an applied magnetic interrogation field.
- The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawing in which:
- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the article surveillance marker of the present invention shown prior to attachment or following removal from a cloth article with the head and body sections pulled apart; and
- Figure 2 is a similar cross-sectional view showing the head and body sections of the marker positively secured together and the marker attached to the article.
- Reference is now made to Figures 1 and 2 showing the article surveillance or
antitheft marker 10 of the present invention. Themarker 10 is adapted for securely fastening to a cloth article, such as shown at A, to allow surveillance or identification of that article. - Specifically, the marker lO includes a
head section 12 and abody section 14. The marker lO includes one or more elongated,ductile ribbons 16 of magnetostrictive material housed in the body section. Eachribbon 16 is preferably a strip of amorphous metal adapted to be magnetically biased and, thereby, armed to resonate mechanically at a standard or known frequency to generate an identifiable signal. The magnetic biasing may, for example, be provided by a separate ferromagnetic slab orplate 18 of high magnetic coercivity positioned adjacent theribbon 16 as shown. - In accordance with the present invention, the
marker 10 is positively attached to the article A to be protected, and is designed to prevent unauthorized or forced removal. Further, the marker does not damage the article A when attached or removed, for example, by a stock person during shelf stocking or by a cashier following purchase by a customer. The present invention provides a novel and improved dual pin fastening structure addressing and solving this important problem. - Specifically, the
marker 10 includes asmooth pin 20 for piercing the article A and attaching the marker thereto. As shown, thesmooth pin 20 is mounted to thehead section 12. When thehead section 12 andbody section 14 are secured together and to the article A therebetween, thepin 20 is pushed or extended through the article so that the distal orpointed end 22 of the pin is retained in the receivingaperture 24 in the body section. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the positioning of theend 22 within theaperture 24 prevents the removal of themarker 10 from the article without the separating of the head andbody housing sections - Positive retention and securing of the head and
body sections pin 26 and cooperatinglock assembly 28. As shown in Figure 2, when the head andbody sections pin 26 extends down into and engages thelock assembly 28 in thehousing section 14. - Briefly, the
lock assembly 28 includes a pair of cooperatingchocks 30 biased together by means of aspring 32 and cooperating cam surfaces 34. In particular, inwardly extending flanges on thechocks 30 are received within one of thegrooves 38 of thepin 26 to positively lock and prevent forced removal of the pin. This relationship prevents removal of themarker 10 from the article A by the shoplifter. The head andbody sections - Of course, it should be appreciated that only the
smooth pin 20 of the present invention extends through the cloth article A when the marker lO is properly attached. Thus, when themarker 10 is removed from the article A, damage to the fabric is essentially eliminated. Since thepin 22 is smooth, there are no grooves to catch or snag on threads in the fabric upon removal and unsightly damage is avoided. - In summary, numerous benefits result from employing the concepts of the present invention. In providing a marker lO with a dual pin fastening structure, the seemingly conflicting solutions to the problems of positive article/marker retention and article damage are reconciled. Specifically, the present invention includes a grooved
pin 26 for superior locking action that resists unauthorized removal of themarker 10 from the article A. The article damage problem characteristic of grooved pins, however, is overcome by the utilization of a second, separatesmooth pin 20 that is extended through the article A with thedistal end 22 securely retained within anaperture 24 in the marker housing. - The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described simply to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
Claims (5)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US73731885A | 1985-05-23 | 1985-05-23 | |
US737318 | 1985-05-23 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0212061A2 true EP0212061A2 (en) | 1987-03-04 |
EP0212061A3 EP0212061A3 (en) | 1988-03-02 |
Family
ID=24963432
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP86105466A Withdrawn EP0212061A3 (en) | 1985-05-23 | 1986-04-21 | Antipilferage marker for clothing or similar articles |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0212061A3 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS61272899A (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2206150A (en) * | 1987-06-22 | 1988-12-29 | Monarch Marking Systems Inc | Article surveillance tag |
FR2622547A1 (en) * | 1987-10-30 | 1989-05-05 | Actron Sa | Lockable support for safety circuit |
EP0434425A1 (en) * | 1989-12-21 | 1991-06-26 | Esselte Meto International GmbH | Security tag attachment |
WO1999018312A1 (en) * | 1997-10-02 | 1999-04-15 | Rso Corporation N.V. | An anti-theft device with a thermally controllable locking mechanism |
EP1262618A2 (en) * | 2001-05-29 | 2002-12-04 | HIGH-SCAN-Artikelsicherungs-GmbH | Goods security apparatus |
DE202005010543U1 (en) * | 2005-07-03 | 2006-11-16 | Precker, Rene Pierre | Security arrangement for clothes hangers has braid for inversion over clothes rail hook and reversibly locking about clothes rail, small holding plate making irreversible connection to cord, connected to goods by lug with security tag |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2256487A1 (en) * | 1973-12-27 | 1975-07-25 | Sensormatic Electronics Corp | |
GB2075116A (en) * | 1980-04-11 | 1981-11-11 | Gustavsson B O | Theft-deterrent devices |
-
1986
- 1986-04-21 EP EP86105466A patent/EP0212061A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1986-05-23 JP JP11897786A patent/JPS61272899A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2256487A1 (en) * | 1973-12-27 | 1975-07-25 | Sensormatic Electronics Corp | |
GB2075116A (en) * | 1980-04-11 | 1981-11-11 | Gustavsson B O | Theft-deterrent devices |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2206150A (en) * | 1987-06-22 | 1988-12-29 | Monarch Marking Systems Inc | Article surveillance tag |
GB2206150B (en) * | 1987-06-22 | 1991-03-20 | Monarch Marking Systems Inc | A tag for use in an electronic article surveillance system |
FR2622547A1 (en) * | 1987-10-30 | 1989-05-05 | Actron Sa | Lockable support for safety circuit |
EP0434425A1 (en) * | 1989-12-21 | 1991-06-26 | Esselte Meto International GmbH | Security tag attachment |
WO1999018312A1 (en) * | 1997-10-02 | 1999-04-15 | Rso Corporation N.V. | An anti-theft device with a thermally controllable locking mechanism |
US6285286B1 (en) | 1997-10-02 | 2001-09-04 | Rso Corporation N.V. | Anti-theft device with a thermally controllable locking mechanism |
EP1262618A2 (en) * | 2001-05-29 | 2002-12-04 | HIGH-SCAN-Artikelsicherungs-GmbH | Goods security apparatus |
EP1262618A3 (en) * | 2001-05-29 | 2003-08-06 | HIGH-SCAN-Artikelsicherungs-GmbH | Goods security apparatus |
US6848285B2 (en) | 2001-05-29 | 2005-02-01 | High-Scan-Artikelsicherungs-Gmbh | Merchandize item protection apparatus |
DE202005010543U1 (en) * | 2005-07-03 | 2006-11-16 | Precker, Rene Pierre | Security arrangement for clothes hangers has braid for inversion over clothes rail hook and reversibly locking about clothes rail, small holding plate making irreversible connection to cord, connected to goods by lug with security tag |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0212061A3 (en) | 1988-03-02 |
JPS61272899A (en) | 1986-12-03 |
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Inventor name: REICH, RONALD KEITH |