EP2810271A1 - Self-contained variable display device for marking an article - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for marking an article with a view to identifying same, characterized in that the device includes an information display area, a medium for storing the information to be displayed (26), a programmable clock (42), an electrical power supply system (44), a means (38, 40, 40a, 22b) for selecting information from the storage medium in order to display same in a display area and a means for attaching the device to the article or packaging thereof, wherein said selection means is enabled at one or more moments programmed into the programmable clock.

Description

 DEVICE FOR MARKING AN AUTONOMOUS VARIABLE DISPLAY ARTICLE

The invention relates to a device for marking an article for its identification. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for protection against theft, including shoplifting, of an article.

 To fight effectively against shoplifting and especially against the theft of certain products such as textile products (shirts, sweaters, underwear, pants, lingerie, ties, socks, t-shirts, dresses, coats, hats, shoes, polos, skirts among others), traders use in known manner anti-theft badges (also called beeps, macaroons or "EAS tags" in English terminology). These anti-theft tags trigger an anti-theft gantry or a surveillance system located at the access points (inputs / outputs) of a point of sale such as a super or hyper store, a shop, a specialized store, a duty station free, a big-store, a museum, a video club, a pharmacy, as well as any other store or entity that sells or displays self-service items that are likely to be stolen or removed without authorization.

 These badges are usually formed of two parts:

 a body that contains a locking system and an active or passive member that triggers the antennas or gantries commonly installed at the access points of the stores,

 - a nail that crosses the article to protect (for example the fabric of a garment) or the cardboard or plastic blister.

 The introduction of these anti-theft tags on items to protect mobilizes the staff of the stores where these items are sold for a considerable time.

In addition, stores, especially those who sell textile products, spend a lot of time and money on labor to tag and re-label commercial items, especially during sales periods. Indeed, generally, at least three labels or color marking devices different are added to the price tag with mentions of the type: 1st (- 20%), 2nd (-30%), 3rd (-50%) marks. In addition, are added advertising labels of the type "Merry Christmas", "Happy New Year", "Valentine's Day", etc. .. according to different commercial events, advertising campaigns ...

 It is known from WO2012 / 013899, a device for marking an article for identification. This device comprises an information display area, an information carrier to be displayed, a power supply system, media information selection means for displaying them in the viewing area and means for fixing the device. to the article or its packaging.

 According to the teaching of this document, the information support information to be displayed is selected either manually, using an external tool, or remotely, via a receiver element present in the device and receiving activation information from an external source.

 Although this device is satisfactory, it nevertheless suffers from certain limitations.

 In fact, at certain times of the year, it is necessary to change the display of certain article marking devices of the type described above by selecting new information from the information carrier in order to display them ( discount applied for special sales or promotions, displaying specific information about unique events in the year such as the holiday season, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day ...).

Not all article marking devices are affected by this display change. It is then necessary to proceed to the selection of the information to be displayed for example on several hundred or thousands of marking devices attached to items for sale in a department store among dozens or even hundreds of thousands of devices present in the store. If this task is to be carried out manually using an external tool, the manpower and time that must be devoted to it are considerable.

 If, on the contrary, the task is performed remotely by an activation information receiving element as described above (the receiving element is placed in each marking device attached to an article), it is not without posing some problems.

 Indeed, before an activation signal is remotely transmitted to the marking devices concerned, it is necessary to identify these devices beforehand.

 This task is not easy in a department store where electromagnetic interference phenomena may occur which may disturb the preliminary identification phase of the marking devices as well as the subsequent phase of transmission of the activation signal (s) to the devices. identified.

 Errors and / or malfunctions can thus occur during these phases, as well as human errors on the part of the store staff in charge of implementing these phases.

 These or only some of these problems are exacerbated when the store is located in several buildings located side by side or almost.

 The invention aims to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a device for marking an article with a view to its identification, the device comprising an information display area, an information carrier to be viewed, a system power supply, information selection means of the support for viewing in the viewing area and means for fixing the device to the article or its packaging, characterized in that the device comprises at least one programmable clock said selection means being activatable at one or more times programmed into the programmable clock.

It is thus possible to vary the information to be displayed (image (s), photograph (s), drawing (s), text (s) and / or combination of one of these elements in the viewing area which is for example a display window), by selecting information from the medium and replacing those already being viewed by those selected.

 This task is performed autonomously by the marking device alone, without external human intervention (tool, sending signals ...), without signal transmission likely to be disturbed and without the need to identify the device before changing the display.

 The store staff is no longer busy with tasks that are time-consuming and error-prone.

 The management of this type of marking device and the display change is greatly simplified.

 Thus, such a marking device associated with a commercial item, for example by fixing, makes it possible to offer customers of a store the desired commercial information at time periods that are related to particular commercial events (parties end of the year, sales, mothers' day ...). The display of such information therefore varies on command according to the prior programming of the clock without the store staff having to intervene. Depending on the dates, and possibly times, programmed in the clock (programmed calendar), the selection means are activated automatically and autonomously to select the information corresponding to said dates and times for display or viewing. The change of display or display operation is therefore more reliable than in the prior art.

 For example, it selects on the marking device information relating to a particular operation of promoting the article such as a percentage reduction on the selling price of the article, depending on the promotional campaign desired.

The information medium (eg tape or film, disk, memory or other storage means for storing digital information, etc.) comprises for example a plurality of information and, in the example chosen, a plurality of percentages of different discounts that are selected by the store staff and visualized after selection by the staff. A tagging device associated with an item can thus show a 20% discount one day and, by simple manipulation of the store staff, display a 30% discount the next day.

 The variable display device according to the invention makes it possible not to have to change the marking device to display other information.

 It will be noted that the marking device according to the invention may optionally comprise means for identifying the assembly and also for identifying the article to which it is associated (by fixing). Such means are for example made by an RFID chip. Such means are for example used for other purposes than the display change.

 According to a possible characteristic, the device comprises a control circuit which, at the instant or at predetermined times, activates the information selection means of the support.

 This circuit is itself activated or "woken up" automatically by the clock when a time instant (date and possibly time) that has been previously programmed occurs. Energy savings are thus achieved.

 According to one feature, the information medium is a medium comprising a plurality of printed information regions, the information selection means being operable to select one or more information regions to be displayed in the viewing area. Note that the other non-selected information regions are not visible (outside the viewing area) and may, for example, be masked by an element of the device.

 Thus, all the information carried by the support is not visible from outside the marking device, the selection means making it possible to display only the desired information (that is to say those whose display has been programmed).

According to one possible feature, the support is an elongated strip or film comprising a plurality of printed information regions arranged side by side in the lengthwise direction of the strip, said strip being wound around two spaced apart members, and which are each rotatable about their longitudinal axis to scroll information regions of the band in the viewing area (e.g. vis-à-vis at least a transparent portion of a display window).

 Such an arrangement makes it possible to make the marking device particularly compact.

 The information-carrying film or film is thus similar to a photographic film film used in older cameras (analog camera).

 The selection of the information to be displayed is performed in a particularly simple manner by rotating the members supporting the band.

 For example, the web support members are rollers.

Note that the device comprises means for rotating the support members of the band. These means are generally part of the means for selecting the information to be viewed.

 According to one possible characteristic, the band is interchangeable.

Thus, the store staff can replace the band or film carrying information or, more generally, the information carrier when it is interchangeable and thus set up new information in the device.

 The only replacement of the band which is then akin to a consumable is a more economical operation than the replacement of the device itself. In addition, the band change can be performed while the device is attached to the article.

 For example, the information-carrying tape or film may itself be mounted on a medium (eg, plastic) and the entire tape and media will be replaced in the manner of the toner cartridges. in printers or film photographic film.

 According to another possible characteristic, the marking device comprises at least one activation information receiving element for the activation of the selection means.

In this embodiment, the activation of the selection means is carried out, not in a programmed manner thanks to the clock embedded in the device, but on receipt of information transmitted remotely (activation signal), for example by radio or infrared. This received information makes it possible to activate the selection means and thus to select information for viewing as desired.

 The staff of a store can thus very easily transmit information by radio or infrared from a fixed or mobile control base to vary the information displayed by one or more marking devices present or not on commercial items of the store.

 It should be noted that this variant represents an additional functionality of the device, in addition to that made possible by the clock, in order to be able to vary the display or the visualization of information at times not foreseen at the time of programming the program. 'clock.

 According to another possible embodiment, the support is a disk comprising on one face a plurality of printed information regions arranged side by side according to different angular sectors of the face of the disk. For example, the disk or a display window of the viewing zone may be rotated around its center to geometrically map information regions and the information display area (for example at least one transparent part of the display area). display window).

 Relative movement of the disk relative to the display window allows one or more desired information regions to be brought face to face with a transparent window portion.

 Note that the device comprises means for rotating the disk or window relative to each other. These means are generally part of the information selection means to be displayed.

 According to another possible characteristic, a cover is positioned above the disc and is provided with an opening arranged vis-à-vis an information region to be displayed.

This open cache masks in its unopened portion (opaque / non-transparent) the unselected information. Note that the opening plays the role of a display window.

 According to one possible feature, the cover is rotatable about its center so that the opening is brought into geometric correspondence with an information region to be viewed from the disc.

 The function of selecting the information to be displayed is thus ensured by rotation of one of the aforementioned elements. Rotating means are provided for rotating the cache with respect to the disk. These means are generally part of the means for selecting the information to be viewed.

 The unselected information is hidden by the opaque window portion or by the unopened portion of the cache as appropriate.

 According to a possible variant, the display window has a general shape substantially corresponding to that of the disk and comprises, on the one hand, a transparent portion in the form of an angular sector for viewing the selected information region or regions, and on the other hand, a non-transparent part masking the other unselected information regions.

 According to a possible characteristic, the selection means comprise at least one motor connected to the information carrier, for example, to the information carrier band and, more particularly, to the support members of this band.

 Activation at one or more predetermined moments of said at least one engine makes it possible to select information to be displayed and to display them in the viewing area.

 Said at least one motor is for example activated by a control circuit, which is itself activated or "woken up" by the programmed clock.

 According to a possible characteristic, said at least one motor is a stepper motor which makes it possible to precisely adjust the selection of information and, for example, the scrolling movement of the information-carrying band or the rotational movement of the disc. or the viewport or cache.

According to a possible characteristic, said at least one motor is connected to the information carrier via a gear mechanism. According to yet another possible embodiment, the information display area is a digital display screen.

 In this embodiment, the digital display screen is for example an LCD type screen and the information carrier is for example in the form of an electronic memory or other means of storing information. .

 The means for selecting the information to be displayed and which are in the information medium such as a memory or another type of information storage are activated according to the events or time instants programmed in the clock. The information is extracted from the medium and transmitted to the display screen.

 The selection means comprise for example a microprocessor which, as a function of the programmed clock (occurrence of predetermined instant (s)), assures the selection of the data in the medium, their transfer to the screen and their display. . A separate control circuit may optionally be placed between the clock and the microprocessor.

 According to one possible characteristic, the power supply system comprises at least one battery or battery, for example a "button" type battery.

 Alternatively, a light sensor for example arranged on the device is provided to recharge the battery or battery.

 Alternatively, the light sensor directly supplies the electrical energy to the clock after conversion of the light energy, thereby eliminating battery or battery.

 It should be noted that the stores are particularly well illuminated which favors the use of a light sensor.

According to a possible characteristic, the marking device comprises an information display window at least a portion of the window is transparent and constitutes the information display area for the selected support information to be visible through said less a transparent part of window. This window is for example also protective office (mechanical protection for example against wear, dirt, dust, splashing liquid, moisture ...) information carried by the support.

 It should be noted that insofar as the printed regions of the information carrier are protected, in particular against wear, the material used to make the printing region of the support can be chosen to lend itself particularly satisfactorily to the processes which provide varied, complex prints, using many colors and high quality.

 It is therefore no longer necessary to be limited solely to printing techniques whose impressions are resistant to wear, for example pad printing techniques.

 Such protection thus makes it possible to considerably extend the life of the inscriptions (text, drawings, etc.) incorporated in the printing regions.

 The window thus comprises at least one transparent part making it possible to display the selected information and may, for example, comprise another opaque part in order to hide the unselected support information regions.

 According to one possible feature, the marking device comprises a housing forming an open housing for receiving the information carrier.

 According to another possible feature, the display window is disposed on the housing so as to close the housing.

 This arrangement is particularly simple in design.

According to a possible characteristic, the marking device comprises a tip extending out of it. For example, the tip cooperates with a complementary device to ensure the assembly and locking of the two devices with each other.

The tip is a means of attachment to the article to be protected and which passes through it or its packaging before cooperating with the complementary device. The tip is generally carried by a complementary device and the introduction of the tip into the housing (which carries the locking means of the tip) allows to assemble the two devices together in the locked position.

 The locking means of the tip prevent the withdrawal thereof after insertion.

 According to a possible variant, the marking device comprises means for locking a point intended to be introduced into the housing.

 It will be noted that the characteristics of the marking device referred to above also apply when the tip is carried by the complementary device and not by the marking device.

 According to one possible feature, the tip of the marking device extends out of the housing in the opposite direction of the display window.

 The tip is thus intended to be inserted in a complementary device to allow the assembly of the two devices.

 According to one possible characteristic, the window is disposed by one of its so-called internal faces opposite a so-called internal face of the information bearing medium carrying information, the point extending from the inner face of said window in the direction of the inner face of the support and passing therethrough in order to protrude with respect to a so-called outer face of the support outside said support.

 According to a possible feature, the marking device comprises a head having two opposite faces, an inner face and an outer face from which the tip extends, the information carrier being disposed between the inner face of the head and the display window.

According to a possible characteristic, the marking device and / or the complementary device comprises at least one active or passive member which is able to emit electromagnetic waves towards the outside of the device or to receive them, thereby conferring a protective function on the device. article against theft and / or a function of identification and / or traceability and / or storage or exchange of information. For example, an RDID chip makes it possible to or more of these functions. Note that this feature applies independently of the device in which is arranged the tip of the attachment means to the article and assembly and locking of the two devices to one another.

 Thus, the organ or bodies that are likely to cooperate with a complementary anti-theft detection system (eg anti-theft gantry) and to trigger an alarm are housed in at least one of the two devices.

 The organ carried by this or these devices is, for example, a passive member that receives electromagnetic waves when it is located near the complementary detection system.

 Such a passive member is, for example, a resonant electrical circuit which resonates, in known manner, under the action of excitatory waves emitted at the resonance frequency of the circuit.

 The member or bodies capable of cooperating with a complementary anti-theft detection system and of triggering an alarm are alternatively one or more active members emitting electromagnetic waves in response or not to electromagnetic waves received from the complementary system.

 In the general configuration of the invention (information display zone, clock, power supply, information carrier, information selection means and fixing means) the attachment means to the article can take the form of clamping members of the article (without passing therethrough), for example a clamp, which are operable to tighten / loosen the article from a control member. The clamping members and the control member are part of the marking device and are not separate parts.

 The invention further relates to a protection assembly of an article against theft (eg anti-theft badge) which comprises a marking device as briefly described above.

According to a possible characteristic, the protection assembly comprises a complementary device and means for assembling the two devices with one another and locking in the assembled position. Note that the protection assembly according to the invention may comprise a single part, namely the marking device provided with fastening means to the article such that one or more clamping members such as a clamp (to be attached to an article or a package which, for example, can not be traversed by a tip) or two parts, one of which is the aforementioned marking device and the other a complementary device. The two parts are fixed to one another and to the article by means of fixing means carried by one or the other party.

 When the protective assembly includes both devices, they are used in cooperation with the article to be protected and for example the grip so that, once assembled and locked together, they are inseparable from the article.

 The only way to remove the protection assembly from the article is then to use a means of unlocking the two devices which is conventionally installed at the checkout of the store where the article is offered for sale.

 It will be noted that the fastening means to the article or to its packaging (for example a point passing through the article or its packaging) may be arranged on one or the other of the marking and complementary devices.

 According to a variant, the one and the other of the devices each carry a part of the fixing means.

 According to one characteristic, one of the marking device and the complementary device is equipped with a tip intended to be introduced into the other device, the latter comprising means for locking the tip to prevent its withdrawal in order to lock the device. set of protection on the article or its packaging.

 The other device comprises for example an orifice for the insertion of the tip in this other device and the locking means prevent removal of the tip after insertion.

The invention also relates to an article, for example commercial, equipped with a marking device or a set of protection against theft (the device or assembly is attached to the article) such as briefly discussed above and which includes at least one of the features set forth above.

 Other characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

 - Figure 1 is schematic view in the assembled position of a marking device of a protection assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention;

 FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device of FIG. 1;

 - Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of a cover incorporating two rollers;

 FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the rollers of FIG.

3;

 - Figure 5 is a perspective view from below of the cover of Figure 3 incorporating an information carrier and its support member;

 FIG. 6 is a view from below showing part of the internal elements of the marking device of FIG. 2 in the assembled position;

 - Figure 7 is a partial schematic view showing the cooperation of a motor with one of the rollers integrated in the cover of Figures 3 and 5;

 - Figure 8 is a perspective view from below of the assembled device;

 - Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of an axial section of the marking device of Figures 1 to 8;

 FIG. 10 illustrates the elements of the processing chain of the activation mode of the programmed variable display;

 - Figure 1 1 is an enlarged schematic view of a printed strip 26 inside a housing 70;

- Figure 12 is an enlarged schematic view of the printed strip 26 of Figure 1 1; - Figure 13 is a schematic axial sectional view of a marking device of a protection assembly according to a second embodiment;

 FIGS. 14 to 15 show two examples of a set of protection against theft of an article incorporating a marking device according to one or other of the aforementioned embodiments;

 - Figure 16 is a general schematic perspective view of a marking device of a protection assembly in the assembled position according to a third embodiment of the invention;

 FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the device of FIG. 16;

 - Figure 18 is a schematic axial sectional view of the device of Figures 16 and 17;

 - Figure 19 is a partial schematic view illustrating the locking mechanism in rotation of the display window;

 - Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of a marking device of a protection assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

 As represented in FIG. 1 and generally designated by the reference number 10, a device for marking a set of protection against theft of an article, for example a commercial article, according to the invention comprises a head or casing 12 and a tip 14 which extends outside the housing away from it.

 The housing 12 also comprises a transparent window or cover 16 encased in a peripheral frame 18 which has a central opening 18a for receiving the transparent cover 16.

 The frame or frame 18 is mounted on a base 20 and is fixed thereto by conventional mechanical means.

 The tip 14 protrudes from the outer face of the base and is for example fixed inside the latter.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. The device thus comprises from the top, the peripheral frame or frame 18 provided with its central opening 18a, for example of square shape (the shape could also be rectangular, or even round or ovoid), in order to receive the transparent cover 16 having a periphery of complementary shape so as to be inserted into the opening 18a.

 This cover acts as an information display area.

 The cover has a convex upper surface 16a and comprises two opposite side faces 16b and 16c each provided with two openings. The convex or curved shape of the cover makes it possible to increase the compactness of the device.

 In Figure 2 only the openings of the face 16b are shown.

 One of the openings 16d has a complete circular shape while the other opening 16e has a semicircular shape open on one of its sides to receive one of the two support members 22, 24 shown in FIG. 2, for example in the form of rollers.

 Figure 3 shows in perspective from below the cover 16 and shows the second side face 16c with a full circular opening 16f and an open semicircular opening on one of its sides 16g.

 The rollers 22 and 24 can thus be introduced through the openings 16e and 16g inside the cover 16.

 Each of these rollers is provided with a longitudinal slot respectively 22a, 24a, passing through the roll of substantially cylindrical shape, from side to side and over almost its entire height, thus forming two half-cylinders.

 Each roll is also provided with a head respectively 22b,

24b protruding outside the hood 16.

 Figure 4 illustrates the longitudinal slot 22a of the roll and the head 22b thereof.

Returning to FIG. 2, the device 10 also comprises an information carrier to be displayed, for example in the form of an elongated strip or film of paper or other material, and which comprises a plurality of printed information regions arranged side by side along the length of the strip.

 In Figure 2 two information regions 26a and 26b are arranged side by side.

 The strip 26 is inserted at each of its opposite ends in one of the slots 22a, 24a of each roll, and then wrapped around it to assume a position as shown in FIG.

 In this position, the information carrier 26 is wound around the two rollers 22 and 24, parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other.

 Each of the rollers is rotatable about its longitudinal axis in order to scroll information regions of the strip 26 vis-à-vis the transparent cover 16 and, more particularly, the transparent upper face 16a (window). display). The device 10 also comprises means 38, 40 for rotating the rollers. These means are engines as will be explained later.

 It will thus be understood that each of the rollers and associated rotational means form selection means which make it possible to select information from the support 26 with a view to displaying them in the viewing zone (upper face 16a of the transparent cover).

 Depending on whether one or other of the rollers is rotated, the web moves in one (forward) direction or the opposite (rear) direction.

 Note that when one or more information arranged in an information region is viewed through the transparent window 16a, the other information regions of the medium are masked vis-à-vis the outside and are therefore not visible .

 The device 10 comprises a support piece 28 having a generally domed shape at its upper portion 28a and having two returns 28b and 28c which partially close the part at its lower part, providing an opening 28d between returns.

The information carrier 26 arranged around the rollers 22 and 24 is thus positioned on the piece 28 and wrap around the returns 28b and 28c so as to position the ends of the strip 26 wound around the rollers 22 and 24, inside the piece 28, via the opening 28d.

 Once these elements are assembled, the assembly consisting of the support 26 mounted on the rollers 22 and 24 and enveloping the rigid part 28 is installed in the cover 16 as shown in FIG.

 The marking device 10 comprises a plate 30 positioned below the information carrier (FIG. 2).

 The plate 30 is provided with a central opening 32 and two lugs 30a and 30b.

 The plate has dimensions corresponding to the size of the display window 16a.

 As shown in FIG. 6, the lower face of the plate 30 (not visible in FIG. 2) carries electronic components 34, 36 of which one and / or the other form an electrical / electronic system or control circuit of the two motors 38 and 40. These components are for example FPGA-type programmable components or they may be preprogrammed circuits such as ASIC type circuits.

 Alternatively, at least one of these components may comprise a microprocessor and one or more memories for storing various data and information.

 As shown in FIG. 6, very schematically, and more specifically in FIG. 7, each of the motors 38 and 40 is arranged along one of the edges of the plate 30. The two motors are thus mounted head-to-tail of parallel to each other, along two opposite sides 30c and 30d of the plate 30. The motors are, for example, stepper motors.

 Each motor is disposed at one of its ends against one of the lugs 30a, 30b which thus serves as a support.

Each motor has at its opposite end an output shaft, respectively 38a, 40a, which is threaded so as to mesh with the head of one of the two corresponding rollers 22, 24 which is provided with a toothed gear (FIG. ). Thus, each motor is connected to a roller by a gear mechanism. Activation of the control of a motor is performed at one or more predetermined times programmed in a programmable clock 42, for example fixed to the plate 30.

 When one of these instants occurs, one of the components 34, 36 which forms a control circuit "wakes up" and activates, that is to say operates, the motor concerned. The motor thus activated rotates the threaded shaft out of it and thus, by meshing with the pinion of the corresponding roller, drives the roller in rotation.

 The rotation of one of the rollers then causes the displacement of the band 26 (information carrier), which scrolls the images or information printed in front of the display window 16a.

 Depending on the activation, one or other of the motors 38, 40 is activated which causes the displacement of the strip 26 in one direction of travel or in the other.

 It is thus possible to wind or unroll the band around one of the rollers 22 and 24.

 The mode of activation of the variable display of information from a programmed clock will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 10 to 12.

 It will be noted that the various electrical connections between the components equipping the plate 30 are not shown here for the sake of clarity.

 Optionally, another component not shown in the figure, for example, also attached to the plate 30 is an information receiving element (activation signal) communicated remotely to the device 10, for example by radio waves or by infrared .

 This element is thus a receiver suitable for receiving information transmitted by one of these communication means or by another means of communication not previously described.

The information received from outside by the component in question makes it possible to activate the control of one and / or the other of the motors 38 and 40 according to the information. This other mode of activation of the variable display of information is used for the activation of the selection means complementary.

 The element 44 fixed to the plate 30 (for example inserted in an open cylindrical housing integral with the plate not shown in the figure) represents a power supply system of the various components and electrical / electronic circuits arranged on this plate.

 The element 44 is for example an electric battery, for example of the button type.

 This element 44 thus provides the electrical energy necessary for selecting the information of the support which is to be seen through the transparent window of the cover 16 (display window).

 As shown in FIG. 2, the marking device of a protection assembly according to the invention comprises the base 20, a central part of which is recessed and is delimited by a first internal rim 50.

 The cover 16 enclosing the information carrier 26 and the support piece 28 and which is mounted on the plate 30 is arranged in the central part 20a of the base, as well as the motors 38 and 40.

 Note that the periphery of the cover 16 has a substantially square shape which is adapted so that, once housed inside the central portion 20a of the base, the cover fits between each of its side faces and the inner edge 50 of the base a space to accommodate an engine and the head of one of the rollers.

 The recessed central portion 20a has in its center a projecting zone 20b in which is disposed the head 14a of the tip 14 (Figure 9).

 This protruding zone 20b enters the opening 32 of the plate 30 when it is installed at the bottom of the housing delimited by the rim 50.

 Note that the lugs 30a and 30b of the plate respectively cooperate with grooves in the rim 50 to prevent rotation of the plate.

As represented in FIG. 2, the central portion 20a of the base also has a projecting zone 20c eccentric with respect to the zone 20b and which is provided with a through opening for the stack 44 of Figure 6 to be housed there.

 Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, a cover 54 closes the through opening 20c which, normally in the absence of a cover, opens out at the bottom face of the base 20.

 This cover 54 is provided with a notch 54a for rotating the cover and thus replace the battery 44 when necessary.

 The base 20 also includes an outer rim 56 defining with the inner rim 50 an annular space 58 surrounding the central zone 20a (Figures 2 and 9).

 This annular space receives one or more passive members 60 which are able to receive from the outside of the device electromagnetic waves coming from a security / detection system (protection against theft), the protection assembly comprising the device being part of .

 Thus, when an article sold in a store and to which is fixed the device 10 through the fastening means 14 comes close to an emitter of electromagnetic waves, the passive member 60 receives these waves, thereby triggering an alarm.

 For example, the passive member or circuit 60 is, for example, a resonant circuit which, when subjected to electromagnetic waves, goes into resonance and thus triggers an alarm signal when passing through a safety gantry comprising the transmitter. This gantry is installed in a point of sale (store) of the article to be protected or in a room where the article is exposed.

 It will be noted that the space 58 reserved in the base 20 makes it possible to deport the active or passive element or members of the marking device with respect to the location where the motors and the control electronics thereof are located.

 The offset of the member (s) or active or passive circuits makes it possible not to disturb the detection of the device at the passage of a security gantry in a store in the presence of the engines.

Alternatively, when no motor is present in the marking device, the active or passive sensor element or circuits can be arranged at another location of the device. The device can thus be more compact.

 Figure 10 illustrates the processing chain of the activation mode of the variable display using a programmable clock.

 The elements illustrated in FIG. 10 have already been described with reference to the preceding figures.

 There is thus on this chain the power supply system 44 (power supply system), the programmable clock 42, a control system or circuit 34 or 36, a motor 38 or 40, a gear mechanism 40a. , 22b and an information carrier 26, here shown as a strip mounted on the support members 22 and 24 (here shown as rolls).

 The entire information carrier 26 and its support members 22 and 24 is schematically shown enclosed within a housing 70 of a marking device according to the invention.

 A portion 72 of the housing constitutes a display window for viewing the information of the medium that has been selected.

 At the time of installation of a marking device or a protection assembly comprising a marking device according to the invention (or prior to this laying operation) on a commercial item to mark and / or protect the clock 42 is programmed to select according to a predefined calendar the corresponding information, for example, the corresponding image or images to be viewed at one or more given times.

 Thus, for example the clock is programmed to select the display of a first image corresponding to a first markdown, the image representing for example the information "- 20%" printed on a yellow background and which will be selected on January 15 .

A second image corresponding for example to a second mark represents a "- 30%" information printed on an orange background and will be selected on January 25th. A third image will be selected for example on February 5 and corresponds to a third markdown bearing the information "- 50%" printed on a red background ...

 The selection of images and therefore their change is performed by activating, at a predefined time and date, during a relatively short period of time, the 38/40 engine (s) via the control system or circuit 34 or 36. .

 The control system or circuit includes a wake-up circuit that, at a predefined time and date, receives a pulse from the clock, thereby activating said control system or circuit.

 Alternatively, the clock circuit is integrated in the clock. The motor or motors, which are for example here stepper motors, are thus awakened at the preset time and date programmed in the clock 42 and drive, via a gear mechanism 40a, 42b for the motor 40 of FIG. 2, the strip or film 26.

 On this band, different images have been previously printed and, by rotating the members 22 and 24, the tape passes in front of the window 72 and stops when the selected image is opposite this window. that is, in the viewing area.

 In the example shown in FIG. 10, the image carrying the "- 20%" information has been selected from the programmed clock and from the control circuit which acts on the motor (s) in order to make them work ( more specifically to rotate their output shaft) appropriately for the web 26 to move in the desired manner and position the image to be displayed corresponding to the predefined date and time.

 In general, the strip is unloaded on one side (at one end of the strip where one of the members 22 and 24) is located to rewind on the other side (at the opposite end of the strip where find the other organ) and display in the display or viewing area the selected image.

Note that the images can be printed on the support 26 which can be paper or plastic. All printing techniques are possible. In particular, technologies for printing holograms or lenticular printing can be used to print information (images and / or text and / or photographs ...) on a medium. Lenticular Imaging is a technology that produces images with a 3D (3D) or angle-dependent (3D) impression.

 Alternatively, the images or more generally, the information carried by this band, can be fixed differently, for example by etching.

 Apart from the time instants or time references at which images are selected, the electrical and mechanical control part (control circuit 34 or 36 and motors 38 and 40) is dormant and therefore does not consume energy.

 Only the clock 42 consumes power, thus saving considerable energy.

 By way of example, a power supply system comprises one or two "button" type cells, for example of the "SR62 / SR516 / 315" type weighing about 0.7 grams, having a diameter of 5.8 mm and a capacity of 20 mA-hour.

 Such batteries are generally used in wrist-worn electronic watches.

 The clock 42 is for example a quartz clock such as that of a watch and consumes less than 0.8mA under a voltage of 1. 55 V.

 Given these two components (battery and clock), the marking device is small and light and has a life of more than one year.

 FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the right end of the processing chain represented in FIG. 10 and shows the displacement of the strip 26, the printed images of which pass in front of the display or viewing window 72.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged representation of the strip 26 on which a plurality of images which can be selected from automatically by the clock 42 through the control circuit 34 or 36 on board. This circuit has the knowledge of the time and date provided by the clock and thus will select at a predefined time and date a given image of the band.

 In an exemplary embodiment, the strip or film 26 may contain about 7 printed images, which corresponds to an acceptable weight / size ratio for a marking device according to the invention.

 This tape or film can be changed to install in the device a new tape or film bearing new images. This change is for example made while the device is already attached to an article without the need to detach it.

 The strip or film can thus be replaced in the manner of a consumable without the need to replace the entire device to change the information to be viewed by said device.

 The tape or film bearing the information to be displayed may be mounted on a support made for example of plastic.

 The strip or film mounted on this support is thus similar, for example, to a toner cartridge in a printer or to a photographic photographic film.

 Note that the support members or rollers 22 or 24 which have been previously described with reference to the preceding figures are part of the interchangeable support.

 These organs can for example take another form. Figure 13 illustrates very schematically and partially a device whose tape or film and its support are interchangeable.

 The device 70 resembles the device of the first embodiment in that it comprises a transparent cover 72 encased in a peripheral frame 74 and mounted on a base 76.

Like the device of Figures 1 and 2, the parts 74 and 76 of the housing are fixed to one another and alternatively can be made in one and the same room. Similarly, the portion forming the frame 74 serves to maintain the hood or window 72 in position.

 The attachment means of the device to an article are also made by a point 78 which extends from the underside of the base 76.

 More particularly, this point is fixed in a raised central portion 76a of the base.

 The cover 72 encloses the assembly formed of an information carrier to be displayed 80, for example made in the form of a printed strip such as the strip 26 of the preceding figures, wound around support members or rollers 82 and 84 and mounted on a support piece or support 86.

 The strip wound at each of these two opposite ends on one of the rollers 82 and 84 covers the support piece or support 86, thereby enveloping the latter.

 As shown in FIG. 13, the assembly formed of the information support 80, the support piece or support 86 and the members 82 and 84 is enclosed within the internal cavity of the cover 72.

 This assembly rests on the inner face of the base 76, in the central zone recessed thereof and, more particularly, around the raised area 76a.

 In this figure the motors 38 and 40 have not been shown for the sake of clarity, or even the body or the passive circuit 60 providing the device with a function of protection against theft.

 It should be noted that when a change of the information carrier 80 is to be made, the cover 72 must be previously removed.

 According to an alternative embodiment, a marking device may comprise, instead of motors and the information-carrying band, a digital display screen and an information storage means such as images which can for example be an electronic memory.

According to the predefined calendar that has been programmed in the programmable clock 42 (date and time predefined) the system or control circuit 34 or 36 will seek the data or information contained in the memory to transfer them to the digital display screen for display.

 The marking device or devices according to the invention described with reference to the preceding figures may also comprise an active or passive RFID chip which makes it possible, for example, to locate the device (or anti-theft badge) in order to be able to reprogram it (thanks to this chip the device can be electronically associated with the article to which it is attached) and trace the article to which the device is attached in cooperation with interrogation systems of the RFID chip which are for example present in the store.

 Figures 14 and 15 illustrate two different types of protection assembly of an article against theft.

 Each set includes a device for marking the article according to the invention.

 Each of the devices is for example the device 10 or 70 of the preceding figures, or even another device.

 Note that the devices of Figures 16 and following are also part of a set of protection against theft of an article.

 The protection assembly 150 thus comprises such a marking device as well as a complementary device 152.

 This complementary device comprises a body 154 having a substantially hemispherical shape and having a substantially flat face 156 located in an equatorial plane.

 An opening 158 is made in the face 156 to allow the insertion of a tip 14 or 78 according to the marking device.

 The body 154 contains, in a known manner, locking means of the tip when it has been introduced into the body.

Diagrammatically, an article, for example a commercial article 160, for example a garment (only a part of the garment has been shown), which has been crossed by the tip (means for fastening to the article) of the device of FIG. marking before it is assembled with its complementary device 152. FIG. 15 illustrates another type of anti-theft protection assembly (170) in which the marking device is identical to the previous device but the complementary device 172 is different.

 This device is indeed in the form of a thick plate substantially flat on one of its faces 172a and having a protrusion 174 on the opposite face 172b.

 The upper face 172a is provided with an orifice for insertion of the tip of the marking device and the cooperation of the two parts of the two devices constituting the protection assembly is identical to that described above.

 According to a variant not shown, the complementary device of FIG. 14 or 15 comprises one or more active or passive members able to emit or receive electromagnetic waves towards the outside of the device or to receive them, thus cooperating with an external system such as that a security portal in a local (point of sale, museum ...) to detect the presence of the protection assembly near the external system. The member or bodies are for example a member such as the member 60 of Figures 2 and 9 and the operation here is identical to that described with respect to these Figures. Note that several active or passive members may be distributed in the two devices according to another variant not shown, in order to increase the reliability of the detection (eg in the event of a defect of an organ).

 FIG. 16 illustrates another embodiment of a device for marking a set of protection against theft of an article according to the invention.

 Device 180 is shown in the assembled position as a housing or head 182 which is provided with a tip 184 extending out of the housing.

The housing forms an open housing for receiving an information carrier to be viewed, as detailed in the following figures, and an element including a media information viewing area and which is disposed on the housing so as to close the housing. FIG. 17 represents an exploded perspective view of the device

180.

 The device thus comprises, starting from the top, an annular ring 186 pierced in its central part, comprising a flange 188 forming a radial extension flange and an axially extending skirt 190.

 The device also includes a cap or cover 192 having an upper end wall 192a, an annular-shaped axial wall 192b extending axially substantially perpendicular to the end wall 192a.

 The wall 192b is provided, at its free end opposite to that which is in contact with the wall 190a, a collar or flange 192c which extends radially outwardly of the cover or cap 192. The collar comprises a plurality of notches 192d open to the outside.

 Furthermore, the front wall 192a is provided with an opening 192e which has for example here the shape of an angular sector.

 Note that the 192th opening plays the role of a display window within the meaning of the invention.

 The device 190 further comprises a transparent element 194 forming a dial or a window.

 This element has a cylindrical cup shape closed at one end, open at the opposite end and placed in the inverted position in FIG. 17.

 The shape and dimensions of this element 194 are adapted so that it can fit inside the cache 192.

 The device 180 comprises an information carrier to be displayed 196

(example: disc) carrying, on one side (the upper face visible in FIG. 17), a plurality of regions of printed information (images, photographs, texts, logos, etc.) 196a-d which are arranged side by side following different angular sectors of the disk face. For example, each region has the shape of an angular sector.

However, the 192nd opening and information regions may adopt other forms. This disk has dimensions that allow it to be inserted inside the open housing formed in the element 194.

 As will be seen below, in the embodiment described the cache 192 is rotatable about its center materialized on a longitudinal axis Z so that the opening or window 192e is positioned in geometric correspondence with one of the Disc information regions 196. This arrangement thus makes it possible to display through this opening (information display area) information of the region thus selected.

 According to a variant not shown, the window or dial 194 may be omitted and the cover 192 is modified so that the opening 192 is closed and made of a transparent material. The remainder of the front wall 192a is made of an opaque or at least non-transparent material.

 Thus, the information areas are protected by the cache or cover and the selection of the information to be displayed is always performed by rotating the cache.

 The device 180 also comprises a base 198 having a generally open cup shape at its upper part and comprising a cylindrical wall 198a extending perpendicularly to a bottom wall 198b. The bottom wall has, in its central part, a portion raised relative to the bottom wall.

 This elevated portion 198c makes it possible to house the head of the tip

184.

 The information carrier 196 may be positioned on this portion 198c or be attached to the underside of the transparent dial 194 as shown in Figure 18 (axial section of the device).

 This figure shows the various elements that have just been described assembled with each other, the frame thus enclosing the support 196 and the dial being itself inserted inside the cover 192.

An annular housing 198d is present inside the base and the dial for, for example, accommodating therein an active or passive member capable of emitting or receiving electromagnetic waves coming from a complementary external security / detection system. device 180. The base 198 comprises on the inner face of its cylindrical wall 198a a plurality of regularly spaced axial grooves 200a-f.

 The number of these grooves corresponds to the number of information regions carried by the support 196.

 Similarly, the number of notches 192d corresponds to the number of information regions.

 Furthermore, the axial extension 190 of the ring 186 has on its outer face a series of axial housings 190a-f regularly distributed at the periphery of the skirt 190 and which are partially open thanks to the presence of an axial slot (FIG. 19). The number of dwellings (example: (six) corresponds to the number of regions or information areas.

 The shape of this housing corresponds for example to a half-cylinder forming a protrusion on the outer face of the skirt 190 and which is open axially.

 These assembly members are shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 in the assembled position inside the aforementioned respective housings and, in position before assembly, in FIG. 17.

 The vertical lines of FIG. 17 show the geometric matching of the different elements cooperating with these assembly members.

 Thus, these assembly members are constituted in pairs each comprising, on the one hand, a pin, for example the pins 210a, 212a, 214a and, on the other hand, an elastic element, for example a spring, such as 210b , 212b and 214b.

 Under the action of the elastic compression element, the pins are held partly in position outside the housing (for example the housing 190f for the pin 210a) and are thus inserted into the notches 192d provided for in FIG. this effect on the outer part of the cache 192.

These assembly members disposed partially inside their housing are inserted into the grooves provided in geometric correspondence within the base 198. FIG. 18 shows a pair of assembly members inside the groove 200a.

 It will be noted that the elastic elements bear, on the one hand, on the peg, and on the other hand, on the lower face 188a of the flange 188.

 With such an arrangement, the rotation of the cover 192 is prevented.

In this way, an unintentional user wishing to change the display of the device 180 can not achieve it.

 To change the display and thus proceed to the selection of another region of information vis-à-vis the 192th opening one or more motors are used to rotate the dial 194 and the disk 196 which is fixed or the disc in isolation, via a simple gear mechanism of the type shown in Figure 7. The programmable clock, the control circuit of the motor (s) and the power supply system do not have have been represented for the sake of clarity.

 It will be noted that the dial 194 may, alternatively, carry the information (printed images) and the disc is then deleted.

 If it is desired to replace the disk 196 and the dial 194 to which it is attached (or only the dial if the disk is absent or only the disk if the dial and the disk are independent of one another, an authorized user , such as the personnel of a store where the article on which such a device is fixed is removed removes the ring 186 and the cache 192 to access the dial 194 and the disk 196 (in the case where the latter is present).

In the exceptional case where one would manually select another region of information for viewing, the user proceeds as follows. For this purpose, it brings above the device a magnet powerful enough to exert on each of the pins (210a, 212a, 214a ...) an upward vertical attraction force (along the arrow F of FIG. 18), compressing and the elastic element disposed above the pin sufficiently for the pin penetrates completely inside the corresponding housing and thus out of the corresponding notch 192d of the cache. The rotation of the latter, manually, is then possible and makes it possible to bring the display window 192e in geometric correspondence with the desired information region.

 Note that the mechanism for rotating the cache 192 is only optional and in addition to the main mode of activation of the variable display of information.

 The invention thus covers a device not including this optional mechanism.

 Figure 20 illustrates another embodiment of a marking device of a set of protection against theft of an article or product according to the invention.

 The device 250 comprises a frame or peripheral frame 252 having a central opening of substantially square shape passing right through the frame. This opening is intended to receive an information carrier 254 of substantially complementary shape and having a convex upper face 254a facing the outside of the device.

 This information carrier is for example in the form of a digital display screen (for example LCD type).

 This support is provided with four legs of which only three 254b, 254c, 254d are shown in the figure.

 As shown in FIG. 20, an upwardly open cup-shaped base 256 comprises an annular axial wall 258 and a bottom wall 260, as well as a plurality of pads 260a-d whose number corresponds to the number of feet of the support of FIG. information 254 and which are for example distributed at the top of a square.

 These pads are used to position the support and, for example, also to its attachment to the base.

Furthermore, the device 250 also comprises a plate 262 disposed between the support 254 and the base 256 and which has on one of its faces, for example the upper face 262a, different elements or components. More particularly, the face 262a carries various electronic components 262b, 262c and 262d that may be application-integrated circuits specific (ASIC), microprocessors and memories, programmable components for example FPGA type.

 The component 262b is a system or control circuit for selecting the information to be displayed on the screen 254. The component 262c is a programmable clock which has been programmed according to a predefined calendar as described above and the component 262d is a memory of type ROM for example which contains a list of the information to be displayed (images, photos, ...). All electrical connections between the different components have not been shown for clarity.

 The plate 262 has, for example, a general shape of disk.

According to the occurrence of a date and a time programmed into the clock, the circuit 262b connected to the clock then controls the display on the screen 254, by extracting from an area of the memory 262d (storage means) information to be displayed stored therein (the circuit 262b knows the storage address information in the memory) and providing this information on the screen so that it can proceed to their display. This new information replaces the information already on the screen or populates the screen saver, if necessary.

 A battery or battery 264 is provided as a power supply system for the various components and electrical circuits mentioned above.

 This battery comes into contact with the side of the lower face of the disk 262 opposite the face 262a with contacts and electrical tracks to provide the necessary power to the various components.

 The base 256 also includes in the bottom wall 260, on the one hand, a raised central portion 260e for receiving the head of a tip 266 for fixing the device 250 on a commercial item to be protected and on the other hand , a through opening 268 formed in the bottom wall 260.

This through opening opens on the underside of the base 256 and has in its inner portion a threaded portion for screwing / unscrewing a cover 270 which closes this opening. The opening 268 is bordered by an annular ring 272 inside which the stack 264 is housed.

 It will be noted that the various marking devices which have just been described all have a point as a means of fixing the device to an article or product, for example a commercial product (or the packaging containing the article), to be protected against flight.

 However, such a fixing means (tip) may be provided in the complementary device with which the marking device cooperates to form a protection assembly of an article against theft.

 In this case, the attachment means to the article to which the device will be associated are carried by the complementary device.

 In addition, when the marking device according to the invention is associated with a complementary device, one and / or the other of these devices comprises one or more active or passive members capable of emitting or receiving electromagnetic waves in from a source external to the device.

 Again, different arrangements are possible between the two devices, combined with the presence of the fixing means in one or the other of these devices.

 According to another variant not shown, the set of protection against theft of an article comprising a marking device according to the invention comprises other types of fastening means to an article to be protected which do not require perforation the article or the packaging containing the article (for example, shoes, glasses, or even articles or packages whose constituent materials are too hard or too fragile to be pierced by a point).

It may be for example clamping / loosening members, for example made in the form of a clamp whose two jaws can move toward or away under the action of a control member arranged on the device marking. Thus, the device of the protection assembly is a single piece that carries all the elements necessary for attachment to the article or the package containing the article to be protected against theft.

 The control member may be for example a knob or a knob that is rotated to move the clamping members by moving towards or away from one another according to the desired movement. An internal mechanism connects the control member to the clamping members.

 Such organs are described in the international application PCT / FR2010 / 050400 filed March 9, 2010.

 According to yet another variant not shown, when the fixing means of the marking device of a protection assembly to an article are made by a tip, it can penetrate further inside the device than what is shown on FIGS. 1 to 20. Thus, the tip can no longer be fixed to the base of the latter but to one of the elements placed above it, such as, for example, the information display window, or even an intermediate element. between it and the base.

Claims

1. Device for marking an article for its identification, the device comprising an information display area, an information carrier to be displayed (26), a power supply system (44), selection means ( 38, 40, 40a, 22b) of information of the support for viewing in the viewing area and means for fixing the device to the article or its packaging, characterized in that the device comprises at least one programmable clock ( 42), said selection means being operable at one or more times programmed into the programmable clock.

 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a control circuit (34, 36) which, at the instant or at predetermined times, activates the information selection means of the support.

 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information medium is a medium comprising a plurality of printed information regions, the information selection means being operable to select one or more information regions to view in the viewing area.

 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support is an elongate strip (26) comprising a plurality of printed information regions arranged side by side in the direction of the length of the strip, said web being wrapped around two spaced members (22, 24), each of which is rotatable about their longitudinal axis to scroll information regions of the web into the viewing area.

 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the strip is interchangeable

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the carrier is a disk (196) comprising on one side a plurality of printed information regions arranged side by side in different angular sectors of the face of the disk. .

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the disk is rotatable about its center to geometrically align information regions and the information display area.

 8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a cover (192) is positioned above the disk and is provided with an opening arranged vis-à-vis a region of information to be viewed .

 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover (192) is rotatable about its center so that the opening is brought into geometric correspondence with an information region to be displayed.

 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the selection means comprise at least one motor (38, 40) connected to the information carrier.

 1 1. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said at least one motor is connected to the information carrier via a gear mechanism (40a, 22b).

 12. Device according to claim 10 or 1 1, characterized in that said at least one motor is a stepper motor.

 13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the information display area is a digital display screen (254).

 14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the power supply system comprises at least one battery (44).

 15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the device comprises an information display window at least a portion of the window is transparent and constitutes the information display area for that selected media information is visible through said at least one transparent window portion.

16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the marking device comprises a housing forming an open housing for receiving the information carrier.

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the display window is disposed on the housing so as to close the housing.

 18. Device according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the marking device comprises a tip (14) extending out of the housing.

 19. Device according to claims 17 and 18, characterized in that the window is disposed by one of its faces said internal vis-à-vis a so-called internal face of the information carrier carrying information, the tip s' extending from the inner face of said window towards the inner face of the support and passing therethrough in order to protrude with respect to a so-called outer face of the support outside said support.

 20. Device according to claim 17 and claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the device comprises a head having two opposite faces, an inner face and an outer face from which the tip extends, the information carrier. being disposed between the inner face of the head and the display window.

 21. Device according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the marking device comprises at least one active or passive member which is able to emit electromagnetic waves towards the outside of the device or to receive it, thereby conferring on the device a protection function of the article against theft and / or a function of identification and / or traceability and / or storage or exchange of information.

 22. Protective set of an article against theft, characterized in that it comprises a marking device of the article according to one of claims 1 to 21.

 23. Protection assembly according to claim 22, characterized in that it comprises a complementary device and means for assembling the two devices with each other and locking in the assembled position.

 24. Article equipped with a marking device according to one of claims 1 to 21 or a protection assembly according to claim 22 or 23.