GB2306153A

GB2306153A - Security tagging of merchandise

Info

Publication number: GB2306153A
Application number: GB9520727A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Iain Alexander Blair
Original assignee: Rexam Cartons and Print South Ltd
Current assignee: Rexam Cartons and Print South Ltd
Priority date: 1995-10-10
Filing date: 1995-10-10
Publication date: 1997-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 2015-10-10
Also published as: GB9520727D0; GB2306153B

Abstract

A carton or label for merchandise is formed from a blank of sheet material incorporating a security tag 39 which is applied to a first portion 40 of the blank so as to protrude, in use, into or through an aperture 38 in a second portion 37 of the blank so as to minimise the protrusion of the tag beyond the label or carton wall. The apertured second portion 37 may face the inside of the carton, and a third portion may be provided so that the aperture 38 and tag therein are sandwiched between the first and third portions.

Description

SECURITY TAGGING OP MPCRANDTSE The present invention relates to the security tagging of merchandise. In particular, the invention includes methods of security tagging merchandise and also includes labels and packaging incorporating security tags, and blanks for labels and packaging incorporating security tags.

Security tags are typically applied to merchandise to avoid merchandise being carried away without being paid for. Typical security tags include bulky plastic tags applied to clothing in shops which are removed at the point of sale. The tags include an acoustic device which is actuated on passing a barrier at the shop exit so that if an item of clothing bearing a tag is removed from a shop, an audible varning sounds at the exit.

Nowadays, less bulky tags are available which are applicable to all kinds of items of all sizes.

Examples include electromagnetic devices, acoustomagnetic devices and radio frequency devices. Some of these are as small as thin strips of self-adhesive tape and can be incorporated in the packaging of all kinds of articles. They all provide suitable warning signals when the article is removed from designated premises but can be deactivated at a checkout for example.

A preferred form of security tag is an acoustomagnetic device. A particularly desirable acoustomagnetic device is produced by Sensormatic of Deerfield, Florida, U.S.A. The Sensormatic security tags are available in the form of self-adhesive labels which are dispensed from a roll. The tags include a magnetic stripe encased in the tags. A visible bar code may be provided on the front of the tags. A disadvantage of these tags is that they are relatively thick, typically imam, and they can interfere with the normal folding and gluing operations which are used to form cartons and labels from flat blanks. Therefore, acoustomagnetic security tags are usually adhered to the outside of cartons after they have been scored, folded and glued. In this position they can be peeled off by prospective thieves.Also, with relatively small cartons and labels, the thickness of the tags makes it less easy to stack large quantities of flat cartons.

One aspect of the present invention provides a carton or label made from sheet material, including a security tag, in which the security tag protrudes into or through an aperture provided in a portion of the sheet material. If the sheet material has a thickness approaching the thickness of the security tag itself, the portion of the sheet material provided with the aperture together with the tag itself presents a substantially flat surface. Thus large quantities of the cartons or labels can be readily stacked. Also, there is less tendency for the security tag to snag on folding, creasing and gluing machinery.

In the case of a carton, the invention enables the security tag to be positioned facing the inside of the carton. There is then less tendency for the security tag to snag on items being inserted into the carton during a subsequent filling operation. The advantage of inward facing tags is that it is not necessary to tag every single product. The mere fact that some products in a particular line are tagged is usually sufficient to deter the would-be thief from stealing. With inward facing tags, it is not evident which products are tagged and which are not.

The carton or label may include a portion of sheet material adjacent both major surfaces of the portion incorporating the aperture. One portion will typically have the security tag adhered to it and the other portion will cover the opposite surface of the security tag to render it completely invisible.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of making from a flat blank a carton or label including a security tag, the method including the steps of applying the security tag to a first portion of the blank, forming in a second portion of the blank an aperture which is preferably larger than the tag and securing the first and second portions of the blank together so that the security tag protrudes into or through the aperture. The first and second blank portions may be separate but preferably a one-piece blank is used. In the case of a carton, the first or second portion may form one of the carton walls. As a result, no additional securing (e.g. gluing) steps are required as compared to the traditional method of forming a carton from a blank.The method may include securing a third portion of the blank to the second portion so that the second portion is sandwiched between the first and third portions whereby the tag is concealed. Again, the third portion may be an integral part of the carton blank.

The invention further provides a blank for forming a carton or label having a security tag applied to a first portion of the blank and an aperture formed in a second portion of the blank, the aperture preferably being larger than the tag. In the case of a one-piece blank, the aperture is positioned such that when the blank is folded the aperture will encircle the security tag.

Preferably the blank includes a third portion arranged such that in the finished carton or label, the second portion is sandwiched between the first and third portions.

Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a first carton blank according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of an alternative carton blank according to the invention; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a first label blank according to the invention; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a second label blank according to the invention; FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of a security tag which may be used in the invention; and FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-section through the security tag taken on the line VI-VI in Figure 5.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate one type of security tag 10 which may be used in the present invention. The security tag includes a flat backing sheet 11 which may be self-adhesive and a moulded front sheet 12 which defines a space between the sheets 11 and 12 housing a magnetic strip 13 and a resonating element, not shown.

The front sheet 12 may carry a bar code 14. Typically, a number of tags 10 are provided on a roll from which they may be dispensed. It should be clear from Figures 5 and 6 that the tag 10 is relatively thick and can easily snag sheet handling equipment once adhered to a piece of sheet material.

Tags of this type are available and their operation will not be described in detail herein.

Suffice to say that when magnetised, a detectable warning is produced when the tags are carried across a barrier. The tags can be demagnetised at the point of sale.

Figure 1 shows one example of a carton blank according to the invention. The blank 20 will be familiar to those in the carton making industry and will not be described in detail. Briefly, the blank includes portions 21,22,23,24 forming the side walls of a rectangular box and flaps 25,26 forming the ends. An additional flap 27 is glued over flap 24. The blank is typically supplied to customers with flaps 24 and 27 glued together so that it can be erected at customers' premises to form a rectangular box. In contrast to currently available box blanks, the blank 20 carries a security tag 10 within the area 29 on wall portion 24 indicated by dotted lines. The blank portion 27 has an aperture 28 whose position corresponds to the dotted line area 29.Preferably the security tag is adhered to the inside surface of the blank portion 24 and the blank portion 27 is glued to the inside surface of the blank portion 24 so that the aperture 28 surrounds the security tag 10. Thus, the inside surface of the finished carton is relatively smooth and the possibility of the security tag snagging on the product inserted in the carton is reduced. The box blank illustrated in Figure 1 is also useful where it is desired to have the security tag facing outwardly in which case the blank portion 27 is secured to the outside of the blank portion 24. The finished carton has a smoother outer surface than would be possible if the security tag was simply secured to the outside of the finished blank.

Preferably the security tag is fixed to the blank portion 24 before the gluing operation but provided the aperture 28 is sufficiently large, it may be added afterwards.

Figure 2 shows an alternative carton blank 30 according to the invention. Like parts in Figures 1 and 3 are indicated by like reference numerals, increased by ten. In contrast to the blank 20 shown in Figure 1, the blank 30 of Figure 2 has an additional portion 40 which carries the security device 10 within the dotted area indicated by reference numeral 39. The blank is folded so that the blank portion 37 incorporating the aperture 38 is sandwiched between the blank portion 34 and the blank portion 40. It will be appreciated that this can be achieved in a number of ways. Preferably the blank portion 34 is on the outside of the finished blank and the extra portion 40 is on the inside so that the presence of the extra portion 40 and the security device which it carries are undetectable from the outside.

Using the same blank as shown in Figure 2, the security device 10 may be secured to the inside of the blank portion 34 instead of the blank portion 40 whilst still achieving the same object of having a security device surrounded by the aperture 38 and sandwiched between two flat blank portions 34 and 40.

Figure 3 shows a label blank 50 according to the invention. The label blank includes two portions 51 and 52 separated by a fold line 53. The portion 52 carries a security tag 10 within the dotted line area indicated by reference numeral 54. The portion 51 includes an aperture 55 which is preferably slightly larger than the area of the security tag. Once folded, the label thus formed will lie substantially flat.

Typically the label will form a "swing-tag" of the type used on clothing for example. Holes 56,57 are provided for the string of the swing-tag. The two portions 51 and 52 may be glued together after folding.

Figure 4 shows a second form of label blank 60 according to the invention. This label blank includes three portions 61,62,63, separated by crease lines 64,65. Portion 62 carries a security device 10 within the dotted line area indicated by reference numeral 66.

Portion 63 has an aperture 67 which surrounds the security tag in the finished article. The label blank is assembled by folding portion 63 over portion 62 so that the aperture 67 surrounds the security tag. Then portion 61 is folded over portion 63 so that portion 63 is sandwiched between portions 62 and 61. The portions, 61,62,63 all have holes 68 which coincide after the folding operations for receiving a piece of string.

It will be appreciated that the security tag could be secured to the portion 61 instead of the portion 62.

Some of the drawings show suitable dimensions in millimetres. These are merely examples and it will be appreciated that cartons and labels according to the invention may be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Furthermore, cartons and labels according to the invention may include several security tags, if desired, surrounded by individual apertures in portions of the carton blank or several tags surrounded by one aperture.

Claims

1. A carton made from sheet material including a security tag, in which the security tag protrudes into or through an aperture provided in a portion of the sheet material.

2. A label made from sheet material including a security tag, in which the security tag protrudes into or through an aperture provided in a portion of the sheet material.

3. A carton as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or a label as claimed in claim 2 in which the sheet material has a thickness approaching that of the security tag wherebv the portion of the material having the aperture and the tag present a substantially flat surface.

4. A carton as claimed in claim 1 or 3 or a label as claimed in claim 2 or 3 including a portion of sheet material adjacent both major surfaces of the portion incorporating the aperture.

5. A carton or label as claimed in claim 4 in which one portion of the sheet material has the security tag attached to it and the other covers the opposite surface of the security tag to render it invisible.

6. A carton as claimed in claim 1. 3. 4 or 5 in which the security tag faces the inside of the carton.

7.' A method of making from a flat blank a carton or label including a security tag, the method including the steps of applying the securitv tag to a first portion of the blank forming an aperture in a second portion of the blank and securing the first and second portions of the blank together so that the security tag protrudes into or through the aperture.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the first and second blank portions are separate.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the blank is formed as one piece.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9 for forming a carton in which the first or second portion forms one of the carton walls.

I 1. A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10 including securing a third portion of the blank to the second portion so that the second portion is sandwiched between the first and third portions whereby the tag is concealed.

12. . A blank for forming a carton or label having a security tag applied to a first portion of the blank and aperture formed in a second portion of the blank.

13. A blank as claimed in claim 12 in which the aperture is positioned such that when the blank is folded the aperture will encircle the security tag.

14. A blank as claimed in claim 12 or 13 including a third portion arranged such that in the finished carton or label. the second portion is sandwiched between the first and third portions.

15. A carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of forming a carton or label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A blank for a carton or label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.