GB2340873A

GB2340873A - Security tag

Info

Publication number: GB2340873A
Application number: GB9915135A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Idle
Original assignee: CLAN HOLDINGS Ltd
Current assignee: CLAN HOLDINGS Ltd
Priority date: 1998-08-27
Filing date: 1999-06-30
Publication date: 2000-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-30
Also published as: GB9915135D0; GB2340873B

Abstract

A security tag of the ball clutch type in which a notched pin 10 is secured by spring(28)- urged balls 24 is released electromagnetically by a signal or input of coded information.

Description

2340873 Irnproved-Security,Tagging Device This invention relates to an

improved security tagging device, and more particularly to an improved security tag for use in an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system commonly used in retail outlets to protect items sold thereby from being stolen. Such tags are in widespread use in garment retail outlets as the tags can be easily attached thereto, but this invention should not be considered as limited only to tags for use in such outlets. Indeed this invention is predominantly concerned with the attachment and detachment of EAS tags to items regardless of their shape, size, and value.

EAS systems are usually installed in clothing, book, pharmacy, hi-fi, white good, and some music retail outlets to prevent unauthorised removal of articles from said retail outlet. The systems typically comprise one or more transmitters and detectors in the form of pedestals located at the customer entry/exit points of a retail outlet. These pedestals transmit a signal to a tag, provided internally with a transponder circuit, the tag being attached to the article. The transponder circuit responds to a transmitted magnetic signal by reradiating a second signal which is detected by the said pedestals thus triggering an alarm to indicate an attempt at unauthorised removal of articles. The tags may be permanently or releasably attached to the article. At the point of sale of the article, the tag is either removed from the article, or is deactivated if permanently attached thereto. This invention is only concerned with tags which are detachable from the article to which they are attached. Furthermore, in the interests of brevity the following description relates to the use of security tags as attached to articles of clothing.

A most common means of attaching a security tag to a garment is disclosed in US Patent No. 4523356 to Security Tag Systems Inc.

2 The patent describes a ball clutch mechanism with two sets of balls in different radial planes for securing the shank of a pin in a tag with such a mechanism provided therein. The mechanism comprises a spring loaded anvil of a ferromagnetic material which forces two sets of ball bearings in different radial planes into an internally tapering cup. In its sprung loaded position, the anvil forces the sets of balls into the cup and as a result of the internal taper of the cup, the balls of the uppermost set are urged towards one another with the force of the spring loading. The shank of the pin is notched such that when said shank is fully inserted into the cup between the sets of balls and ultimately through an aperture centrally located in the anvil, the balls of the uppermost set are received by one of the notches on the shank of the pin and henceforth prevent the pin from being removed from the cup.

To remove the pin, a magnet of sufficient strength is applied underneath the ferromagnetic anvil which is accordingly displaced downwardly within the cup against the action of the spring. The concomitant displacement of the sets of balls which rest on the anvil within the tapering cup separates at least the said uppermost set which thus fall out of the notch in the shank of the pin allowing the pin to be longitudinally removed from within the cup.

These means of securing a pin within a tag and thus a tag to a garment are unsatisfactory in a number of different respects. Firstly, those wishing to steal garments or the like from a retail outlet in which an EAS system is installed and in which said garments are tagged can simply purchase a large magnet and remove the tags from said garments. Once the tags have been removed, the garment may be removed from the retail outlet without activation of the EAS system at the customer entry/exit points of the outlet.

3 Secondly, the means of attachment offer no flexibility or selectivity in the attachment or detachment of tags. For instance, there is no method of providing different tags to different retail outlets such that tags attached to garments or the like in one outlet cannot be detached by the means used to detach tags in another outlet.

Furthermore, the ball-clutch arrangement of US 4523356 is considered by the applicant to be unnecessarily complicated in that only a single set of ball bearings is generally required to restrain the notched shank of a pin within the tag. The use of a pair of sets of ball bearings in different radial planes necessarily increases both the materials and manufacturing cost of the tag as a whole. It should be pointed out that many retail outlets may have over 10,000 garments to which tags have been attached, and therefore any incremental increase in the cost of the tag may represent a substantial increase in the cost of the complete EAS system to said retail outlet.

Additionally, it should be mentioned that retailers are traditionally more concerned with the means for detaching tags from garments. and an increase in the cost of this apparatus is more likely to be borne by the retailer if an improved system can be provided.

A further disadvantage of all currently available tags, which also arises from the requirement to minimise their cost and from the fact that such tags are generally mass produced in large numbers and are thus identical, is that there is no facility for providing a particular tag with any unique characteristic. Security tags of the type described typically comprise a simple clutch mechanism to secure the shank of a pin therein and additionally a simple transponder circuit such that the tag can be detected by the EAS transmitter/detector pedestals at the entry/exit points of the retail outlet. Therefore, there is no means of distinguishing two tags of a similar type from one another.

4 The benefits which this capability would provide to a retailer are numerous. For instance, particular types of tags could be attached to items of a particular value. Alternatively, the tags could be provided with a particular inventory code which may be used by the retailer for identification of a particular item, or a characteristic such as size, colour, style, etc.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved security tag, and a method and means of attaching and detaching same to and from a garment or other item of value, the unauthorised removal of which from retail, warehousing or like premises is desired to be detected.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a security tag with an identifiable characteristic such that tags of a similar type and optionally identical external construction are capable of being distinguished from one another.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a security tag with a modified clutch arrangement for securing the shank of a pin within said tag which is not susceptible to compromise using simple magnetic means alone.

According to the invention there is provided a retention means for use in or with a security tag, said retention means adopted for receiving and securing therein an attachment means in order to attach the tag to an item, said retention means being capable of adopting at least a first position in which said attachment means is prevented from being removed from said retention means, and a second position which permits removal of said attachment means therefrom. characterised in that the retention means is moved between first and second positions by electromagnetic or 1 electromechanical means which communicate with signal processing means such that said electromagnetic or electromechanical means operate only after receipt of a predetermined signal by the signal processing means.

Preferably, the retention means is provided internally of the tag being preferably a ball clutch type mechanism.

Preferably the attachment means comprises a pin with a head and a notched shank which can be inserted into the ball clutch mechanism within the tag and retained therein by virtue of a set of balls being forced into the notch on the shank of the pin.

Preferably, the signal processing means comprises a processor with a memory device. Further preferably, electromagnetic means in the form of a solenoidal coil of wire causes the ball clutch mechanism to move within the tag from a first position, in which the shank of the pin is securely retained within the tag, to a second position in which the shank may be removed from the ball clutch mechanism.

Most preferably, the electromagnetic means and the processor means are provided internally of the tag yet are powered externally of the tag through contact means provided on the external surface of said tag.

It is yet further preferable that the processor means performs a comparison in the power signal supplied to the tag through said contacts to establish whether it comprises a code which can be matched to a code stored in the memory within the tag. Only after successful comparison of said codes does the processor energise the electromagnetic means which thus releases the shank of the pin.

6 Further preferably, the code provided in the power signal and/or the code stored in the memory of the tag may be encrypted, with subsequent decryption being performed by the processor.

It is further preferable that the memory within the tag is capable of being programmed with additional information which allows a particular tag or range of tags to be distinguished from another externally physically identical tag.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the implementation in integrated electronic circuitry of simple processing means and associated memory which could respond in the above manner to a coded signal is a particularly facile task, and therefore would impart only a fractional increase to the overall cost of the tag.

The additional features and benefits which a "programmable" tag according to the invention would provide to a retailer would far outweigh the marginal increase in cost.

A specific description of the invention is now provided by way of example only with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a tag according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a tag 2 with a nipple 4 provided in its apex 6 with an aperture 8. A pin 10 with a head 12 and a shank 14 is shown with said shank inserted through said aperture. The said shank is provided with at least one notched portion 16 which is of reduced diameter in comparison to the remainder of the shank 14.

7 Within the body 18 of the tag 2 there is provided a tapering cup 20 also with an aperture 22 in its upper portion, said aperture 22 being in alignment with aperture 8 such that the shank 14 of the pin can be inserted therethrough. A pair of ball bearings 24 floating above the anvil 26 which is preferably fabricated of a plastics material are constrained to move within the tapering cup 20 by a biasing spring 28. Interposed between the biasing spring 28 and the anvil 24 is a hollow solenoid 30 which is provided with power through connections 32 and which when powered is magnetically attracted to the core 34 of an ferromagnetic armature 36 around which the biasing spring 28 is positioned.

To attach a tag of the type shown in Figure 1, a free pin is simply pushed through the material of a garment or other item to which the tag is to be attached and into the aperture 8 until a click is heard. This signifies that the ball bearings have seated in the notch 16 in the shank of the pin 10. The pin is then secured within the tag.

Also within the body of the tag, there is provided processing means 38 and an associated memory device 40 which is capable of storing particular information about the tag. Such information may include the code with which the tag is provided to control the actuation of the ball clutch mechanism described above, and additionally a unique tag identifying code, and specific information concerning the product to which the tag is attached, for example style number, inventory code, or any other particular code as chosen by either the manufacturer of the tag or the retailer in whose premises the EAS system is installed and in which the tag is to be used. A transponder circuit indicated generally at 42 is provided to allow the EAS system to detect the tag. The level of security provided by the tag is a function of the number of bits attributable to the storing of the code within the memory. It is easily possible to provide a memory which can accommodate a code allowing for over 109 different 8 permutations. Furthermore, integrated electronics are available which will maintain this code in the memory for a period of over 200 years without battery power. When it is considered that the processor may be provided with simple software subroutines to protect the hacking of this code, which may for example deny access to the memory store for a period of half an hour every time 50 incorrect codes are read by said processor, it will be appreciated that the tags are practically impossible to remove without either prior knowledge of the correct code, or of course using a cutting device to cut the shank 14 from the pin head 12 and thus remove the tag.

On the external surface of the tag 2 there are provided contacts 44 by which the processor 38 may be powered and the solenoid 30 ultimately energised, provided that the correct signal is applied thereto.

Said signal is applied through corresponding contacts 46 provided on the external surface of an activation/ deactivation (A/D) pad 48. Said A/D pad may be controlled by a computer program, and may be used either to program tags with a particular code, or alternatively may be used simply to detach the pins from within tags already programmed with a particular code.

One of the primary advantages of this system is that different retailers may be allotted a particular code such that any tags subsequently sold to that retailer may be encoded with that retailer's specific code. This prevents persons who have access to the A/D pad from using this pad in a different retailer, or even in different premises of the same retailer, to detach tags from garments or the like. Furthermore, the programmability of the tags facilitates their reprogramming should any compromise in the system occur.

9 The A/D pad may be used as follows:

Unprogrammed tags may be placed on the A/D pad in quick succession either manually or automatically when the pad is in its '4;programming" mode. In this mode a particular code is assigned to the memory 40 internally of the tag. Simply touching the respective contacts of pad and tag is sufficient to store the code in the memory.

Once the code has been stored, only again touching the respective contacts of the tag on the pad when said pad is in its deactivation mode will allow the solenoid 30 within the tag to become energised, and the shank 14 of the pin 10 to be released.

It should be pointed out that the only ferromagnetic component within the tag is the armature 36, and therefore placing a large magnet underneath the anvil as is commonly currently done by thieves to remove tags from garments, is of no effect, as the plastic anvil is not dislodged by such action. Only when the solenoid 30 becomes energised is there any effective magnetic action within the tag, this being the downward displacement of both the solenoid 30 and the anvil 26 which is attached thereto.

The communication between the contacts 46 of the A/D pad 48 and the contacts 44 of the tag 2 is ideally effected by a "two wire" communication protocol. One contact of the A/D pad provides the ground reference whilst the other supplies the power signal and any data signal which may be superimposed thereon.

Normally, the power/data contact is maintained at a minimum of 9 Volts (V), as this allows any voltage regulator which may be provided within the tag to regulate the voltage down to a stable 5V. When the A/D pad wishes to send data to the tag, it places 13V data pulses onto the 9V contact which are then received by the tag and decoded.

Claims

1. A retention means for use in or with a security tag, said retention means adopted for receiving and securing therein an attachment means in order to attach the tag to an item, said retention means being capable of adopting at least a first position in which said attachment means is prevented from being removed from said retention means, and a second position which permits removal of said attachment means therefrom, characterised in that the retention means or a part thereof is moved between first and second positions by electromagnetic or electromechanical means which communicate with signal processing and/or comparison means such that said electromagnetic or electromechanical means operate only after receipt of a predetermined signal by the signal processing and/or comparison means.

2. A retention means according to claim 1 characterised in that said retention means is provided internally of the tag and is a ball clutch type mechanism.

3. A retention means according to claim 2 characterised in that the attachment means comprises a pin with a head and a shank which can be inserted into the ball clutch mechanism within the tag and retained therein by virtue of a set of balls being forced into the notch on the shank of the pin.

4. A retention means according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the signal processing means comprises a processor with a memory device.

5. A retention means according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that electromagnetic means in the form of a solenoidal coil of wire causes the ball clutch mechanism or a part 12 thereof to move within the tag from a first position, in which the shank of the pin is securely retained within the tag, to a second position in which the shank may be removed from said ball clutch mechanism.

6. A retention means according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the electromagnetic means and the processor means are provided internally of the tag yet are powered externally of the tag through contact means provided on the external surface of said tag.

7. A retention means according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the processor means Performs a comparison between a signal supplied thereto and a predetermined code stored in an associated memory to establish whether said signal comprises a code which can be matched to a code stored in the memory within the tag, successful comparison of said signal and memory codes allowing release of the shank of the pin.

8. A retention means according to claim 7 characterised in that the code provided in the power signal and/or the code stored in the memory of the tag are encrypted, and in that said signal processing means is capable of decrypting said encryption.

9. A retention means according to claims 7 or 8 characterised in that the memory within the tag is programmable with additional information which allows a particular tag or range of tags to be distinguished from another externally physically identical tag.