GB2569155A

GB2569155A - Security Tag

Info

Publication number: GB2569155A
Application number: GB1720409.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Napthine Chris
Original assignee: Sekura Global LLP
Current assignee: Sekura Global IP LLP
Priority date: 2017-12-07
Filing date: 2017-12-07
Publication date: 2019-06-12
Also published as: GB201720409D0

Abstract

A security tag 10 such as an electronic surveillance (EAS) tag comprises an elongate flexible member such as a braided cable 18. A main body 14 with a through passage 40 and an automatic locking mechanism applying a gripping force to the cable allowing entry in a first direction and preventing withdrawal of the cable in opposite direction. The locking mechanism released by external magnetic force. Locking mechanism may include a plurality of balls biased against a tapered surface of a cup 52 to clamp against the cable. An EAS sensor 12 may be included. A displaceable control member 58 may be included in the passage to engage with the cable and complete a circuit such that severing of the cable actuates an alarm 38.

Description

This invention relates to a security tag for use in a retail environment. In particular this invention relates to a security tag including a flexible member or lanyard that can be formed into a loop to attach the security tag to an item.

There are a number of known systems for deterring or preventing theft of articles from a retail environment. Typically these systems include an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag that is attached to the article or object in a retail store. While the EAS tag is activated, the tag is arranged to trigger an alarm if the tag, and therefore the article, passes between a pair of detection gates, which are typically positioned at the entrance and exit of the retail store.

When a customer purchases an article having one of these EAS tags attached to it, the tag is deactivated and/or removed so that the alarm is not triggered when that person leaves the retail store. Security tags that are deactivated and removed completely from the article are often referred to as hard tags and are re-usable.

There are a number of different ways of attaching hard tags to articles, and which one is used will typically depend on the type of article being tagged. One known type of tag includes a cable or lanyard that may be formed into a loop to pass around the article or through a part of the article. These tags may be secured to bags, clothing or sports equipment for example. Typically the lanyard is threaded through a hole or gap in the article or around a part of the article, for example through the handle of a bag. The lanyard is then fully engaged with the tag and the tag is activated. Once activated, the lanyard cannot be removed from the tag and the lanyard cannot be cut without triggering an alarm, thereby preventing unauthorised removal of the tag from the article.

In many prior art tags, a first end of the lanyard is permanently fixed to a body of

-2the tag and a second end of the lanyard is insertable into the body of the tag after the lanyard has been engaged with the article. In some prior art tags, the lanyard is of a fixed length such that when the first and second ends of the lanyard are engaged with the body of the tag the loop formed by the lanyard has a fixed size. This has the disadvantage that the tag may be loosely attached to an article, which may cause the tag to get tangled or caught on other items. In other prior art tags the first end of the lanyard is fixed to a retraction mechanism. In these tags only the required length of lanyard is pulled out of the tag body to form the loop around the article. The tag is, therefore, more firmly attached to the article; however, the retraction mechanism makes the tag more complex and more expensive to manufacture.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved security device for deterring theft of an object from a retail space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a security tag comprising: an elongate flexible member for securing around an object;

a main body comprising a passage for receiving a part of the flexible member, the passage extending fully through the main body; and a releasable locking mechanism associated with the passage, the locking mechanism configured to automatically apply a gripping force to a part of the flexible member within the passage such that the flexible member is moveable though the passage in a first direction but cannot be withdrawn from the passage in a second direction, the locking mechanism being releasable by application of a magnetic force to the locking mechanism such that the flexible member can be withdrawn from the passage in the second direction.

The passage preferably extends along its length from a first side of the main body to a second side of the main body. The flexible member is preferably engageable with the passage such that the flexible member extends through the full length of

-3the passage.

The flexible member extends between first and second ends. In preferred embodiments the first end of the flexible member is fixed to the main body and the passage is configured to receive the second end of the flexible member fully therethrough.

The locking mechanism preferably comprises grip means moveable between a gripping position in which the grip means applies a gripping force to a part of the flexible member within the passage and a released position in which the grip means does not grip the flexible member. The grip means are preferably biased into the gripping position.

The locking mechanism may comprise biasing means configured to apply a force to the grip means in a direction substantially parallel to the passage. The biasing means may comprise a compression spring.

In preferred embodiments the grip means comprises a plurality of grip members configured to move radially inwardly with respect to the passage to grip the flexible member and to move radially outwardly to release the flexible member. The grip members may be in the form of spheres or balls.

The locking mechanism is preferably releasable by application of a magnetic force in a direction substantially parallel to the passage.

The flexible member may comprise a metal cord or wire. The flexible member may be braided.

In preferred embodiments the security tag further comprises an alarm in the main body. The security tag may comprise an electronic article surveillance element.

In preferred embodiments the security tag further comprises a control member

-4biased to extend into the passage and arranged to contact a part of the flexible member located within the passage. The control member is preferably moveable by contact with the flexible member between a first position in which a part of the control member extends a first distance into the passage and a second position in which a part of the control member extends a second distance into the passage, the second distance being less than the first distance. Preferably, the security tag comprises an alarm and wherein contact between the flexible member and the control member completes a circuit connected to the alarm, such that if the flexible member is severed the alarm is activated.

In particularly preferred embodiments the security tag comprises:

an elongate flexible member for securing around an object, the flexible member extending between first and second ends;

a main body comprising a passage extending fully through the main body, the first end of the flexible member being fixed to the main body and passage being configured to receive the second end of the flexible member therethrough;

a releasable locking mechanism associated with the passage, the locking mechanism comprising:

a grip member moveable between a gripping position in which the grip member applies a gripping force to a part of the flexible member within the passage such that the flexible member is moveable though the passage in a first direction but cannot be withdrawn from the passage in a second direction, and a released position in which the grip member does not grip the flexible member and the flexible member can be withdrawn from the passage in the second direction; and biasing means configured to bias the grip member into the gripping position, wherein the grip member is moveable into the released position against the biasing means by application of a magnetic force to the main body in the proximity of a first end of the passage, the magnetic force being applied in a direction substantially parallel to the passage; and

- alarm means.

-5BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a security tag according to the present invention in an engaged configuration and showing, in particular, a flexible member of the tag engaged with a locking mechanism of the tag;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the security tag of Figure 1 in a disengaged or open configuration, with details of the locking mechanism removed for clarity;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the security tag of Figure 1 in the engaged configuration, with details of the locking mechanism removed for clarity, and with the flexible member pulled almost fully through a main body of the tag in a tightened arrangement;

Figure 4 shows detail of the locking mechanism of Figure 1 in a gripping or locked configuration; and

Figure 5 shows the locking mechanism of Figure 4 in a released configuration with the flexible member being withdrawn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A security tag 10 is designed to be releasably attached to an article, such as an item of clothing, in a retail store. The security tag 10 preferably includes an electronic article surveillance (EAS) sensor 12 that generates detectable signals. A suitable EAS detector (not shown) is typically located at the exit of the retail store. If an article with a security tag 10 attached is removed from the store and, therefore, passes the detector, the detector detects the signals emitted by the EAS

-6sensor and triggers an alarm.

To allow an article to leave the store without triggering the alarm, for example after purchase of the article, the security tag 10 is detached from the article. Typically the tag 10 is detached at the point of sale of the article by a suitable detacher system (not shown).

A security tag 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body 14 and attachment means 16. The attachment means comprises an elongate flexible member 18. The flexible member 18 is configured to form a loop through or around part of an article. Advantageously the configuration of the main body 14 and flexible member 18 are such that the flexible member 18 can be tightened around the article so that the security tag 10 does not hang loosely from the article.

The flexible member 18 extends between first and second ends 20, 22. The flexible member 18 is sufficiently flexible that the flexible member may be bent or curved or formed into a loop. The flexible member 18 may be in the form of a lanyard or cable. The flexible member 18 may be a metal cord or wire, and the flexible member may be braided.

In this embodiment the first end 20 of the flexible member 18 is fixedly attached to the main body 14 such that the first end 20 does not move with respect to the main body 14.

The main body 14 is substantially cuboidal and has first and second ends 24, 26 and first and second sides 28, 30. The main body 14 comprises a housing or cover 32 surrounding a locking mechanism 34, circuitry 36 and an alarm 38, as well as the EAS sensor 12.

A passage or bore 40 extends across or through the main body 14 between the first and second sides 28, 30. A first, entry hole 42 is formed in a first side wall 44

-7of the housing 32 at a first end of the passage 40 and a second, exit hole 46 is formed in a second side wall 48 of the housing 32 at a second end of the passage 40. The passage 40 is sized to receive the flexible member 18. In particular a diameter of the passage 40 is slightly larger than an external diameter of the flexible member 18.

In preferred embodiments and as shown in the drawings, the first end 20 of the flexible member 18 is secured to the main body 14 proximate the first end 24 of the main body 14 and the passage 40 is disposed through the main body 14 proximate the second end 26 of the main body 14. The first end 20 of the flexible member 18 is preferably attached to the main body 14 such that the flexible member 18 extends from the first side wall 44 of the housing 32. When the flexible member 18 is engaged with the passage 40 a bend or loop is formed in the flexible member 18 between the first end 20 of the flexible member 18 and the entry hole 42.

The locking mechanism 34 is associated with the passage 40 such that when the second end 22 of the flexible member 18 is inserted into the passage 40, the locking mechanism 34 automatically grips a part of the flexible member 18. The locking mechanism 34 is configured such that the flexible member 18 can be further inserted into the passage 40 by movement in a first direction (shown by the arrow in Figure 4) but cannot be withdrawn from the passage 40 by movement in a second direction (shown by the arrow in Figure 5).

The locking mechanism 34 may be configured such that a part of the flexible member 18 extends through the locking mechanism 34 when the flexible member 18 is disposed in the passage 40.

Suitable locking mechanisms 34 are known in the art. In this example the locking mechanism 34 includes a plurality of balls or spheres 50 retained in a cup element 52. When the flexible member 18 is inserted into the passage 40, a part of the flexible member 18 extends between the balls 50 so that the balls 50 surround the

-8flexible member 18. The locking mechanism 34 is biased into a first, gripping position or locked configuration, in which the balls 50 are urged towards the flexible member 18, by suitable biasing means. In this embodiment the biasing means comprises a spring 54. The spring 54 urges the balls 50 into a tapered section of the cup element 52. This is shown most clearly in Figure 4.

In use, the flexible member 18 is passed around or threaded through a part of an article and the second end 22 of the flexible member 18 is inserted into the entry hole 42 and into the passage 40. In this way a loop is formed in the flexible member 18. The flexible member 18 may be drawn or pulled through the passage 40 in the first direction until the loop of the flexible member 18 is of the desired size. The flexible member 18 extends fully through the passage 40 such that the second end 22 of the flexible member 18 passes through the exit hole 46 and extends from the second side wall 48 of the housing 32. The security tag 10 is then in an engaged configuration.

To enable the security tag 10 to be removed from the article, the locking mechanism 34 is releasable. In a released configuration the locking mechanism 34 does not apply a gripping force to the flexible member 18 allowing the second end 22 of the flexible member 18 to be withdrawn from the passage 40. Figure 2 shows the security tag 10 in a disengaged or open configuration.

The locking mechanism 34 is released by application of a magnetic force to the locking mechanism 34. In this embodiment the magnetic force is applied by means of a magnet 56 placed in the vicinity of the exit hole 46. The magnetic force causes the balls 50 to move in a direction out of the tapered section of the cup element 52 against the biasing force of the spring 54. In this position, the balls 50 no longer grip the flexible member 18, allowing the flexible member 18 to be withdrawn, as illustrated in Figure 5. In this embodiment, therefore, the locking mechanism 34 is released by application of a magnetic force in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the passage 40.

-9ln addition to the EAS sensor 12, the security tag 10 includes an alarm 38 which is triggered if a person attempts to cut or remove the tag 10 from an article. The alarm 38 is preferably an audible alarm. The alarm 38 may also comprise a light emitter.

The alarm 38 is activated when the second end 22 of the flexible member 18 is inserted into the passage 40 and held by the locking mechanism 34. The alarm is then triggered if the flexible member 18 is cut or otherwise severed, for example if a person attempts to cut the flexible member 18 to remove the tag 10 from an article.

In these embodiments the security tag 10 further comprises a control member or button 58. The control member 58 is connected to the circuitry 36 within the tag 10 which, in turn, is connected to the alarm 38.

The control member 58 is disposed in the housing 32 and is associated with the passage 40 such that, when the flexible member 18 is disposed through the passage 40, a part of the flexible member 18 within the passage 40 contacts the control member 58.

The control member 58 is moveable between a first position in which a part of the control member 58 extends a first distance into the passage 40 (shown in Figure 2) and a second position in which a part of the control member 58 extends a second distance into the passage 40 (shown in Figure 3), the second distance being less than the first distance. The control member 58 is biased into the first position. The control member 58 is moved into and retained in the second position by means of contact with the flexible member 18 in the passage 40.

While the flexible member 18 is disposed in the passage 40, the control member 58 is held in the second position by the flexible member 18 and the alarm 38 is activated. A section of the flexible member 18, extending between the control member 58 and the first end 20 of the flexible member, completes a circuit that

-10includes the alarm 38. If the flexible member 18 is severed in this section, which includes the loop around or through the article, the alarm 38 is triggered. Upon removal or withdrawal of the flexible member 18 from the passage 40, the flexible member 18 no longer contacts the control member 18 and the control member 18 5 automatically returns to the first position. With the control member 18 in the first position the alarm 38 is not activated.

Further embodiments of the invention can also be contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A security tag comprising:

an elongate flexible member for securing around an object;

2. A security tag as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the passage extends along its length from a first side of the main body to a second side of the main body, and the flexible member is engageable with the passage such that the flexible member extends through the full length of the passage.

3. A security tag as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the flexible member extends between first and second ends, the first end of the flexible member is fixed to the main body, and the passage is configured to receive the second end of the flexible member fully therethrough.

4. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locking mechanism comprises grip means moveable between a gripping position in which the grip means applies a gripping force to a part of the flexible member within the passage and a released position in which the grip means does not grip the flexible member, and wherein the grip means is biased into the gripping position.

5. A security tag as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a biasing means configured to apply a force to the grip means in a

-12 direction substantially parallel to the passage.

6. A security tag as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the biasing means comprises a compression spring.

7. A security tag as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the grip means comprises a plurality of grip members configured to move radially inwardly with respect to the passage to grip the flexible member and to move radially outwardly to release the flexible member.

8. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locking mechanism is releasable by application of a magnetic force in a direction substantially parallel to the passage.

9. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flexible member comprises a metal cord or wire.

10. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flexible member is braided.

11. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an alarm in the main body.

12. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an electronic article surveillance element.

13. A security tag as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a control member biased to extend into the passage and arranged to contact a part of the flexible member located within the passage.

14. A security tag as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the control member is moveable by contact with the flexible member between a first position in which a part of the control member extends a first distance into the passage and a second position in which a part of the control member extends a second distance into the passage, the second distance being less than the first distance.

5

15. A security tag as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the security tag comprises an alarm and wherein contact between the flexible member and the control member completes a circuit connected to the alarm, such that if the flexible member is severed the alarm is activated.