Short title: Security label suitable for presentation purposes and the use of such label
The invention relates to a security label according to the preamble of claim 1.
A security label of this type is generally known. The label is used in particular in shops for attachment to articles, the pin being inserted through a thin-walled section of an article, for example an item of clothing, and then into the lock unit of the second assembly, in order then to be secured in the lock unit. The first assembly of the known label simply comprises a head and a pin which projects therefrom. The body of the second assembly is substantially disc-shaped with a protruding section in which the lock unit is situated. Means which are suitable for locally monitoring the presence of the article with the label, used in combination with an electronic monitoring system, are arranged in the second assembly. The means of the second assembly which interact with the monitoring system comprise, for example, an electric circuit which is formed by a series circuit or tuned circuit of a coil and a capacitor and acts on an electromagnetic field with a defined frequency tuned to the series connection, which field is received by a receiving station of the system and is generated by a transmitter of the system.
Although the known security label has long been in existence, the label has been used only for security purposes, the application for which it was in fact designed.
The inventor has recognized that a label of this nature can be made suitable for serving as a means for carrying information, for example about the article to which the label is attached, and advertising.
The invention therefore provides a security label according to claim 1. The construction of the label is particularly adapted for a specific application, so that many adapted constructions are possible. Constructions
which are important from an advertising viewpoint comprise part of at least one of the assemblies of the label which, after the article to which the label was attached has been bought, the retailer can give to the purchaser. The invention also relates to the use of a security label for protecting an article to which the label is attached as an object for the presentation of information and advertising.
Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following explanation of preferred embodiments of the invention in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a side view of the constituent parts of a known label ; and Figs. 2 to 12 show side views of the constituent parts of first to eleventh embodiments of a label according to the invention.
The labels shown in Figs. 1 to 12 are denoted overall by the respective numerals 10 to 120. Parts of the labels shown in Figs. 1 to 12 which have identical constructions are denoted by identical reference numerals.
The known label 10 which is shown in Fig. 1 comprises a first assembly 11 and a second assembly 12. The first assembly 11 comprises a pin 14, one end of which is attached to a head 15. The second assembly 12 comprises a substantially disc-shaped body 16 with a protrusion 17, in which a lock unit 18 is arranged. In a main surface of the body 16 opposite the protrusion 17, the body 16 has a passage 19 which opens out in a chamber inside the lock unit 18. The lock unit 18 and the passage 19 are suitable to allow the pin 14 to pass through. The pin 14 is secured in the lock unit 18 by means of retention members which are arranged therein and which, in the event of an attempt to pull the pin 14 out of the lock unit 18, press more strongly against the pin 14, thus reinforcing the retention.
An electric series circuit (not shown) of a planar coil and a capacitor is arranged in the disc- like section of the body 16. The series circuit, in combination with an
electronic monitoring system (not shown) , is suitable for detecting the presence of the series circuit, and therefore of the second assembly 12, in an electromagnetic field of defined frequency which is generated by the system. During use of the known label 10 which is shown in
Fig. 1 for monitoring, for example, clothing in a shop, the pin 14 of the first assembly 11 is pushed through a section of the item of clothing (not shown) and then, via the passage 19 in the body 16, into the lock unit 18. Although this is not shown, the main surface of the body 16 opposite the head 15 may have a recess with a diameter which is slightly greater than the diameter of the head 15, in order for the item of clothing to be folded into this recess together with an edge section of the head 15. In this situation, the pin 14 is less easy for a cutting tool to reach, consequently providing better protection against theft. Although this is not shown, the embodiments of the labels according to the invention which are explained below may have a similar recess. The form of the known label 10 which is shown in
Fig. 1 does not have any added selling value. Therefore, labels of this nature are wherever possible arranged in a concealed position on an article to be monitored.
In contrast to the known label 10 shown in Fig. 1, the first to eleventh embodiments of a label according to the invention which are shown in Figs. 2 to 12 have an adapted construction which is suitable for the presentation of information, for example about the article to be monitored, or advertising. If the information or advertising is directed at the public, the labels may increase the sale value of the protected article. It will then be less necessary for the presentation part of the labels to be concealed in the article to be monitored. Since this represents a significant advantage of the labels according to the invention, the labels in accordance with Figs. 2 to 12 are shown as if the public in the first instance sees them from the top side of the figures.
The label shown in Fig. 2 differs from the known label shown in Fig. 1 in that the first assembly is
replaced by a first assembly 21 comprising a pin 24 with a planar head 25 attached to its end. The size of the main surfaces of the planar head 25 makes the head 25 suitable for information, for example about an article which is to be monitored using the label 20, to be arranged thereon. Preferably, a largest diameter of the surface of the main sides of the planar head 25 is greater than 50% of a smallest diameter of the opposite surface of the body 16 of the second assembly 12. The label 30 shown in Fig. 3 differs from the known label 10 shown in Fig. 1 in that the second assembly 12 is replaced by a second assembly 32, the body 36 of which is in the form of an article which can be purchased by the public in the same shop as the monitored article or in another shop. By way of example, the body 36 of the label 30 shown in Fig. 3 is in the form of a sports shoe and may be provided with one or more identifying marks of a shoe manufacturer. For advertising purposes, a label 30 of this nature may, for example, be arranged on other sports clothing and, when the protected article is purchased, may, if appropriate, be given to the purchaser, who may regard it as a collector's item.
If one part of the labels 20 to 120 is given to the customer, while that part has means enabling it to be detected electrically, such means are preferably to be deactivated by the vendor. If the electronically detectable means comprise, for example, the said series circuit of a coil and a capacitor, a weak spot may be arranged in the series circuit, which burns through when the series circuit is subjected to a strong electromagnetic field with a specific frequency. A deactivatable series circuit of this nature, printed on a self-adhesive label, is known per se.
Fig. 3 clearly shows that the second assembly 32 does not have a visible protrusion, like the protrusion 17 shown in Fig. 1, for the lock unit 18, and the lock unit 18 does not interfere with the shape of the body 36.
The label 40 shown in Fig. 4 comprises the first assembly 21 shown in Fig. 2 and the second assembly 32 shown in Fig. 3. This provides the label 40 with the
advantages both of the label 20 shown in Fig. 2 and the label 30 shown in Fig. 3.
The label 50 which is shown in Fig. 5 differs from the label shown in Fig. 2 in that the first assembly 21 is replaced by a first assembly 51 which, in addition to a pin 54 with a head 55, comprises a disc-like part 56. At a location opposite the lock unit 18 of the second assembly 21, the disc-like part 56 has a recess 57 with a passage 58 in its base. The head 55, which is of relatively small diameter, fits into the recess 57, while the pin 54 projects through the passage 58, in order then to be pushed into the lock unit 18 via the passage 19 in the body 16 of the second assembly 12. The disc-like part 56 can be produced at considerably lower cost than an assembly in the form of an article, such as the second assembly 32 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As a result, and since the pin 54 with the head 55 can be removed separately from the disc-like part 56, the disc-like part 56 can be given to the purchaser of the protected product easily and safely in terms of the cost price and with regard to prevention of injuries. In that case, the disc-like part 56 may comprise in particular an advertisement, such as an article in the form of a coin or token entitling the purchaser to a discount on other items in the same shop or in other shops. The label 60 which is shown in Fig. 6 differs from the known label 10 shown in Fig. 1 in that the first assembly 11 is replaced by a first assembly 61 comprising a pin 64 and a head 65 which is attached to its end and is in the shape of a specific article, such as of a sports shoe. It is clear from Fig. 6 that the use of a shape of a specific article for one of the assemblies (11, 12 of Fig. 1) is not limited to a specific assembly.
The label 70 shown in Fig. 7 differs from the label 50 shown in Fig. 5 in that the disc-like part 56 is replaced by an auxiliary part 76 which is in the shape of a specific article, such as the sports shoe shown. The auxiliary part 76 has a recess 77 with a passage 78 in its base. The recess 77 and the passage 78 have the same functions as the recess 57 and the passage 58, respec-
tively, of the disc-like part 56 shown in Fig. 5. Since the depth of the recess 77 is considerably greater than that of the recess 57, the pin 54 cannot be reached with a cutting tool after it has been fitted into the lock unit 18 of the label 70. As with the disc-like part 56 shown in Fig. 5, the auxiliary part 76 shown in Fig. 7 can safely be given to a purchaser of the protected article as a collector's item or advertising object.
The label 80 which is shown in Fig. 8 differs from the abovementioned labels in that both the first assembly 81 and the second assembly 82 are in the shape of a specific article, in particular of complementary parts of a specific article. In the example shown in Fig. 8, one end of the pin 84 is attached to a head 85 which is in the shape of a sole of a shoe, and the second assembly 82 comprises a body 85 in the shape of the shoe without the sole. After the assemblies 81 and 82 of the protected article have been detached, the pin 84 can be fitted back into the lock unit 18, and the entire label 80 can be stored or given to the purchaser without presenting a risk of injury. The complementary curvature of the mutually opposite surfaces of the assemblies 81, 82 provides greater security against the possibility of a cutting tool being able to reach the pin 84. The label 90 which is shown in Fig. 9 differs from the label 50 shown in Fig. 5 in that the second assembly 12 is replaced by a second assembly 92, the body 96 of which has substantially the same shape and dimensions as that part of the body 16 which contains the protrusion 17 shown in Fig. 5. The diameter of the body 96 opposite the disclike part 56 may be as small as the diameter of the head 15 of the known label 10 shown in Fig. 1 to provide an identical level of security against the use of a cutting tool. Compared to the label 50 shown in Fig. 5, the label 90 shown in Fig. 9 has the advantage that it can easily be applied to many types of articles of all shapes and sizes without the relatively large disc-like body 16 of the label 50 having an adverse effect on the presentation of the article .
The label 100 which is shown in Fig. 10 comprises the first assembly 61 shown in Fig. 6 and the second assembly 92 shown in Fig. 9.
The label 110 shown in Fig. 11 comprises the first assembly 71 shown in Fig. 7 and the second assembly 92 shown in Fig. 9. The label 110 combines the advantages of the labels 70 and 90.
The label 120 shown in Fig. 12 differs from the label 20 shown in Fig. 2 in that the first assembly 121 comprises a pin 124, one end of which is attached to a planar head 125, the circumferential side of which has a recess 126. The first assembly 121 further comprises a disc-like part 127 with an opening or passage 128, a circumferential edge 129 of which is complementary to the recess 126. As a result, the disc-like part 127 can be clicked onto the planar head 125. A label 120 of this nature may in particular be suitable for the presentation of information about the protected article on that side of the disc-like part 127 which is visible to the public. Obviously, other complementary forms of the edge sections of the head 125 and the passage 128 are possible. The head 125 and the disc-like part 127 may also have auxiliary members, such as hooks and teeth, in order in this way to form a snap-action coupling. Although various embodiments have been explained, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to security labels containing the abovementioned series circuit of a coil and a capacitor for interaction with an electronic monitoring system. The means which are used in the labels and can be detected by an electronic monitoring system may also, by way of example, comprise a strip of material with specific magnetic properties or an electronic microcircuit (chip) .