WO2001058303A1

WO2001058303A1 - Slide fastener security tag

Info

Publication number: WO2001058303A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/000905
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Stuart Anderson
Original assignee: Transvaal Rubber Company (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date: 2000-02-08
Filing date: 2000-07-05
Publication date: 2001-08-16
Also published as: GB2362430B; GB2362430A; AU2000254202A1; GB0120031D0

Abstract

The invention concerns a security tag (32) for a slide fastener security system (10) of the type which has a slide fastener pull tag (18) which, in a closed condition of the slide fastener (12), can be moved, relative to a fixed chamber (26) having an open mouth (28), from an operative position in which it can be used to operate the slide fastener to an inoperative position in which it lies prone adjacent the chamber and in which position it cannot be used to operate the slide fastener. The security tag (32) has a tab portion (34) and an insertion portion (38) which extends from the tab portion and which can be inserted and clipped into the fixed chamber through the open mouth thereof. The tab portion then extends over the pull tag and holds it in the inoperative position. The tab portion of the security tag has an upstanding formation (45) thereon, preferably in the form of a pocket (52) which locates adjacent and blocks the open mouth of the chamber when the insertion portion is inserted and clipped into the chamber.

Description

SLIDE FASTENER SECURITY TAG

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a slide fastener security tag.

A slide fastener security system which been in use for many years has a slide fastener pull tag formed with an opening therein. In a closed condition of the slide fastener the pull tag can be pivoted such that a chamber carried by a body fixed to a wall of a document bag, pouch or other container on which the slide fastener is mounted, is received in the opening. The chamber has an open mouth which is then accessible above the pull tag. The system also includes a security tag having a break-off tab and an insertion portion which extends from the tab and which can be inserted, by movement in the longitudinal direction of the slide fastener, into the mouth of the chamber. The design of the insertion portion is such that it clips into the chamber and cannot be withdrawn merely by a pulling action. The tab of the security tag extends over the pull tag and effectively prevents it from being returned to an operative position in which it can be used to open the slide fastener. To pivot the pull tag to the operative position, the tab of the security tag must normally be broken off.

Slide fastener security systems of this type are commonly used to secure the slide fasteners of flexible document bags or pouches or other containers. While such slide fastener security systems work reasonably well, they have the serious disadvantage that it is often possible to insert a thin tool, such as a slender sewing needle, into the mouth of the chamber alongside the insertion portion of the security tag. By manipulating the tool it is then possible to unclip the insertion portion from the chamber, typically by prying back the resilient catches of the insertion portion which, on insertion into the chamber, achieve the clipping action. This then allows the insertion portion of the security tag to be withdrawn from the chamber and the pull tag to be pivoted to an operative position in which it can be used to open the slide fastener, thereby granting unauthorised access to the contents of the pouch, bag or other container served by the slide fastener. The same security tag can then be used again secure the slide fastener, leaving no evidence of the tampering which has taken place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention there is provided a security tag for a slide fastener security system comprising a slide fastener pull tag which, in a closed condition of the slide fastener, can be moved, relative to a fixed chamber having an open mouth, from an operative position in which it can be used to operate the slide fastener to an inoperative position in which it lies prone adjacent the chamber and in which position it cannot be used to operate the slide fastener, the security tag having a tab portion and an insertion portion which extends from the tab portion and which can be inserted and clipped into the fixed chamber through the open mouth thereof with the tab portion then extending over the pull tag to hold it in the inoperative position, and the tab portion of the security tag having an upstanding formation thereon which locates adjacent and blocks the open mouth of the chamber when the insertion portion is inserted and clipped into the chamber.

Preferably, the tag is breakable, at a position thereon which is adjacent to the mouth of the chamber when the pull tag is in the inoperative position and the insertion portion is inserted and clipped into the chamber, by pivotal movement of the tab portion relative to the insertion portion in a direction away from the pull tag, thereby to separate the tab portion and formation from the insertion portion and permit movement of the pull tag from the inoperative to the operative position. A zone of weakness is provided adjacent the formation on a side thereof remote from a free end of the tab portion to promote breakage of the security tag at a predetermined location.

In the preferred embodiments, the upstanding formation defines a pocket which receives the open mouth of the chamber when the insertion portion is inserted and clipped into the chamber. Most preferably, the pocket is complemental in shape to a portion of the chamber which is received therein when the insertion portion is inserted and clipped into the chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a security tag according to this invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-section at the line 2-2 in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a cross-section at the line 3-3 in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a slide fastener security system in which the security tag of the invention is used; and

Figure 5 illustrates the use of the security tag of the invention in a cross-sectional side view. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to Figure 4, there is shown a slide fastener security system indicated generally with the reference numeral 10 and of the type described. The system includes a slide fastener 12 which is opened and closed by lengthwise movement of a closure 16. A pull tag 18 is attached pivotally to the closure 16 and is used to pull the closure along for the purposes of opening or closing the slide fastener. The pull tag 18 has an opening therein indicated by the numeral 20.

The system 10 also includes a moulded plastics body 22 fixed in the illustrated case by rivets to the wall 24 of a container such as a flexible document bag or pouch. The moulded body includes an upstanding chamber 26 having an open mouth 28 on the side thereof remote from the slide fastener. The chamber is surrounded by a recess 30.

The slide fastener 12 is shown in a closed condition. In this condition, the pull tag 18 can be pivoted over relative to the closure 16 and located in the recess 30 with the chamber 26 received in the opening 20. In this position of the pull tag, the mouth 28 of the chamber is accessible above the pull tag.

The numeral 32 in Figures 1 to 3 indicates a security tag, according to this invention, for use with the slide fastener security system 10. The tag 32 has a tab portion 34 and an insertion portion 38 including catches in the form of flexible legs 40 on either side of a central element 42. In this embodiment the tab portion is imprinted with a security code or bar code 36, but this will not necessarily be the case in all embodiments. In use, the insertion portion can be inserted in the longitudinal direction 44 of the slide fastener 12 into the open mouth 28 of the chamber 26. This insertion flexes the legs 40 inwardly towards the central element 42. When fully inserted the legs spring back in the chamber to locate behind portions of the chamber wall on either side of the mouth. The insertion portion is thus clipped into the chamber and cannot be removed merely by a pulling action in a direction opposite to the arrow 44. The tab portion 34 extends over the pull tag 16 and effectively holds it to the body 22, thereby preventing normal operation of the slide fastener 12.

As thus far described, the security tag 32 is largely conventional. However what is not conventional is the provision of an upstanding formation, indicated generally by the numeral 45, on what is operatively the exposed face of the tab portion 34. This formation has an upstanding end wall 46, upstanding side walls 48 and a wall 50 which extends over the upper edges of the walls 46 and 48 thereby defining, with the tab itself, a pocket 52. The security tag 32, including components thereof forming the pocket 52, is formed as a one-piece moulding of a suitable plastics material.

The internal dimensions of the pocket 52 are such that when the insertion portion 38 of the security tag 32 is clipped into the chamber 26, the mouth of the chamber and a portion of the chamber about the mouth are received in the pocket 52, as shown in Figure 5. The formation 45 accordingly blocks the mouth of the chamber effectively and it will be understood that with the mouth region of the chamber received in the pocket 52 it will be impossible to insert a tool past the formation and into the chamber for the purposes of bending the legs 40 inwardly to allow the insertion portion to be withdrawn from the chamber. The formation 45 accordingly enhances the security afforded by the system.

When authorised opening of the slide fastener 12 is to take place, it is necessary to bend the tab portion 34 upwardly to break it and the formation 45 off completely at a zone of weakness 54. Removable of the tab and formation allows the pull tag 16 to be pivoted back to an operative position in which it can be used to operate the slide fastener 12. The insertion portion 38 of the tag 32 remains behind in the chamber but can be removed once the pull tag has been pivoted out of the way and the lower extremity of the chamber mouth is cleared. Although the drawings show the wall 50 meeting the end wall 46 at a relatively sharp angle, there may in practice be some curvature at this point to match the corresponding curvature of the chamber 26. In other words, the pocket in such cases has a shape complemental to that of the portion of the chamber which is received in the pocket. Also, the pocket 52 may be somewhat shallower than that illustrated in the drawings. These features, which are illustrated by way of example in broken outline in Figure 2, can facilitate upward pivotal movement of the tab portion 34, in order to break it off, without there being interference between the pocket and the mouth of the chamber.

In a simpler version of the invention the tab portion 34 may merely carry an upstanding wall formation, corresponding to the wall 46, which will extend across and block the mouth 28 of the chamber 26, once again to reduce the chances of unauthorised insertion of a tool to unclip the insertion portion.

Claims

1.

A security tag for a slide fastener security system comprising a slide fastener pull tag which, in a closed condition of the slide fastener, can be moved, relative to a fixed chamber having an open mouth, from an operative position in which it can be used to operate the slide fastener to an inoperative position in which it lies prone adjacent the chamber and in which position it cannot be used to operate the slide fastener, the security tag having a tab portion and an insertion portion which extends from the tab portion and which can be inserted and clipped into the fixed chamber through the open mouth thereof with the tab portion then extending over the pull tag to hold it in the inoperative position, and the tab portion of the security tag having an upstanding formation thereon which locates adjacent and blocks the open mouth of the chamber when the insertion portion is inserted and clipped into the chamber.

2.

A security tag according to claim 1 wherein the security tag is breakable, at a position thereon which is adjacent to the mouth of the chamber when the pull tag is in the inoperative position and the insertion portion is inserted and clipped into the chamber, by pivotal movement of the tab portion relative to the insertion portion in a direction away from the pull tag, thereby to separate the tab portion and formation from the insertion portion and permit movement of the pull tag from the inoperative to the operative position.

3.

A security tag according to claim 2 in which a zone of weakness is provided adjacent the formation on a side thereof remote from a free end of the tab portion.

4.

A security tag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upstanding formation defines a pocket which receives the open mouth of the chamber when the insertion portion is inserted and clipped into the chamber.

5.

A security tag according to claim 4 wherein the pocket is complemental in shape to a portion of the chamber which is received therein when the insertion portion is inserted and clipped into the chamber.

A security tag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tag is of one-piece, moulded plastics construction.

7.

A slide fastener security tag substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.