Security tag for application to footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9262900-B2
Application number	US-201414585942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Sep 20, 2012
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

Systems ( 100 ) and methods ( 1300 ) for operating a security tag ( 132 ). The methods involve: slidingly coupling a first engagement member ( 212 ) of the security tag to a first sidewall ( 208 ) forming a first right angle with a base ( 220 ) of an article; and extending a securement member ( 218 ) of the security tag across an exterior surface of the base of the article. A second engagement member ( 210 ) of the security tag is slidingly coupled to a second sidewall ( 206 ) opposed from the first sidewall and forming a second right angle with the base of the article. A length of the securement member is then decreased so as to place the securement member in a tensioned position whereby the security tag is secured to the article. The securement member can be locked in the tensioned position using a mechanical locking mechanism ( 222 ) of the security tag.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for operating a security tag of an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) system, comprising:
slidingly coupling a first engagement member attached to a housing of the security tag to a first sidewall forming a first right angle with a base of an article;
extending a securement member of the security tag across an exterior surface of the base of the article, the securement member formed of a slender length of flexible material having a first end coupled to the housing of the security tag;
slidingly coupling a second engagement member of the security tag to a second sidewall opposed from the first sidewall and forming a second right angle with the base of the article, the second engagement member attached to a second end of the securement member;
decreasing a length of the securement member so as to place the securement member in a tensioned position whereby the security tag is secured to the article;
locking the securement member in the tensioned position using a mechanical locking mechanism of the security tag; and
subsequent to said locking, preventing at least one of the first and second engagement members from being slidingly decoupled from the respective first or second sidewall of the article using at least one anti-defeat structure protruding out and away from the first engagement member, the second engagement member or the housing of the security tag in a direction towards an exposed outer surface of the article, where the anti-defeat structure does not cause damage to the exposed outer surface of the article when in use.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the article comprises a low heel shoe with an enclosed upper formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material, the first and second sidewalls define rear side quarters of the shoe, and the base defines a sole of the shoe.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second engagement members are respectively coupled to the first and second sidewalls of the article without exerting compression forces on the article.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising placing the first engagement member at a location on the first sidewall where sliding movement of the first engagement member by a certain distance in two opposing horizontal directions is prevented by first and second protrusions of the article.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising placing the second engagement member at a location on the second sidewall where sliding movement of the second engagement member by a certain distance in two opposing horizontal directions is prevented by first and second protrusions of the article.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the anti-defeat structure engages the exposed surface of the article so as to cause the first or second sidewall of the article to become jammed at a location of the anti-defeat structure when an attempt to slidingly decouple the respective first or second engagement member from the article is made.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising using the anti-defeat structure to prevent rotation of the security tag relative to the article.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising unlocking the mechanical locking mechanism by applying a magnetic field thereto.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising detecting when the article to which the security tag is affixed enters a surveillance zone of the EAS system.

10. A security tag for use in an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) system, comprising: a housing;
a first engagement member attached to the housing and configured to slidingly engage a first sidewall forming a first right angle with a base of an article;
a second engagement member configured to slidingly engage a second sidewall opposed from the first sidewall and forming a second right angle with the base of the article;
at least one anti-defeat structure protruding out and away from the housing, the first engagement member, or the second engagement member in a direction towards an exposed outer surface of the article, the anti-defeat structure configured to prevent at least one of the first and second engagement members from being slidingly disengaged from the respective first or second sidewall of the article when the security tag is in use and without causing damage to the exposed outer surface of the article when the security tag is in use;
a securement member formed of a slender length of flexible material having a first end coupled to the housing of the security tag, a second end coupled to the second engagement member, and transitionable between a non-tensioned position in which a first length of the securement member is suitable for extension across an exterior surface of the base of the article and a tensioned position in which a second length of the securement member is suitable for securing the security tag to the article; and
a mechanical locking mechanism coupled to the housing and configured to lock the securement member in the tensioned position.

11. The security tag of claim 10 , wherein the article comprises a low heel shoe with an enclosed upper formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material, the first and second sidewalls define rear side quarters of the shoe, and the base defines a sole of the shoe.

12. The security tag according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second engagement members comprise hooks for coupling the security tag to the first and second sidewalls of the article without exerting compression forces on the article.

13. The security tag according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first engagement member, the second engagement member, and the housing has a surface contoured to follow a profile of a respective surface of the article.

14. The security tag according to claim 10 , wherein sliding movement of the first engagement member by a certain distance in two opposing horizontal directions is prevented by first and second protrusions of the article when the first engagement member is coupled to the first sidewall of the article.

15. The security tag according to claim 10 , wherein sliding movement of the second engagement member by a certain distance in two opposing horizontal directions is prevented by first and second protrusions of the article when the second engagement member is coupled to the first sidewall of the article.

16. The security tag of claim 10 , wherein the anti-defeat structure is further configured to engage an exposed surface of the article so as to cause the first or second sidewall of the article to become jammed at a location of the anti-defeat structure when an attempt to slidingly decouple the respective first or second engagement member from the article is made during use of the security tag.

17. The security tag of claim 10 , wherein the anti-defeat structure is further configured to prevent rotation of the security tag relative to the article.

18. The security tag according to claim 17 , wherein the anti-defeat structure comprises an eyelet coupled to the first engagement member or housing so as to be angled relative to a vertical axis thereof and having an aperture through which the securement member passes.

19. The security tag of claim 17 , wherein the anti-defeat structure comprises an eyelet coupled to the second engagement member so as to be angled relative to a vertical axis thereof and having an aperture through which the securement member passes.

20. The security tag of claim 17 , wherein the anti-defeat structure is located at or adjacent to a

Assignees

• Luo Danhui
• Ford John C
• Ford Kaley
• Nguyen Thang T
• Turgeon Charles T
• Tyco Fire & Security Gmbh

Inventors

• Luo Danhui
• Ford John C
• Ford Kaley
• Nguyen Thang T
• Turgeon Charles T

Classifications

• E05B73/0017

  Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops · CPC title

• G08B13/2434 Primary

  Tag housing and attachment details · CPC title

• E05B17/0029

  motor-operated (for vehicles E05B81/20) · CPC title