Security Tag Systems, Inc.

John L Lynch

Lincoln H Charlot, Jr

Dennis L Hogan

Fred W Herman

Edward J DiCarlo

Robert C Thurmond

Hildan B Russell

A pin-and-clutch theft-deterrent device that enables instantaneous detection of separation-force tampering with the theft-deterrent device. The device includes a pin in one component and a clutch assembly in a second component for attaching the device to an article to be protected by grasping the pin with the clutch to provide a predetermined retaining force for resisting separation of the components by prying or pulling the components apart; a force-sensitive switch assembly for detecting application to the two components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force applied in opposition to the predetermined retaining force; and a transponder coupled to the switch assembly for responding to an irradiated interrogation signal by radiating an alarm signal when the switch assembly detects application to the two components of at least the predetermined threshold separation force. A system for detecting attempted removal from a protected article of the theft-deterrence device is installed in proximity to a secluded area of a store, such as a changing room.

Theft-deterrent device providing force-sensitive tamper detection

An apparatus for releasing locked components of a theft-deterrent device includes a seat for receiving a component of the theft deterrent device that contains a clutch and a ferromagnetic anvil that is positioned by a spring to force the clutch to apply pressure against an inserted pin that is anchored in another component of the device so as to restrain the pin from release from the clutch; and a magnet with a pole piece coupled thereto, with the magnet and the pole piece being disposed for movement between a protracted position and a retracted position. When magnet and the pole piece are in their protracted position the pole piece is disposed about the sides of the clutch-containing component and applies magnetic flux from the magnet that is directed to overcome the force of the spring and reposition the ferromagnetic anvil to thereby relax the pressure applied against the pin by the clutch so that the pin-anchoring component can be released from the clutch-containing component. The magnet and the pole piece are forced into their protracted position by a spring; and a flange is attached to the pole piece for enabling the magnet and the pole piece to be moved to their retracted position by applying pressure against the flange to overcome the force of the spring. When the magnet and the pole piece are in their retracted position, the attraction between the magnet and the anvil is less and the sides of the clutch-containing component are exposed so that the clutch-containing component can easily be gripped at its sides and removed from the seat. Also, when the magnet and the pole piece are in their retracted position, the releasing apparatus does not then enable the pin-anchoring component to be released from the clutch-containing component; and the releasing apparatus further includes a lock for locking the magnet and the pole piece in their retracted position to prevent unauthorized use of the releasing apparatus.

Release of pin-clutch mechanism in theft-deterrent device

In a device for deterring theft of a protected article, including a pin and clutch respectively embodied in two components that are adapted to be locked together on opposite sides of a portion of the protected article to prevent unauthorized removal of the device from the article, the pin-containing component contains two fragile elongated glass vials that fracture when at least a predetermined pressure is applied thereto, with the vials containing a detrimental substance that would damage an article attached to the device if such substance were to be released from the vial; and the head of the pin includes a breaker element having a wedge-shaped surface of a fiber-loaded-reinforced thermoplastic, (which does not scratch glass), for applying more than the predetermined pressure against the vial in response to the pinhead being moved in response to application to the two components of at least a predetermined threshold separation force, to thereby completely fracture the vials by inducing a high bending stress without prematurely cracking the vials, and to thereby release the substance contained therein before the components are separated by prying or pulling the components apart. A pliable seal is disposed between the breaker element and the vials for preventing the detrimental substance that is released from the fractured vials from entering the head space and for expelling the released detrimental substance through the adjacent opening in response to pressure applied against the seal by the breaker element by the movement of the pinhead that results in the vials being fractured.

Growing community of inventors

Holiday, FL, United States of America

John L Lynch