Sensormatic Electronics Corporation

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Tyco Fire + Security Gmbh

Patrick S Claeys

Sergio M Perez

Channing Everet Miller

Edward Paul Ellers

Jorge L Garcia

Melwyn F Sequeira

Andrew P Miehl

Thang Tat Nguyen

Channing Everett Miller

Karl F Mueller

Kelvin Lee Hunter

Thomas P Solaski

Deborah A Gruenhagen

David M Yeager

Andrew A Efanov

An electronic article surveillance tag with a tag body, a locking member, and unlocking member. The locking member is within the tag body and can receive and releasably engage with a pin portion of a connecting member and lock the connecting member to the tag body. The locking member includes a clutch mechanism movable between a first position in fixed engagement with the pin portion and corresponding to a locked state and a second position corresponding to an unlocked state that allows detachment of the pin portion from the locking member. The clutch mechanism further includes a plunger member formed from a non-ferromagnetic material. The unlocking member is fully encased within the tag body and movement of the unlocking member from a locked position to an unlocked position moves the clutch mechanism between the first position corresponding to the locked state and the second position corresponding to the unlocked state.

Security tag with unlocking assembly

Systems and methods for coupling a tag to an item. The methods comprise: dispensing the tag from a tag feeder of a tag applicator; performing first operations by the tag applicator to mechanically move the tag into a nest of the tag applicator; determining if a given criteria is met based on feedback information received from at least one of a user of the tag applicator and a sensor provided with the tag applicator; and performing second operations by the tag applicator to couple the tag to the item, when a determination is made that the given criteria is met.

Hard tag applicator

Systems and methods for providing a tag. The tag comprising a flexible elongate structure comprising a cord or a cable; an electronic thread device integrated into the cord or cable that is operative to wirelessly communicate with external devices for inventory management or security purposes; and/or an Electronic Article Surveillance ('EAS') component integrated into the cord or cable.

Elongate flexible tag

The present disclosure relates to security tags for an electronic article surveillance system deployed in a retail environment. The security tag is a single piece security tag that comprises a tack housing and a tag housing connected by a beam. The beam is enabled to house one or more antenna elements that is electrically connected with one or more electronic components housed within the tag housing. Alternatively, one or more antenna elements can be housed within the tack housing, wherein engagement of the tack housing with the tag housing enables the one or more antenna elements to receive electrical signals from the one or more electronic components via a tack.

Security tag for loss prevention

A security tag including a housing and a pin. The housing includes a pin shaft securement mechanism internal to the housing. The pin is aligned with the securement mechanism and includes a pin head and a pin shaft. The a pin shaft: extends from the pin head in a first direction, is coupled to the pin head in the first direction, is free to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the pin shaft with respect to the pin head, and is releasably securable at an end of the pin shaft distal to the pin head by the pin shaft securement mechanism. Transfer of pin head rotation to the pin shaft is prevented at least when the shaft is secured by the securement mechanism.

Tack with free spinning feature

One piece security tag

An electronic article surveillance tag including a tag body member and a connecting member having a pin portion releasably engageable with the tag body member, wherein the pin portion extends along a first axis. The tag further includes a locking member having a clutch mechanism including a plunger member formed from a non-ferromagnetic material and an unlocking member connected to the clutch mechanism. The unlocking member is moveable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein during movement between the locked position and the unlocked position, the unlocking member moves the clutch mechanism between the first position corresponding to the locked state and the second position corresponding to the unlocked state.

Security tag with perpendicularly releasable 3-ball clutch

An electronic article surveillance tag with a locking member having a clutch mechanism including a plunger member formed from a non-ferromagnetic material. The tag further includes a tag body member and a releasably engageable pin portion of a connecting member, the pin portion extending along a first axis. The clutch mechanism is movable parallel to the first axis between a first position that engages the pin portion to define a locked state and a second position corresponding to an unlocked state that allows pin portion detachment. The tag further includes an unlocking member slidably engaged with the tag body member and clutch mechanism and moveable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. Additionally, the tag may include an actuator connected to the unlocking member and configured to move the unlocking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Security tag with 3-ball clutch releasable by unlocking assembly

An example electronic security tag attachable to an item includes a tag body member, a connecting member having a pin portion releasably engageable with the tag body member, the pin portion extending along a first axis. The electronic security tag further includes a locking member to lock the connecting member to the tag body member. The locking member includes a clutch mechanism movable along a second axis parallel to the first axis between a first position in contact with the pin portion and corresponding to a locked state and a second position corresponding to an unlocked state. The clutch mechanism including at least one member formed from a non-ferromagnetic material.

Security tag with non-magnetic 3-ball clutch

A security tag includes a tag body member, a connecting member releasably engageable with the tag body member, and a locking member having a locked position in a first thermal state configured to lock the connecting member to the tag body member, and having an unlocked position in a second thermal state configured to unlock the connecting member from the tag body member. The locking member includes a locking body comprising a shape memory alloy, and a clamping member connected to the shape memory alloy. A transition of the shape memory alloy element from the first thermal state to the second thermal state moves the clamping member from the locked position to the unlocked position, thereby enabling the connecting member to be detached from the tag body member.

Security tag including thermally actuated detachment mechanism

Systems and methods for operating a security tag. The methods comprise: transitioning a pin head from an extended position to a collapsed position by causing at least one first telescoping segment to slidingly engage a second telescoping segment; locking a shaft, extending out and away from the pin head in the collapsed position, using a securement mechanism disposed inside a housing of the security tag; and preventing a transfer of pin head rotation to the shaft at least when the shaft is locked by the securement mechanism.

Growing community of inventors

Sunrise, FL, United States of America

Patrick S Claeys