«2 United States Patent 'US007626501B2 (10) Patent No.: US 7,626,501 B2 Feibelman (45) Date of Patent: Dee. 1, 2009 (4) ANTETHEFT TAG ss0218 8 22307 4746909 4 340/586 (75) Investor: Jeffrey A. Fetbelman, Providence, RI SS7S687 A 10198) Tag tal mn743 ws) (3) Assignee: Display Technologies, Ine, Johnston, RI ws) (Continued) (2, Noe: Suet any dines te tam of i FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS tis extended or ajsted under 35 a 7 USC. 1580) by 268 day fe eee (21) Appl. Nos 11/787,278 (22) Filed: Apr 16,2007 Ce) OTHER PUBLICATIONS 6) Prior Publication Duta US 200710285243.A1 Dee. 13, 2007 Related US. Application Data (63) Continuation of application No, 10°977,058, fied on ‘Get. 29, 2004, now Pat. No, 7,227,467, which is a Gamo Avimheal os sasea2 WO sous A sioss Somsor A 7200 Suicy at rors NO yg DAB A Sond e952 A030 Mates ‘eet Sao Br "220m Kolonia a 38729 ited by examineeU.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 1 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 30a 30b 15 FIG. 1U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 2 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 44 18bUS 7,626,501 B2 Sheet 3 of 38 Dec. 1, 2009 U.S, Patent FIG. 3 ©0000US 7,626,501 B2 Sheet 4 of 38 Dec. 1, 2009 U.S, Patent [SF Lee AST, SS ey’ y a a FIG. 4 FIG. 5U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 5 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2US 7,626,501 B2 Sheet 6 of 38 Dec. 1, 2009 U.S, Patent FIG. 9U.S, Patent Dec. 1, 2009 Sheet 7 of 38 a US 7,626,501 B2 pm 1 PSM MI — = 23 FIG. 10 [. ~Y {27 \ mo™~ oor 29b 24 cs FIG. 11U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 9 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 35; ba FIG. 14U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 10 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 FIG. 16U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 11 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 29—| ooo FIG. 17U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 12 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 5 5 FIG. 19 7 7 FIG. 18 P27 29b . 298 = 2 FIG. 20U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 13 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 14 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 FIG. 22U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 15 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 FIG. 23US 7,626,501 B2 Sheet 16 of 38 Dec. 1, 2009 U.S, Patent 24 FIG. 15)US 7,626,501 B2 Sheet 17 of 38 Dec. 1, 2009 U.S, Patent FIG. 25 FIG. 26U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 18 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 19 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2US 7,626,501 B2 Sheet 20 of 38 Dec. 1, 2009 U.S, Patent 37 34 FIG. 30 22b 21b—T 21b—]U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 21 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 ao aE 24--F 2ab+{ = 18a A | | |-290 2b] PR a | -290 tT 21a} +266 24—FJ 22o- i) 18a A | | |-290 21b-+7] = |-29a | —T 210 1-26e FIG. 32U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 22 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 FIG. 33U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 23 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 14 re S oS 13 34 FIG. 34 A 22b 22a inSS 16 a SSU.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 24 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 —* L FIG. 36U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 25 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 FIG. 37U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 26 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 114 119e FIG. 38 a 118b| 119¢ 119d: 118a FIG. 39U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 27 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 118b 110 FIG. 40U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 28 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 FIG. 41 132 119b 119¢ = 19dU.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 29 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2U.S, Patent Dee. 1, 2 009 Sheet 30 of 38 Ny © es N N <> 126b 133 122b 132a O US 7,626,501 B2 1260 122a FIG. 43 1260 1220 FIG. 44U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 31 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 46 138 FIG. 45 1184 aU.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 32 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 126b 1260 SS O 1220 133 122b~ = NS FIG. 46U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 33 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 210 FIG. 47 218aU.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 34 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 218b FIG. 48U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 35 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 230b 2196 al +2260 ! L L-2220 218a 221b47| | FIG. 49 2334 226b uU.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 36 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 25) 212b FIG. 50 233 LQ -222bU.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 37 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 in V iY 233b 226b iW My LIWVZT ' a. HH FIG. 51U.S. Patent Dee. 1, 2009 Sheet 38 of 38 US 7,626,501 B2 SQy 238 Z Zz oe FIG. 52US 7,626,501 B2 1 ANTIETHERT TAG (CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED. [APPLICATIONS ‘This application is a continuation of US, Sex. No. 10/977 (058 fied Oct. 29,2004 (now US. Pat. No. 7,227,467), whieh js # contiouation-in-part of US. Ser. No, 10/853,489 fied May 25, 2008 (now US. Pat. No. 7,129,841), which is @ ‘continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No, 101696483 filed Oct 29, 2008 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6:933,847) enttlal ANTI- ‘THEFT TAG. The eatire contents of the above applications are explicitly incorporated herein by reference in their ‘entirety, ‘TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates generally to an anti-theft tags and, ‘more specifically, to an anti-theft tag including an electronic aniele sensor disposed within a housing and having a erimp- ing mechanism disposed within the housing for securing the tag to an atic, BACKGROUND Its well known in the at to use electronic aticle surveil= Jance (EAS) sensors in order to prevent the thet of consumer products, Such electronic sensors trigger an alarm if not ‘tached or disarmed before the product is removed from the store. For many produets, electronic sensors have been very ‘effective in deterring theft, However, such sensors can be difficult to attach 19 certain products, for example jewelry, fishing rels, alcohol and other produets, and can often be ‘easily removed from sich items even when attached. An ‘example ofa higher price item where the dificult ofatach- ing electronic sensors is prevalent is watches. Olen sensors ‘cannot be attached 10 watch bands because they ean be easily Slipped off one ead, and if the sensors are overly large they ‘ca Timit the customer’ ably to try on the wateh befor purchasing. Thus, electronic sensors attached to product suchas watehes must not only be tamper resistant inthe hands ‘ofthe consumer, but should also not interfere with the con sumer’ ability to try onthe product. Inaction, itis desirable to bave an anti-theft tag which can be readily attached to @ variety of products so that a retailer can utilize a single tag With many, different produets, which ean be attached in a ‘convenient manner, and which are tamper resistant so thatthe EAS sensor cannot be readily removed by the consumer. A variety of tgs containing PAS sensors have been developed ‘over the past years in an attempt to address these and other ‘One such sensor is described in US. Pat. No. 6,188,320. Kollon etal The" 320 patetdiselosestunariele identification and surveillance tag having an article engaging loop (22) Which is adjustable by pulling on end member 206) which is socessible exterioly of the tg body. The tag (10) inchides @ body formed of housings (12 and 14) whieh are joined together during use. tal (20) includes a fis tail end (200) which is peripherally continuous witha first end ofthe house Jing (12) which delines loop (22) exterorly of the housing. ‘The tail 20) extends from the Toop, ato and through the housing and terminates in tail end piece (20), which is acces- sible exteriorly of the tag (10), Housing (12) defines and interior channel (24), the walls of which are formed with ‘acing ratchets (26 and 28), Secured to tail (20) interiory of housing (12) isa collar (30) of pawl member (32). The ober walls of pas member (32) are formed with eet (34 and 36) 0 o 2 sagage respectively with ratchets (26 and 28). The ‘tchets (26 and 28) and teeth (34 and 36). engage such that the pawl member (32) is moveable only in one direction, Le. downwardly, so thatthe lonp can only be made smaller: The ratchets and tecth thos from a one way clutch, which pre- cludes upward movement af paw! member (32) while provide ‘ng for downward movemtentof the paw Inone embodiment, the tl (52) defines a loop (83) exteriorly ofthe housing. the tail extending from the loop and tal parts (52a, 526), ends of whieh are joined inside member (2c), and which is acces- sible exteriorly of tg (42), US. Pat, No. 6,128,932 wo Mainett etal. discloses an anii-shopliting device including a housing having a lower hal (2) and an upper half (3), and a ferromagnetic plate (4) ‘whieh is inserted info an internal cavity (8) formed by the upper and lower halves after they have been joined. Mexible andlor elastic cord (8) is supported on an edge ofthe lower half (2) and includes a spike (9) having Hexible tongues (10) the spike (9) being insertable in an ireversible manner into ‘opening (7) ofthe lower half 2) inorder to fora loop whieh is attachable toa prot. USS. Pat, No, 537.172 to Lamy et al discloses an ant thell device for eyeglasses including a plate (1) having alin (7) extending therefrom. The plate includes a slot (14) for inserting the free end portion (15) of the Tink (7) and has fastening means for retaining the end portion (18). The fas- ‘ening means includes block (16) supported on the plate (1). ‘The link (1) is connected to the plate (1) by inserting the link {ntoa slot (18) until bulged portion(17)isinabutment. After the link (7)has been looped around the bridge ofthe frame of ‘pair eyeglasses, it is then inserted into the slot (14) to be Tocked therein. The link is fastened by’ a pin (22) which is moveable perpendicularly to the ink ad which projets into fone of the holes (10) ofthe link under the aetion ofa spring a, ‘While generally effective, the aforementioned devices and others available in the art ean stil be difficult to attach to a varity of prodivets, and ean often be tampered with by the ‘consumer Accordingly theres continued development inthe art in order to further improve anti-theft tgs. SUMMARY, Inaeordance with the present invention, there is provided ‘an anti-theft security tag having an engagement member, for «example seable, plastic ornylon line, or wire, which inlndes ‘first anda second end securable within a housing forattach- ‘ment to an article, for example a watch band or botle, The housing preferably further includes a channel for receiving and supporting at least one crimping. member, and further supports an electronic article surveillance marker. In one embodiment, the one or more crimping members are se. frimping such that they automatically secure one end ofthe fengagement member upon insertion there through. The sel crimping members may preferably include a plurality offi {gersortecth which act toautomatically crimp the engagement ‘ember upon insertion iat the erimping members. In one embodiment, the one or more crimping members may be dise shaped members that aresupported withina channel byoneor ‘more ledges. In another embodiment the erimping members ‘may be tubular with a plurality of teeth disposed within the interior wall ofthe tube for erimping the engagement mem- ber. In yet another embodiment, one or more spring shaped ‘members may be utilized having teeth disposed thereon for crimping the engagement member. In any case, the self fimping members allow the engagement member to be noved downward, but not upward, so thatthe engawemeUS 7,626,501 B2 3 loop preferably cannot be removed by a consumer without breaking the loop. In another embodiment, the eximping member is not vel-crimping, but instead is imped by ut- Fizing a crimping tbe for engaging the crimping member. In suet at embodiment, a slot may preferably be disposed ‘within the hotsing for receiving the crimping ool in onder to