HK1182210A - System and method for security tag deployment using reversible adhesives - Google Patents

Description

System and method for setting security tags using reversible adhesives

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to security system security tags and, more particularly, to systems and methods for attaching security tags using reversible adhesive.

Background

Electronic article surveillance ("EAS") systems are commonly used in retail stores and other environments to prevent unauthorized removal of goods from a protected area. Typically, a detection system is deployed at the exit of the protected area, the detection system including one or more transmitters and an antenna ("pedestal") capable of generating an electromagnetic field, referred to as an "interrogation zone," across the exit. The protected article may be labeled with a security tag, including an EAS marker, which when active generates a response signal when passing through the interrogation zone. An antenna and receiver in the same or another base detects this signal and generates an alarm.

The security tag may also include an RFID element. RFID elements are typically included in retail stores and used in conjunction with RFID readers. When an RFID element is within the interrogation zone of an RFID reader, the RFID element may be activated and provide information (e.g., product description, serial number, location, etc.) about the item associated with the RFID element. In particular, RFID elements receive and respond to Radio Frequency (RF) signals to provide information about items within range of an RFID reader.

However, in some cases, attaching these security tags may damage the article that the tag is intended to protect. Most conventional hard tags require a hole to be punched into the item to be protected. This may damage the article. In particular, the movement of the EAS/RFID security tag when a customer touches or wears an article may further increase the size of the initial perforation caused by the clip, thereby damaging the article. While placing a hard tag on a particular portion of an item may help to disguise this breakage, the item must be damaged and may cause the customer to reconsider the purchase of the item. As such, conventional hard tag mechanisms used to protect an item may instead ultimately damage the item and result in the consumer not purchasing the item.

Non-hard tag solutions may help prevent possible damage from hard tags and may be relatively low in cost, but lack the level of security of the hard tag attachment mechanism. One commonly used non-hard tag solution uses a tag that includes an EAS/RFID tag. For example, a swing ticket made from a card may include an EAS/RFID mechanism in which the swing ticket is attached to an item, such as clothing or other merchandise, typically using a thin plastic tag pin. Plastic label pins are attached using a label gun that pierces the item to insert the pin and the tag. However, the swing ticket may be easily removed without tools, as the swing ticket may be torn off the pin or the pin may be manipulated to allow the swing ticket to be removed. Even if the tag itself is reinforced, such as by using hard plastic, it can still be overcome, leaving the item unprotected from possible theft.

Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods for a security tag application system with an attachment mechanism that is less costly than existing hard tag attachment systems, but has a higher level of security than is provided by a swing ticket. In addition, there is a need for security tags with attachment mechanisms that do not damage the item that the tag is intended to protect.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides systems and methods for security tags, such as security tags that use reversible adhesives to removably affix the tag to an article.

One aspect of the present invention provides a system wherein a security tag has an exterior surface and an interior space. The tag includes at least one of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) element and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) element disposed in the interior space.

Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus wherein the security tag has an outer surface, an inner surface, an interior space, and at least one aperture. The tag includes at least one of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) element and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) element disposed in the interior space. The aperture defines a passage to the inner surface. The reversible adhesive is disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the label. At least one cable may be removably inserted into the at least one aperture. The cable may be detachably coupled to the reversible adhesive.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus wherein the security tag has an interior space and at least one of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) element and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) element disposed in the interior space. A securing element having a first end removably affixes the security tag to the article. The reversible adhesive is disposed on at least a portion of the first end of the fixation element.

Drawings

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a security tag system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a security tag system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a security tag system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of an opened hard tag with a reversible adhesive therein according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of a security tag system using an adhesive coated button in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a security tag system using an adhesive coated button in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an exemplary security tag application and removal process in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and steps related to implementing a method and system for security tag placement using reversible adhesives, and particularly to a method and system for security tag attachment and removal using reversible adhesives. Accordingly, the system and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

As used herein, relational terms, such as "first" and "second," "top" and "bottom," and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements.

One embodiment of the present invention advantageously provides a method and system for security tag attachment using a reversible adhesive. Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. A system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown in fig. 1 and is generally indicated at 10. The system 10 may include a label 12, an article 14, a reversible adhesive 16, and a source 18. The interior of the tag 12 may include an EAS element 20 and/or an RFID element 22. The article 14 may be constructed of any solid media to which the reversible adhesive 16 can adhere. Label 12 includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The reversible adhesive may be disposed on the exterior or interior surface based on the implementation considerations discussed herein. Source 18 may include a signal generator that generates signal 24 to thermally affect reversible adhesive 16.

In particular, referring to FIG. 1, the tag 12 may include an EAS element 20, an RFID element 22, and/or other elements disposed in the tag 12. The tag 12 may be a hard tag, label, or other type known in the art. The label 12 may be a hollow shell constructed of plastic or other materials known in the art. The EAS element 20 may be comprised of a magnetic element, an acousto-magnetic element, a microwave element, a radio frequency element, or the like. The EAS element 20 may be used to receive and transmit signals. RFID element 22 may include a radio frequency element that receives and transmits RF signals. The particular configuration and function of the EAS element 20 and the RFID element 22 are well known in the art and will not be discussed further.

As shown in fig. 1, the article 14 may have at least one surface to which an adhesive may adhere, i.e., adhere or couple to. The article 14 may be configured in any configuration, including geometric, non-geometric, or combinations thereof. For example, the item 14 may be a box or container. The article 14 may include a perforated surface having holes of sufficient size to allow the adhesive to enter the holes to establish a bond with the article 14 when the adhesive hardens or cures. Other surface types may also be used in accordance with the present invention. Further, the item 14 may comprise a physical item, such as a garment, a package, a product, and the like. In particular, the item 14 may comprise a textile, plastic, cardboard, ceramic, metal, polymer, or the like.

Still referring to fig. 1, the adhesive used to detachably couple the tag 12 to the article 14 may be a reversible adhesive 16. The reversible adhesive 16 may include any adhesive that is capable of being released (i.e., debonded, de-cured, softened, etc.) from a surface, either temporarily or permanently, upon application of an energy source. For example, the signal 24 may be applied to the reversible adhesive 16 to thermally affect the adhesive, thereby causing the adhesive to release. The reversible binder 16 may be comprised of a binder containing a magnetic additive, such as paramagnetic particles (e.g., metal particles). When a high frequency Electromagnetic (EM) field is applied to the reversible adhesive 16, the paramagnetic particles will oscillate and heat the adhesive accordingly, i.e., the heat affects the adhesive. Alternatively, different additives may be added to the reversible adhesive 16 to induce electromagnetic field coupling, thereby generating an electrical current that will heat the reversible adhesive 16, causing the adhesive to release. In addition, other types of reversible adhesives that release upon application of an energy source may be used in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In this manner, the reversible adhesive 16 releasably couples the label 12 to the article 14 by thermally affecting the reversible adhesive 16. Also, depending on the particular reversible adhesive 16 used, the reversible adhesive 16 may be detachably coupled multiple times, for example, the tag 12 may be reused.

Referring to fig. 1, the source 18 is adapted to provide energy to the reversible adhesive 16 to thermally affect the adhesive. For example, source 18 may include an EM field generator that generates EM signal 24 at one or more frequencies. The EM signal 24 may be applied to the reversible adhesive 16 causing the reversible adhesive 16 to release. Likewise, the intensity of the generated EM signal 24 may be varied to produce a greater or lesser thermal response from the reversible binder 16, e.g., induce a greater response from paramagnetic particles, induce a greater current, etc. The more intense EM signal 24 may also enable the EM field to propagate a greater distance, thereby allowing the source 18 to be placed at a greater distance from the tag 12. It is also contemplated that the reversible adhesive 16 may be made sensitive to multiple frequencies such that the reversible adhesive requires two or more different signals (i.e., signals of different frequencies) to release. This arrangement provides increased security by making it more difficult for a perpetrator to damage the adhesive. The particular type of EM field generator used may depend on a variety of factors, such as size, cost, power consumption, frequency generation, signal strength, and the like.

In addition, the source 18 may include other types of energy generators, such as voltage generators, current generators, etc., that may be applied directly to the reversible adhesive 16 and/or the tag 12. For example, a voltage generator may apply a voltage to a pair of contact points on the label 12 to generate a current across the reversible adhesive 16, thereby thermally affecting the reversible adhesive 16. The contact points may include signal traces or may be points directly on the reversible adhesive.

Referring to fig. 1, the tag 12 may be configured to detachably couple with the item 14 using a non-mechanical mechanism, i.e., a non-moving mechanical piece, through the use of the reversible adhesive 16. This configuration may allow for a smaller tag profile that is more damage resistant and easier to hide on the item 14 than conventional tags. Also, this configuration may reduce production costs and time, such as simplifying manufacturing, using less material, etc.

Also, the use of the reversible adhesive 16 may allow the label 12 to be separated from the article 14 without causing damage to the article 14 or the label 12. In particular, no or substantially no item is torn apart when removing label 12 from item 14. Likewise, the item 14 may not be damaged using the EM signal 24, nor may the item 14 be damaged by the thermal energy generated by the EM signal 24, e.g., the item may not be damaged by the generated heat. Accordingly, the label 12 including the reversible adhesive 16 may be separated from the article 14 without causing damage to the article 14.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of fig. 1, wherein a reversible adhesive 16 may be used to detachably couple the tag 12 to the item 14, such as to a container. In particular, the reversible adhesive 16 may be applied to an outer surface of the tag 12 that is detachably coupled to a portion of the article 14, e.g., the reversible adhesive 16 may be applied to a portion or the entire side of the tag 12. The amount (e.g., thickness and area) of reversible adhesive 16 disposed on the label can vary, as these and other criteria can affect the time required for the reversible adhesive to bond or release, i.e., a smaller area of reversible adhesive 16 may require less time to bond.

Referring to fig. 3, an alternative embodiment of the label 12 with a reversible adhesive 16 is shown. In particular, the label 12 includes a reversible adhesive 16 on an exterior surface not facing the article 14 (e.g., on a surface opposite the side facing the article 14). In this configuration, the reversible adhesive 16 may be used to detachably couple one or more ends of the cable 26 to the tag 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, both ends of the cable 26 are detachably coupled to the reversible adhesive. In particular, the source 18 may be used to release the reversible adhesive 16 to detachably couple the cable end to the tag 12, or to decouple the cable end from the tag 12 to remove the tag 12. The cable 26 may include one or more strands of wire, rope, or the like made of metal, nylon, or the like. Further, the cable may be constructed of a material to which the reversible adhesive 16 can bond. The cable end that is detachably coupled to the reversible adhesive 16 may also vary. For example, the cable end may have a greater width than the cable 26 so as to detachably couple a greater portion of the cable end (e.g., a flat cable end) to the reversible adhesive 16.

Likewise, additional cables, such as cable 28 in fig. 4, may be detachably coupled to the reversible adhesive 16. For example, one or more cables may be added to the configuration of fig. 3, wherein the one or more cables may wrap around all or a portion of the article 14. The ends of the one or more cables may be detachably coupled to the tag 12. The addition of one or more cables may be used to further secure the tag 12 to the item 14, i.e., may make the tag 12 more difficult to remove without the use of the source 18.

Alternatively, one end of the cables 26, 28 may be permanently coupled to the tag 12 by a mechanical mechanism, a permanent adhesive, or other mechanism known in the art. In other words, one end of the cable 26 may be affixed to the label 12 and the other end may be detachably coupled to the reversible adhesive 16. This configuration may make tag attachment easier, i.e., may make it easier for one to attach tag 12.

Also, the label 12 shown in FIG. 3 may have an additional coating of reversible adhesive (not shown) on the outer surface facing the article 14. In particular, the use of a label 12 coated on both sides with a reversible adhesive 16 and at least one cable 26 can significantly increase the tamper resistance of the label 12, i.e., the label 12 will be more difficult for a thief to remove without damaging the item 14. In addition, the tag 12 may be more easily attached to the item 14. For example, the tag 12 may first be detachably coupled to the article 14, and then the cable 26 may be detachably coupled to the tag 12 without having to hold the tag 12 in place, i.e., the tag 12 has been detachably coupled to the article 14 using a reversible adhesive. In addition, an additional reversible adhesive coating may be added to the label 12 shown in FIG. 4, discussed below.

Referring to fig. 4, an alternative embodiment of the tag 12 is shown. In particular, the reversible adhesive 16 may be disposed on an interior region or surface of the tag 12 to detachably couple at least one cable end (e.g., cables 26 and/or 28) to the tag 12. In particular, the label 12 may have one or more apertures 30 disposed on one or more sides of the label 12. Each aperture 30 leads to an interior region coated with the reversible adhesive 16, i.e., the cable end can be removably inserted into the aperture 30. The source 18 may be applied to the label 12 to release the reversible adhesive 16, allowing the cable end to be detachably coupled to the adhesive 16. The at least one or more apertures 30 may include openings, holes, or the like. The size of the aperture 30 may vary depending on several factors, including cable size, tag size, manufacturing constraints, and the like. Further, tag 12 may have at least one cable end permanently attached via a mechanical mechanism, permanent adhesive, or other mechanism known in the art to allow only one cable end to be detachably coupled to tag 12.

FIG. 5 shows hard tag 32 with the cover removed, exposing an interior portion 34 of hard tag 32. The hard tag 32 includes the EAS element 20 and/or the RFID element 22, the reversible adhesive 16 area, and the aperture 30 on the opposite side of the hard tag 32 d. In particular, the reversible adhesive 16 may be coated onto at least a portion of the interior portion 34 of the hard tag 32, with each aperture 30 providing access to the reversible adhesive 16. Each end of the cable 26 may be inserted into a different aperture 30 to detachably couple to the reversible adhesive 16. Alternatively, the hard tag 32 may have only one aperture 30 into which both ends of the cable 26 are inserted to detachably couple the cable ends to the reversible adhesive 16. In addition, additional apertures 30 and/or cable ends and/or reversible adhesive areas may be added to portions of the hard tag 32.

Referring to fig. 6, a label 12 with a releasable fastener 36 is shown. The releasable fastener 36 may include an anchor 38 with a reversible adhesive 16, thereby allowing the releasable fastener 36 to be detachably coupled to the article 14. The label 12 may include an aperture 40 having a diameter (Dtag) through which a portion of the releasable fastener 36 may be disposed. In particular, releasable fastener 36 may have at least two ends opposite one another, wherein first end 42 may have a diameter (D1) smaller than label aperture 40 and second end 44 may have a diameter (D2) larger than label aperture 40. The reversible adhesive 16 is applied at the first end 42. Second end 44 of anchor 38 may help secure tag 12 once first end 42 of the releasable fastener is inserted into aperture 40. In particular, second end 44 may define a lip 46 that prevents removal of label 12. In addition, the configuration shown in FIG. 6 may allow different types of tags to be removably secured to the article 14. For example, a store owner may wish that certain items contain only the EAS element 20, while other items contain both the EAS element 20 and the RFID element 22. In this case, the store boss may configure the item 14 with an appropriate tag by inserting the anchor 38 into a particular type of tag and detachably coupling the anchor 38 to the item 14.

Further, dividing the tag 12 and reversible adhesive 16 into removable components of the security tag may reduce the cost of upgrading or replacing the security tag. For example, once the reversible adhesive 16 becomes depleted and does not sufficiently adhere to the item 14, only the replacement anchor 38 with the reversible adhesive 16 need be ordered, as opposed to ordering a complete security tag with the reversible adhesive 16 and EAS/RFID element. Furthermore, as other technologies emerge into the field of electronic article surveillance, it may be desirable to upgrade the tag 12 to newer technologies. With the configuration of fig. 6, only the tag 12 needs to be replaced. In this way, the cost of replacing or upgrading the components of the security tag may be divided such that the user purchases only the required components.

Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the label 12 with a releasable fastener 36. In particular, the releasable fastener 36 may be removably coupled to the tag 12 through the article 14. The releasable fastener 36 may have a first end 42 and a second segment 44 opposite the first end 42, each end having a respective diameter. The article 14 may include an aperture 40, e.g., having a diameter (D)_article) A button hole. In particular, the releasable fastener 36 may have a reversible adhesive 16 disposed on at least a portion of the first end 42. The first end 42 may be removably inserted into an aperture of an article. In particular, the diameter of the first end portion may be smaller than the bore diameter (D)_article). The second end of the releasable fastener 36 may have a diameter (D) greater than the opening diameter (D)_article) Diameter (D2). Thus, the releasable fastener 36 may be separated through the article 14The off-ground coupling to the tag 12 secures the item 14 between the releasable fastener 36 and the tag 12.

In addition, the article 14 does not contact the reversible adhesive 16, thereby helping to prevent damage to the article 14, e.g., helping to prevent tearing of the article when the releasable fastener 36 is removed with or without the source 18. Further, this configuration may allow the tag 12 with releasable fastener 36 to be used with any item 14 having a sufficiently sized aperture; even if the article 14 has a surface to which the reversible adhesive 16 cannot adhere, i.e., the fastener cannot be sufficiently bonded to the article 14. As such, the embodiment of FIG. 7 may allow security tag 12 to be used in combination with a wide variety of articles.

Fig. 8 illustrates an example process by which a label 12 having a reversible adhesive 16 may be attached to an article 14 and subsequently detached from the article 14. An attachment stimulus is applied to the label 12 to release the reversible adhesive 16, such as a heat affected reversible adhesive 16 (step S100). The attachment stimulus or signal may originate from a signal generator discussed above, such as an EM signal generator. Once the reversible adhesive 16 is sufficiently released, the attachment stimulus may be removed, and the reversible adhesive 16 portion of the tag 12 may be placed in contact with the item 14, and/or the cables 26, 28 may be placed in contact with the reversible adhesive 16 (step S102). The reversible adhesive 16 will bond with the article 14 and/or the cable 26, 28 to detachably couple the tag 12 and the article 14 and/or the cable together. The amount of time required for bonding may vary depending on the reversible adhesive 16 used, the area of reversible adhesive 16 coating, the amount of attachment stimulus applied, and the like (step S104). For example, the more the reversible adhesive 16 is thermally affected, the longer it takes to bond. In this way, the label 12 with the reversible adhesive 16 may be attached by thermally affecting the reversible adhesive 16 using an attachment stimulus.

Removal of the label 12 may be accomplished by applying a separation stimulus to the label 12 to release the reversible adhesive 16 (step S106) and remove the label 12 (step S108). The detachment stimulus may be substantially the same signal 24 and duration as the attachment stimulus, i.e., both stimuli release the reversible adhesive to a similar extent, simplifying the system 10. Alternatively, the two excitations may also differ in terms of both signal 24 and duration. For example, the signal 24 and duration of the attachment stimulus may be configured such that the reversible adhesive 16 is released only enough to allow adhesion to the item 14. In other words, portions of the reversible adhesive 16 may remain relatively bonded while other portions (e.g., portions detachably coupled to the article 14 and/or the cable 26) may be released. This may reduce the amount of time required for adhesive bonding. On the other hand, the detachment stimulus may be different from the attachment stimulus in order to more thermally affect the reversible adhesive. In particular, more thermal energy may be required to ensure that all of the reversible adhesive 16 is released to help prevent damage to the object/article. For example, the entire area of the reversible adhesive 16 may be released to prevent a portion of the article 14 from remaining on the tag 12 after removal from the article 14. This will prevent tearing of a portion of the article 14.

Moreover, it should be noted that, unless indicated to the contrary above, all the figures are not drawn to scale. It will be evident that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. A system, comprising:

a security tag having:

an outer surface;

an interior space; and

at least one of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) element and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) element disposed in the interior space; and

a reversible adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a source that generates a signal to release the reversible adhesive.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal is an electromagnetic signal.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one cable having a first end detachably coupleable to the reversible adhesive.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one cable has a second end opposite the first end, the second end being detachably couplable to the reversible adhesive.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the second end is secured to the tag.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the reversible adhesive is capable of being released only in the presence of at least two different signals.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a security tag having:

an outer surface;

an inner surface;

an interior space;

at least one aperture defining a passageway to the inner surface;

at least one of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) element and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) element disposed in the interior space;

a reversible adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the label; and

at least one cable removably insertable into the at least one aperture and detachably couplable to the reversible adhesive.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one cable comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being detachably coupleable to the reversible adhesive and the second end being secured to the tag.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one cable comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, both ends being detachably couplable to the reversible adhesive.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one cable comprises a plurality of cables and the at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures, each cable of the plurality of cables being removably insertable into a respective aperture and detachably couplable to the reversible adhesive.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reversible adhesive comprises a metal.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a security tag having:

an interior space; and

at least one of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) element and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) element disposed in the interior space;

an anchor element having a first end, the anchor element removably attaching the security tag to an article; and

a reversible adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the first end of the anchor element.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the tag includes an aperture having a diameter, the first end of the anchor element having a first diameter smaller than the diameter of the aperture and being removably insertable into the aperture.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the anchor element has a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the diameter of the bore.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second end defines at least one lip.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the reversible adhesive removably affixes the anchor element to the tag.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the anchor element includes a second end opposite the first end, the first end and the second section each having a respective diameter, the second end having a diameter greater than the first end.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second end defines at least one lip.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the reversible adhesive comprises a metal.