Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present aspects include a method of detaching a security tag from an article, including receiving, at a detacher device, an unlock signal from a transaction system. The detacher device includes a housing having a nest configured to receive a security tag, a gate assembly including a gate member movable between a closed position that blocks the nest and an open position, and a magnet positioned on an opposite the nest and having a magnetic flux sufficient to unlock a magnetic lock of the security tag. The method further includes moving the gate member from the closed position to the open position based on receipt of the unlock signal, receiving the security tag in the nest, and unlocking the magnetic lock of the security tag to allow the security tag to be detached from the article.

Abstract: The present aspects include a magnetic detacher including a housing having a wall that defines a nest configured to receive a security tag; a gate member and an actuator configured to move the gate member between a closed position and an open position, wherein the gate member in the closed position blocks the nest, and in the open position allows access to the nest; a magnet positioned on an opposite side of the housing relative to the nest and adjacent to the nest, the magnet having a field in an area of the nest sufficient to unlock a magnetic lock of the security tag; and a processor in communication with the actuator and with a transaction system, wherein the processor is configured to control the actuator to move the gate member from the closed position to the open position based on receipt of an unlock signal from the transaction system.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a tag. The methods comprise: actuating a telescoping actuator of the tag to transition a pin from an unengaged position in which the pin is retracted into a first portion of the tag's housing to an engaged position in which the pin extends through an insert space and into a second portion of the tag's housing; and mechanically securing the pin in the engaged position using a securement mechanism disposed in the second portion of the tag's housing. The pin is securely coupled to a movable component of the telescoping actuator so as to be integrated into the tag's body, and the first and second portions of the tag's housing are coupled to each other so as to form a unitary piece.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Adaptive system for communicating with a customer in a retail store environment includes a sensor disposed at a sensor location in a retail environment. The sensor location is selected so that the sensor captures information that facilitates identification of at least one trait associated with a customer located proximate to the sensor location. A processing system is configured to use the information to determine the at least one trait. Thereafter, in response to such determination, the processing system selectively determines a message or content selection to be displayed to the customer based at least in part on the at least one trait that has been identified.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An EAS pedestal system includes a video display device and a video camera supported on an EAS pedestal housing. The video camera is oriented to facilitate capture of video images. The video images include facial images associated with a plurality of human faces under conditions where the human faces are positioned to observe the video display device. The system applies an analytical process to determine when an imaged human face is looking toward the video display device. The system then determines one or more human demographic traits based on the facial images and adaptively selects advertising content to be displayed based on information derived from the analytical process.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.