Patents by Inventor Thomas J. McKeown

Thomas J. McKeown has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9147355
    Abstract: An advertisement clip and method for supplementing a security hard tag with the advertisement clip for application to a product. The advertisement clip may include indicia on the surface of the clip or may hold or enclose an information element that provides the indicia to the manufacturer, retailer, and/or customer. Indicia may be visible and can include promotional information, pricing, images, customer specific branding, and/or barcodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony F. Piccoli, Thomas J. McKeown, Gary T. Mazoki, Brennan Bradley, Seth Strauser, James Brodzik
  • Patent number: 9129201
    Abstract: A technology clip and method for supplementing a security tag with the technology clip for application to a product. The technology clip includes a technology element providing for an additional security and/or an identification feature when coupled to a tag, thus enhancing features of the security tag. The technology clip attaches about the tag and remains secured to the tag for when the tag is affixed to merchandise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary T. Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, Morui Li, Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 8938997
    Abstract: A security device and method to surround merchandise for theft deterrence. The security device includes a cord and housing for a knot in the cord. The cord is pulled from one end about the knot to tighten cord around a product and the cord is pulled from another section to lock cord in place around the product. The device serves to deter breaking in or stealing merchandising product. The security device may also include an additional housing for the cord to pass through. Either housing may include an EAS and/or RFID element for additional security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony F. Piccoli, Wei Wu, Lawrence Appalucci, Gary T. Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, Seth Strauser, James Brodzik
  • Publication number: 20140259836
    Abstract: An advertisement clip and method for supplementing a security hard tag with the advertisement clip for application to a product. The advertisement clip may include indicia on the surface of the clip or may hold or enclose an information element that provides the indicia to the manufacturer, retailer, and/or customer. Indicia may be visible and can include promotional information, pricing, images, customer specific branding, and/or barcodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Anthony F. Piccoli, Thomas J. McKeown, Gary T. Mazoki, Brennan Bradley, Seth Strauser, James Brodzik
  • Patent number: 8581726
    Abstract: A security tag that is attached to an article in two stages. In a first stage, a first portion of an attachment clip is coupled to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected by a manufacturer or assembler. This attachment clip is durable to withstand harsh manufacturing environments. Once the article with the attachment clip is ready for presentation, for example, at a retail establishment, during a second stage, a second portion of the attachment clip is then permanently secured in a locking mechanism of a housing containing a security element therein. The security element may comprise EAS (including AM, RF, EM and microwave), RFID (including LF, HF and UHF), benefit denial (e.g., ink-filled or dye-filled capsules) elements or any combination thereof. Because the security tag is not removed from the article at the point-of-sale, the security element is deactivatable. A preferred embodiment of the security tag uses all non-ferrous components including its locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony F. Piccoli, Lawrence Appalucci, James Brodzik, Gary Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, Seth Strauser
  • Patent number: 8547229
    Abstract: A multi-attach disposable security tag that is attached to an article in two stages. In a first stage, an attachment clip is coupled to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected by a manufacturer or assembler. This attachment clip is durable to withstand harsh manufacturing environments. Once the article with the attachment clip is ready for presentation, for example, at a retail establishment, during a second stage, the attachment clip is then permanently secured in a locking mechanism of a housing containing a deactivatable security element therein. The security element may comprise EAS (including AM, RF, EM and microwave), RFID (including LF, HF and UHF) elements or any combination thereof. A preferred embodiment of the security tag uses all non-ferrous components including its locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brodzik, Anthony F. Piccoli, Lawrence Appalucci, Gary Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, Seth Strauser, Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 8547228
    Abstract: A multi-attach reusable security tag (MARST) that is attached to an article in two stages. In a first stage, an attachment clip is coupled to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected by a manufacturer or assembler. This attachment clip is durable to withstand harsh manufacturing environments. Once the article with the attachment clip is ready for presentation, for example, at a retail establishment, during a second stage, the attachment clip is then secured in a releasable locking mechanism of a housing containing a security element therein. The security element may comprise EAS (including AM, RF, EM and microwave), RFID (including LF, HF and UHF) elements or any combination thereof. Alternatively, a fluke element can be used to secure the attachment clip to the releasable locking mechanism and wherein this fluke element permits the attachment clip to swivel outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brodzik, Anthony F. Piccoli, Lawrence Appalucci, Gary Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, Seth Strauser, Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 8344891
    Abstract: A security hard tag, uses an attachment clip to couple to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected and which can only be released from the article by use of an authorized detacher that is inserted into the security hard tag. The attachment clip may include various types of locking mechanisms on its two ends, one end which is permanently secured within the security hard tag housing and the other end which is releasably secured within the housing. Before being releasably secured within the housing, the one end is inserted through or around a portion of an article, or through a security tag loop attached to the article, and then that end is locked into the housing. The detacher uses a cam, either located on the detacher itself or positioned within the security hard tag housing, to interact with the one end of the attachment clip to release the locked end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Appalucci, Anthony F. Piccoli, Gary Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, James Brodzik
  • Publication number: 20120032805
    Abstract: A multi-attach reusable security tag (MARST) that is attached to an article in two stages. In a first stage, an attachment clip is coupled to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected by a manufacturer or assembler. This attachment clip is durable to withstand harsh manufacturing environments. Once the article with the attachment clip is ready for presentation, for example, at a retail establishment, during a second stage, the attachment clip is then secured in a releasable locking mechanism of a housing containing a security element therein. The security element may comprise EAS (including AM, RF, EM and microwave), RFID (including LF, HF and UHF) elements or any combination thereof. Alternatively, a fluke element can be used to secure the attachment clip to the releasable locking mechanism and wherein this fluke element permits the attachment clip to swivel outside of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: James Brodzik, Anthony F. Piccoli, Lawrence Appalucci, Gary Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, Seth Strauser, Wu Wei
  • Publication number: 20120019385
    Abstract: A multi-attach disposable security tag that is attached to an article in two stages. In a first stage, an attachment clip is coupled to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected by a manufacturer or assembler. This attachment clip is durable to withstand harsh manufacturing environments. Once the article with the attachment clip is ready for presentation, for example, at a retail establishment, during a second stage, the attachment clip is then permanently secured in a locking mechanism of a housing containing a deactivatable security element therein. The security element may comprise EAS (including AM, RF, EM and microwave), RFID (including LF, HF and UHF) elements or any combination thereof. A preferred embodiment of the security tag uses all non-ferrous components including its locking mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: James Brodzik, Anthony F. Piccoli, Lawrence Appalucci, Gary Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, Seth Strauser, Wu Wei
  • Publication number: 20110018716
    Abstract: A security tag that is attached to an article in two stages. In a first stage, a first portion of an attachment clip is coupled to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected by a manufacturer or assembler. This attachment clip is durable to withstand harsh manufacturing environments. Once the article with the attachment clip is ready for presentation, for example, at a retail establishment, during a second stage, a second portion of the attachment clip is then permanently secured in a locking mechanism of a housing containing a security element therein. The security element may comprise EAS (including AM, RF, EM and microwave), RFID (including LF, HF and UHF), benefit denial (e.g., ink-filled or dye-filled capsules) elements or any combination thereof. Because the security tag is not removed from the article at the point-of-sale, the security element is deactivatable. A preferred embodiment of the security tag uses all non-ferrous components including its locking mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony F. Piccoli, Lawrence Appalucci, James Brodzik, Gary Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, Seth Strauser
  • Publication number: 20100225485
    Abstract: A security hard tag, uses an attachment clip to couple to an article, such as but not limited to clothing, to be protected and which can only be released from the article by use of an authorized detacher that is inserted into the security hard tag. The attachment clip may include various types of locking mechanisms on its two ends, one end which is permanently secured within the security hard tag housing and the other end which is releasably secured within the housing. Before being releasably secured within the housing, the one end is inserted through or around a portion of an article, or through a security tag loop attached to the article, and then that end is locked into the housing. The detacher uses a cam, either located on the detacher itself or positioned within the security hard tag housing, to interact with the one end of the attachment clip to release the locked end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence Appalucci, Anthony F. Piccoli, Gary Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, James Brodzik
  • Patent number: 5841350
    Abstract: A resonant tag circuit useful as an electronic security device includes a layered planar structure having a dielectric substrate, a resonant circuit carried on both sides of the dielectric substrate and a semiconductive material having an ionizable salt dissolved therein. The semiconductor material provides a sermiconductive bridge across an activation or deactivation point in the circuit and connects the conductive circuit on both sides of the activation or deactivation point. The resonant tag circuit of this invention is stabilized against premature operation of the activation or deactivation point from electrostatic discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Appalucci, John H. Bowers, Gary T. Mazoki, Thomas J. McKeown, Anthony F. Piccoli, Mark J. Rankin, Stanley Tocker
  • Patent number: 5574431
    Abstract: A security tag used with an electronic article surveillance system for detecting the presence of the tag within a surveilled area utilizing electromagnetic energy at a frequency within a predetermined detection frequency range includes a dielectric substrate having first and second opposing principle surfaces and a resonant circuit capable of resonating at a frequency within the predetermined detection frequency range. The resonant circuit includes an inductor formed at least in part on one of the principal surfaces of the substrate. A first perforation path formed of a series of spaced apart perforations extends along a line across the substrate and through at least a portion of the inductor such that a stress exerted on the tag breaks the tag and the inductor along the first perforation path, causing an open circuit condition which prevents the resonant circuit from resonating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. McKeown, Gary T. Mazoki
  • Patent number: 4904332
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing a continuous sequence of disposable headdresses in which the edge of the cap fabric has been folded inward around a peripherally extending elastic cord to provide a smooth edge which contacts the wearer, and provides superior adhesion between the elastic cord and the cap fabric by utilizing an elastic cord and fabric which are coated with or made of thermoplastically compatible materials. The elastic cord and fabric are assembled by passing the fabric and the cord through a guide system which turns the fabric side edges down from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane while an edge guide lays the elastic cord under the fabric, and then turns the fabric under the cord to sandwich in the folded edge. Warm air preheaters heat the elastic cord and the fabric before completing the fabric fold around the cord. The folded edges with the cord inside pass between dual heat wheels which physically press the fabric to the cord and also seal the fabric edge to the inside of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Cellucap Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. McKeown
  • Patent number: 4765854
    Abstract: A method of sequentially producing a plurality of disposable headdresses in which the edge of the cap fabric has been folded inward around a peripherally extending elastic cord to provide a smooth edge which contacts the wearer, and provides superior adhesion between the elastic cord and the cap fabric by utilizing an elastic cord and fabric which are coated with or made of thermoplastically compatible materials. The elastic cord and fabric are assembled by passing the fabric and the cord through a guide system which turns the fabric side edges down from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane while an edge guide lays the elastic cord under the fabric, and then turns the fabric under the cord to sandwich in the folded edge. Warm air preheaters heat the elastic cord and the fabric before completing the fabric fold around the cord. The folded edges with the cord inside pass between dual heat wheels which physically press the fabric to the cord and also seal the fabric edge to the inside of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Cellucap Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Thomas J. McKeown
  • Patent number: 4691390
    Abstract: A disposable headdress in which the edge of the cap fabric has been folded inward around the peripherally extending elastic cord to provide a smooth edge which contacts the wearer, and provides superior adhesion between the elastic cord and the cap fabric by utilizing an elastic cord and fabric which are coated with or made of thermoplastically compatible materials. The elastic cord and fabric are assembled by passing the fabric and the cord through a guide system which turns the fabric side edges down from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane while an edge guide lays the elastic cord under the fabric, and then turns the fabric under the cord to sandwich in the folded edge. Warm air preheaters heat the elastic cord and the fabric before completing the fabric fold around the cord. The folded edges with the cord inside pass between dual heat wheels which physically press the fabric to the cord and also seal the fabric edge to the inside of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Cellucap Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. McKeown