Abstract: A first entity maintains an advanced sales system on a server accessible over a global communications network. The first entity provides access to the server to a second entity which is a sales oriented business. The server houses at least a database, a product selection module, and a proposal generator. The database contains information on products for sale, information about the sales oriented business, and information about customers of the sales oriented business. The product selection module facilitates selection and accessorizing of products by the second entity. The proposal generator creates proposals based on input to the product selection module and information in the database. The advanced sales system provides structure to extremely large product offerings with large numbers of accessories associated with the product offerings. Some embodiments of the advanced sales system provide additional ordering support.

Abstract: A first entity maintains an advanced sales system on a server accessible over a global communications network. The first entity provides access to the server to a second entity which is a sales oriented business. The server houses at least a database, a product selection module, and a proposal generator. The database contains information on products for sale, information about the sales oriented business, and information about customers of the sales oriented business. The product selection module facilitates selection and accessorizing of products by the second entity. The proposal generator creates proposals based on input to the product selection module and information in the database. The advanced sales system provides structure to extremely large product offerings with large numbers of accessories associated with the product offerings. Some embodiments of the advanced sales system provide additional ordering support.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance tag is claimed wherein the tag features a spindle assembly which anchors and retains a set of ball bearings which are used to clutch and retain the shaft of a tack. The spindle features an operational tab which may be contacted by the appropriate probe to turn the spindle about a central axis. The spindle is seated in a retaining means with a graduated lip around the perimeter. The turning of the spindle serves to raise a portion of the spindle from the retaining means, loosening the ball bearing grip on the shaft of the tack. The electronic article surveillance tag may be used with either a smoothed or grooved tack shaft and may be operated by either mechanical probe actuation or by the use of a magnetic detachment means applied to the spindle.

Abstract: An article anti-theft device has a pair of hinged components that are detachably clamped together about a shaft of an article intended to be protected. The shaft is clamped between the two components with a selected one of the components having a resiliently mounted elongated prong insertably received within the other component and is held thereto by a ball clutch mechanism which includes a tapered housing with an internal tapered wall surface enclosing a plug member having at least two balls carried in opposing seats in the tapered housing and the plug member and a coaxial passageway insertably receives the elongated prong. The plug member is resiliently biased to a first position by an expansion spring causing the balls to bear against the tapered inner wall of the housing, restricting the passageway. When the prong occupies the passageway, the balls are forced outwardly as the plug member moves to compress the spring.

Abstract: An single use, disposable electronic article surveillance tag is claimed wherein the tag features a spindle assembly which anchors and retains a set of ball bearings which are used to clutch and retain the shaft of a tack. The spindle features an operational tab which may be contacted by the appropriate probe to turn the spindle about a central axis.

Abstract: A deactivator for deactivating label-style EAS devices is claimed. The preferred embodiment, of which, employs a microprocessor unit to control two transceiver coils, and a deactivation coil in series with a capacitor. The two transceiver coils are essentially two flat figure eights arranged concentrically but rotated through some angle with respect to each other. The transceiver coils are operated alternatively, first transmitting an interrogation signal and then listening for a response. When an EAS device is detected, the microprocessor unit drives the capacitor and deactivation coil at the system's resonant frequency to generate a high amplitude magnetic field then shifts the frequency of the driving current away from the resonant frequency to attenuate the magnetic field. A field sensor or current sensor provides feedback to the microprocessor to determine the resonant frequency of the system during a frequency sweep.

Abstract: An antenna system for an electronic article surveillance system, comprising: a first antenna and a second antenna, the first antenna and the second antenna mounted for use in a substantially overlapping manner, the first antenna configured as a loop, the second antenna configured in a “figure-8”; a control circuit for selectively activating one of the first and second antennas. The first and second antennas each operate as a transmit and receive antenna. The control circuit further comprises a switch to selectively enable operation of one of the antennas when the other is open circuit. One of the antennas transmits and receives while the other is open circuit, and vice versa. The loop antenna substantially detects markers oriented substantially perpendicular to an elongated axis when entering into a surveillance area. The “figure-8” antenna substantially detects markers oriented substantially parallel to an elongated axis when entering into a surveillance area.

Abstract: According to the invention, a system and method of reducing noise interference in a way that employs pseudorandom coding. A transmitter and receiver are provided to send and receive a string of non-periodic pulses. The string of non-periodic pulses can be a sequence of pseudorandom codes. The random transmission of pulses in a non-periodic manner promotes a significant immunity to periodic interferences of constant noise operating in a surveillance area. The string of non-periodic pulses can be mutually spaced and binary, in the form of 0 or 1, and can include several bits per cycle to measure the mean and standard deviation of the string of non-periodic pulses received. A circuit is coupled to the transmitter and receiver for comparing the portion of the string of non-periodic pulses received with the string of non-periodic pulses transmitted; and whereby an alarm in triggered if the portion of the string of non-periodic pulses is above a threshold value.

Abstract: According to the invention, a system and method of reducing noise interference in a way that employs pseudorandom coding. A transmitter and receiver are provided to send and receive a string of non-periodic pulses. The string of non-periodic pulses can be a sequence of pseudorandom codes. The random transmission of pulses in a non-periodic manner promotes a significant immunity to periodic interferences of constant noise operating in a surveillance area. The string of non-periodic pulses can be mutually spaced and binary, in the form of 0 or 1, and can include several bits per cycle to measure the mean and standard deviation of the string of non-periodic pulses received. A circuit is coupled to the transmitter and receiver for comparing the portion of the string of non-periodic pulses received with the string of non-periodic pulses transmitted; and whereby an alarm in triggered if the portion of the string of non-periodic pulses is above a threshold value.

Abstract: An antenna system for an electronic article surveillance system, comprising: a first antenna and a second antenna, the first antenna and the second antenna mounted for use in a substantially overlapping manner, the first antenna configured as a loop, the second antenna configured in a “figure-8”; a control circuit for selectively activating one of the first and second antennas. The first and second antennas each operate as a transmit and receive antenna. The control circuit further comprises a switch to selectively enable operation of one of the antennas when the other is open circuit. One of the antennas transmits and receives while the other is open circuit, and vice versa. The loop antenna substantially detects markers oriented substantially perpendicular to an elongated axis when entering into a surveillance area. The “figure-8” antenna substantially detects markers oriented substantially parallel to an elongated axis when entering into a surveillance area.

Abstract: An article surveillance includes a pair of components that are detachably connected together having a releasably grasping device engaging with an article intended to be protected. The device is coupled between the two components with a selected one of the components having an elongated prong insertably received within the other component and is held thereto by a ball clutch mechanism. The mechanism includes a tapered housing with an internal tapered wall surface enclosing a plug member having at least two balls carried in opposing grooves. The tapered housing and the plug member include a coaxial passageway for insertably receiving the elongated prong from the first component. The plug member is resiliently biased to a first position by an expansion spring causing the balls to bear against the tapered inner wall of the housing, restricting the passageway.

Abstract: A theft deterrent garment tag having a first housing with an internal cavity occupied by a pair of fragile vials fixedly held in position over slots or openings containing a garment staining substance such as ink and a movable vial fracturing element adjacent openings provided in the first housing permitting flow of released substance into the garment when tempered with by unauthorized personnel. An antenna including a diode is carried in the first housing suitable for use in an electronic surveillance situation and hold-down ribs are included for supporting the antenna in position in the first housing. A second housing includes a receptacle mid-way between its opposite ends for insertably receiving the shank of an elongated pin downwardly depending from the fracturing element movably carried on the first housing whereby securement of the housings is made on opposite sides of the fabric of the garment.