TAPE RULE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE AND PACKAGE
A tape rule package includes a tape rule, a mount structure, and a surveillance tag. The tape rule includes a housing and a belt clip. The mount structure includes a securement portion constructed and arranged to be secured to the belt clip. The surveillance tag is carried by the mount structure.
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This application relies on the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/186,082, filed on Jun. 11, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to an anti-theft device and also to a tape rule package having an anti-theft device that is attached to a tape rule.
Tape measures pose a significant theft problem in retail stores. With conventional tape measure packaging, e.g., blister packs using cardboard and/or plastic wrap, shoplifters have been known to tear the package off the tape rule and wear the tape rule out of the store, clipped to the individual's belt.
Anti-theft devices, such as RFID tags and electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags, for example, have been used in retailing to reduce theft. The surveillance tags, which are attached to the retail article or its packaging, trip an alarm-sounding sensor when an attempt is made to remove the article from the store, unless the tag is first disarmed by store personnel. Of course, if the surveillance tag becomes separated from the article, it is ineffective to prevent theft of the article.
Tags have been applied to tape measure packages displayed for sale in order to deter theft. Tags are only effective, however, if the tape measure remains with the part of the package carrying the tag. In existing tape measure packages, separation of the tape measure from the tag has been relatively easy to accomplish, thus enabling the tape measure to be removed from the store without tripping the detection system sensor.
The present invention provides several improvements over the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the present invention provides a tape rule package that includes a tape rule, a mount structure, and a surveillance tag. The tape rule includes a housing and a belt clip. The mount structure includes a securement portion constructed and arranged to be secured to the belt clip. The surveillance tag is carried by the mount structure.
Another aspect of the present invention provides an anti-theft attachment for a product having a belt clip, the anti-theft attachment includes a mount structure and a surveillance tag. The mount structure includes a base portion and a bridge portion. The bridge portion is joined to the base portion. The bridge portion includes a projection constructed and arranged to be received in an opening of the belt clip. The surveillance tag is secured to the mount structure.
Another aspect of the present invention provides an anti-theft attachment for a product, the product having a structural shape, the anti-theft attachment includes an injection molded integrally formed body having a structural configuration constructed and shaped to be forced into a biased engagement with the structural shape of the product such that the structural configuration of the integrally formed body interlocks with the product and cannot be released from the product without cutting or destruction thereof; and a surveillance tag carried by the injection molded integrally formed body.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for forming a package product, the method includes injection molding a body; securing a surveillance tag to the body; and forcing the body into an interlocking relationship with a product so that the body cannot be removed from the product without cutting or destruction of the body.
These and other aspects of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. In one embodiment of the invention, the structural components illustrated herein are drawn to scale. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. It shall also be appreciated that the features of one embodiment disclosed herein can be used in other embodiments disclosed herein. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The surveillance tag 15 is carried by the mount structure 14. In one embodiment, the surveillance tag 15 is secured to the mount structure 14 as will be explained with reference to
As shown in
The tape rule package 10 can be positioned on a retail display rack for display and selection by the customers. The backing portion 24 generally includes a hanger hole 32 formed near an upper edge of the backing portion 24. In one embodiment, the clear plastic portion 26 generally includes a hanger hole 33 formed near an upper edge of the clear plastic portion 26. When the backing portion 24 is secured to the clear plastic portion 26, the hanger hole 33 of the clear plastic portion 26 is constructed and arranged to align with the hanger hole 32 of the backing portion 24. The hanger holes 32 and 33 together enable the package 10 to be hung on a hanger (not shown), such as a rack hooks or display rails on a display stand, for display to the consumers in a retail store. The hanger holes 32 and 33 may be formed by cutting (e.g., stamping) away a piece of backing card material from the backing portion 24 and a piece of the clear plastic material from the clear plastic portion 26 respectively in a shape sufficient to receive the hanger. Each hanger holes 32 and 33 as illustrated include a horizontal slot with an enlarged circular region in the center, however, it should be appreciated that the hanger holes 32 and 33 may be configured in various shapes and sizes as would be appreciated by one skilled in the art. For example, in one embodiment, the package 10 may be positioned on the hanger using other hanging structures such as hooks attached to the rearwardly-facing surface 30 of the backing portion 24, just for example.
In one embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, the backing portion 24 includes a removable section 37 that is constructed and arranged to be at least partially removable to access the mount structure 14 that is disposed between the clear plastic portion 26 and the backing portion 24. In one embodiment, the removable section 37 may include at least one frangible area 39 that is constructed and arranged to be frangible to enable removal of the removable section 37 as will be explained in detail with reference to
As noted previously, the tape rule 12 includes the housing 16 and the belt clip 18. The belt clip 18 may be made of flexible metal or plastic material with sufficient resiliency to be moved away from the housing 16 to receive a workman's belt in a conventional fashion and to resiliently snap back and engage the belt with the internal material resiliency of the clip 18. In one embodiment, the housing 16 of the tape rule 12 contains a coiled measuring tape, or measuring rule, therein. The hooked or flanged end 22 of the measuring tape is illustrated in
As shown in
In one embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, the mount structure 14 is made of any high strength material that can secure the surveillance tag 15 to the belt clip 18 (see
In one embodiment, the mount structure 14 is made of a plastic material, for example, polyvinylchloride (PVC) film. The PVC film used is, in one embodiment, of the non-recycled variety to ensure strength thereof. The high strength plastic material inhibits separation thereof from the belt clip 18 and inhibits manual access to the surveillance tag 15.
In one embodiment, the surveillance tag 15 may take the form of an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag, which utilizes magnetically vibrating elements that transmit a frequency which can be detected by a detection system used in retail stores. Unlimiting examples of such tags are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,357,240; 5,313,192; 5,111,186; 4,510,489; and 4,510,490, the respective disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In such embodiment, the EAS tag can be disarmed, for example, by being demagnetized at the cash register before the customer walks past the sensor at the store exit. In another embodiment, the surveillance tag 15 may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, or “tag”. Other known surveillance tags may also be used.
In one embodiment, the mount structure or the injection molded integrally formed body 14 includes a structural configuration (e.g., a bridge portion or securement portion 40 with a projection 46 or an opening (not shown) formed on it) that is constructed and shaped to be forced into biased engagement with a structural shape (e.g., an opening 36 (see
In the embodiment of
The bridge portion or securement portion 40 of the mount structure 14 includes a belt clip securing portion 52, and a pair of adjoining members 54 and 56. The pair of adjoining members 54 and 56 are constructed and arranged to join the belt clip securing portion 52 to the base portion 42. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in
The belt clip securing portion 52 includes a forwardly-facing surface 60 (see
The securing portion 52 of the mount structure 14 includes the projection 46. That is, the structural configuration of the injection molded integrally formed body 14 is in the form of the bridge portion or securement portion 40 with the projection 46 thereon. The projection 46 is constructed and arranged to be received in the opening 36 (see
In another embodiment, the projection 46 may have a flat structural configuration in which the thickness of the projection 46 may generally remain constant as it extends from the top to the bottom of the belt clip securing portion 52. In such embodiment, a first and a second adjoining portions 53 and 55 (i.e., located on either side of the projection 46) of the belt clip securing portion 52 may have a tapered configuration in which the thickness of the first and the second adjoining portions 53 and 55 gradually decrease as they extend downwardly from the top to the bottom of the belt clip securing portion 52. This provides the projection 46 with a relatively increasing thickness relative to the side portions 53, 55 as the projection 46 extends downward as described. In yet another embodiment, both the projection 46 and adjoining portions 53, 55 have constant thickness throughout their length.
In one embodiment, the projection 46 may be generally triangular in shape to be received in the opening 36 (see
In another embodiment, the structural configuration of the injection molded integrally formed body 14 is in the form of the bridge portion or securement portion 40 with the opening (not shown) thereon. The opening in the securing portion 52 of the mount structure 14 is constructed and arranged to receive the projection (not shown) formed on the belt clip 18 such that the opening in the securing portion 52 of the mount structure 14 interlocks with the projection on the belt clip 18 of the tape rule 12 and cannot be released from the tape rule 12 without cutting or destruction of the at least a portion of the mount structure 14.
The base portion 42 includes a first portion 68 and a second portion 70. The first portion 68 of the base portion 42 includes an opening 72 thereof. The edges of the opening 72 are constructed and arranged to adjoin with the pair of adjoining members 54 and 56 so as to join the bridge portion 40 with the base portion 42.
The mount structure 14 includes a removable portion 48 that is constructed and arranged to be adjacent to the curved end portion 38 (see
In one embodiment, the mount structure 14 may include one or more frangible portions 50, which is frangible to facilitate removal of the removable portion 48 from the mount structure 14. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in
In an embodiment where frangible portions are used, the frangible portions 50 may be include, for example, perforations, scores lines, cuts, slits, or any other lines of weakness or weakened material regions that serve as an aid, in separation with a tool. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, the base portion 42 may include indicia 74 indicating that the frangible portions 50 must be cut with a scissors or other similar devices. In illustrated embodiment, the indicia 74 may be located on the removable portion 48 of the base portion 42.
As shown in
During construction of the mount structure 14, the closure 18 is initially in an open position such that the closure member 80 enables insertion of the surveillance tag 15 (see
In one embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, as in the one illustrated, the closure member 80 for the compartment 78 cannot be unlocked without use of a tool, such as a prying screwdriver. In another embodiment, the closure member 80 for the compartment 78 could be manually opened. In yet another embodiment, the closure member 80 for the compartment 78 is permanently sealed (e.g., welded) and can only be open by being destroyed (e.g., along with the tag 15).
In one embodiment, the surveillance tag 15 is disposed at a location on the mount structure 14 such that a central axis passing through the surveillance tag 15 is offset from a central axis passing through the securement portion 40 by a predetermined distance. In one embodiment, the surveillance tag 15 is disposed on a plane other than the plane on which the securement portion 40 is disposed.
Referring back to
In another embodiment, the clear plastic portion 26 has a smaller peripheral planar portion 26a which extends between a front cardboard sheet and a back cardboard sheet of the backing portion 24 and is adhered therebetween, to effectively secure the clear plastic portion 26 over the mount structure 14. In yet another embodiment, the clear plastic portion 26 may include a front clear plastic portion and a rear clear plastic portion. In such embodiment, the front clear plastic portion and a rear clear plastic portion are joined together to enclose the backing portion 24 and the mount structure 14 therewithin and to effectively secure the front clear plastic portion over the mount structure 14. In one embodiment, the front clear plastic portion and the rear clear plastic portions may be separately formed, or hinged an folded-over to be sealed with one another. In one embodiment, the front clear plastic portion and the rear clear plastic portion each may include peripheral flanges that are joined together by using heat sealing, sonic sealing, ultrasonic welds or any other attachments that would be appreciated by one skilled in the art.
As noted above, and as shown in
In one embodiment, a method for forming a package product is provided. The method includes injection molding the body 14; securing the surveillance tag 15 to the body 14; and forcing the body 14 into an interlocking relationship with a product (such as tape rule 12) so that the body 14 cannot be removed from the product 12 without cutting or destruction of the body 14.
In one embodiment, the surveillance tag 15 is secured within the compartment 78 formed in the injection molded body 14. As noted above, the compartment 78 has the cover or closure member 80. The closure member 80 can either be integrally molded or separately formed with the body 14. In one embodiment, the closure member 80 cannot be removed without cutting or destroying the cover or body.
In one embodiment, the forcing of the body into interlocking relationship with the product 12 includes moving the belt clip 18 on the product 12 against an internal spring force of the belt clip 18. For example, as shown and explained in detail below with respect to
In another embodiment, the spring force may be provided by the resiliency of the material of the injection molded body 14 itself, which can flex to engage a rigid, partially rigid, or flexible portion of the product 12. For example, at least a portion of the body 14 may be made of flexible material with sufficient resiliency to be moved away from the body 14 to receive or engage with a rigid, partially rigid, or flexible portion of the product 12 and to resiliently snap back, thus, engaging the portion of the product 12 with the internal material resiliency of the portion of the body 14.
In the event a thief or a shoplifter tries to separate the tape rule 12 from the tape rule package 10 (e.g., by ripping clear plastic material 26 and/or backing portion 24) the mount structure 14 (and the contained surveillance tag 15) remains securely fastened to the belt clip 18 of the tape rule 12. The removable portion 48 of the mount structure 14 that is adjacent to the curved end portion 38 of the clip 18 prevents the thief or the shoplifter from accessing the curved end portion 38 of the clip 18, therefore, the thief or the shoplifter cannot simply remove or separate the mount structure 14 from the tape rule 12 without use of a tool.
In another embodiment, the frangible portions 39 can be omitted, and the user may simply cut the clear plastic portion 26 and/or the backing portion 24 to separate the tape rule 12 and the mount structure 14 therefrom. The mount structure 14 can then be separated from the tape measure 12 by cutting or breaking the removable portion thereof.
In yet another embodiment, the backing portion 24 and the clear plastic portion 26 can be omitted. In such embodiment, the indicia otherwise provided on the backing portion 24 would instead be provided directly onto the mount structure 14. In such embodiment, the mount structure 14 may be of an increased size to provide a print space, for the indicia and a mounting hole or hook for facilitating display. In such embodiment, the anti-theft device 13 also serves as the previously mentioned display portion.
The embodiments of the present disclosure describe the anti-theft attachment for a tape rule, however, it is contemplated that the anti-theft attachment described herein may be used for different products and/or hand tools. For example, the anti-theft attachment described herein may be used for a chalk reel having a belt clip, a distance measuring tool having a belt clip, a stud sensor having a belt clip, a utility knife having a belt clip, a flashlight having a belt clip, etc.
Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In addition, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.
Claims
1. A tape rule package, comprising:
- a tape rule including a housing and a belt clip;
- a mount structure including a securement portion constructed and arranged to be secured to the belt clip; and
- a surveillance tag carried by the mount structure.
2. The tape rule package of claim 1, wherein the belt clip has an opening, and wherein the securement portion comprises a projection received in the opening.
3. The tape rule package of claim 1, wherein the belt clip comprises a curved end portion, and wherein the mount structure comprises a removable portion adjacent the curved end portion.
4. The tape rule package of claim 3, wherein the mount structure comprises at least one frangible portion, which is frangible to enable removal of the removable portion.
5. The tape rule package of claim 1, wherein the package comprises a backing portion and a clear plastic portion, wherein the mount structure is at least partially disposed between the clear plastic portion and the backing portion.
6. The tape rule package of claim 5, wherein the clear plastic portion comprises an opening through which the belt clip extends to be received by the mount structure between the plastic portion and the backing portion.
7. The tape rule package of claim 5, wherein the backing portion comprises a removable section, which is removable to facilitate access to the mount structure disposed between the clear plastic portion and the backing portion.
8. The tape rule package of claim 1, wherein the surveillance tag is secured to the mount structure.
9. The tape rule package of claim 1, wherein the surveillance tag is integrally formed with the mount structure.
10. An anti-theft attachment for a product having a belt clip, comprising:
- a mount structure including a base portion and a bridge portion, the bridge portion joined to the base portion, the bridge portion comprising a projection constructed and arranged to be received in an opening of the belt clip; and
- a surveillance tag secured to the mount structure.
11. The anti-theft attachment of claim 10, wherein the mount structure comprises a removable portion and at least one frangible portion, which is frangible to enable removal of the removable portion.
12. The anti-theft attachment of claim 10, wherein the base portion comprises a compartment, in which the surveillance tag is secured.
13. The anti-theft attachment of claim 10, wherein the mount structure comprises an opening disposed between the base portion and the bridge portion, wherein the opening is constructed and arranged to receive the belt clip.
14. An anti-theft attachment for a product, the product having a structural shape, the anti-theft attachment comprising:
- an injection molded integrally formed body having a structural configuration constructed and shaped to be forced into biased engagement with the structural shape of the product such that the structural configuration of the integrally formed body interlocks with the product and cannot be released from the product without cutting or destruction thereof; and
- a surveillance tag carried by the injection molded integrally formed body.
15. The anti-theft attachment of claim 14, wherein the structural configuration of the integrally formed body comprises a projection constructed and arranged to be received in an opening of a belt clip of the product.
16. The anti-theft attachment of claim 14, wherein the structural configuration of the integrally formed body comprises an opening constructed and arranged to receive a projection of a belt clip of the product.
17. The anti-theft attachment of claim 14, wherein the surveillance tag is secured within a compartment formed in the injection molded integrally formed body.
18. The anti-theft attachment of claim 17, wherein the compartment has a closure member.
19. The anti-theft attachment of claim 18, wherein the closure member is integrally molded with the body.
20. The anti-theft attachment of claim 18, wherein the closure member is separately formed from the body.
21. The anti-theft attachment of claim 18, wherein the closure member cannot be removed without cutting or destroying the closure member or the body.
22. The anti-theft attachment of claim 14, wherein the surveillance tag is integrally formed with the injection molded integrally formed body.
23. The anti-theft attachment of claim 14, wherein injection molded integrally formed body comprises a removable portion, which is cut or destroyed to release the structural configuration of the injection molded integrally formed body from the product.
24. A method for forming a package product, comprising:
- injection molding a body;
- securing a surveillance tag to the body; and
- forcing the body into an interlocking relationship with a product so that the body cannot be removed from the product without cutting or destruction of the body.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the forcing comprises moving a belt clip on the product against an internal spring force thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 4, 2010
Publication Date: Dec 16, 2010
Applicant: STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC. (New Britain, CT)
Inventor: John C. MURRAY (Canton, CT)
Application Number: 12/794,520
International Classification: B65D 73/00 (20060101); B65D 51/00 (20060101); B65B 5/02 (20060101); A45F 5/00 (20060101);