US3735453A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety pin with pin point guard for preventing manual removal of said point from said guard
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-25
•
Granted: 1973-05-29
•
Expires: 1992-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A special destructable or non-destructable safety pin is employed to mechanically couple a sensitized tag to an item to be protected against shoplifting. If a shoplifter carries the protected item through an exit area with the sensitized tag on the item, an alarm device will alert store personnel to apprehend or photograph the shoplifter. A sensitized tag is rapidly and easily applied strictly by hand to the protected garment by means of the special safety pin which upon being closed annot be opened except by special devices at the cashier''s station. Once the safety pin is closed, it cannot be opened by a shoplifter without cutting the pin portion which is made difficult, at least for the average shoplifter, because the pin portion is case hardened by well-known techniques; also shoplifters, particularly a large number of females, would be reluctant to use wire cutters, carry them about and be caught with them. Additionally, the special safety pin may be employed to attach ordinary price tags to the goods and would thwart price tag switching.
Inventors
- 👤 R Nathans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:34
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B9/00; A44B9/12; A44B9/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/50; Y10T24/505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A safety pin comprising: a. a pin portion having a pin point portion; b. pin point guard means for guarding said pin point portion upon closure of said safety pin; and c. pin point entrapping means for permitting insertion of said pin point portion into said pin point guard means and for preventing removal of said pin point portion from said pin point guard means upon manual manipulation of said safety pin, said guard means being so constructed to prevent manual manipulation of said entrapping means so that said pin point portion may be removed from said guard means only upon use of a proper tool or destruction of said safety pin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A safety pin comprising: a. a pin portion having a pin point portion; b. pin point guard means for guarding said pin point portion upon closure of said safety pin; and c. pin point entrapping means for permitting insertion of said pin point portion into said pin point guard means and for preventing removal of said pin point portion from said pin point guard means upon manual manipulation of said safety pin, said guard means being so constructed to prevent manual manipulation of said entrapping means so that said pin point portion may be removed from said guard means only upon use of a proper tool or destruction of said safety pin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The safety pin of claim 1 wherein said pin point entrapping means includes a relatively flexible spring means, at least a major portion of which is covered by said pin point guard means and which is oriented to provide a low resistance to the insertion of said pin point portion within said pin point guard means upon the closing of said safety pin and configured to prevent the withdrawal of said pin point portion from said pin point guard means upon the aforesaid manual manipulation of said safety pin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 2 further including a shield member for shielding said spring means against tampering.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 1 further including a storage pocket for retaining said pin point portion before said safety pin is closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 2 further including a storage pocket for retaining said pin point portion before said safety pin is closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The safety pin set forth in claim 2 wherein a hole is formed in said guard means adjacent said spring means for receiving a drive pin for displacing said spring means to allow said safety pin to be reopened.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The safety pin set forth in claim 4 wherein a hole is formed in said guard means adjacent said spring means for receiving a drive pin for displacing said spring means to allow said safety pin to be reopened.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
A safety pin comprising: a. a pin portion having a pin point portion; b. pin point guard means for guarding said pin point portion upon closure of said safety pin; c. means for coupling said pin portion to said pin point guard means; and d. a normally closed pin point entrapping means which opens to form a passageway upon the insertion of said pin point portion into said pin point guard means and which blocks said passageway to prevent removal of said Pin point portion from said pin point guard means upon manual manipulation of said safety pin, said guard means being so constructed to prevent manual manipulation of said entrapping means so that said pin point portion may be removed from said guard means only upon use of a proper tool or destruction of said safety pin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
A safety pin comprising: a. a pin portion having a pin point portion; b. pin point guard means for guarding said pin point portion upon closure of said safety pin; c. means for coupling said pin portion to said pin point guard means; and d. a normally closed pin point entrapping means which opens to form a passageway upon the insertion of said pin point portion into said pin point guard means and which blocks said passageway to prevent removal of said Pin point portion from said pin point guard means upon manual manipulation of said safety pin, said guard means being so constructed to prevent manual manipulation of said entrapping means so that said pin point portion may be removed from said guard means only upon use of a proper tool or destruction of said safety pin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
The safety pin of claim 8 wherein said pin point entrapping means includes a relatively flexible spring means, at least a major portion of which is covered by said pin point guard means and which is oriented to provide a low resistance to the insertion of said pin point portion within said pin point guard means upon the closing of said safety pin and configured to block the withdrawal of said pin point portion from said pin point guard means upon the aforesaid manual manipulation of said safety pin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 9 wherein said relatively flexible spring means includes a spring member mechanically biased against a stop portion of said pin point guard means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 10 wherein said stop portion of said pin point guard means is also a relatively flexible spring member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 10 wherein said spring member is mechanically biased against said stop portion of said pin point guard means only at the extremity of said spring member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 12 wherein said stop portion is also a relatively flexible spring member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 10 further including a shield member for shielding said spring means against tampering.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 12 further including a shield member for shielding said spring means against tampering.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 8 further including a storage pocket for receiving said pin point portion before said safety pin is closed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The safety pin as set forth in claim 9 further including a storage pocket for receiving said pin point portion before said safety pin is closed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The safety pin set forth in claim 9 wherein a hole is formed in said guard means adjacent said spring means for receiving a drive pin for displacing said spring means to allow said safety pin to be reopened.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The safety pin set forth in claim 10 wherein a hole is formed in said guard means adjacent said spring means for receiving a drive pin for displacing said spring means to allow said safety pin to be reopened.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |