US5146204A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Theft detection apparatus and flattened wire target and method of making same
Assignee: Sentry Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1990-12-20
•
Granted: 1992-09-08
•
Expires: 2010-12-20
Abstract
Abstract Items of merchandise (30) are protected from shoplifting or theft by affixing to them special responder targets (32), which are formed by drawing a material of high magnetic permeability into a thin wire and thereafter rolling the wire into a flattened strip and annealing the strip and severing the strip into individual lengths. The flattened strip may be positioned on an adhesively coated base strip (42) and covered by a peel strip (46). Slug-like deactivation elements (48) of hard magnetic material may be positioned along the strip for deactivating it.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Y. Zhou
- 👤 Thomas P. Solaski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:21
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2408; G08B13/2411; G08B13/2428; G08B13/2437; G08B13/244; G08B13/2442; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/023; G11B33/00; G11B33/02; G11B33/04; G11B33/0405; G11B33/0488
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus comprising means for generating an alternating magnetic interrogation field in an interrogation zone, means for detecting magnetic response fields having predetermined characteristics in said interrogation zone and responder targets mounted on protected items which must be carried through said interrogation zone when taken from a protected area, said responder targets each comprising a drawn wire of a magnetic material which is easily saturable by said magnetic interrogation field in said interrogation zone and which has been rolled to change its cross-sectional shape and heat treated thereafter to substantially increase its magnetic permeability.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus comprising means for generating an alternating magnetic interrogation field in an interrogation zone, means for detecting magnetic response fields having predetermined characteristics in said interrogation zone and responder targets mounted on protected items which must be carried through said interrogation zone when taken from a protected area, said responder targets each comprising a drawn wire of a magnetic material which is easily saturable by said magnetic interrogation field in said interrogation zone and which has been rolled to change its cross-sectional shape and heat treated thereafter to substantially increase its magnetic permeability.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wire has been cold rolled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said wire has been rolled from a round cross-section to a flattened cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wire has been maintained free of stresses in all directions other than in the direction of rolling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said drawn wire has been heat treated prior to rolling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said wire has been flattened by rolling same between a pair of rolls at room temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said wire has been flattened to a thickness of about one fourth of its original diameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said easily saturable magnetic material is Permalloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said flattened wire has been heat treated by annealing same at a temperature of at least 650 degrees Centigrade in an annealing atmosphere for a duration of at least one half hour.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said flattened wire has been heat treated by annealing same at a temperature of at least 850 degrees Centigrade in an annealing atmosphere for a duration of at least one minute.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said flattened wire has been heat treated by annealing same in an atmosphere consisting essentially of one of the group of dissociated ammonia, dry hydrogen, an inert gas, a mixture thereof and a vacuum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said wire has been flattened from a diameter of between 0.005 and 0.010 inches (0.13 and 0.25 mm).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said wire has been flattened from a diameter of about 0.008 inches (0.20 mm).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said wire has been flattened to a thickness of about 0.002 inches (0.05 mm).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said easily saturable material is a nickel-iron alloy containing about 80% nickel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said alloy contains one or more metals taken from the group consisting of copper, titanium, niobium, vanadium, molybdenum, chromium and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said alloy contains from 2% to 8%, by total weight of the alloy, of copper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said alloy contains about 5% by total weight of the alloy, of copper.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A magnetic type electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said alloy contains about 4% molybdenum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
A responder target for use in a magnetic theft detection system of the type in which an alternating magnetic interrogation field is generated in an interrogation zone and magnetic responses produced by a responder target passing through said interrogation zone are detected and, in response thereto, an alarm is actuated, said target comprising a drawn wire of a magnetic material which is easily saturable by a magnetic interrogation field in an interrogation zone and which has been rolled to change its cross-sectional shape and heat treated thereafter to substantially increase its magnetic permeability.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
93 words
A responder target for use in a magnetic theft detection system of the type in which an alternating magnetic interrogation field is generated in an interrogation zone and magnetic responses produced by a responder target passing through said interrogation zone are detected and, in response thereto, an alarm is actuated, said target comprising a drawn wire of a magnetic material which is easily saturable by a magnetic interrogation field in an interrogation zone and which has been rolled to change its cross-sectional shape and heat treated thereafter to substantially increase its magnetic permeability.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A responder target according to claim 20, wherein said wire has been cold rolled.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A responder target according to claim 21 wherein said wire has been rolled from a round cross-section to a flattened cross-section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A responder target according to claim 20, wherein said wire has been maintained free of stresses in all directions other than in the direction of rolling.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A responder target according to claim 23, wherein said drawn wire has been heat treated prior to rolling.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A responder target according to claim 24, wherein said wire has been flattened by rolling same between a pair of rolls at room temperature.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A responder target electronic theft detection apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said wire has been flattened to a thickness of about one fourth of its original diameter.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A responder target according to claim 23, wherein said easily saturable magnetic material is Permalloy.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
A responder target according to claim 27, wherein said flattened wire has been heat treated by annealing same at a temperature of at least 650 degrees Centigrade in an annealing atmosphere for a duration of at least one half hour.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A responder target according to claim 27 wherein said flattened wire has been heat treated by annealing same at a temperature of at least 850 degrees Centigrade in an annealing atmosphere for a duration of at least one minute.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
A responder target according to claim 27, wherein said flattened wire has been heat treated by annealing same in an atmosphere consisting essentially of one of the group of dissociated ammonia, dry hydrogen, an inert gas, a mixture thereof and a vacuum.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A responder target according to claim 23, wherein said wire has been flattened from diameter of between 0.005 and 0.010 inches (0.13 and 0.25 mm).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
A responder target according to claim 23, wherein said wire has been flattened from diameter of about 0.008 inches (0.20 mm).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
A responder target according to claim 32, wherein said wire has been flattened to a thickness of about 0.002 inches (0.05 mm).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
A responder target according to claim 20 wherein said easily saturable material is a nickel-iron alloy containing about 80% nickel.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
A responder target according to claim 34, wherein said alloy contains one or more metals taken from the group consisting of copper, titanium, niobium, vanadium, molybdenum, chromium and mixtures thereof.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
A responder target according to claim 34, wherein said alloy contains from 2% to 8%, by total weight of the alloy, of copper.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
A responder target according to claim 34, wherein said alloy contains about 5%, by total weight of the alloy, of copper.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
A responder target according to claim 34, wherein said alloy contains about 4% molybdenum.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of making a responder target for use in a magnetic theft detection system of the type in which an alternating magnetic interrogation field is generated in an interrogation zone and magnetic responses produced by a responder target passing through said interrogation zone are detected, and in response thereto, an alarm is actuated, said method comprising the steps of rolling a drawn wire of a magnetic material which is easily saturable by a magnetic interrogation field in an interrogation zone, to change its cross-sectional shape and thereafter heat treating the rolled wire to substantially increase its magnetic permeability.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of making a responder target for use in a magnetic theft detection system of the type in which an alternating magnetic interrogation field is generated in an interrogation zone and magnetic responses produced by a responder target passing through said interrogation zone are detected, and in response thereto, an alarm is actuated, said method comprising the steps of rolling a drawn wire of a magnetic material which is easily saturable by a magnetic interrogation field in an interrogation zone, to change its cross-sectional shape and thereafter heat treating the rolled wire to substantially increase its magnetic permeability.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 39, wherein said wire is cold rolled.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 40, wherein said wire initially has a round cross-section and said rolling is carried out to change said wire to a flattened cross-section.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of making a responder target according to claim 39, wherein said wire is maintained free of stresses in all directions other than in the direction of rolling.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 42, wherein said drawn wire has been heat treated prior to rolling.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of making a responder target according to claim 43, wherein said wire has been flattened by rolling same between a pair of rolls at room temperature.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of making a responder target according to claim 43, wherein said wire has been flattened to a thickness of about one fourth of its original diameter.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of making a responder target according to claim 42, wherein said easily saturable magnetic material is Permalloy.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of making a responder target according to claim 46, wherein said flattened wire is heat treated by annealing same at a temperature of at least 650 degrees Centigrade in an annealing atmosphere for a duration of at least one half hour.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 46 wherein said flattened wire is heated treated by annealing same at a temperature of at least 850 degrees Centigrade in annealing atmosphere for a duration of at least one minute.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 46 wherein said flattened wire has been heat treated by annealing same in an atmosphere consisting essentially of one of the group of dissociated ammonia, dry hydrogen, an inert gas, a mixture thereof and a vacuum.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of making a responder target according to claim 42, wherein said wire has been flattened from a diameter of between 0.005 and 0.010 inches (0.13 and 0.25 mm).
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of making a responder target according to claim 42, wherein said wire has been flattened from a diameter of about 0.008 inches (0.20 mm).
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of making a responder target according to claim 51, wherein said wire has been flattened to a thickness of about 0.002 inches (0.05 mm).
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of making a responder target according to claim 39, wherein said easily saturable material is a nickel-iron alloy containing about 80% nickel.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 53, wherein said alloy contains one or more metals taken from the group consisting of copper, titanium, niobium, vanadium, molybdenum, chromium and mixtures thereof.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 53, wherein said alloy contains from 2% to 8%, a total weight of the alloy, of copper.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 53, wherein said alloy contains about 5%, by total weight of the alloy, of copper.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of making a responder target according to claim 53, wherein said alloy contains about 4% molybdenum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR763681A
Cited
US3534243A
Cited
US3790945A
Cited
US3673437A
Cited
US3737735A
Cited
US3820104A
Cited
US3820103A
Cited
US3932872A
Cited
US3980913A
Cited
US4030892A
Cited
US4326198A
Cited
US4074249A
Cited
US4118693A
Cited
EP0078401A1
Cited
US4623877A
Cited
US4536229A
Cited
US4651116A
Cited
US4568921A
Cited
EP0170854A2
Cited
US4778552A
Cited
US4945339A
Cited
EP0354759A2
Cited
US5029291A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-08 | 1996-03-09 | 1996-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-08 | 2000-03-09 | 2000-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-08 | 2004-03-09 | 2004-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |