Patent US7073236B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7073236B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag compatible with mechanical and magnetic unlocking detachers
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 2003-10-29
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Granted: 2006-07-11
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Expires: 2023-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A security tag includes a tag body and an attaching pin for attaching the tag body to a protected article. The security tag further includes a locking mechanism for releasably preventing the attaching pin from being removed from the protected article. The locking mechanism is provided for mechanically or magnetically released the attaching pin for detaching the tag body from the article. In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism further includes a plurality of balls for tightly holding to the attaching pin for releasably preventing the attaching means from being removed from the article. The locking mechanism includes a mechanical unlocking probe finger for applying a mechanical force to release the balls from the attaching pin. The locking mechanism further includes an unlocking magnet for applying a magnet force to release the balls from the attaching pin.
Inventors
- 👤 Hua J. Xue
- 👤 Jianping Sun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:32
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B73/00; E05B73/0017; E05B73/0047; E05B73/0064; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/50; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A security tag comprising an attaching means for attaching said tag to a protected article further comprising: a locking means for locking said attaching means for releasably preventing said attaching means from being removed from said protected article wherein said locking means is provided to be unlocked for releasing said attaching means from said tag by one of at two different kinds of unlocking means wherein each of said two kinds of unlocking means applying at least two different kinds of forces along at least two different directions to said locking means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A security tag comprising an attaching means for attaching said tag to a protected article further comprising: a locking means for locking said attaching means for releasably preventing said attaching means from being removed from said protected article wherein said locking means is provided to be unlocked for releasing said attaching means from said tag by one of at two different kinds of unlocking means wherein each of said two kinds of unlocking means applying at least two different kinds of forces along at least two different directions to said locking means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The security tag of claim 1 wherein: said locking means is provided to be unlocked by a mechanical unlocking means applying a rotational force along a traversal direction and a magnetic unlocking means applying a magnetic force along a vertical direction to said locking means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The security tag of claim 1 further comprising: a mechanical probe finger for pushing and applying a rotational force along said traversal direction onto said locking means to release said attaching means whereby said attaching means may be released and detached from said tag body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The security tag of claim 1 further comprising: a magnet for applying a magnetic force along said vertical direction onto said locking means to release said attaching means whereby said attaching means may be released and detached from said tag body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The security tag of claim 1 wherein: said locking means further includes a plurality of balls for tightly holding to said attaching means for releasably preventing said attaching means from being removed from said article.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The security tag of claim 1 wherein: said locking means further includes a mechanical unlocking means for mechanically applying a rotational force along said traversal direction to release said balls from said attaching means whereby said attaching means may be released and detached from said security tag.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The security tag of claim 1 wherein: said locking means further includes a magnetic unlocking means for applying a magnetic force along said vertical direction to release said balls from said attaching means whereby said attaching means may be released and detached from said security tag.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-07-10 | 2010-01-09 | 2010-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-07-10 | 2014-01-09 | 2014-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-07-10 | 2018-01-09 | 2018-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |