Security and Inventory Management Tag and System Therefor

A security and inventory management system, comprising:

• a consumer article;
• a security and inventory management tag having a housing with a cavity formed therein, the housing having a base portion and a top portion, first and second longitudinally extending side edges, a first end and a second end, the second end tapered from the first end, the first end having a bulbous element extending upwardly from the top portion and having an opening centrally disposed within the bulbous element;
• a radio frequency device disposed within the cavity, the radio frequency device including an inlay having a substrate with an antenna and an integrated circuit coupled to the antenna;
• a locking mechanism placed in the first end and extending vertically into the bulbous element and upwardly to the opening;
• and
• the security and inventory management tag is removably connected to the consumer article by the locking mechanism.

A security and inventory management device for use with apparel items, comprising;

• a transparent housing having a cavity formed therein, the housing having a base portion and a top portion, first and second longitudinally extending side edges that slope upwardly and inwardly from the base portion toward a central area of the top portion, a first end and a second end, with the first end having an edge that is generally curvilinear and the second end tapered from the first end, the first end having a bulbous element extending upwardly from the top portion and having an opening centrally disposed within the bulbous element and the base portion having a cylindrical aperture extending upwardly from the base portion and disposed substantially beneath the bulbous element;
• a radio frequency device disposed within the cavity, the radio frequency device including an inlay having a substrate with an antenna and an integrated circuit coupled to the antenna the antenna and integrated circuit laminated in the substrate and operating in a UHF frequency;
• and
• a locking mechanism placed in the first end and extending vertically into the bulbous element and upwardly to the opening of the bulbous opening and disposed at least partially in the cylindrical aperture of the base portion and a pin disposed at least partially through the opening the bulbous element.