Security tag with 3-ball clutch and rotation-driven release
AssigneeSensormatic Electronics Corporation
InventorKelvin Lee Hunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example electronic security tag attachable to an item includes a tag body member, a connecting member having a pin portion releasably engageable with the tag body member, the pin portion extending along a first axis. The electronic security tag further includes a locking member to lock the connecting member to the tag body member. The locking member includes a clutch mechanism movable parallel to the first axis between a first position in contact with the pin portion and corresponding to a locked state and a second position corresponding to an unlocked state. The locking member further including a rotational drive member configured to rotate and interact with a plunger member of the clutch mechanism to move the clutch mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state.
Claims19
An electronic security tag attachable to an item, comprising:
- a tag body member;
- a connecting member having a pin portion releasably engageable with the tag body member, the pin portion extending along a first axis;
- a locking member to lock the connecting member to the tag body member, wherein the locking member includes a clutch mechanism movable parallel to the first axis between a first position in contact with the pin portion and corresponding to a locked state and a second position corresponding to an unlocked state, wherein the clutch mechanism includes a plunger member comprising a plurality of first protrusions;
- and
- a rotational drive member comprising a plurality of second protrusions configured to interoperate with the plurality of first protrusions, wherein the rotational drive member is rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the first axis to move the plunger in a direction parallel to the first axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.