Abstract
An electronic article surveillance (EAS) device for monitoring items comprises an electronics housing and an elastic band. The band is attached to the housing and is used to install the EAS device onto an item. A tension monitoring apparatus monitors the band and generates a signal based on the band's state of tension. Electronics within the housing receive this signal and use it to determine the status of the EAS device, i.e. installed, armed, tampered with, etc. Loss of tension may indicate a cut band or removed EAS device. Other sensors may also generate inputs for the electronics to evaluate. These include an installation sensor to monitor contact between the housing and an item and an arming switch to arm the EAS device before installation. The EAS device may have wireless communication capabilities, and external devices may arm and disarm the device with wireless communication.
Claims
1. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) device comprising: a housing having a first aperture through it; a band having a first end anchored to the housing and a second end inserted into the housing through the first aperture, the second end being anchored within the housing; a cantilevered lever arm extended between the first aperture in the housing and the second end of the band, wherein when sufficient tension is induced in the band, the band displaces the cantilevered lever arm; a first sensor in the housing, the first sensor monitoring the position of the cantilevered lever arm and communicating the position of the cantilevered lever arm; and, electronics within the housing, the electronics interpreting the communication from the first sensor to determine if an alarm condition exists.
2. The EAS device of claim 1, further comprising: an external contact surface on said housing and a second aperture through the contact surface; and, a second sensor within the housing, the second sensor being aligned with the second aperture, the second sensor monitoring whether the contact surface of the housing is in contact with an item, the second sensor communicating whether the contact surface of the housing is in contact with an item, the electronics in the housing interpreting the communication from the second sensor to determine if an alarm condition exists.
3. The EAS device of claim 2, wherein: wherein at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor is a switch.
4. The EAS device of claim 1, wherein: the band is an elastic band.
5. The EAS device of claim 1, wherein; the electronics within the housing comprise a microprocessor, wireless communication elements, and a power supply, the wireless communication elements being capable of generating a wireless signal.
6. The EAS device of claim 5, wherein; the electronics within the housing further comprise a sound generator, the sound generator being capable of generating an audible signal.
7. The EAS device of claim 5, wherein: the wireless communication elements comprise radio frequency communication circuitry.
8. The EAS device of claim 5, wherein: the wireless communication elements comprise optical communication elements.
9. The EAS device of claim 1, wherein: the first sensor comprises a body and said cantilevered lever arm is fixed to the body of the first sensor.
10. The EAS device of claim 1, further comprising: an arming switch in the housing; and, an arming aperture in the housing, the arming switch being located in the housing to be accessible at the arming aperture.
11. The EAS device of claim 1, further comprising; a passive EAS element in the housing.
12. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) device comprising: a housing enclosing an interior space and having a first aperture through it; a band having a first end fixed with respect to the housing and a second end inserted through the first aperture into the interior space and anchored therein; a cantilevered lever arm within the interior space, the cantilevered lever arm having an initial position extending between the first aperture and the second end of the band, wherein when sufficient tension is induced in the band, the cantilever lever arm is displaced from its initial position between the first aperture and the second end of the band; and, a first sensor in the interior space of the housing, the first sensor monitoring the position of the cantilevered lever arm and communicating the position of the cantilever lever arm with a signal.
13. The EAS device of claim 12, further comprising: a processor in the interior space of the housing, the processor monitoring the signal from the first sensor and executing machine readable instructions to determine whether an alarm condition exists.
14. The EAS device of claim 13, further comprising: wireless communication elements in the housing, the processor using the wireless communication elements to send and receive communications with devices external to the EAS device.
15. The EAS device of claim 14, wherein: the wireless communication elements comprise radio frequency communication circuitry.
16. The EAS device of claim 14, wherein: the wireless communication elements comprise optical communication elements.
17. The EAS device of claim 13, further comprising: a sound generator in the housing, the processor using the sound generator to generate audible signals.
18. The EAS device of claim 13, further comprising: an external contact surface on said housing and a second aperture through the contact surface; and, a second sensor within the housing, the second sensor being aligned with the second aperture, the second sensor monitoring whether the contact surface of the housing is in contact with an item, the second sensor communicating whether the contact surface of the housing is in contact with an item, the microprocessor interpreting the communication from the second sensor to determine if an alarm condition exists.
19. The EAS device of claim 13, wherein: the band is an elastic band.
20. The EAS device of claim 13, further comprising: an arming switch in the housing; and, an arming aperture in the housing, the arming switch being located in the housing to be accessible at the arming aperture.
21. An electronic article surveillance (EAS) device comprising: a housing enclosing an interior space and having a first aperture through it; a band having a first end fixed with respect to the housing and a second end inserted through the first aperture into the interior space and attached therein; a tension monitoring apparatus within the interior space of the housing, the tension monitoring apparatus monitoring whether the band is under tension and generating a signal indicating the tension status of the band; and, circuitry within the interior space configured to monitor the signal from the tension monitoring apparatus and to determine when an alarm condition exists.
22. The EAS device of claim 21, wherein: the second end of the band is fixed within the interior space of the housing; and, the tension monitoring apparatus comprises, a cantilevered lever arm within the interior space, the cantilevered lever arm having an initial position extending between the first aperture and the second end of the band, wherein when sufficient tension is induced in the band, the cantilever lever arm is displaced from its initial position between the first aperture and the second end of the band; and, a first sensor in the interior space of the housing, the first sensor monitoring the position of the cantilevered lever arm and generating the signal indicating the tension status of the band based on the position of the cantilever lever arm.
23. The EAS device of claim 21, wherein: the tension monitoring apparatus comprises, a moveable element within the housing; a biasing element within the housing, the biasing element urging the moveable element to an initial position; and, a first sensor in the housing, the first sensor monitoring whether the moveable element is in the initial position and communicating the position of the moveable element; wherein, the second end of the band is connected to the moveable element within the housing and when sufficient tension is induced in the band, the band urges the moveable element from the initial position and the first sensor generates a signal indicating the tension status of the band based on the position of the moveable element.
24. The EAS device of claim 21, wherein: the circuitry comprises a processor in the interior space of the housing, the processor executing machine readable instructions to determine whether an alarm condition exists.
25. The EAS device of claim 24, further comprising: wireless communication elements in the housing, the processor using the wireless communication elements to send and receive communications with devices external to the EAS device.
26. The EAS device of claim 24, further comprising: a sound generator in the housing, the processor using the sound generator to generate audible signals.
27. The EAS device of claim 24, further comprising: an external contact surface on said housing and a second aperture through the contact surface; and, a second sensor within the housing, the second sensor being aligned with the second aperture, the second sensor monitoring whether the contact surface of the housing is in contact with an item, the second sensor communicating whether the contact surface of the housing is in contact with an item, the processor interpreting the communication from the second sensor to determine if an alarm condition exists.
28. The EAS device of claim 24, wherein: the band is an elastic band.
29. The EAS device of claim 21, further comprising: an arming switch in the housing; and, an arming aperture in the housing, the arming switch being located in the housing to be accessible at the arming aperture.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) Additional utility and features of the invention will become more fully apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, which illustrate some of the primary features of preferred embodiments.
(2) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band attached to a box to be protected.
(3) FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band.
(4) FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band.
(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band with the top of the housing removed and without tension in the elastic band.
(6) FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band with tension in the elastic band.
(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tension sensing apparatus.
(8) FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an embodiment of a circuit board for an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band.
(9) FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band with the top of the housing removed.
(10) FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band attached to a box and with the top of the housing removed.
(11) FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band adapted to receive a spring biased plate.
(12) FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a spring biased plate of an EAS device.
(13) FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band also incorporating a spring biased plate.
(14) FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band also having an arming mechanism.
(15) FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an arming mechanism for an EAS device with elastic band.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
(16) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band 10 attached to a box 100 to be protected. EAS device 10 is comprised of a housing 20 and an elastic band 40. Elastic band 40 maintains housing 20 and elastic band 40 on an object to be protected such as box 100. Elastic band 40 has at least enough elasticity to reach around box 100 and maintain the bottom, contact, surface of housing 20 in contact with box 100. The top surface 21 of housing 20 has a sound aperture 22 in which allows audible signals generated by EAS device 10 to more easily pass from the interior space of housing 20. Top surface 21 of housing 20 also has windows 23 which allow for optical communication with the electronic circuitry within housing 20. FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band 10. Since EAS device 10 is not attached to an item, such as box 100, band 40 does not have any tension in it. Sound aperture 22 and windows 23 may also be seen in top surface 21 in FIG. 2.
(17) FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band 10. Again, since EAS device 10 is not attached to an item to be protected, band 40 does not have any tension in it. Bottom surface 24 is the surface of housing 20 that contacts items to be protected, such as box 100 of FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, bottom, or contact, surface 24 of housing 20 has two apertures in it associated with sensors. A first, sensor, aperture 25 allows an installation sensor 61 in the interior of housing 20 (see FIG. 7) to monitor the installation status of housing 20 based on the housing's contact with an object. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, installation sensor 61 is a plunger switch 61 having a plunger 62 extending through sensor aperture 25. When EAS device 10 is installed on an object with bottom surface 24 contacting the object, plunger 62 is depressed into housing 20. This changes the state of plunger switch 61, which generates a signal indicating the change in state of plunger switch 61. Electronics within housing 20 receive this signal as an input to be analyzed to determine the status of EAS device 10. Alternatively, if EAS device 10 is removed from an object to which it has previously been attached, installation sensor 61, or plunger switch 61, will generate a signal which is received as an input by electronics within housing 20 to determine the status of EAS device 10. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, bottom surface 24 has recess 26. Arming aperture 27 is located in recess 26 in bottom surface 24 of housing 20 and provides access to arming switch 63. Recess 26 allows arming switch 63 to be concealed on the underside of an installed EAS device 10 without arming switch 63 being contacted by the surface of the object on which EAS device 10 is installed. When EAS device 10 is about to be installed on an object, arming switch 63 may be pressed to generate an arming signal as an initial input to the electronics within housing 20. That initial input signal along with the input from installation sensor 61 are part of the set of inputs that the electronics within housing 20 will evaluate to determine whether EAS device 10 has been installed on an object such as object 100. The electronics will also receive an input based on whether band 40 has tension in it and may also receive an input from an external device.
(18) FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band 10 with the top of housing 20 removed and without tension in band 40. FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band 10 with tension in the elastic band 40. At the left in these figures, a first end 41 of elastic band 40 is fixed with respect housing 20. First end 41 may be fixed at first block 28 or first end 41 may insert through an aperture in first block 28 into the interior space of housing 20 where it is fixed. At the right end of housing 20, a second end 42 of band 40 inserts through band aperture 29 in housing 20 into the interior space 30 of housing 20 where it is attached and held in fixed location. Both FIGS. 4 and 5 show an embodiment of a tension monitoring apparatus 50 being employed. The embodiment of tension monitoring apparatus 50 employed in FIGS. 4 and 5 comprises a cantilevered lever arm 51 and a position sensor 52 monitoring the position of cantilevered lever arm 51.
(19) Referring now only to FIG. 4, band 40 does not have any tension in it. Cantilevered lever arm 51 is positioned to extend between band aperture 29 and second end 42 of band 40. When band 40 does not have any tension in it, cantilevered lever arm 51 is sufficiently stiff to maintain its initial position and displace band 40 from a direct path between band aperture 29 and where second end 42 of band 40 is fixed. Position sensor 52 is located proximal to cantilevered lever arm 51 to monitor the position of cantilevered lever arm 51.
(20) Referring now to FIG. 5, band 40 has tension in it caused by, for example, EAS device 10 being installed on an object and band 40 being extended around the object. In FIG. 5, the tension in band 40 has drawn band 40 into a direct line from second end 42 of band 40 to band aperture 29, and band 40 has displaced cantilevered lever arm 51 from its initial position. Position sensor 52 detects this movement of cantilevered lever arm 51 from its initial position and position sensor 52 generates a signal communicating this change in position. Electronics within housing 20 monitor position sensor 52 and receive this signal from position sensor 52 as an input signal and may interpret the signal as indication that tension has been induced in band 40. The electronics housing 20 use the position signal of position sensor 52 for cantilevered lever arm 51 as one of the inputs used to evaluate the status of EAS device 10.
(21) In some embodiments of tension monitoring apparatus 50, position sensor 52 may be a switch physically actuated by the movement of cantilevered lever arm 51. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tension monitoring apparatus 50. In FIG. 6, tension monitoring apparatus 50 has a spring loaded switch enclosed in a switch housing 53 with a switch actuator 54 extending from switch housing 53. Cantilevered lever arm 51 is fixed to switch housing 53 in a location such that when cantilevered lever arm 51 is moved from its initial position, it will contact and move switch actuator 54 which actuates the switch in switch housing 53 of tension monitoring apparatus 50. Other embodiments of tension monitoring apparatus 50 may employ proximity sensors, magnetic switches, optical sensors, etc., as the position sensor, rather than a spring loaded switch.
(22) Returning to FIGS. 4 and 5, circuit board 60 is centrally located within housing 20 and provides the mount for several electronic elements. Sound generator 64 in the middle of housing 20 produces audible signals and is positioned beneath sound aperture 22 when housing 20 is fully assembled. In some embodiments, sound generator 64 may actually be mounted directly to top portion of housing 20 rather than circuit board 60. Light emitting diode (LED) 65 on circuit board 60 produces optical signals and is located on circuit board 60 such as to align with one of windows 23 so that it is signals are visible external of housing 20. Optical communication port 66 receives optical signals and is located on circuit board 60 such as to align with the other window 23. Optical communication port 66 may be a photodiode, or other optical sensors could also be employed as Optical communication port 66. LED 65 and Optical communication port 66 combine to provide optical wireless communication for EAS device 10. Frequently, optical wireless communication occurs in the infrared range of the light spectrum. Passive electronic article surveillance (EAS) element 67 is located at the left in both figures. Passive EAS element 67 responds with a signal when subjected to a cycling interrogation field in an EAS system.
(23) FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an embodiment of a circuit board 60 for an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band 10. Battery 68 is centrally located on circuit board 60 and provides an onboard power supply for EAS device 10. Processor 69 executes machine readable instructions to analyze inputs from various sensors to determine the status of EAS device 10 with respect to whether it is installed, armed, disarmed, being tampered with, etc. Radio chip 70 has transmitting and receiving capabilities and provides EAS device 10 with wireless radio communication. Installation sensor 61 aligns with sensor aperture 25 in the bottom, contact, surface 24 of housing 20 (See FIG. 3). Arming switch 63 aligns with arming aperture 27 in the bottom, contact, surface 24 of housing 20 (see FIG. 3).
(24) Processor 69 receives inputs from the several sensors and drives the various communication elements. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, when EAS device 10 is being installed on an object, arming switch 63 is pressed as an initial input to processor 69. When EAS device 10 is installed on an object with bottom surface 24 of housing contacting the object, installation sensor 61 has its state changed, and this generates another input to processor 69. Band 40 maintains bottom surface 24 in contact with the object and maintains the state of installation sensor 61 until EAS device 10 is removed from the object. Additionally, when EAS device 10 is installed on an object, band 40 is placed in tension, and position sensor 52 of tension monitoring apparatus 50 generates a signal indicating that band 40 is in tension. This is an additional input for processor 69 to monitor and interpret. When processor 69 has received the correct values of various inputs, processor 69 determines that EAS device 10 has been installed and arms EAS device 10. Once EAS device 10 is armed, it must first be disarmed to allow its removal while avoiding EAS device 10 generating alarms. An external device may be used to wirelessly communicate with EAS device 10 to disarm it. This may be accomplished via the radio frequency wireless communication elements in EAS device 10 or the optical wireless communication elements in EAS device 10. This external device might be a hand held device for example. In some embodiments of EAS device 10 and EAS systems, the external device may be used in an additional last step to finalize the arming of EAS device 10 via the wireless communication elements of EAS device 10, i.e. once arming switch 63 and installation sensor 61 have been actuated and position sensor 52 indicates tension in band 40, an external device may wirelessly confirm installation of EAS device 10 and communicate an arming signal.
(25) Once EAS device 10 has been installed and processor 69 has received all of the inputs confirming that, processor 69 monitors these input signals for changes and responds as programmed. For example, if housing 20 of EAS device 10 is lifted from the item sufficiently to change the state of installation sensor 61, processor 69 detects that change and operates sound generator 64 to issue a warning sound. If EAS device 10 is completely removed without it being disarmed, this will release the tension from band 40 which will be detected by position sensor 52 and change the respective input to processor 69. With those changes in the inputs, processor 69 determines that EAS device 10 has been removed without authorization, since EAS device 10 has not been previously disarmed. Having determined that an alarm condition exists, processor 69 can operate several elements of EAS device 10 to generate alarms. Processor 69 may drive sound generator 64 to generate audible alarms effective in the vicinity of EAS device 10. Processor 69 may also use the wireless communication elements of EAS device 10 to generate wireless alarm signals. Both LED 65 and radio chip 70 can send wireless signals to the broader EAS system which then may respond with system alarms such as area-wide audible alarm and electronic notification of personnel, etc. It should be noted at this time, that with respect to the discussion of signals and inputs, for the purposes of logic performed by processor 69, a change from no signal being present to a signal being present is equivalent to a change of a signal being present to no signal being present.
(26) FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band 10 with the top of housing 20 removed. FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device with elastic band 10 attached to a box 100 and with the top of housing 20 removed. The embodiments of EAS device 10 in FIGS. 8 and 9 employ a different embodiment of a tension monitoring apparatus 80. In these embodiments, tension monitoring apparatus 80 comprises moveable element 81, bias element 83, and position sensor 82. Moveable element 81 is pivotably mounted at pivot 31. Bias element 83 biases moveable element 81 to an initial position. Position sensor 82 monitors the position of moveable element 81 and communicates that position to processor 69. Second end 42 of band 40 inserts through band aperture 29 into interior space 30 of housing 20 and attaches to moveable element 81. When band 40 does not have tension in it, bias element has sufficient strength to keep moveable element 81 in its initial position. Referring now to FIG. 9, when EAS device 10 is installed on an object, such as box 100, by extending band 40 around the object, tension is induced in band 40. This tension in band 40 is sufficient to overcome bias element 83 and move moveable element 81 from its initial position. Position sensor 82 detects this change in position and communicates it to processor 69 which can interpret the communication as indicating that band 40 has tension in it. As discussed with respect to tension monitoring apparatus 50 of FIGS. 4 and 5, processor 69 uses the communication from position sensor 82 to evaluate the status of EAS device 10. Although moveable element 81 in FIGS. 8 and 9 is pivotably mounted as at pivot 31, moveable element 81 could be constrained by other methods to move to and from an initial position. For example, a moveable element could be a sliding element constrained by guides to move in a defined path.
(27) FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device 10 with elastic band 40 adapted to receive a spring biased plate. Since EAS device 10 is not attached to an item to be protected, band 40 does not have any tension in it. As with the embodiment of FIG. 3, the embodiment of FIG. 10 has a sensor aperture 25 through bottom surface 24 with an installation sensor 61 that is located at sensor aperture 25 and in electrical continuity with electronics within housing 20. The embodiment of FIG. 10 has additional apertures in bottom surface 24. Assembly apertures 32 in bottom surface 24 facilitate the mounting of a spring biased plate to housing 20, and contact apertures 33 provide external exposure for electrical contacts 71, which have electrical continuity with the electronics within housing 20
(28) FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a spring biased plate 85 of an EAS device 10. Plate 85 has assembly posts 86 extending upward from its top surface 87. Referring back to FIG. 10, assembly posts 86 and assembly apertures 32 are sized and configured such that assembly posts 86 can be inserted into assembly apertures 32 and retained. Springs 88 fit over assembly posts 86 and interpose between bottom surface 24 of housing 20 and top surface 87 of plate 85.
(29) FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device 10 with elastic band 40 also incorporating a spring biased plate 85. In FIG. 12, a plate, such as plate 85 in FIG. 11, is assembled to a housing, such as housing 20 in FIG. 10. Springs 88 bias plate 85 away from housing 20, creating a space when EAS device 10 is not installed on a box or other object. When EAS device 10 is installed on an object by orienting plate 85 toward the object and stretching band 40 around the object, plate 85 is compressed against bottom surface 24 of housing 20. Installation sensor 61 detects the compressed position of plate 85 and generates a signal as an input for the electronics within housing 20. The electronics receive the signal as at least one indication that EAS device 10 is installed. When the appropriate parameters for installation of EAS device 10 are met, the electronics may arm such that any unauthorized removal of EAS device 10 will cause an alarm condition. Plate 85 improves the operation of EAS device 10 on objects having irregular surfaces or soft surfaces. Plate 85 provides a reliable surface for installation sensor 61 to monitor. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, installation sensor 61 is a switch employing a plunger 62 extending through sensor aperture 25.
(30) Returning to FIGS. 10 and 11, circuit closer 89 in plate 85 is positioned to align with both electrical contacts 71 in contact apertures 33. Circuit closer 89 is electrically conductive. When EAS device 10 is installed on an object by orienting plate 85 toward the object and stretching band 40 around the object, plate 85 is compressed against bottom surface 24 of housing 20. When plate 85 is compressed, circuit closer 89 contacts both electrical contacts 71, which have electrical continuity with the electronics within housing 20. This completes an electrical circuit which generates a signal as an input for the electronics within housing 20. The electronics receive the signal as at least one indication that EAS device 10 is installed. When the appropriate parameters for installation of EAS device 10 are met, the electronics may arm such that any unauthorized removal of EAS device 10 will cause an alarm condition which causes alarms to be generated.
(31) FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an EAS device 10 with elastic band 40 also having an arming mechanism as evidenced by button 91 and dome 33. FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an arming mechanism 90 for an EAS device 10. Button 91 is a part of slide 92. Slide 92 is biased to a forward position by return spring 98. When slide 92 is in the forward position, button 91 extends from housing 20 as shown in FIG. 13. Backstop 34 backs return spring 98, and may, in some embodiments be the wall of housing 20. Latch switch 72 is mounted to circuit board 60 in proximity to the back of slide 92. When button 91 is pressed, slide 92 moves back and makes contact with latch switch 72, which changes the state of latch switch 72. This generates an input signal to the electronics within housing 20. This signal is a least one of the signals that indicate that EAS device 10 is installed and armed, such as in combination with a signal from installation sensor 61.
(32) Arming mechanism 90 latches to hold latch switch 72 in its changed state. In the embodiment of FIG. 14, this is accomplished by step 93 in slide 92, t-shaped blocker 95, and latch spring 99. Blocker 95 has a stem 96 and t-arms 97. Latch spring 99 fits over stem 96 of blocker 95 and presses on t-arms 97. Both latch spring 99 and stem 96 fit within dome 33 of housing 20. When slide 92 is in the forward position, blocker 95 rests on the top of slide 92. When button 91 is pressed, slide 92 moves back, and blocker 95 is driven down onto button 91. Because of step 93, slide 92 is prevented from returning by blocker 95. This holds the state of latch switch 72.
(33) Arming mechanism 90 may be released to disarm EAS device 10 before it is removed. Blocker 95 is at least partially comprised of a magnetically attractable material. Application of a magnet to dome 33 lifts blocker 95 and allows slide 92 to move to the forward position, where button 91 again fully extends from housing 20. This releases latch switch 72, which changes the input signals to the electronics within housing 20. Depending on the programming of the electronics within housing 20, the change in input signal may result in the EAS tag 10 disarming. Although a particular embodiment of the arming mechanism is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, other embodiments may be employed to arm an EAS device 10.
(34) It is to be understood that the embodiments and claims are not limited in application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned, but the claims are not limited to any particular embodiment or a preferred embodiment disclosed and/or identified in the specification. The drawing figures are for illustrative purposes only, and merely provide practical examples of the invention disclosed herein. Therefore, the drawing figures should not be viewed as restricting the scope of the claims to what is depicted.
(35) The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, including various combinations and sub-combinations of the features described above but that may not have been explicitly disclosed in specific combinations and sub-combinations. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the embodiments and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims.
