EAS tag for bottles

摘要

An anti-theft device monitors bottles. It is comprised of a two components hingably connected together. They can move from an open position to a closed position to enclose the neck of a bottle. One component has a first latch element and contains electronics including an arming switch. The other component has a second latch element. The latch elements combine to hold the two components in the closed position. When the two components are moved to the closed position, and a bottle is in position, the bottle changes the state of the arming switch. One of the components, or both, may have a protrusion that engages a feature on the bottle to keep the tag in place on the bottle. The anti-theft device may be armed or disarmed by remote devices. The latching elements may be releasably lockable such as by a magnet. The anti-theft device may have passcode protection capabilities.

主权项

1. An anti-theft tag for bottles having a neck and an annular feature about said neck proximal to the end of said bottle, said anti-theft tag comprising:
a first component hingably connected to a second component, said first and second components rotatable between open and closed positions and, when in said closed position, defining a passageway for enclosing the neck of a bottle to be protected, one of said first component and said second component having a first protrusion extending into said passageway; said first component, comprising a first latching component and a housing defining an internal compartment with a switch aperture in said passageway passing from said internal compartment to external of said housing; electronics located within said internal compartment, said electronics comprising an arming switch having two states, an open state and a closed state, said arming switch extending through said switch aperture in said housing out into said passageway; said second component comprising a second latching component; said neck of said bottle changing the state of said arming switch when said first component and said second component are rotated to said closed position about said neck of said bottle, said first and second latching components combining to maintain said first and second components in said closed position when said latching components are engaged, and said first protrusion engaging said annular feature to maintain said tag on said bottle.