US 9,734,683 C1 (12,541st)
Modular and adaptable sensor system with integrated lock
Sergio M. Perez, Lake Worth, FL (US)
Filed by Sergio M. Perez, Lake Worth, FL (US)
Assigned to SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC, Boca Raton, FL (US)
Reexamination Request No. 90/019,194, Apr. 26, 2023.
Reexamination Certificate for Patent 9,734,683, issued Aug. 15, 2017, Appl. No. 15/151,793, May 11, 2016.
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate issued on Mar. 19, 2024.
Int. Cl. G08B 13/24 (2006.01); E05B 73/00 (2006.01)
CPC G08B 13/2434 (2013.01) [E05B 73/0017 (2013.01)]
OG exemplary drawing
AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT:
Claim 11 is cancelled.
Claims 1, 5, 7-8, 12, 16, 18-19 are determined to be patentable as amended.
Claims 2-4, 6, 9, 13-15, 17 and 20, dependent on an amended claim, are determined to be patentable.
New claims 21-53 are added and determined to be patentable.
Claim 10 was not reexamined.
1. A method for operating a pin tag, comprising:
moving a first structure with a flange in a first direction;
sliding a chamfered surface of the flange against a chamfered surface of a second structure so as to move the second structure in a second direction away from the first structure, the second direction angled relative to the first direction, [ wherein the second structure movement in the second direction is linear and perpendicular to the first direction] ;
resiliently biasing the second structure towards the first structure when the first structure has moved a certain distance in the first direction to a first position; and
retaining the first structure in the first position through an engagement of the second structure with the flange Which is resiliently biased towards to the second structure in a third direction opposed from the first direction.
5. The method according to claim 4 [ 3] , wherein a portion of an article secured to the pin tag is located at a first end of the pin tag that is opposed from a second end of the pin tag in which the second structure is disposed [ and the magnetic field is applied] .
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising coupling a sensor unit to the pin tag by sliding at least one structure protruding out and away from the sensor unit's housing [ a housing of the sensor unit ] into a mating channel formed in the pin tag's housing [ a housing of the pin tag] .
8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
coupling a housing of a first sensor unit to a housing of the pin tag; and
exchanging the first sensor unit with a second senor [ sensor ] unit employing a sensor technology that is different than the first sensor unit's sensor technology.
12. A system, comprising:
a pin tag having [ :]
a first structure with a flange that is movable in a first direction,
the flange having a chamfered surface that is slidable against a chamfered surface of a second structure so as to move the second structure in a second direction away from the first structure, the second direction angled relative to the first direction, [ wherein the second structure movement in the second direction is linear and perpendicular to the first direction] , [ and ]
a resilient element resiliently biasing the second structure towards the first structure when the first structure has moved a certain distance in the first direction to a first position, and
wherein the first structure is retained in the first position through an engagement of the second structure with the flange which is resiliently biased towards to the second structure in a third direction opposed from the first direction.
16. The system according to claim 15 [ 14] , wherein a portion of an article secured to the pin tag is located at a first end of the pin tag that is opposed from a second end of the pin tag in which the second structure is disposed [ and the magnetic field is applied] .
18. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a sensor unit that is coupled to the pin tag by sliding at least one structure protruding out and away from the sensor unit's housing [ a housing of the sensor unit ] into a mating channel formed in the pin tag's housing [ a housing of the pin tag] .
19. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:
a first sensor unit having a housing coupled to a housing of the pin tag; and
wherein the first sensor unit is interchangeable with a second senor [ sensor ] unit employing a sensor technology that is different than the first sensor unit's sensor technology.
[ 21. The system of claim 12, wherein the pin tag further comprises:
a housing forming therein an article insertion space; and
a pin disposed within a first section of the housing on one side of the article insertion space, and movable through the article insertion space into a second section of the housing on the other side of the article insertion space based on movement of the first structure in the first direction to the first position.]
[ 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the article insertion space has an elongate profile, with an orientation that is perpendicular to the first direction, and defines an opening at a first end of the pin tag opposite a second end of the pin tag, wherein the second structure is located adjacent to the second end of the pin tag.]
[ 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the second structure is movable in the second direction and out of the engagement with the flange in response to a magnetic field.]
[ 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the pin tag comprises a second resilient element configured to resiliently bias the first structure in the third direction and out of the engagement with the first structure based on movement of the second structure in the second direction in response to the magnetic field.]
[ 25. The system of claim 21, wherein the housing of the pin tag further comprises:
one or more support structures configured to support the second structure at a height within the first housing portion.]
[ 26. The system of claim 21, wherein the housing of the pin tag further comprises:
a guide structure having a surface configured to engage a corresponding surface of the second structure to limit a travel distance of the second structure toward the first structure.]
[ 27. The system of claim 21, wherein the pin tag further comprises a sensor unit.]
[ 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor unit comprises an electronic article surveillance element.]
[ 29. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor unit comprises a radio frequency identification element.]
[ 30. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor unit comprises a short range communication technology element.]
[ 31. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor unit comprises an alarming element.]
[ 32. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor unit is configured to communicate a unique code.]
[ 33. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor unit is configured to communicate information indicating if the pin tag is coupled to or decoupled from an article.]
[ 34. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor unit is configured to communicate whether at least one of the pin tag or the sensor unit are operational or broken.]
[ 35. The system of claim 12, further comprising:
a detacher having an insert space, wherein the detacher is configured to apply a magnetic field to the pin tag when the pin tag is located in the insert space,
wherein the second structure is movable in the second direction and out of the engagement with the flange in response to the magnetic field.]
[ 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the detacher further comprises a door configured to move to an open position to expose the insert space in response to a transaction associated with an article to which the pin tag is attached.]
[ 37. The system of claim 35, wherein the detacher further comprises a storage container configured to store the pin tag after removal of the pin tag from an article.]
[ 38. The method according to claim 1:
the pin tag further comprises:
a housing defining an article insertion space, and in which the first structure is retained, and
a pin movable with the first structure in the first direction through an article insertion space formed in the housing:
wherein:
the article insertion space has an elongate profile with i) an orientation perpendicular to a central axis of the first structure, and ii) a location at a first end of the pin tag that is opposed from a second end of the pin tag in which other the second structure is disposed.]
[ 39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising:
applying a magnetic field to an end of the second structure distal to the first end of the pin tag along the elongate profile of the article insertion space causing the second structure to move away from the first structure whereby the first structure is no longer retained in the first position and the pin is withdrawn from the article insertion space.]
[ 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the pin tag comprises a second resilient element configured to resiliently bias the first structure in the third direction and out of the engagement with the first structure based on movement of the second structure in the second direction in response to the magnetic field.]
[ 41. The method of claim 38, wherein the housing further comprises one or more support structures configured to support the second structure at a height within a first housing portion.]
[ 42. The method of claim 38, wherein the housing of the pin tag further comprises a guide structure having a surface configured to engage a corresponding surface of the second structure to limit a travel distance of the second structure toward the first structure.]
[ 43. The method of claim 38, wherein the pin tag further comprises a sensor unit.]
[ 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the sensor unit comprises an electronic article surveillance element.]
[ 45. The method of claim 43, wherein the sensor unit comprises a radio frequency identification element.]
[ 46. The method of claim 43, wherein the sensor unit comprises a short range communication technology element.]
[ 47. The method of claim 43, wherein the sensor unit comprises an alarming element.]
[ 48. The method of claim 43, wherein the sensor unit is configured to communicate a unique code.]
[ 49. The method of claim 43, wherein the sensor unit is configured to communicate information indicating if the pin tag is coupled to or decoupled from an article.]
[ 50. The method of claim 43, wherein the sensor unit is configured to communicate whether at least one of the pin tag or the sensor unit are operational or broken.]
[ 51. The method of claim 38, further comprising:
applying, via a detacher and upon insertion of the pin tag in an insert space of the detacher, a magnetic field to the pin tag when the pin tag is located in the insert space,
wherein the second structure is movable in the second direction and out of the engagement with the flange in response to the magnetic field.]
[ 52. The method of claim 51, wherein the detacher further comprises a door configured to move to an open position to expose the insert space in response to a transaction associated with an article to which the pin to is attached.]
[ 53. The method of claim 51, wherein the detacher further comprises a storage container configured to store the pin tag after removal of the pin tag from an article.]