US 11,725,425 B2
Security tag with 3-ball clutch and rotation-driven release
Kelvin Lee Hunter, Lake Worth, FL (US)
Assigned to Sensormatic Electronics, LLC, Boca Raton, FL (US)
Filed by Sensormatic Electronics, LLC, Boca Raton, FL (US)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/923,910.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/871,656, filed on Jul. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/871,650, filed on Jul. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/871,652, filed on Jul. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/871,646, filed on Jul. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0010299 A1, Jan. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. E05B 73/00 (2006.01); E05B 47/00 (2006.01); G08B 13/24 (2006.01)
CPC E05B 73/0017 (2013.01) [E05B 47/0001 (2013.01); E05B 47/0002 (2013.01); E05B 47/0009 (2013.01); E05B 47/0012 (2013.01); G08B 13/2434 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. 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 about a rotation axis that is parallel to the first axis and in a plane perpendicular to the first axis to move the plunger member in a direction parallel to the first axis.