Background to the Invention Currently, EAS (Electronic Activated Security) tags come in three main types each of which uses a different detection system for detecting the presence of the tag.

The different detection systems include radio-frequency detection, acousto magnetic detection, and radio-frequency signal division detection. The three techniques are incompatible and accordingly, it is necessary for each store to use a given one of the systems.

As a result, this means that if stock is moved between stores the tags must be changed.

A further problem is that the tags must be releasably mounted to the articles. The releasing mechanism is designed to prevent thieves and the like from removing the tags, whilst allowing tags to be easily removed by a shop assistant. In the past, this has been achieved by using some form of releasing mechanism.

Currently, there are several different releasing mechanisms in use on the market. However, all of these suffer from the fact that knowledge of how to remove these tags is now widespread thus rendering the security provided by the tag minimal.

Thus for example, in one form of a release mechanism a magnet is used to release a pin from the tag. This allows store assistants to remove the tag as required.

However, it is now common knowledge how this system operates and thieves are therefore able to carry a magnet with them to release the tags from clothes, when in changing rooms for example.

A second type of release mechanism as disclosed for example in EP-A-0725199 uses an arcuate releasing key which is pushed into a channel within the tag. This operates to activate a releasing mechanism. However again, this can be released by any form of arcuate member which can be inserted into the tag.

Finally, a further problem that the use of the different release mechanisms causes is the fact that different release mechanisms are used with different technologies. Accordingly, if stock is moved between stores such that the tags need to be changed, quite often different release mechanisms are required to release tags operating in accordance with different systems.

Accordingly, if stock is moved from one store to another it may be that the receiving store does not have a release mechanism for the tags on the clothes.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, a security tag comprises: a tag body; an attaching member for attaching to the tag body to an article; a receiving member coupled to the tag body for releasably receiving the attaching member; and, two channels arranged so as to receive respective arms of a releaser in use, the releaser being adapted to cooperate with the receiving member to cause the receiving member to release the attaching member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, we provide a security tag releaser comprises: a releaser body having a holding portion, which in use holds a tag to be released; two arms moveably mounted to the releaser body to move between extended and retracted positions; and, an activator for moving the arms between the extended and retracted positions, the arms being arranged such that,

in use, as the arms move from the retracted to the extended positions, the arms enter respective channels in a security tag held in the holding portion, thereby causing the tag to be released.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a security system comprises: (i) security tag, the security tag having: a tag body; an attaching member for attaching to the tag body to an article; a receiving member coupled to the tag body for releasably receiving the attaching member; and, two channels; and, (ii) a releaser, the releaser having: a releaser body having a holding portion, which in use holds the tag to be released; two arms moveably mounted to the releaser body to move between extended and retracted positions; and, an activator for moving the arms between the extended and retracted positions, wherein the arms are arranged to enter respective ones of the channels and cooperate with the receiving member to thereby cause the receiving member to release the attaching member, when moved from the retracted to the extended positions.

The present invention provides a security tag, a security tag releaser, and a security system including a security tag and a releaser which allows tags to be connected to an article. The system uses two arms on a releasing device which fit into respective channels on the security tags. The arms are used to activate a releasing mechanism which releases an attaching member which allows the security tag to be coupled to an article. By using arms which fit into respective channels in the release, this makes it very difficult for a thief to overcome the

releasing mechanism without the predesigned releaser which will not generally be made available to the public.

Furthermore, the security tag body is adapted to receive any form of detectable EAS sensor. Thus, the security tag may receive a radio frequency signal division sensor, an acousto magnetic sensor, or a radio frequency sensor. This ensures that the same tag design can be used with any form of detection system, thereby allowing identical releases to release tags of any type. This therefore advantageously also overcomes the problems of having different releasing mechanisms provided for different security tags available on the market.

Typically the attaching member comprises a pin having at least one groove for cooperating with the receiving member. The use of a pin is particularly advantageous because this can be inserted through the article to be attached to the tag, such as an article of clothing, and then received in the tag body without damaging the article itself. By providing a groove in the pin, this ensures that the pin cannot easily be removed from the receiving member. Furthermore, by using multiple grooves along the length of the pin, this allows the position at which the pin is retained in the receiving member to be varied, allowing different thicknesses of article to be accommodated between the pin and the tag.

The receiving member usually comprises a resilient member which cooperates with the groove to retain the attaching member in use. The use of a resilient member which cooperates with the groove is particularly advantageous as it allows the pin to be inserted into the resilient member relatively easily whilst preventing the pin from being removed. Furthermore, the resilient member can cooperate with the releaser by deforming to allow the pin to be easily removed.

However, any form of member may be used which can be deformed via a releasing mechanism. The use of a resilient

member is merely advantageous as it returns to its original shape allowing the tag system to be reused.

The resilient member preferably comprises a metal spring. This is because metal springs are tough, durable, long lasting and can be designed to have a high spring constant thereby ensuring that the spring cannot easily be deformed so as to allow the pin to be removed, without a special releaser mechanism.

The activator on a releaser usually consists of a lever pivotably mounted to the releaser body. The use of lever is advantageous as it provides a mechanical advantage to the operator thereby allowing the operator to deform the receiving member so as to allow the attaching member to be removed without trying to exert a large amount of force.

This allows the releaser mechanism to be used by any member of the public without undue burden.

Typically the holding portion is shaped to cooperate with a tag body to hold the tag in position. Whilst this is not essential to the operation of the present invention, this does ensure that when the tag is positioned on the releaser in use the tag will be held in the correct position for a releasing operation to be performed.

Furthermore, this system holds the tag in position throughout the entire operation.

The releaser preferably further comprises a guiding member positioned adjacent the holding portion, the guiding member being arranged to guide the arms into the channels of a tag held in the holding position. This ensures that the arms correctly cooperate with the channels in the tag so that neither the tag nor the releaser become damaged during a releasing mechanism.

Brief Description of the Drawings An example of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a tag according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line B-B of Figure 1; Figure 4A is a schematic diagram of a pin used in the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4B is a schematic diagram of the spring of Figure 1; Figures 5A and 5B are schematic views of the releaser with the arms in the retracted and extended positions respectively; Figure 6 shows the arms of releaser of Figure 4 cooperating with the spring of Figure 1; and, Figure 7 shows the tag of Figure 1 coupled to the releaser of Figures 5A and 5B.

Detailed Description Figures 1,2 and 3 show an example of a security tag according to the present invention. The tag 1 consists of an upper housing 1 coupled to a lower housing 2, as shown in Figure 2. The lower housing 2 includes a shaped portion 3 which acts to cooperate with a portion of the releaser mechanism, as will be explained in more detail below.

A retaining spring 6, which is shown in more detail in Figure 4B, is attached to the lower housing 2 using fixing members 7 as shown. The upper and lower housings 1,2 also operate to define two channels 8A, 8B which extend from the outside of the housing towards the retaining spring 6 as shown.

An EAS sensor 10, shown in Figure 3 only, is attached to the lower portion of the housing 2 using a clip 9.

In use, the security tag is attached to the clothes using a pin 12, which is shown in more detail in Figure 4A and which includes a head 12A and a shaft 12B. The shaft includes three grooves 12C which are designed to cooperate

with the retaining spring 6. As shown in Figure 4B, the spring 6 includes a gap 6C having a circular hole 6D defined therein, the gap itself being defined by two spring portions 6A, 6B. The shaft 12B, is designed to be inserted into the hole 6D, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 4B.

The shaft 12B itself has a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole 6D, whereas the grooves 12C have a smaller diameter similar to that of the hole 6D.

Accordingly, the pin can be inserted into the hole 6D such that one of the grooves 12C cooperates with the gap 6C to hold the pin 12 in place. Accordingly, the pin 12 can be removed by forcing the spring portions 6A, 6B apart as shown by the arrows 11, to widen the gap 6C, and hence increase the diameter of the hole 6D.

The tag can therefore be attached to clothing by inserting the shaft 12B through the clothing material and into an aperture 4. The pin is then pushed down until one of the grooves 12C engages the retaining spring 6 which acts to hold the pin 12 in place. It will be realised that the distance the head 12A is positioned above the tag will depend on which groove 12C cooperates with retaining spring 6 and this allows different thicknesses of article to be positioned between the head 12A and the upper housing 1 of the tag.

The releaser mechanism, which is shown in Figures 5A and 5B with an upper cover 38 (shown in Figure 6) removed, consists of a housing 20 including a recess 21. A lever 22 having a handle 22A is attached to the housing by a pivot 23. Attached to the lever 22 is a body 24 which includes respective body portions 24A, 24B which cooperate with respective guide rails 25A, 25B mounted on the housing such that as the lever 22 is moved around the pivot 23 the body portion 24 undergoes rectilinear motion in the direction shown by the arrow 26.

Mounted to the body portion 24 is an arm holder 27 to which are mounted two arms 28A, 28B via respective pivots 29A, 29B. The arm holder includes a recess 30 into which

extend respective pins 31A, 31B, which are mounted to the arms 28A, 28B as shown. In use, the pins are connected by a spring (not shown) which urges the pins 31A, 31B towards each other thereby urging the arms 28A, 28B in the direction shown by arrows 32A, 32B. The arms are prevented from rotating about the pivots 29A, 29B by a guiding member 33 which is coupled to the housing 20 as shown.

In use, as the arm 22 is moved from the position shown in Figure 5A to the position shown in Figure 5B, the body 24 and the arm holder 27 are moved towards the recess 21.

The guiding member 33 is shaped to cause the arms 28A, 28B to move towards each other as they move towards the recess 21. Accordingly, this pushes the arms 28A, 28B together until they are in contact as shown in Figure 5B. Upon moving the handle 22A and the lever 22 from the position shown in Figure 5B to the position shown in Figure 5A, the body 24 and the arm holder 27 move away from the recess 21.

Accordingly, the arms are urged in the direction shown by the arrows 32A, 32B against the guide member 33 allowing the arms to open as shown in Figure 5A.

Operation of the releaser to release the pin from a tag will now be described.

Firstly, the shaped portion 3 of the tag is inserted into the recess 21 of the releaser mechanism, as shown in Figure 6. At this time, the lever 22 is positioned as shown in Figure 5A such that the arms are retracted.

In order to release the pin 12 from the tag, the lever 22 is moved to the position shown in Figure 5B thereby causing the arms 28A, 28B to move into their extended positions. As the arms extend, the arms 28A, 28B will pass through the channels 8A, 8B into the housing of the tag. As the arms move to the extended position the arms engage the spring portions 6A, 6B of the retaining spring 6 as shown in Figure 7. As the lever 22 is moved to the position shown in Figure 5B the arms 28A, 28B force the spring portions 6A, 6B apart, as shown by the arrows 11. As explained with

respect to Figure 4B, this opens the gap 6C and the hole 6D allowing the pin 12 to be removed.

As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the spring 6 is suitably stiff to prevent the portions 6A, 6B being readily separated by other means whilst allowing the releasing means to separate the portions relatively easily.

As will also be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, any form of EAS sensor 10 may be incorporated within the tag. In particular, a frequency division and an acousto-magnetic type sensor can be incorporated simply by clipping the sensor into the clip 9. Radio frequency sensors may require alternative fitting means but can still be incorporated within the same style of tag. This therefore allows a simple release mechanism, which is hard for a person not presented with the releaser to overcome, but which can be used with tags of any of the forms of EAS system.