Integrated Lock Pin Security Tag Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current security tags lack an effective mechanism for secure attachment and detachment to articles, which can lead to unauthorized removal and tampering, compromising inventory management and protection.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained lock and pin mechanism is integrated into a security tag, featuring a pin cover, pin housing, and a biasing member that actuates the pin to engage with an article, transitioning between locked and unlocked states, ensuring secure attachment and easy detachment using a magnetic key or wireless signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a security tag uses a simple attachment mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the security tag can be easily removed or tampered with, compromising reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lock mechanism and pin into a single integrated unit where the pin is housed within the lock body. This merging of components provides secure attachment through the integrated locking mechanism while maintaining ease of operation via the magnetic key that actuates the entire assembly through an external interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic key as an intermediary device that enables remote actuation of the lock and pin mechanism. The magnetic key interacts with a magnetically actuable latch within the security tag, allowing the pin to be retracted or extended without direct manual manipulation of the internal components, thus maintaining simplicity of operation while ensuring security.
2Reliability
If a security tag uses a secure lock and pin mechanism, then reliability is improved, but the ease of operation for attachment and detachment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical key-operated locking mechanisms with a magnetically actuable system. The magnetic key uses magnetic fields to actuate the latch and pin mechanism, eliminating the need for physical manipulation of small internal components and providing easier operation while maintaining security through the engineered magnetic interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock and pin mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through magnetic interaction. When the magnetic key approaches the security tag, the magnetic field automatically triggers the latch to release or engage the pin, allowing the tag to be attached or detached without requiring the user to manually manipulate the internal locking components.
3Reliability
If the pin is always extended for security, then reliability is improved, but the ease of operation for detachment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic pin mechanism that can transition between extended (locked) and retracted (unlocked) states based on magnetic actuation. The pin is held in the extended secure position by default but can be quickly retracted when a magnetic key is presented, providing both security during normal operation and ease of detachment when authorized.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic latch mechanism is pre-configured to hold the pin in the extended locked position. To detach the tag, the magnetic key first must overcome this preliminary locking action by presenting the correct magnetic signature, which then triggers the latch to release and allow the pin to retract, ensuring that unauthorized removal is prevented while authorized detachment remains convenient.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The lock and pin mechanism provides secure attachment to articles, preventing unauthorized removal and facilitating easy detachment, enhancing inventory management and protection by ensuring the security tag remains affixed until intentionally unlocked.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member configured to actuate the pin by urging the pin toward the pin cover in response to the article being substantially placed within the receiving gap
Implementation Method 2
ensuring secure attachment and easy detachment using a magnetic key or wireless signal
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A security tag may include a pin cover, a pin housing, a receiving gap disposed between the pin cover and the pin housing, a pin configured to engage an article placed within the receiving gap, and a biasing member configured to actuate the pin by urging the pin toward the pin cover in response to the article being substantially placed within the receiving gap.