This invention relates to a container with a security device for attachment thereto, for example to a container housing a disk such as a CD or DVD, to help in preventing or deterring its theft from a retail outlet.

It is well known to use security tags on retail items which trigger an alarm when the item is taken passed alarm units located at the exit of a store without prior removal of the security tag. These are known as Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) labels or tags. There are 3 main types of devices: electromagnetic devices, acoustic magnetic (AM) devices (which are typically in the form of a flat strip or label approximately 45mm long x 40mm wide) and Radio Frequency (RF) tags which typically comprise either a flat coil of wire approximately 50mm in diameter or a coil wound around a ferrite rod to form an antenna. The tag acts as a transponder, i.e. it is energised on receipt of radiation, e.g. from an alarm unit, and then transmits a signal back automatically, e.g. to the alarm unit. Other types of tags are also known, e.g. Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tags, also known as "intelligent tags" as they send additional information with the signal they transmit. These types of tags and transponders are well known so will not be described further.

A problem that arises with some of these devices, particularly with electromagnetic devices such as RF tags, is that they can be shielded by a metal layer, e.g. the metal layer within a CD or DVD, yet it is desirable to be able to use this form of tag as a significant proportion of retail outlets use RF alarm systems rather than AM alarm systems. Such shielding may attenuate electromagnetic signals passing therethrough and/or cause frequency shift of the signals. Conventional RF tags comprising flat coils can be used but as they are relatively large it is difficult to mount them in a position when used with a container such as a CD or DVD box where they do not suffer from shielding.

The present invention aims to provide an arrangement of a security device which helps avoid or reduce this problem.

According to the invention, there is provided a container with a security device for attachment thereto, the container having holding means for holding a disk via a central aperture thereof, the disk including a layer which is non-transparent to electromagnetic radiation away from a central region thereof around said aperture and wherein the security device is arranged to interact with the holding means so as to lock the disk thereon, the security device having a portion for receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic radiation so as to trigger an alarm signal if the container is moved within the range of an alarm unit with the security device attached thereto, wherein said portion comprises an RF transponder, and the RF transponder is located in a position on the security device so that, in use, the RF transponder lies under the disk-holding means substantially in alignment with the central region of the disk whereby it is able to receive and/or transmit electromagnetic radiation through said aperture and said central region when the security device is mounted in the container and wherein the security device is removeable from the container so it can be re-used in other containers.

The security device may have a locking mechanism to releasably secure it within the container but preferably also serves to secure the contents of the container, e,g, a disk, to the container and/or to secure the container in a closed configuration.

Other preferred and optional features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the subsidiary claims of the specification.

The invention will now be further described, namely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figures 1-5 illustrate a device which falls outside the scope of claim 1 but has features which are relevant to embodiments of the invention (such as that shown in Figures 6-9).
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a security device;
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view corresponding to that shown in figure 1;
• Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view from another direction of the part shown in figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the use of a device as shown in Figures 1-3 with a CD or DVD container;
• Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI - VI of Figure 4 (with the security device inserted further into the container);
• Figure 6 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention showing the security device being installed in a DVD container (with the DVD omitted for clarity);
• Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 but shows the position of the security device when fully inserted into the container;
• Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line A-A of Figure 7 (but also showing a disk held on the apparatus); and
• Figure 9 is a similar cross-sectional view through a different kind of DVD container.

The security device illustrated in Figures 1-9 is designed for use with a CD or DVD container of the type described in WO 02/39451. The security device may, however, be used with other types of container.

The security tag 1 shown in Figures 1-3 comprises a long arm 2 and a short arm 3 both arms projecting from a head portion 4. The long and short arm 2,3 may be similar to those described in WO 02/39451. As shown in Figure 4, the long arm 2 is designed to be inserted through an aperture or slot 5 in a side wall 6 of a base portion of a DVD container. Preferably, it extends across the base portion 7 and interacts with disk-holding means 8 on the base portion 7 to lock the disk (not shown) onto the base portion 7 as described in WO 02/39451. As shown in Figure 5, the short arm 3 is designed to be inserted through an aperture or slot 9 in a side wall of a lid portion 10 of the container which is hingedly attached to the base portion 7 along an edge thereof so as to hold the lid portion 10 in a closed position relative to the base portion.

The arms 2, 3 and the head portion 4 are preferably formed of a plastics material.

The long arm 2 is provided with a releasable locking mechanism which, once the long arm has been inserted into the container, locks the device to the container until it is released therefrom, e.g. by a magnetic release apparatus, such as may be provided behind the counter in a retail outlet. In the arrangement shown in Figure 5, the locking mechanism comprises a metal pivot arm 11 which, once the security tag 1 has been inserted into the container, engages a detent 12 within the base portion 7 so providing a snap-fit which prevents withdrawal of the security device 1 from the container until the pivot arm 11 is moved, e.g. by a magnetic release device or a specially shaped key, out of engagement with the detent 12 (the metal pivot arm 11 is not shown in Figs 1-3). This and other locking mechanisms are described further in WO 02/039451. The locking mechanism is preferably arranged to be capable of repeated locking and unlocking so the device can be re-used many times.

The security device described in WO02/39451 holds an AM flatstrip type security tag within a recess towards the distal end of the long arm 2 thereof. The security device illustrated in Figures 1-5 shows an alternative arrangement in which a non-planar RF type security tag in the form of a coil 13 wound around a magnetic core 14, e.g. a ferrite rod, is mounted within the head portion 4. The coil 13 is connected to a capacitor (not shown) located adjacent thereto. WO 02/39451 discloses a head portion which is essentially planar and which has a metal plate therein to assist in withdrawal of the security tag from the container by magnetic means once the locking mechanism securing it within the container has been released. The security device shown in Figures 1-5 comprises an enlarged head portion 4 which is shaped to accommodate the ferrite rod 14 with a coil 13 wound thereabout. The ferrite rod 14 typically has a length in the range 15-20mm and a diameter (including the coil) of around 5-10mm.

This ferrite rod 14 and coil 13 act as a transponder for receiving a radio frequency signal from an alarm unit and transmitting a signal back to the alarm unit. By mounting the transponder externally of the container it is well positioned to communicate with the alarm unit. In particular, when mounted in the position shown adjacent a narrow edge of the container, it is located substantially within the plane occupied by a CD or DVD (or other contents of the container) held within the container. The transponder is thus located substantially co-planar with the metal layer within the CD or DVD (or other contents of the container) so is not shielded by the metal layer whatever the orientation of the container relative to the alarm unit.

The illustrated security device can be installed in the container when the latter is in a closed configuration. The enlarged head portion 4 projects from the container and thus increases its external dimension but only in a localised area along the opening side of the container so has a negligible effect upon the storage or shelving requirements for displaying the product within a retail outlet. The head portion 4 is also preferably mounted within a finger recess 15 provided along the opening edge of the container to reduce the distance by which it projects beyond the external dimensions of the container.

There are various ways of mounting the ferrite transponder in the head portion 4 of the security device. The head portion may comprise a cover 16 which fits onto the security device to locate the transponder and hold it in place within the head portion 4. The cover 16 is a snap-fit onto the device so that once it is located in place it cannot be removed without breaking open the head portion 4 or by the application of a specialised release tool or key.

Figures 2 and 3 show a cover 16 having four projecting arms 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D which snap-fit into sockets or recesses (not shown) provided in the head portion 4 of the security device. The cover 16 and the outer end 4A of the head portion 4 are shaped to locate the cylindrical ferrite rod and secure it within the head portion 4. In the arrangement shown, the ends 14A and 14B of the ferrite rod 14 are exposed on each side of the head portion 4 to enable the length of the rod to be maximised within the limited space available. Alternatively, the ferrite rod 14 may be completely concealed within the head portion 4.

The head portion 4 is shaped so as to make it difficult to obtain a purchase thereon to try to pull the security tag out of the container without authorised release of the locking mechanism. To this end, it has a curved outer surface as shown which, in use, faces outward from the container.

In other arrangements, the transponder may be housed within the container so that it does not project beyond the external dimensions thereof. An example of this is described further below with reference to Figure 6.

RF security tags may be designed to be deactivated by a deactivation unit behind the counter in a retail outlet in which case there is no need to remove the security tag from the container when a customer purchases the container. In this case, the security tag may be designed for a single use only and disposed of by the customer.

Other types of security tags can be deactivated and then reactivated so they can be re-used. In this case, the retail outlet may deactivate the tag and then remove it before the customer takes the container away.

However, the preferred form of RF security tag is a permanent form which cannot be deactivated as this increases the level of security provided by the tag. In this case, the tag must be removed from the container prior to the customer taking the container out of the store. As such security tags are designed for multiple re-use, there are less cost restraints on its design so higher quality components may be used.

The RF security tag can be arranged to send an identification signal or other data to the alarm unit but a signal simply indicating its presence is sufficient to trigger an alarm.

Magnetic release apparatus for releasing a security device such as that described herein is described in WO 02/39451 so will not be described further herein.

Whilst such magnetic locking and release devices are preferred, other embodiments may use other types of locking devices including mechanical locks and mechanical release means or keys.

The container with which the security device is used may typically be provided with an outer wrapping, e.g. a plastic shrink-wrapping. The security tag 1 is designed to pierce such a wrapping so the security device can be installed after application of the wrapping. The long and short arms 2 and 3 thus preferably have pointed ends 2A, 3A or are shaped so as to easily pierce such a wrapping. As the arms 2 and 3 are relatively thin and as the area in which they pierce the wrapping is, in use, concealed by the head portion 4 of the device, this does not prejudice the integrity of the wrapper nor its appearance and the shrink-wrapping remains intact. It thus still provides tamper evidence and provides reassurance to the customer that the contents have not been interfered with.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate another way of mounting an RF transponder 20 on a security device 2 of the type described in WO02/39451 in accordance with the present invention. This is based upon the realisation that another way to avoid, or reduce, the problem of shielding caused by the metal layer within a disk 21 such as a CD or DVD (see Figure 8) is to mount the RF transponder 20 in a position which is aligned with the central region of the disk 21. Such disks have an aperture 21A in the centre thereof typically of a diameter of 15mm. Thus, a transponder 20 located in the vicinity of the aperture in such a disk (and preferably close to the plane of the disk) will be able to receive and send signals in most directions as such signals can pass through the aperture 21A in the disk so it can communicate with an alarm system located on either side of the disk 21. Furthermore, many such disks have a region 11 B around the central aperture 21A which is not provided with a metal layer 21C. Thus, the aperture in the metal layer 21C of a disk is often greater than the aperture 21A in the plastic layers between which the metal layer 21C is sandwiched. The diameter of this substantially metal free area 21 B may be up to 38mm in diameter but, more typically, is around 30mm in diameter. There is, therefore, a window of appreciable size in the centre of the disk 21 through which signals can be received by and sent from an RF transponder 20 located in that vicinity.

As indicated above, it is also highly desirable for the RF transponder 20 to be carried by the security device 2 so that it can be locked within the container and once removed can be re-used in another container. The RF transponder 20 is thus mounted on the security device 2 in a position such that, in use, when the security device 2 is installed within the container 7, it lies in the vicinity of the window described above in the metal layer 21C of the disk 21.

The security device 2 typically has a width similar to the diameter of the central hole 21 A of the disk. Thus, a transponder 20 with a width of 15mm and a length of 15 to 30 mm can be mounted on the long arm of the security device 2 in a position such that, when installed, it lies under the central area of the disk 21. This means that it also lies under the disk-holding means 8 but as this is typically formed of plastic, it is transparent to the RF signals.

An RF transponder 20 of the above dimension can be provided either in the form of a flat coil of wire (or other electrical conductors) similar to that described above but wound in elongate loops rather in circles so as to fit within a 15 x 30mm area on the security device 2 or in the form of a coil wound around a thin, substantially flat, ferrite core.

Figure 8 shows a cross-section on line A-A of Figure 7 through the disk holding means 8, a disk 21 held thereon and a security device 2 located under the disk holding means 8 with an RF transponder 20 mounted thereon so as to be located adjacent the disk 21 and in the vicinity of the central aperture 21A of the disk. Figure 8 also shows the typical extent of a metal layer 21C embedded within the disk 21.

Figure 9 shows a similar cross-section through another form of disk holding means 8' which provides more space between the above the security device 2 in the vicinity of the central hole 21A of the disk 21 and which would thus enable the invention to be implemented with an RF transponder 20' of slightly greater thickness (perpendicular to the plane of the disk) although, in cases where the security device 2 is inserted through a slot in the extended wall of the container (e.g. slot 5 shown in Figure 6), this would require the slot to be made slightly larger too.

The arrangements described in relation to Figures 6-9 have the additional advantage in that the head of the security device need not protrude beyond the external walls of the container as the transponder is mounted within the container.