Tape rule anti-theft device and package

Abstract

A tape rule package includes a tape rule, a mount structure, and a surveillance tag. The tape rule includes a housing and a belt clip. The mount structure includes a securement portion constructed and arranged to be secured to the belt clip. The surveillance tag is carried by the mount structure.

1 . A tape rule package, comprising:
 a tape rule including a housing and a belt clip;   a mount structure including a securement portion constructed and arranged to be secured to the belt clip; and   a surveillance tag carried by the mount structure.   
     
     
         2 . The tape rule package of  claim 1 , wherein the belt clip has an opening, and wherein the securement portion comprises a projection received in the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The tape rule package of  claim 1 , wherein the belt clip comprises a curved end portion, and wherein the mount structure comprises a removable portion adjacent the curved end portion. 
     
     
         4 . The tape rule package of  claim 3 , wherein the mount structure comprises at least one frangible portion, which is frangible to enable removal of the removable portion. 
     
     
         5 . The tape rule package of  claim 1 , wherein the package comprises a backing portion and a clear plastic portion, wherein the mount structure is at least partially disposed between the clear plastic portion and the backing portion. 
     
     
         6 . The tape rule package of  claim 5 , wherein the clear plastic portion comprises an opening through which the belt clip extends to be received by the mount structure between the plastic portion and the backing portion. 
     
     
         7 . The tape rule package of  claim 5 , wherein the backing portion comprises a removable section, which is removable to facilitate access to the mount structure disposed between the clear plastic portion and the backing portion. 
     
     
         8 . The tape rule package of  claim 1 , wherein the surveillance tag is secured to the mount structure. 
     
     
         9 . The tape rule package of  claim 1 , wherein the surveillance tag is integrally formed with the mount structure. 
     
     
         10 . An anti-theft attachment for a product having a belt clip, comprising:
 a mount structure including a base portion and a bridge portion, the bridge portion joined to the base portion, the bridge portion comprising a projection constructed and arranged to be received in an opening of the belt clip; and   a surveillance tag secured to the mount structure.   
     
     
         11 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 10 , wherein the mount structure comprises a removable portion and at least one frangible portion, which is frangible to enable removal of the removable portion. 
     
     
         12 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 10 , wherein the base portion comprises a compartment, in which the surveillance tag is secured. 
     
     
         13 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 10 , wherein the mount structure comprises an opening disposed between the base portion and the bridge portion, wherein the opening is constructed and arranged to receive the belt clip. 
     
     
         14 . An anti-theft attachment for a product, the product having a structural shape, the anti-theft attachment comprising:
 an injection molded integrally formed body having a structural configuration constructed and shaped to be forced into biased engagement with the structural shape of the product such that the structural configuration of the integrally formed body interlocks with the product and cannot be released from the product without cutting or destruction thereof; and   a surveillance tag carried by the injection molded integrally formed body.   
     
     
         15 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the structural configuration of the integrally formed body comprises a projection constructed and arranged to be received in an opening of a belt clip of the product. 
     
     
         16 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the structural configuration of the integrally formed body comprises an opening constructed and arranged to receive a projection of a belt clip of the product. 
     
     
         17 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the surveillance tag is secured within a compartment formed in the injection molded integrally formed body. 
     
     
         18 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 17 , wherein the compartment has a closure member. 
     
     
         19 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 18 , wherein the closure member is integrally molded with the body. 
     
     
         20 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 18 , wherein the closure member is separately formed from the body. 
     
     
         21 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 18 , wherein the closure member cannot be removed without cutting or destroying the closure member or the body. 
     
     
         22 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the surveillance tag is integrally formed with the injection molded integrally formed body. 
     
     
         23 . The anti-theft attachment of  claim 14 , wherein injection molded integrally formed body comprises a removable portion, which is cut or destroyed to release the structural configuration of the injection molded integrally formed body from the product. 
     
     
         24 . A method for forming a package product, comprising:
 injection molding a body;   securing a surveillance tag to the body; and   forcing the body into an interlocking relationship with a product so that the body cannot be removed from the product without cutting or destruction of the body.   
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the forcing comprises moving a belt clip on the product against an internal spring force thereof.