GB2144707A

GB2144707A - Theft-detection marking of goods

Info

Publication number: GB2144707A
Application number: GB08317310A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Frederick John Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-06-25
Filing date: 1983-06-25
Publication date: 1985-03-13
Also published as: GB8317310D0

Abstract

At the time of first legitimate sale goods are marked by the seller with an identification of the purchaser. The marking may be in code, and it is covered over by a self-adhesive patch which can readily be removed, and replaced, by an intending subsequent purchaser who wished to identify the original legal owner and/or check whether the article concerned has previously been sold. The seller may be a retailer, and the patch may identify the seller to perform the double function of cover patch and advertising sticker.

Description

SPECIFICATION Theft-detection marking of goods This invention relates to the marking of goods, particularly capital goods of high commercial value such as video recorders and television sets, so that an intending purchaser can readily determine whether or not an article offered for sale is stolen property.

The theft of articles such as the foregoing, particularly from unattended commercial and industrial premises, is a growing social problem. Once stolen they are easily disposed of to unsuspecting purchasers who have no means of knowing, or finding out, whether or not the goods on offer are the legitimate property of the seller. The object of the invention is the marking of an article so that this can readily be determined.

According to the invention an article is indelibly marked by the seller, at the time of first legitimate sale, with an identification of the purchaser, the marking being covered over by a self-adhesive cover strip or "patch" which may have a decorative or other finish and which can readily be removed, and replaced, by an intending subsequent purchaser who wishes to identify the original legal owner and/or check whether the article has previously been sold.

The marking may consist of the name of the first purchaser, and for example retailers may be issued with a stencil kit including letters which can be reassembled for stencilling of individual names using an indelible ink. The address may also be included, and an intending subsequent purchaser merely has to lift up the patch in order to see the name and address of the previous owner. He can then check from the latter whether the article is on legal offer, although often it will be sufficient merely to check whether the article is marked and hence determine whether or not it has been the subject of a previous sale. Alternatively a coded marking may be used, preferably with the name of the retailer from whom the name and address of the original owner (or other information concerning the origin of the article) can be obtained.

The patch may have any suitable decorative finish and the marking may be applied at any suitable position on the article, but preferably where the patch-covered marking is clearly visible. Commonly it will be on the back of the article, when it may carry the name and address of the retailer and thus act as a replacement for the advertising sticker commonly applied to an article by the retailer. This is particularly advantageous, as the patch then fulfills two separate functions, when the identification marking covered by the patch is in code.

Marking in accordance with the invention has a number of advantages some of which might not immediately come to mind. Firstly a theft-deterrent function, as the use of a cover patch enables an article to be marked at a position such that the existence of the marking is clearly apparent, which will tend to deter theft; secondly, the fact that the article is marked will make it clear that the article must be second-hand and it cannot be passed off as new; and thirdly, an intending purchaser can identify and contact the original purchaser if he wishes to check on the legality of the offer for sale or obtain other information concerning the article.

The removable and replaceable covering of the identification marking may utilise mutually-adherent plastics polymer laminae in accordance with my co-pending Patent Application No. 82 21050.

One of such laminae may be transparent and secured over the marking, for example using a suitable adhesive, with the other lamina being opaque and providing said cover patch of the present invention.

1. Marking of goods to facilitate theft-detection, wherein an article is indelibly marked by the seller, at the time of first legitimate sale, with an identification of the purchaser, the marking being covered over by a self-adhesive cover strip or "patch" which can readily be removed, and replaced, by an intending subsequent purchaser who wishes to identify the original legal owner and/or check whether the article has previously been soid.

2. Marking of goods according to claim 1, wherein the marking includes the name of the first purchaser.

3. Marking of goods according to claim 2, wherein said seller is a retailer and the marking is achieved using a stencil kit including letters which can be reassembled for the stencilling of individual names using an indelible ink.

4. Marking of goods according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the address of the purchaser is also included.

5. Marking of goods according to claim 1, wherein a coded marking is used.

6. Marking of goods according to claim 5, wherein said coded marking identifies the name of the retailer from whom the name and address of the original owner (or other information concerning the origin of the article) can be obtained.

7. Marking of goods according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the removable and replaceable patch has a decorative finish.

8. Marking of goods according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the marking is applied to the article in a position where the patchcovered marking is clearly visible.

9. Marking of goods according to claim 8, wherein the marking is positioned on the back of the article.

10. Marking of goods according to claim 9, wherein the removable and replaceable patch carries the name and address of a retailer selling the article and thus acts as a replacement for the advertising sticker commonly applied to an article by the retailer.

11. Marking of goods according to claims 5 and 10, whereby the patch fulfils two separate functions, providing an advertising sticker identifying the retailer and a removable cover for the coded

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Theft-detection marking of goods This invention relates to the marking of goods, particularly capital goods of high commercial value such as video recorders and television sets, so that an intending purchaser can readily determine whether or not an article offered for sale is stolen property. The theft of articles such as the foregoing, particularly from unattended commercial and industrial premises, is a growing social problem. Once stolen they are easily disposed of to unsuspecting purchasers who have no means of knowing, or finding out, whether or not the goods on offer are the legitimate property of the seller. The object of the invention is the marking of an article so that this can readily be determined. According to the invention an article is indelibly marked by the seller, at the time of first legitimate sale, with an identification of the purchaser, the marking being covered over by a self-adhesive cover strip or "patch" which may have a decorative or other finish and which can readily be removed, and replaced, by an intending subsequent purchaser who wishes to identify the original legal owner and/or check whether the article has previously been sold. The marking may consist of the name of the first purchaser, and for example retailers may be issued with a stencil kit including letters which can be reassembled for stencilling of individual names using an indelible ink. The address may also be included, and an intending subsequent purchaser merely has to lift up the patch in order to see the name and address of the previous owner. He can then check from the latter whether the article is on legal offer, although often it will be sufficient merely to check whether the article is marked and hence determine whether or not it has been the subject of a previous sale. Alternatively a coded marking may be used, preferably with the name of the retailer from whom the name and address of the original owner (or other information concerning the origin of the article) can be obtained. The patch may have any suitable decorative finish and the marking may be applied at any suitable position on the article, but preferably where the patch-covered marking is clearly visible. Commonly it will be on the back of the article, when it may carry the name and address of the retailer and thus act as a replacement for the advertising sticker commonly applied to an article by the retailer. This is particularly advantageous, as the patch then fulfills two separate functions, when the identification marking covered by the patch is in code. Marking in accordance with the invention has a number of advantages some of which might not immediately come to mind. Firstly a theft-deterrent function, as the use of a cover patch enables an article to be marked at a position such that the existence of the marking is clearly apparent, which will tend to deter theft; secondly, the fact that the article is marked will make it clear that the article must be second-hand and it cannot be passed off as new; and thirdly, an intending purchaser can identify and contact the original purchaser if he wishes to check on the legality of the offer for sale or obtain other information concerning the article. The removable and replaceable covering of the identification marking may utilise mutually-adherent plastics polymer laminae in accordance with my co-pending Patent Application No. 82 21050. One of such laminae may be transparent and secured over the marking, for example using a suitable adhesive, with the other lamina being opaque and providing said cover patch of the present invention. CLAIMS

5. Marking of goods according to claim 1, wherein a coded marking is used.

11. Marking of goods according to claims 5 and 10, whereby the patch fulfils two separate functions, providing an advertising sticker identifying the retailer and a removable cover for the coded identification marking.

12. Marking of goods according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the patch-covered identification marking utilises mutually-adherent plastics polymer laminae.

13. Marking of goods according to claim 12, wherein one of said laminae is transparent and secured over the marking, for example using a suitable adhesive, and the other of said laminae is opaque and provides said cover patch.

14. Marking of goods by a seller thereof to facilitate theft-detection, substantially as herein particularly described.