WO2021214458A1

WO2021214458A1 - Security device

Info

Publication number: WO2021214458A1
Application number: PCT/GB2021/050955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chris NAPTHINE
Original assignee: Sekura Global Ip Llp
Priority date: 2020-04-21
Filing date: 2021-04-21
Publication date: 2021-10-28
Also published as: GB2594268A; GB202005766D0

Abstract

This invention relates to a security device for preventing or deterring theft of an article from a retail store or similar. A security tag assembly (10) comprises a security device (12) having a housing (24) and a loop (20) of cable (16) extending from the housing for placement around said article, the loop of cable being connected to a spool rotatably mounted within the housing, such that rotation of the spool in a first direction causes said cable to unwind from the spool permitting placement of the loop of cable around said article, and rotation of the spool in a second, opposite direction causes said cable to be wound around the spool thereby tightening the loop of cable around said article; and a retaining plate (30) attached to the housing the retaining plate including two apertures (36) disposed in corner regions (34) of the retaining plate, and the loop of cable extending through the apertures.

Description

Security Device

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a security device for preventing or deterring theft of an article from a retail store or similar. In particular this invention relates to a security device that may be wrapped around an article to prevent or deter a person from tampering with the article or removing the article from the store.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

There are a number of known systems for deterring or preventing theft of articles from a retail space. Typically these systems include an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag that is attached to the article or object in the retail store. While the EAS tag is activated, the tag is arranged to trigger an alarm if the tag, and therefore the article, passes between a pair of detection gates, which are typically positioned at the entrance and exit of the retail store.

When a customer purchases an article having one of these EAS tags attached to it, the tag is deactivated so that the alarm is not triggered when that person leaves the retail store.

In some systems the tag remains attached to the article, for example when the tag is in the form of a label stuck to the packaging. In other systems the tag is deactivated and removed completely from the article. These systems tend to be referred to as hard tags, and are re-usable.

There are a number of different ways of attaching hard tags to articles, and which one is used will typically depend on the type of article being tagged. For clothing, the usual method of attaching a tag is by piercing the clothing with a pin, the sharp end of the pin being engaged with the tag body once it has pierced through the clothing. This method of attaching a tag, however, is only suitable for articles where both sides of the article are accessible, and which can be pierced. Another known way to attach a hard EAS tag to an article, such as a box or carton, is to use cables that pass around the article. Typically in these systems, the cables are tightened around the article and then the tag is activated. Once activated, the cables cannot be loosened or cut without triggering an alarm, thereby preventing unauthorised removal of the tag from the article.

A limitation of this type of tag, however, is that it is only suitable for use with certain sizes and shapes of article. If the cables of the tag are wrapped around an article of an unsuitable shape then it may be possible for someone to unwrap the cables from around the article without loosening them, for example by pulling one or more of the cables over and around a corner of the article.

Against this background it is desirable to provide an improved security device that overcomes a disadvantage of previous security devices whether referred to herein or otherwise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention provides a security tag assembly for deterring theft of an article, the security tag assembly comprising: a security device having a housing and a loop of cable extending from the housing for placement around said article, the loop of cable being connected to a spool rotatably mounted within the housing, such that rotation of the spool in a first direction causes said cable to unwind from the spool permitting placement of the loop of cable around said article, and rotation of the spool in a second, opposite direction causes said cable to be wound around the spool thereby tightening the loop of cable around said article; and a retaining plate attached to the housing, the retaining plate including two apertures disposed in corner regions of the retaining plate, and the loop of cable extending through the apertures.

Preferably the retaining plate is removeably attached to a base of the housing. Preferably the base of the housing is substantially circular and a distance between opposite corners of the retaining plate is at least 1 .5 times the diameter of the base of the housing.

The retaining plate preferably has a quadrilateral shape. The retaining plate may be in the shape of a rhombus.

Preferably the security device comprises two loops of cable and the retaining plate includes four apertures through which the loops of cable extend.

In preferred embodiments the security tag assembly further comprises a guide member engaged with the loop or loops of cable such that rotation of the spool in a first direction allows the guide member to be pulled in a direction away from the retaining plate to allow said article to be placed between the retaining plate and the guide member, and rotation of the spool in the second direction draws the guide member in a direction towards the retaining plate.

Preferably the guide member is in the form of a plate having the same shape and dimensions as the retaining plate. The guide member preferably includes two apertures disposed in corner regions of the guide member, and the loop of cable extends through the apertures.

In preferred embodiments the security device comprises a latch mechanism moveable between a disengaged position in which the spool means is able to rotate freely in both the first and second directions, and an engaged position in which the spool means is able to rotate in the second direction but is prevented from rotating in the first direction.

In preferred embodiments the security device comprises an alarm configured to be activated when the latching mechanism is in the engaged position.

In preferred embodiments the security device comprises a retracting mechanism arranged to apply a biasing force to the spool to urge the spool to rotate in the second direction when the latching means is in the first position.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of securing a security tag assembly according to the first aspect of the invention to an article, the method comprising: rotating the spool in the first direction so that the loop of cable unwinds from around the spool; placing the article such that the loop of cable extends around the article; rotating the spool in the second direction so that the loop of cable tightens around the article with the retaining plate in contact with a surface of the article.

In preferred embodiments the security tag assembly comprises a guide member engaged with the loop or loops of cable, and the method preferably comprises: placing the article such that the loop of cable extends around the article and the article is disposed between the retaining plate and the guide member; and rotating the spool in the second direction so that the loop of cable tightens around the article with the retaining plate in contact with a first surface of the article and the guide member in contact with a second surface of the article.

In preferred embodiments the security device comprises a latch mechanism and the method comprises, after tightening the loop of cable around the article, activating the latch mechanism by moving the latch mechanism into the engaged position.

A third aspect of the present invention provides an assembly comprising a security tag assembly according to the first aspect of the invention and an article, the article being disposed such that the loop of cable extends around the article and the retaining plate is in contact with a surface of the article.

In preferred embodiments the security tag assembly comprises a guide member engaged with the loop or loops of cable, and the article is disposed such that the loop of cable extends around the article and the retaining plate is in contact with a first surface of the article and the guide member is in contact with a second surface of the article.

Preferably the corner regions of the retaining plate extend beyond edges of the article. In some embodiments a part of an edge of each aperture of the retaining plate is aligned with a corresponding edge of the article. In other embodiments each aperture of the retaining plate partially overlaps an edge of the article.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a kit comprising: a security device having a housing and a loop of cable extending from the housing for placement around said article, the loop of cable being connected to a spool rotatably mounted within the housing, such that rotation of the spool in a first direction causes said cable to unwind from the spool permitting placement of the loop of cable around said article, and rotation of the spool in a second, opposite direction causes said cable to be wound around the spool thereby tightening the loop of cable around said article; a first retaining plate attachable to the housing, the first retaining plate including two apertures disposed in corner regions of the first retaining plate for receiving the loop of cable; and a second retaining plate attachable to the housing, the second retaining plate including two apertures disposed in corner regions of the second retaining plate for receiving the loop of cable, wherein the dimensions of the second retaining plate are different to the dimensions of the first retaining plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

Figure 1 shows a security tag assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention secured to a container, the security tag assembly comprising a security device and a retaining plate;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the retaining plate of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a plan view of the retaining plate of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a side view of the retaining plate of Figure 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A security tag assembly 10 of the present invention comprises a security device 12 and at least one retaining plate 30.

The security device 12 is preferably in the form of a hard security tag comprising a main body 14 and at least one cable 16 extending from the main body 14. These security tags are commonly referred to as Spider Tags. The security tag 12 preferably further comprises a guide member 18, separate from the main body 14 and through which the cable 16 extends.

In some embodiments the security device 12 comprises a single cable 16 that is formed into two loops 20 and is secured at its ends to the main body 14. Each of the loops 20 extends freely through the guide member 18. The loops 20 and the guide member 18 are configured such that portions of the loops 20 extend through the guide member 18 in orthogonal directions. The loops 20 therefore cross each other in a region of the cables 16 at a distance from the main body 14. The ends of the cable 16 are connected to the main body 14 such that the two loops 20 lie in substantially orthogonal planes. In other embodiments the two loops 20 may be formed by two cables 16, each cable 16 forming a single loop 20 and each being secured at its ends to the main body 14. In yet further embodiments the security device 12 may comprise four separate cables 16, each cable 16 being secured at a first end to the main body 14 and at a second end to the guide member 18 of the security tag 12.

The ends of the cable or cables 16 secured to the main body 14 are attached to a spool disposed within an interior of the main body 14. The cables 16 pass out of the main body 14 through apertures 22 formed in a housing 24 of the main body 14. Rotating the spool in a first direction unwinds the cables 16 from around the spool, thereby lengthening the loops 20 of cable 16 and enabling the guide member 18 to be drawn in a direction away from the main body 14. Rotating the spool in a second, opposite direction causes the cables 16 to be wound around the spool, thereby shortening the length of the loops 20 of cable 16 and drawing the guide member 18 towards the main body 14.

In preferred embodiments, a retracting mechanism is connected to the spool in such a way as to urge the spool to rotate in the second direction. In use, when a user wishes to unwind the cable 16 from the spool, a user pulls the loops of cable 20 against the action of the retracting mechanism. When the pulling force on the cables 16 is released, the retracting mechanism then acts to urge the spool to rotate in the second direction to wind the cable 16 around the spool and shorten the loops of cable 20. The cable 16 may, therefore, be automatically retracted by the action of the retracting mechanism without requiring a user to manually wind up the cable 16. The retracting mechanism may comprise a flat section torsion or coil spring. In other embodiments the retracting mechanism may be of any suitable configuration to apply a biasing force to the spool to cause the spool to rotate in a direction that causes the cable 16 to wind around the spool. The retracting mechanism may comprise, for example, a different type of torsional spring or another spring mechanism.

To prevent the cables 16 being unwound from the spool by an unauthorised person after the security tag 12 has been attached to an article, the security tag 12 preferably comprises a latch mechanism which is configured to be activatable to prevent the spool being rotated in the first direction.

In preferred embodiments the latch mechanism comprises a ratchet mechanism. A first part of the ratchet mechanism is connected to the spool and a second part of the ratchet mechanism is housed in the main body 14. The second part of the ratchet mechanism is preferably moveable between a disengaged position, in which the second part of the ratchet mechanism is not engaged with the first part of the ratchet mechanism and the spool is free to rotate in both the first direction and the second direction, and an engaged position, in which the second part of the ratchet mechanism is engaged with the first part of the ratchet mechanism to prevent the spool rotating in the first direction.

The latch mechanism preferably further comprises a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism is preferably arranged to be automatically activated to lock the latch mechanism in an engaged configuration when the second part of the ratchet mechanism is moved from disengaged position to the engaged position. To disengage the second part of the ratchet mechanism from the first part of the ratchet mechanism the lock mechanism must be deactivated. Preferably the lock mechanism is deactivated by application of a magnetic force to a part of the lock mechanism. Upon deactivation of the lock mechanism, the second part of the ratchet mechanism preferably automatically returns to the disengaged position. Accordingly, in preferred embodiments, the latch mechanism comprises a biasing element, such as a spring, arranged to urge the second part of the ratchet mechanism into the disengaged position on deactivation of the lock mechanism.

The security device 12 also includes an alarm. In preferred embodiments the alarm comprises an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag and other electronic circuitry (not shown). The EAS tag is arranged to trigger an alarm when the security device 12 is activated and the device 12 passes between suitable detection gates, for example at the exit of a retail store. Furthermore, the electronic circuitry is preferably linked to the cables 16 such that an alarm will be triggered if any of the cables 16 are cut while the security device 12 is activated. The EAS tag may be located in the main body 14 and/or the guide member 18 of the security device 12. In preferred embodiments the EAS tag is automatically activated when the latch mechanism is locked in the engaged configuration.

The use of the security device 12 to deter theft of an article will now be described.

In use, with the latch mechanism in the disengaged configuration, the guide member 18 may be drawn away from the main body 14 so as to unwind the cable 16 from the spool. The loops of cable 20 may be passed around an article to be tagged, for example a container or box 2, such that the article is located between the main body 14 and the guide member 18, with the cables 16 wrapped around the article.

Once any tension on the cable 16 has been released, the retracting means causes the cable 16 to be automatically wound up around the spool. This draws the guide member 18 towards the main body 14 and, at least partially, tightens the cable 16 around the article, without requiring a user to manually wind up the cable 16.

The latch mechanism is then activated. Once activated, a user may choose to further tighten the cable 16 by rotating the spool in the second direction. The engagement of the latch mechanism means that the spool cannot be rotated in the opposite direction, so that the cables 16 cannot be loosened and removed from around the article without the security device 12 being disabled.

The article can then be displayed in a retail store, for example. If someone tries to remove the tagged article from the store, or tries to remove the security tag 12 from the article, an alarm will sound. The presence of the security tag 12 around the article, therefore, deters theft of the article.

When a customer purchases the article, the security device 12 must be disabled and removed from the article. This is achieved by applying a magnetic force to the lock mechanism as described above.

When the security device 12 is disabled, the cable 16 can be unwound from the spool and can be removed from around the article. Once any tensile forces have been removed from the cable 16, the retracting mechanism automatically winds the cable 16 around the spool such that a user does not need to manually wind up the cable 16 before storing the security device 12 for future use.

In some embodiments of the present invention it is desirable if the retracting mechanism is arranged or designed such that the retracting mechanism does not cause the cable 16 to be wound around the spool when the latch mechanism is activated. This may be achieved by designing the retracting mechanism such that the rotational force applied to the spool by the retracting mechanism is not sufficient to cause rotation of the spool when the latch mechanism is activated. This prevents an undesirably large compressive force being applied to an article by the cable 16 once the security device 12 is activated.

In order to deter or prevent an unauthorised person trying to slip the loops of cable 20 off the article while the security device 12 is activated the security tag assembly 10 of this embodiment includes a retaining plate 30.

The retaining plate 30, shown in Figures 1 to 3, is in the form of a planar sheet member. The retaining plate 30 preferably has a quadrilateral shape, and more preferably is diamond-shaped, kite-shaped or in the shape of a rhombus. The retaining plate 30 therefore preferably has four side edges 32 and four corners 34. An aperture 36 is disposed at each of the corners 34.

The retaining plate 30 is secured to a base of the main body 14 of the security tag 12. In this embodiment the retaining plate 30 comprises a plurality of holes 38 and the retaining plate 30 is secured to the main body 14 by suitable bolts or screws that extend through the holes 38 and into the housing 24 of the main body 14.

The main body 14 is preferably secured to the retaining plate 30 is a position coincident with the intersection of diagonals of the retaining plate 30. In this embodiment, in which the retaining plate 30 is in the shape of a rhombus, the main body 14 is secured centrally with respect to the edges 32 of the retaining plate 30. The dimensions of the retaining plate 30 are such that at least corner regions of the retaining plate 30 extend beyond a perimeter of the main body 14. In preferred embodiments the dimensions of the retaining plate 30 are such that a distance between opposite corners 34 of the retaining plate 30 is at least 1 .5 times a diameter of the main body 14 of the security tag 12. Preferably a distance between opposite corners 34 of the retaining plate 30 is at least twice the diameter of the main body 14 of the security tag 12.

The cables 16 of the security device 12 extend through the apertures 36, and the apertures 36 are preferably sized such that the cables can pass freely through the apertures 36, i.e. there is no resistance to movement of the cables 16 through the apertures 36. This is important as it allows the cables 16 to freely wind and unwind from around the spool.

In preferred embodiments, and as illustrated in Figure 4, the guide member 18 has the same shape as the retaining plate 30. Furthermore, the guide member 18 preferably has the same dimensions as the retaining plate 30. In these embodiments the retaining plate 30 and the guide member 18 may be identical. This minimises the number of different components of the security tag assembly 10 that must be manufactured.

As discussed above, the loops of cable 20 may be formed from a single cable 16 or two cables 16 secured at ends to the spool in the main body 14. In these embodiments the guide member 18 preferably includes apertures 40 at its corners 42 through which the cables 16 pass. In other embodiments, in which the security device 12 comprises four separate cables 16, each cable 16 is preferably secured at a first end to the spool in the main body 14 and at a second end to corner regions of the guide member 18. In this embodiment the loops of cable 20 are formed from two cables 16, and the guide member 18 includes apertures 40 in corner regions of the guide member 18.

The retaining plate 30 is preferably sized such that, in use, the corners 34 of the retaining plate 30 extend or protrude beyond edges 4 of the container or box 2 around which the loops of cable 20 extend and to which the security tag assembly 10 is secured. In particular, the retaining plate 30 is preferably sized such that the apertures 36 at the corners 34 of the retaining plate 30 are located at the edges 4 of the box 2. A part of an edge of each aperture 36 may be aligned with a corresponding edge 4 of the box 2. Alternatively each aperture 36 may partially overlap an edge 4 of the box 2. In this way, with the cables 16 passing through the apertures 36, the loops of cable 20 may still extend tightly around sides 6 of the box 2, i.e. the cables 16 may still be in contact with the sides 6 and the edges 4 of the box 2. Similarly, in embodiments in which the guide member 18 has the same shape as the retaining plate 30, the guide member 18 is preferably sized such that, in use, the corners 42 of the guide member 18 extend or protrude beyond edges 4 of the container or box 2. In particular, the guide member 18 is preferably sized such that the apertures 40 at the corners 42 of the guide member 18 are located at the edges 4 of the box 2. A part of an edge of each aperture 42 may be aligned with a corresponding edge 4 of the box 2. Alternatively each aperture 40 may partially overlap an edge 4 of the box 2. In this way, with the cables 16 passing through the apertures 40, the loops of cable 20 may still extend tightly around sides 6 of the box 2, i.e. the cables 16 may still be in contact with the sides 6 and the edges 4 of the box 2.

It will be appreciated that the security tag assembly 10 may be secured to different sized containers and boxes 2. Accordingly, it is advantageous if different sized retaining plates 30, and possibly different sized guide members 18, may be secured to the security device 12, depending on the size of container or box 2 to which the security tag assembly 10 is to be secured.

This may be achieved by removeably attaching the retaining plate 30 to the main body 14 of the security tag 12, and providing a set of retaining plates having different dimensions. A user may then select an appropriately sized retaining plate 30 to attach to the main body 14.

To allow the cables 16 to pass through the apertures 36 in the retaining plate 30, the loops of cable 20 are preferably formed from four cables 16 having first ends secured to the spool in the main body 14 and having second ends that are connectable to the guide member 18. When a different retaining plate 30 is to be attached to the main body 14, the second ends of the cables 16 are disconnected from guide member 18 and passed back through the apertures 36 in the current retaining plate 30. The current retaining plate can then be detached from the main body and a new retaining plate attached to the main body. The second ends of the cables can then be passed through the apertures in the new retaining plate and secured to the guide member. Suitable connectors may be provided at the second ends of the cables to allow them to connect to the guide member. These connectors, when present, should be sized to pass through the apertures in the retaining plate. The connectors may be sized so that they are unable to pass through the apertures 22 in the housing 24 of the main body 14.

In embodiments in which the guide member 18 has the same form as the retaining plate 30, it will be appreciated that when a different size of retaining plate 30 is selected, a corresponding size of guide member 18 may also be selected.

The guide member 18 may include a housing or keeper to which the second ends of the cables are attached. In embodiments in which connectors are provided at the second ends of the cables, the housing or keeper may include one or more sockets for receiving the connectors.

In use, with the latch mechanism in the disengaged configuration, the guide member 18 may be pulled in a direction away from the retaining plate 30 attached to the main body 14 so as to unwind the cable 16 from the spool. The loops of cable 20 may be passed around an article to be tagged, for example a container or box 2, such that the box 2 is disposed between the retaining plate 30 and the guide member 18, and with the cables 16 wrapped around the box 2.

Once any tension on the cables 16 has been released, the retracting means causes the cables 16 to be automatically wound up around the spool. This draws the guide member 18 towards the retaining plate 30 bringing the retaining plate 30 and the guide member 18 into contact with opposite sides 6 of the box 2, without requiring a user to manually wind up the cable 16.

The latch mechanism is then activated. Once activated, a user may choose to further tighten the cables 16 by rotating the spool in the second direction. The engagement of the latch mechanism means that the spool cannot be rotated in the opposite direction, so that the cables 16 cannot be loosened and removed from around the article without the security device 12 being disabled. The article can then be displayed in a retail store, for example. If someone tries to remove the tagged article from the store, or tries to remove the security tag assembly 10 from the article, for example by cutting the cables 16, an alarm will sound. The presence of the security tag assembly 10 around the article, therefore, deters theft of the article. Furthermore, the retaining plate 30 (and optionally the guide member 18) makes it more difficult for an unauthorised person to slide the article out from the loops of cable 20 as the loops of cable 20 are retained in a fixed position with respect to the sides 6 of the article by the retaining plate 30 (and optionally the guide member 18).

When a customer purchases the article, the security tag assembly 10 must be disabled and removed from the article. This is achieved by applying a magnetic force to the lock mechanism as described above.

When the security device 12 is disabled, the cables 16 can be unwound from the spool and can be removed from around the article. In particular, the guide member 18 may be pulled in a direction away from the retaining plate 30 so that the box 2 is released from the loops of cable 20. Once any tensile forces have been removed from the cables 16, the retracting mechanism automatically winds the cables 16 around the spool such that a user does not need to manually wind up the cable 16 before storing the security tag assembly 10 for future use. In particular, the retracting mechanism may wind the cables 16 around the spool such that the guide member 18 is brought into contact with the retaining plate 30.

Although in the above embodiment the retaining plate 30 and the guide member 18 were shown protruding from the edges 4 of the box 2, in other embodiments it may be preferable if the retaining plate and the guide member do not protrude beyond the edges 4 of the box 2. In particular, the retaining plate may be sized so that corners of the retaining plate are within a perimeter edge 4 of the container 2 to which the security tag assembly is secured. It is advantageous for the retaining plate to not protrude beyond the edges of the container so that the corners of the retaining plate do not get caught on other items in the retail environment. Furthermore, if the retaining plate does not protrude beyond the perimeter of the container, then neighbouring containers may be placed next to one another and stacked efficiently on a retail shelf, for example. The guide member may be the same size or smaller than the retaining plate. Accordingly, the guide member preferably does not extend beyond the edges of the container or box.

In the above embodiment the apertures 36 in the retaining plate 30 were described and illustrated as holes or through-holes having a complete perimeter edge. In particular, the apertures 36 were in the form of substantially circular holes. In other embodiments the apertures 36 may have a different shape. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the apertures 36 may be in the form of slots or recesses extending inwardly from the perimeter edge of the retaining plate 30. In these embodiments, therefore, the apertures 36 may not have a complete perimeter edge and the cables may be insertable into the apertures 36 through a respective opening of each of the slots. The slots may have a tortuous or non-linear shape such that the cables 16 can be engaged with the slots and are not easily disengaged from the slots while the security tag assembly 10 is being secured to a container or box 2. It will be appreciated that once the security tag assembly 10 is secured to the container 2, the cables 16 are tightened and the latch mechanism is activated, the cables 16 are held tightly in contact with the article and the retaining plate 30 and cannot be disengaged from the slots.

Similarly, in the above embodiment the apertures 40 in the guide member 18 were described and illustrated as holes or through-holes having a complete perimeter edge. In particular, the apertures 40 were in the form of substantially circular holes. In other embodiments the apertures 40 may have a different shape. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the apertures 40 may be in the form of slots or recesses extending inwardly from the perimeter edge of the guide member 18. In these embodiments, therefore, the apertures 40 may not have a complete perimeter edge and the cables 16 may be insertable into the apertures 40 through a respective opening of each of the slots. The slots may have a tortuous or non-linear shape such that the cables 16 can be engaged with the slots and are not easily disengaged from the slots while the security tag assembly 10 is being secured to a container or box 2. It will be appreciated that once the security tag assembly 10 is secured to the container 2, the cables 16 are tightened and the latch mechanism is activated, the cables 16 are held tightly in contact with the container 2 and the guide member 18 and cannot be disengaged from the slots.

Other modifications and variations not explicitly disclosed above may also be contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A security tag assembly for deterring theft of an article, the security tag assembly comprising: a security device having a housing and a loop of cable extending from the housing for placement around said article, the loop of cable being connected to a spool rotatably mounted within the housing, such that rotation of the spool in a first direction causes said cable to unwind from the spool permitting placement of the loop of cable around said article, and rotation of the spool in a second, opposite direction causes said cable to be wound around the spool thereby tightening the loop of cable around said article; and a retaining plate attached to the housing, the retaining plate including two apertures disposed in corner regions of the retaining plate, and the loop of cable extending through the apertures.

2. A security tag assembly as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the retaining plate is removeably attached to a base of the housing.

3. A security tag assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the base of the housing is substantially circular and a distance between opposite corners of the retaining plate is at least 1 .5 times the diameter of the base of the housing.

4. A security tag assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the retaining plate has a quadrilateral shape.

5. A security tag assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the retaining plate is in the shape of a rhombus.

6. A security tag assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the security device comprises two loops of cable and the retaining plate includes four apertures through which the loops of cable extend.

7. A security tag assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a guide member engaged with the loop or loops of cable such that rotation of the spool in a first direction allows the guide member to be pulled in a direction away from the retaining plate to allow said article to be placed between the retaining plate and the guide member, and rotation of the spool in the second direction draws the guide member in a direction towards the retaining plate.

8. A security tag assembly as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the guide member is in the form of a plate having the same shape and dimensions as the retaining plate.

9. A security tag assembly as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the guide member includes two apertures disposed in corner regions of the guide member, and the loop of cable extends through the apertures.

10. A security tag assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the security device comprises a latch mechanism moveable between a disengaged position in which the spool means is able to rotate freely in both the first and second directions, and an engaged position in which the spool means is able to rotate in the second direction but is prevented from rotating in the first direction.

11. A security tag assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the security device comprises an alarm configured to be activated when the latching mechanism is in the engaged position.

12. A security tag assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the security device comprises a retracting mechanism arranged to apply a biasing force to the spool to urge the spool to rotate in the second direction when the latching means is in the first position.

13. A method of securing a security tag assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12 to an article, the method comprising: rotating the spool in the first direction so that the loop of cable unwinds from around the spool; placing the article such that the loop of cable extends around the article; rotating the spool in the second direction so that the loop of cable tightens around the article with the retaining plate in contact with a surface of the article.

14. A method as claimed in Claim 13, when dependent on Claim 7, wherein the method comprises: placing the article such that the loop of cable extends around the article and the article is disposed between the retaining plate and the guide member; and rotating the spool in the second direction so that the loop of cable tightens around the article with the retaining plate in contact with a first surface of the article and the guide member in contact with a second surface of the article.

15. A method as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, when dependent on Claim 10, wherein the method comprises, after tightening the loop of cable around the article, activating the latch mechanism by moving the latch mechanism into the engaged position.

16. An assembly comprising a security tag assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12 and an article, the article being disposed such that the loop of cable extends around the article and the retaining plate is in contact with a surface of the article.

17. An assembly as claimed in Claim 16, when dependent on Claim 7, wherein the article is disposed such that the loop of cable extends around the article and the retaining plate is in contact with a first surface of the article and the guide member is in contact with a second surface of the article.

18. An assembly as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 17, wherein the corner regions of the retaining plate extend beyond edges of the article.

19. An assembly as claimed in Claim 18, wherein a part of an edge of each aperture of the retaining plate is aligned with a corresponding edge of the article.

20. An assembly as claimed in Claim 18, wherein each aperture of the retaining plate partially overlaps an edge of the article.

21. A kit comprising: a security device having a housing and a loop of cable extending from the housing for placement around said article, the loop of cable being connected to a spool rotatably mounted within the housing, such that rotation of the spool in a first direction causes said cable to unwind from the spool permitting placement of the loop of cable around said article, and rotation of the spool in a second, opposite direction causes said cable to be wound around the spool thereby tightening the loop of cable around said article; a first retaining plate attachable to the housing, the first retaining plate including two apertures disposed in corner regions of the first retaining plate for receiving the loop of cable; and a second retaining plate attachable to the housing, the second retaining plate including two apertures disposed in corner regions of the second retaining plate for receiving the loop of cable, wherein the dimensions of the second retaining plate are different to the dimensions of the first retaining plate.