Self-detaching anti-theft device with power removal station

1. A method for operating a security tag, comprising:

establishing a direct electrical connection between power connectors of the security tag and power connectors of an external Power Removal Station (“PRS”);

receiving, by the security tag, a wireless detach command from the PRS;

performing operations by the security tag to authenticate the received wireless detach command;

selectively actuating a switch disposed in the security tag to provide a closed circuit between an electro-mechanical component of the security tag and the external PRS, when the received wireless detach command is authenticated;

receiving power supplied from the external PRS at the electro-mechanical component of the security tag, subsequent to when the switch is selectively actuated; and

actuating the electro-mechanical component so that a pin of the security tag transitions from a fully engaged position to a fully unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag, where the pin is fixedly coupled to the security tag's housing.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless detach command is sent from the external PRS to the security tag when a verification has been made that an article to which the security tag is attached has been successfully purchased.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in a first portion of the security tag at least partially spaced apart from a second portion of the security tag by a gap when the pin is in the engaged position.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the pin is fully retracted into the second portion of the security tag when the pin is in the unengaged position.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the gap is sized and shaped to prevent a user's access to the pin while the security tag is being coupled to the article at least partially inserted into the gap.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pin is fixedly coupled to the security tag's housing.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electro-mechanical component is a solenoid or a motor.

8. A method for operating a security tag, comprising:

establishing a direct electrical connection between power connectors of a Power Removal Station (“PRS”) and power connectors of the security tag;

receiving by the PRS a signal sent from a computing device when a verification has been made that an article to which the security tag is attached has been successfully purchased;

transmitting a wireless detach command from the PRS to the security tag to cause a switch internal to the security tag to be selectively actuated so that a closed circuit is provided between the PRS and an electro-mechanical component of the security tag; and

supplying power from the PRS to the electro-mechanical component of the security tag subsequent to when the switch is selectively actuated so as to enable actuation of a mechanical component of the security tag, whereby a pin of the security tag transitions from a engaged position to a unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the mechanical component is actuated upon authentication of the wireless detach command sent from the PRS and received at the security tag.

10. A security tag, comprising:

an electro-mechanical component;

an electrical connector coupled to the electro-mechanical component and configured to establish an electrical connection between the security tag and an external Power Removal Station (“PRS”); and

an electrical circuit configured to

authenticate a wireless detach command sent from the external PRS,

cause an internal switch to be selectively actuated so that a closed circuit is provided between the electro-mechanical component and the external PRS, when the wireless detach command is authenticated,

allow power to be supplied from the external PRS to the electro-mechanical component, subsequent to when the internal switch is selectively actuated, and

cause actuation of the electro-mechanical component so that a pin of the security tag transitions from an engaged position to an unengaged position without any human assistance or mechanical assistance by a device external to the security tag.

11. The security tag according to claim 10 , wherein the wireless detach command is sent from the external PRS to the security tag when a verification has been made that an article to which the security tag is attached has been successfully purchased.

12. The security tag according to claim 10 , wherein an end of the pin resides within an aperture formed in a first portion of the security tag at least partially spaced apart from a second portion of the security tag by a gap when the pin is in the engaged position.

13. The security tag according to claim 12 , wherein the pin is fully retracted into the second portion of the security tag when the pin is in the unengaged position.

14. The security tag according to claim 12 , wherein the gap is sized and shaped to prevent a user's access to the pin while the security tag is being coupled to the article at least partially inserted into the gap.

15. The security tag according to claim 10 , wherein the pin is fixedly coupled to the security tag's housing.

16. The security tag according to claim 10 , wherein the electro-mechanical component is a solenoid or a motor.