Merchandise display hook including anti-sweep mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10219636-B2
Application number	US-201715435794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2017
Priority date	Feb 23, 2016
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

A merchandise display hook and method for dispensing one or more items of merchandise from a merchandise display hook and/or for loading one or more items of merchandise onto the display hook are provided. The display hook may include at least one rod configured to be mounted to a display fixture and to receive one or more items of merchandise thereon. The display hook may also include a helix disposed about the rod and extending at least partially along a length of the rod. The helix is configured to rotate in a dispensing direction for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the rod and/or an opposite loading direction for loading the one or more items of merchandise onto the rod.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A merchandise display hook comprising:
at least one rod configured to be mounted to a display fixture and to receive one or more items of merchandise thereon;
a helix disposed about the rod and extending at least partially along a length of the rod, the helix configured to rotate in a dispensing direction for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the rod;
an anti-sweep mechanism comprising an actuator, the anti-sweep mechanism operably engaged with the helix and configured to rotate the helix in the dispensing direction in a first mode in response to actuation of the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to be linearly actuated along an axis that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the helix for dispensing at least one item of merchandise; and
a time delay mechanism operably engaged with the anti-sweep mechanism and configured to disable the anti-sweep mechanism in a second mode for a predetermined period of time following actuation of the actuator whereby actuation of the actuator does not result in rotation of the helix in the dispensing direction in the second mode.

2. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to be manually actuated for dispensing at least one item of merchandise.

3. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to be actuated for dispensing a single item of merchandise at a time.

4. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a loading mechanism for loading items of merchandise onto the rod in a third mode.

5. The merchandise display hook of claim 4 , wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be actuated for rotating the helix in a loading direction opposite to the dispensing direction.

6. The merchandise display hook of claim 5 , wherein the loading mechanism is configured to load a spring in response to rotation of the helix in the loading direction.

7. The merchandise display hook of claim 6 , wherein the spring is configured to urge the helix to rotate in the dispensing direction.

8. The merchandise display hook of claim 5 , wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be linearly actuated along an axis that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the helix.

9. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the helix is not required to be manually rotated by a user for loading or dispensing the items of merchandise.

10. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rod comprises an upper rod and a lower rod, and wherein the helix is disposed only about the lower rod.

11. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , further comprising a base attached to the rod and configured to be secured to the display fixture, wherein the helix is removably attached to the base.

12. The merchandise display hook of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of helixes of different sizes each configured to be removed from and attached to the base.

13. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a cable for rotating the helix.

14. The merchandise display hook of claim 13 , wherein the cable comprises a beaded chain.

15. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism comprises a biasing element configured to be loaded for storing energy to rotate the helix in the dispensing direction.

16. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rod comprises an upturn at its free end, and wherein the anti-sweep mechanism is configured to dispense the one or more items of merchandise onto the free end whereby the one or more items of merchandise is configured to be supported on the free end.

17. A method for dispensing one or more items of merchandise from a merchandise display hook, comprising:
securing a merchandise display hook to a display fixture, the merchandise display hook comprising at least one rod and a helix disposed about at least a lengthwise portion of the rod, the merchandise display hook further comprising an anti-sweep mechanism operably engaged with the helix;
actuating an actuator of the anti-sweep mechanism such that the anti-sweep mechanism rotates the helix in a dispensing direction to dispense at least one item of merchandise from the rod in a first mode, wherein the merchandise display hook further comprises a time-delay mechanism operably engaged with the anti-sweep mechanism and configured to disable the anti-sweep mechanism in a second mode for a predetermined period of time following actuation of the actuator whereby actuation of the actuator does not result in rotation of the helix in the dispensing direction in the second mode; and
loading a biasing element of the anti-sweep mechanism for storing energy, wherein actuating the actuator comprises actuating the actuator following loading the biasing element such that the biasing element of the anti-sweep mechanism rotates the helix in the dispensing direction using the stored energy.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism comprises manually actuating the actuator for dispensing at least one item of merchandise from the rod of the display hook.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising actuating the anti-sweep mechanism for rotating the helix in an opposite loading direction to load at least one item of merchandise onto the rod in a third mode.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism comprises manually actuating the anti-sweep mechanism for loading at least one item of merchandise onto the display hook.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism comprises manually pulling a loading mechanism for loading at least one item of merchandise onto the display hook.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism for rotating the helix in an opposite loading direction results in loading of the biasing element.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism comprises manually pushing the actuator for dispensing at least one item of merchandise from the rod of the display hook.

24. The method of claim 17 , wherein securing comprises securing a base of the merchandise display hook to the display fixture.

25. The method of claim 17 , wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism comprises linearly actuating the actuator along an axis that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the helix for dispensing at least one item of merchandise from the rod of the display hook.

26. A merchandise display hook comprising:
at least one rod configured to be mounted to a display fixture and to receive one or more items of merchandise thereon;
a helix;
an anti-sweep mechanism comprising an actuator operably engaged with the helix; and
a time delay mechanism operably engaged with the actuator,
wherein the anti-sweep mechanism comprises a biasing element configured to be loaded for storing energy,
wherein the biasing element is configured to rotate the helix for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the rod using the stored energy in response to actuation of the actuator, and
wherein the time delay mechanism is configured to disable the actuator for a predetermined period time following actuation of the actuator.

27. The merchandise display hook of claim 26 , wherein the biasing element

Assignees

• Invue Security Products Inc

Inventors

• Berglund David N
• Van Bergen Erik L
• Fawcett Christopher J

Classifications

• A47F5/0823

  Article supports for peg-boards · CPC title

• A47F1/128 Primary

  for article hangers or brackets · CPC title

• A47F5/0006

  Hangers for hanging articles on bars, tringles, bracket arms or the like (dress holders, e.g. for clothing, shoes, A47G25/00; packages for hanging B65D; lockable clothing holders E05B69/00) · CPC title

• A47F5/0861

  Anti-theft means therefor · CPC title

• A47F5/0838

  Rails or bars; Article supports therefor, e.g. brackets being slidably attached on the outside thereof · CPC title