Merchandise display hook including anti-sweep mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11006768-B2
Application number	US-202016776875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2020
Priority date	Feb 23, 2016
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

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:
a support structure configured to be secured to a display fixture and to support one or more items of merchandise thereon; and
an anti-sweep mechanism operably engaged with the support structure and comprising an actuator configured to be actuated for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure in a first mode,
wherein the anti-sweep mechanism comprises a time delay mechanism configured to disable the actuator in a second mode such that the one or more items of merchandise are prevented from being dispensed from the support structure in the second mode,
wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a loading mechanism for loading one or more items of merchandise onto the support structure in a third mode, wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be actuated for storing energy to be used to dispense the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure.

2. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to be manually actuated for dispensing one or more items of merchandise from the support structure.

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 actuator is configured to be linearly actuated for dispensing one or more items of merchandise from the support structure.

5. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the loading mechanism is configured to load a spring in response to actuation thereof.

6. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be linearly actuated.

7. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the time delay mechanism comprises a damper mechanism.

8. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a helix disposed about at least one rod, the helix extending at least partially along a length of the at least one rod, the helix configured to rotate in a dispensing direction for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the at least one rod in the first mode.

9. The merchandise display hook of claim 8 , 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.

10. The merchandise display hook of claim 8 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism is configured to bias the helix for rotating in the dispensing direction.

11. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a cable operably engaged with the actuator for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure.

12. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the time delay mechanism is configured to disable the actuator for a predetermined period time following actuation of the actuator.

13. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a cable operably engaged with the loading mechanism for loading one or more items of merchandise onto the support structure.

14. 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 a support structure and an anti-sweep mechanism operably engaged with the support structure;
actuating an actuator of the anti-sweep mechanism such that the anti-sweep mechanism dispenses at least one item of merchandise from the support structure in a first mode, wherein the anti-sweep mechanism comprises a time delay mechanism configured to disable the actuator in a second mode such that the one or more items of merchandise are prevented from being dispensed from the support structure in the second mode; and
actuating the anti-sweep mechanism for loading at least one item of merchandise onto the support structure in a third mode, wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism in the third mode comprises actuating the anti-sweep mechanism for storing energy to be used to dispense the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism comprises manually actuating the actuator for dispensing one or more items of merchandise from the support structure.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein actuating comprises actuating the actuator for rotating a helix.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein actuating comprises actuating the actuator such that the anti-sweep mechanism biases the helix for rotating in the first mode.

Assignees

• Invue Security Products Inc

Inventors

• Berglund David N
• Van Bergen Erik L
• Fawcett Christopher J
• Hendren Jeffrey A
• Van Landingham Jr A Reneau
• Kerley Matthew Thomas

Classifications

• A47F5/0869

  Accessories for article-supporting brackets, e.g. price- indicating means, not covered by a single one of groups A47F5/08 (pushing means therefor A47F1/128) · CPC title

• F16H19/04

  comprising a rack · CPC title

• A47F5/0838

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

• A47F5/0823

  Article supports for peg-boards · CPC title