Merchandise display hook including anti-sweep mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11571076-B2
Application number	US-202117233860-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2021
Priority date	Feb 23, 2016
Publication date	Feb 7, 2023
Grant date	Feb 7, 2023

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 support one or more items of merchandise thereon, 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, wherein the support structure further comprises a base configured to be to be attached to a display fixture for supporting the support structure on the display fixture; and
an anti-sweep mechanism operably engaged with the support structure and comprising an actuator at an end of the support structure opposite the base configured to be actuated for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure, the helix configured to rotate in a dispensing direction for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the at least one rod,
wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a drive mechanism configured to rotate the helix in response to manual actuation of the actuator, wherein the base is configured to house the drive mechanism therein.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

5. The merchandise display hook of claim 4 , 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.

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

7. The merchandise display hook of claim 5 , wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be linearly actuated.

8. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a plurality of gears operably coupled to the helix.

9. 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.

10. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , 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 for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure.

12. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism comprises a time delay mechanism configured to limit one or more items of merchandise from being dispensed from the support structure.

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

14. The merchandise display hook of claim 12 , wherein the base is configured to house the time delay mechanism.

15. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the support structure extends outwardly from the base.

16. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a gear mechanism and a biasing element.

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 a support structure and an anti-sweep mechanism operably engaged with the support structure, 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, wherein the support structure further comprises a base configured to be to be attached to a display fixture for supporting the support structure on the display fixture; and
actuating an actuator of the anti-sweep mechanism at an end of the support structure opposite the base such that the anti-sweep mechanism dispenses at least one item of merchandise from the support structure, the helix configured to rotate in a dispensing direction for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the at least one rod, wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a drive mechanism configured to rotate the helix in response to manual actuation of the actuator, wherein the base is configured to house the drive mechanism therein.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising actuating the anti-sweep mechanism for storing energy to be used to dispense the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein actuating comprises actuating the actuator such that the anti-sweep mechanism biases the helix for rotation.

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

• A47F5/0823

  Article supports for peg-boards · 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

• A47F5/0838

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

• A47F1/128 Primary

  for article hangers or brackets · CPC title

• F16H37/02

  comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings · CPC title