Merchandise display hook including anti-sweep mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12167801-B2
Application number	US-202318105558-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2023
Priority date	Feb 23, 2016
Publication date	Dec 17, 2024
Grant date	Dec 17, 2024

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 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 in a first 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 second mode, wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be actuated in the second mode for storing energy to be used to dispense the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure in the first mode,
wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a drive mechanism configured to dispense the at least one item of merchandise in response to 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 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 6 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a time delay mechanism configured to disable the actuator in a third mode such that the one or more items of merchandise are prevented from being dispensed from the support structure in the third mode.

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

9. The merchandise display hook of claim 7 , wherein the time delay mechanism is configured to disable the actuator for a predetermined period time following actuation of the actuator.

10. 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.

11. The merchandise display hook of claim 10 , 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.

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

13. The merchandise display hook of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism further comprises a cable in operable engagement with the actuator for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure.

14. The merchandise display hook of claim 13 , wherein the cable is operably engaged with the loading mechanism such that actuation of the loading mechanism tensions the cable for storing energy to be used to dispense the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure in the first mode.

15. 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 further comprises a base configured to be to be attached to the display fixture for supporting the support structure on the display fixture;
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 in a first mode; and
actuating the anti-sweep mechanism for loading at least one item of merchandise onto the support structure in a second mode, wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism in the second mode comprises actuating the anti-sweep mechanism in the second mode for storing energy to be used to dispense the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure in the first mode, wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a drive mechanism configured to dispense the at least one item of merchandise in response to actuation of the actuator, wherein the base is configured to house the drive mechanism therein.

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

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism comprises a time delay mechanism configured to disable the actuator in a third mode such that the one or more items of merchandise are prevented from being dispensed from the support structure in the third mode.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein actuating comprises actuating the actuator for rotating a helix.

19. The method of claim 18 , 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

• A47F5/0823

  Article supports for peg-boards · CPC title

• F16H37/02

  comprising essentially only toothed or friction gearings · CPC title

• A47F5/0838

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