Anti-theft merchandise hook

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12276136-B2
Application number	US-202418639213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2024
Priority date	Dec 9, 2020
Publication date	Apr 15, 2025
Grant date	Apr 15, 2025

Abstract

An anti-theft merchandise hook that includes a top wire connected to a housing and to a mounting portion, used to mount the anti-theft merchandise hook to a stationary surface, at an end of the top wire. A bottom wire is attached to the mounting portion and extends from the mounting portion towards the housing. The bottom wire is configured to hold retail merchandise. A hanger is at least partially disposed within the housing. The hanger is configured to move between a closed position in which the hanger abuts the bottom wire, and an open position in which the hanger is spaced some distance from the bottom wire. A motor is configured to move the hanger between the closed position and the open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An anti-theft merchandise hook comprising:
a top wire connected to a housing and to a mounting portion, used to mount the anti-theft merchandise hook, at an end of the top wire;
a bottom wire attached to the mounting portion and extending from the mounting portion towards the housing, the bottom wire configured to hold retail merchandise;
a hanger at least partially disposed within the housing, the hanger configured to move between a closed position in which the hanger abuts the bottom wire, and an open position in which the hanger is spaced some distance from the bottom wire; and
a motor configured to move the hanger between the closed position and the open position.

2. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , wherein the hanger includes an attached locating guide with a threaded opening configured to accommodate a threaded rotary shaft.

3. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 2 , wherein the locating guide extends transversely from an exterior surface of the hanger.

4. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 2 , wherein rotation of the shaft in a first rotary direction causes the locating guide to move linearly along the rotary shaft in a first linear direction, and rotation of the shaft in a second rotary direction, opposite the first rotary direction, causes the locating guide to move linearly along the rotary shaft in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction.

5. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , wherein the hanger is cylindrical.

6. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , wherein the motor is disposed within the housing.

7. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , wherein the hanger has a slot that extends longitudinally along a length of the hanger, and wherein a guide post, attached to the housing, extends through the slot.

8. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

9. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , further comprising a pivoting latch that extends from the housing to an end of the bottom wire, the pivoting latch configured to prevent merchandise from inadvertently coming off of the bottom wire.

10. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 9 , wherein the pivoting latch is spring biased such that an end of the pivoting latch contacts the end of the bottom wire.

11. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , wherein the motor is battery-powered.

12. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the hanger, between the closed position and the open position, is linear along a longitudinal axis of the hanger.

13. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , further comprising a controller with an RFID reader, the controller being disposed within the housing.

14. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the motor when an operator RFID card is placed in proximity to the controller.

15. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 14 , wherein the controller moves the hanger from the closed position to the open position, or from the open position to the closed position, when the operator RFID card is placed in proximity to the controller.

16. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to recognize one or more specific operator RFID cards such that controller only operates the motor when the one or more specific operator RFID cards is placed in proximity to the controller.

17. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to initialize operation of the anti-theft merchandise hook when a write RFID card is placed in proximity to the controller.

18. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to enable or disable an operator RFID card when the write RFID card is placed in proximity to the controller for a predetermined length of time.

19. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , further comprising a reset button which resets the anti-theft merchandise hook when depressed for a threshold period of time.

20. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , further comprising an audio emitter and/or a light indicator, wherein the controller operates the audio emitter and/or light indicator to indicate a status of the anti-theft merchandise hook.

21. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 20 , wherein the audio emitter or light indicator is used to indicate at least one of a battery power status, movement of the hanger between the open and closed positions, a reset status, a placement of merchandise onto the bottom wire, or removal of merchandise from the bottom wire.

22. The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1 , wherein the motor drives a rotary shaft in order to move the hanger between the closed position and the open position.

Assignees

• Fasteners For Retail Inc

Inventors

• Eden Keith C
• Obitts Shane
• Ewing Brent O
• Man Chan Chor

Classifications

• A47F1/128

  for article hangers or brackets · CPC title

• 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

• A47F5/0861

  Anti-theft means therefor · CPC title

• A47F5/0823 Primary

  Article supports for peg-boards · CPC title

• G02B6/3885

  Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448) · CPC title