US20070062890A1 - Display rod security device - Google Patents
Display rod security device Download PDFInfo
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- US20070062890A1 US20070062890A1 US11/391,614 US39161406A US2007062890A1 US 20070062890 A1 US20070062890 A1 US 20070062890A1 US 39161406 A US39161406 A US 39161406A US 2007062890 A1 US2007062890 A1 US 2007062890A1
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- Prior art keywords
- rod
- security device
- locking
- members
- locked position
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47F5/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
- A47F5/08—Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices
- A47F5/0807—Display panels, grids or rods used for suspending merchandise or cards supporting articles; Movable brackets therefor
- A47F5/0861—Anti-theft means therefor
Definitions
- the present invention relates to security devices, and particularly to a security device that prevents large numbers of items of merchandise from being rapidly removed from display racks, and in particular from display rods.
- the present invention relates to a security device that is easily attached and locked on the display rod and which allows one or several items of merchandise to be removed from the rack at any one time, but protects a number of the items from being removed from the rack by a shoplifter, and which contains an alarm actuation device.
- shoplifters can rapidly empty all of the merchandise from a pegboard display rod and make off with merchandise without being detected, or even if detected upon passing through a checkout security gate, will be difficult to apprehend.
- a security device for display rods so that large quantities of merchandise cannot be rapidly removed from the rods yet would allow legitimate customers to remove a limited number of the items from the rod without requiring a merchant or store clerk to assist the customer. Furthermore, the device will actuate the alarm at a security gate if unlawfully passed therethrough.
- the present invention provides a security device for display racks that prevents the rapid removal of a large number of the displayed items of merchandise from display rods extending outwardly from the rack by placing a simple, compact, yet highly effective locking device on a linear length of the display rod located between a number of the items stored thereon. This will enable those items located between the security device and the distal end of the display rod to be removed by a customer yet prevents removal of those items located between the display rack and locking device until a clerk unlocks the security device and repositions it behind a number of the already stored items, or places new items in-between the security device and distal end of the rod for subsequent removal by the customer.
- Another aspect of the present invention is to form the display rod security device as a simple two-piece construction in which a pair of members are slidably joined, each of which has a semicircular slot formed therein, which when in a closed locked position forms a circular opening through which the display rod extends, and which has a sufficient linear length or configuration to prevent it from being removed from a bent end of the display rod.
- Another aspect of the present invention is to provide one of the members of the security device with a spring biased locking member which automatically snaps into locking engagement with a locking projection formed on the other of the members when the members are moved to a closed position.
- Another feature of the present invention is to form the locking member of a magnetically attractable material whereby a magnetic key when placed at a specific location on the security device will move the locking member to the unlocked position enabling the security device to be easily moved to an open position for removal of the device from the rack and subsequent reattachment thereto.
- a further aspect of the present invention is to form the two members of rigid plastic material which is sufficiently strong to prevent a thief from easily prying the two members apart, and which can be constructed of a minimum number of component parts thereby enabling the security device to be mass produced relatively inexpensive encouraging the use thereof by merchants to reduce shoplifting.
- Still another feature of the invention is the placement of an alarm actuation device in the security device which sounds an alarm upon passage of the security device through a security gate to prevent theft of the entire display rod and contents stored thereon.
- the security device of the present invention which is adapted to be attached to a rod extending outwardly from a merchandise display wherein the rod has a free end bent at an angle to an elongated portion of the rod, wherein the security device comprising first and second members slidably joined for movement between locked and unlocked positions, at least one of said members being formed with an arcuate slot which is substantially complementary to and adapted to receive the elongated portion of the rod therein to secure the security device on the elongated portion of the rod, and wherein the bent free end prevents removal of the security device from the rod when in the locked position; and a magnetically attractable lock member for locking the first and second members in the locked position about the rod.
- FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the security device of the present invention mounted on an elongated linear portion of a display rod extending outwardly from a supporting structure.
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 - 2 , FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the main housing member of the security device.
- FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the housing of FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the locking member of the security device removed from the main housing member of FIGS. 3 and 4 .
- FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the locking member of FIG. 5 .
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7 - 7 , FIG. 1 showing the security device in a locked position on the display rod.
- FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the magnetically attractable locking member of the security device.
- FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 , showing a magnetic key engaged with the security device for unlocking the device.
- FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on lines 9 - 9 , FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 , showing the locking tines moved to an unlocked position by the magnetic key.
- FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the security device in an open unlocked position.
- the security device of the present invention is indicated generally at 1 , and is shown in FIG. 1 mounted on a merchandise display rod 3 which extends outwardly in a cantilevered-like fashion from a support surface 5 and is attached thereto by an attachment mechanism 7 .
- Attachment 7 may be of various constructions which when attached to support 5 prevents removal of the rod therefrom without considerable manipulation or sounds an alarm to prevent a shoplifter from completely removing rod 3 including all of the various items of merchandise indicated at 9 , suspended therefrom.
- the use of security device 1 having an internal alarm actuation device can eliminate or reduce the need for the more expensive types of attachments 7 and be of a simple hooked end or other arrangement to attach rod to support 5 .
- Rod 3 preferably is a rigid round metal member having a generally straight elongated linear section 11 which terminates in a curved distal end 13 .
- the items of merchandise 9 can be blister packs 15 or other type of containers in which certain merchandise is stored. The packs are suspended from rod 3 by a flat card-like section 17 having a hole 19 formed therein through which rod 3 extends.
- the particular configuration of merchandise 9 can vary considerably, but usually will have some type of slotted or rounded opening formed in the upper end thereof through which rod 3 extends, which will enable the merchandise to be slid in the direction of Arrow A for removal from the free distal end 13 thereof.
- Security device 1 is shown particularly in FIGS. 3-7 and includes a lock housing indicated generally at 20 , formed by two members 21 and 23 , which are slidably joined when in an assembled position.
- Housing member 21 ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) forms the main housing or body of security device 1 .
- Member 21 preferably has a rectangular shape and is formed with a hollow interior 25 to which access is obtained through a generally rectangular-shaped top opening 26 .
- An elongated slot 28 is formed in each of the opposed side walls 29 and 30 and terminates in a semicircular-shaped lower portion 31 .
- a plurality of positioning tabs 32 are formed in the side walls 29 and end walls 36 of housing member 21 , the function of which are discussed below.
- Housing member 21 preferably is formed of a rigid plastic material and can be formed in various colors and have printed indicia thereon, depending upon the desires of a particular retail merchant.
- the other main component of housing 20 is a lock member 23 .
- Member 23 ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) is a one-piece member preferably formed of a rigid plastic material, and has a generally rectangular-shaped top closure portion 39 and a locking leg 41 extending outwardly therefrom.
- a generally semicircular elongated arcuate-shaped slot 43 is formed in the underside surface of top closure portion 39 and aligns with slot 31 of housing member 21 to form a circular opening 44 when the two housing members 21 and 23 are in an engaged position as shown particularly in FIG. 7 , for receiving and trapping linear portion 11 of rod 3 therein.
- a plurality of notches 37 are formed in top closure portion 39 for receiving tabs 32 when the two housing members are in a closed locked position.
- the diameter of rod receiving opening 44 can vary and need not exactly match the outer diameter of rod section 11 as shown in the drawings, and preferably does not provide a tight clamping engagement with the rod.
- opening 44 is slightly larger than the rod diameter in order to accommodate rod diameters of various sizes and to enable the security device to slide along linear rod portion 11 , but small enough to prevent it from being moved about bent rod end 13 , preventing its removal from rod 3 .
- the thickness of housing member 23 which provides the locking component of device 1 is complementary to the internal thickness of housing interior 25 , as well as the width thereof as shown in FIG. 5 in order to fit snugly within interior 25 as shown in FIG. 7 , when locking member 23 is slidably inserted into hollow interior 25 of lock housing 21 .
- an alarm actuation device 45 is secured within an alarm compartment 46 formed within a portion of housing interior 25 .
- Compartment 46 is formed by one of the housing end walls 36 and a partition wall 47 .
- Alarm actuation device 45 can be a radio frequency (RF) coil as shown in the drawings, or a magnetic sensitive (AM) type of device, such as an EAS tag or various other alarm actuating means, all of which are well-known in the security art.
- RF radio frequency
- AM magnetic sensitive
- This device is sensed by the electronic circuitry located at a secured gate such as the exit of a retail establishment, and will actuate the gate alarm if security device 1 approaches or passes through the secured gate indicating that an unauthorized movement of rod 3 and attached merchandise 9 is occurring.
- locking leg 41 has a length generally equal to the length of housing member 21 and is formed with a pair of spaced locking notches 51 extending along a side 49 of leg 41 ( FIG. 6 ) which terminate in a pair of shoulders or projections 48 . End edges 50 of a pair of locking tines 52 engage projections 48 to secure the housing members in a locked position on rod 3 .
- Tines 52 are lanced in a single metallic strip 54 ( FIG. 7A ) which forms an integral part of the locking mechanism of security device 1 .
- Strip 54 is retained in housing interior 25 by ends 55 thereof being received in notches 57 formed in the inside surface of housing end wall 36 .
- Another projection 53 is formed in the distal end of leg 41 and engages a stepped shoulder 58 formed in partition wall 47 of alarm compartment 46 when locking member 23 is moved to an unlocked position as shown in FIG. 11 . This retains housing member 21 and 23 in their assembled condition preventing separation of the two members.
- security device 1 when security device 1 is in the full open unlocked position as shown in FIG. 11 , it can be easily removed from or placed on rod 3 through an opening 56 formed between members 21 and 23 when in the open unlocked position.
- rod 3 After placement of devices 1 on linear portion 11 of rod 3 , rod 3 will preferably rest in slot 43 of housing member 23 and housing member 21 will be moved upwardly in the direction of Arrow C to the locked position as shown in FIG. 7 .
- spring biased tines 52 automatically lockingly engaging lock shoulders 48 of locking leg 41 .
- notches 37 of top closure portion 39 receive tabs 32 therein so that the lower portion of top closure member 39 is firmly seated within top opening 26 of housing member 21 .
- this securely locks security device 1 on display rod 3 and retains alarm actuation device 45 securely positioned in the interior of housing 20 preventing any unauthorized access thereto.
- a magnetic key indicated generally at 60 is properly aligned with tines 52 by placement of a pair of locating tabs 62 formed on key 60 in positioning recesses 33 ( FIG. 9 ).
- a pair of internal magnets 64 will align with locking tines 52 moving them from the locked position of FIG. 7 to the unlocked position of FIG. 10 , afterwhich lock housing 21 is moved easily in the direction of Arrow D ( FIG. 11 ) to the unlocked position exposing opening 56 , enabling device 1 to be removed from rod 3 .
- device 1 will be placed on the elongated linear section 11 of rod 3 between a number of merchandise items 9 so that one or more merchandise items will be between lock mechanism 1 and distal end 13 enabling the merchandise item or items to be easily removed from rod 3 by a customer without the assistance of a clerk.
- many of the merchandise items 9 will be between rod attachment 7 and device 1 preventing their removal by a customer.
- the merchant will usually have a large number of merchandise items 9 in a secure locked position between support 5 and lock mechanism 1 , with one or more of the merchandise items 9 being on the unsecured portion of rod 3 enabling a customer to easily remove the same from distal end 13 .
- the merchant upon seeing that the number of available merchandise items 9 unsecured on rod 1 not being sufficient to satisfy current customer's demand, will easily unlock device 1 by use of magnetic key 60 , and then move device 1 to another position between the remaining previously secured items 9 , thereby making several more items available to the customer in an unsecured manner. Also, device 1 can be easily removed enabling the entire rod to be restocked with items 9 , afterwhich it is reapplied somewhere between the plurality of merchandise items permitting only one or several to be unprotected and permitting a customer to remove one or several of the items for purchase at the checkout counter.
- device 1 will have a sufficiently large thickness or other configuration, which will prevent the device from being removed from the bent end of rod 3 .
- a shoplifter could slide device 1 toward the distal end of rod 3 , it cannot move it around the one or more bends or projections formed thereon to prevent removal of the device from the rod without requiring it to be tightly clamped thereon.
- the end of rod 3 could have other types of bends than that shown in FIG. 1 or projections from thereon, without departing from the concept of the invention, so long as the bend or projection is sufficient to prevent removal of device 1 from rod 3 by sliding it along the rod and off end 13 .
- the merchant after unlocking and moving device 1 merely moves the two members 21 and 23 together whereupon tines 52 will automatically snap-fit into locking engagement with lock projections 48 formed on locking leg 41 requiring very little manipulation of the lock mechanism.
- device 1 can be used with various diameters of rods since it does not require that it tightly grip the rod so long as it has sufficient length or diameter to prevent it from sliding off the end of the rod.
- security device 1 is easily attached to a display rod 3 to facilitate the display of items of merchandise 9 thereon preventing a large number of items to be unlawfully removed from the rod, while enabling a customer to have free access to one or several of the items of merchandise for purchase.
- Device 1 since it incorporates an alarm actuation device 45 , need not have the more expensive attachment mechanism 7 as shown in the drawings, to retard shoplifting, enabling a less expensive attachment arrangement to be utilized since it prevents removal of the entire rod from a protected retail establishment.
- it will have some type of bent end as shown at 70 ( FIG. 1 ), which will prevent the sliding movement of device 1 from rod 3 .
- security device 1 will remain on rod 3 even should the rod be removed from the support structure 5 and alarm device 45 will actuate a security gate alarm if a thief attempts to remove rod 3 with the entire content of items 9 thereon.
- housing 20 is formed of only two main components 21 and 23 , easily and economically formed of a rigid plastic material having a strip of metal 54 retained therein to provide the locking mechanism therefor.
- leg projection 53 and offset wall portion 58 FIG. 11 ) maintain the housing components 21 and 23 in an assembled, slidably joined relationship.
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- Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/717,707 filed Sep. 16, 2005; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Technical Field
- The present invention relates to security devices, and particularly to a security device that prevents large numbers of items of merchandise from being rapidly removed from display racks, and in particular from display rods. Specifically, the present invention relates to a security device that is easily attached and locked on the display rod and which allows one or several items of merchandise to be removed from the rack at any one time, but protects a number of the items from being removed from the rack by a shoplifter, and which contains an alarm actuation device.
- 2. Background Information
- Numerous items of merchandise are displayed for sale on long protruding rods that are supported from a piece of pegboard, slat board, or other type of supporting structure. These rods are commonly referred to in the art as pegboard rods or slat board rods. Many items of merchandise such as batteries, small tools, tool components, film, or other relatively expensive small items are displayed in areas where consumers may pick them up and take them directly to a checkout counter. These items usually are suspended on the rods by the rod passing through a single hole in the package. Unfortunately, such merchandise is an easy target for shoplifters and it has been found that shoplifters can rapidly empty all of the merchandise from a pegboard display rod and make off with merchandise without being detected, or even if detected upon passing through a checkout security gate, will be difficult to apprehend.
- Various devices have been devised to prevent the removal of merchandise from these display rods such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,027,622, 5,275,027, 5,259,220, 5,689,978, 5,676,258, 6,622,979, and 6,474,748. The devices of these patents provide for some type of locking mechanism on the end of the rod preventing the removal of any items of merchandise from the rod. This has the disadvantage in that it requires the customer to contact a clerk who must unlock the lock mechanism from the end of the rod to enable the customer to remove the merchandise for purchase. It has been found that this reduces the amount of sales since many customers do not wish to wait or take the time to find a clerk to unlock the security device to enable the customer to obtain the desired item.
- Other types of display rods use irregularly shaped ends on the rod which enables the customer to remove the item from the rod by moving it through a circuitous route along the various bends at the distal end of the rod. This has proven satisfactory to some extent in that it increases the difficulty of a shoplifter from rapidly removing a large number of the items from the storage rack. However, it does not prevent the shoplifter from removing all of the items of merchandise from the rod if the shoplifter uses a large amount of force upon sweeping the items from the rod or bunches the items together enabling a plurality of the items to be removed in one motion from the rod.
- Another problem with such display rods is that a shoplifter may be able to remove the entire rod and items of merchandise mounted thereon from the attachment structure and unlawfully carry it from the retail establishment. To prevent this type of shoplifting, various devices have been developed which lock the display rod to its support structure. However, such preventive devices may not always be successful and they increase the cost of doing business for the merchant.
- Thus, it is desired in the art to provide a security device for display rods so that large quantities of merchandise cannot be rapidly removed from the rods yet would allow legitimate customers to remove a limited number of the items from the rod without requiring a merchant or store clerk to assist the customer. Furthermore, the device will actuate the alarm at a security gate if unlawfully passed therethrough.
- The present invention provides a security device for display racks that prevents the rapid removal of a large number of the displayed items of merchandise from display rods extending outwardly from the rack by placing a simple, compact, yet highly effective locking device on a linear length of the display rod located between a number of the items stored thereon. This will enable those items located between the security device and the distal end of the display rod to be removed by a customer yet prevents removal of those items located between the display rack and locking device until a clerk unlocks the security device and repositions it behind a number of the already stored items, or places new items in-between the security device and distal end of the rod for subsequent removal by the customer.
- Another aspect of the present invention is to form the display rod security device as a simple two-piece construction in which a pair of members are slidably joined, each of which has a semicircular slot formed therein, which when in a closed locked position forms a circular opening through which the display rod extends, and which has a sufficient linear length or configuration to prevent it from being removed from a bent end of the display rod.
- Another aspect of the present invention is to provide one of the members of the security device with a spring biased locking member which automatically snaps into locking engagement with a locking projection formed on the other of the members when the members are moved to a closed position.
- Another feature of the present invention is to form the locking member of a magnetically attractable material whereby a magnetic key when placed at a specific location on the security device will move the locking member to the unlocked position enabling the security device to be easily moved to an open position for removal of the device from the rack and subsequent reattachment thereto.
- A further aspect of the present invention is to form the two members of rigid plastic material which is sufficiently strong to prevent a thief from easily prying the two members apart, and which can be constructed of a minimum number of component parts thereby enabling the security device to be mass produced relatively inexpensive encouraging the use thereof by merchants to reduce shoplifting.
- Still another feature of the invention is the placement of an alarm actuation device in the security device which sounds an alarm upon passage of the security device through a security gate to prevent theft of the entire display rod and contents stored thereon.
- These features and advantages are obtained by the security device of the present invention which is adapted to be attached to a rod extending outwardly from a merchandise display wherein the rod has a free end bent at an angle to an elongated portion of the rod, wherein the security device comprising first and second members slidably joined for movement between locked and unlocked positions, at least one of said members being formed with an arcuate slot which is substantially complementary to and adapted to receive the elongated portion of the rod therein to secure the security device on the elongated portion of the rod, and wherein the bent free end prevents removal of the security device from the rod when in the locked position; and a magnetically attractable lock member for locking the first and second members in the locked position about the rod.
- A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
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FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the security device of the present invention mounted on an elongated linear portion of a display rod extending outwardly from a supporting structure. -
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2,FIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the main housing member of the security device. -
FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the housing ofFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the locking member of the security device removed from the main housing member ofFIGS. 3 and 4 . -
FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the locking member ofFIG. 5 . -
FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7,FIG. 1 showing the security device in a locked position on the display rod. -
FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the magnetically attractable locking member of the security device. -
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar toFIG. 1 , showing a magnetic key engaged with the security device for unlocking the device. -
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on lines 9-9,FIG. 8 . -
FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar toFIG. 7 , showing the locking tines moved to an unlocked position by the magnetic key. -
FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the security device in an open unlocked position. - Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
- The security device of the present invention is indicated generally at 1, and is shown in
FIG. 1 mounted on amerchandise display rod 3 which extends outwardly in a cantilevered-like fashion from asupport surface 5 and is attached thereto by anattachment mechanism 7.Attachment 7 may be of various constructions which when attached to support 5 prevents removal of the rod therefrom without considerable manipulation or sounds an alarm to prevent a shoplifter from completely removingrod 3 including all of the various items of merchandise indicated at 9, suspended therefrom. However, in accordance with one of the features of the present invention, the use ofsecurity device 1 having an internal alarm actuation device can eliminate or reduce the need for the more expensive types ofattachments 7 and be of a simple hooked end or other arrangement to attach rod to support 5. -
Rod 3 preferably is a rigid round metal member having a generally straight elongatedlinear section 11 which terminates in a curveddistal end 13. The items ofmerchandise 9 can beblister packs 15 or other type of containers in which certain merchandise is stored. The packs are suspended fromrod 3 by a flat card-like section 17 having ahole 19 formed therein through whichrod 3 extends. The particular configuration ofmerchandise 9 can vary considerably, but usually will have some type of slotted or rounded opening formed in the upper end thereof through whichrod 3 extends, which will enable the merchandise to be slid in the direction of Arrow A for removal from the freedistal end 13 thereof. -
Security device 1 is shown particularly inFIGS. 3-7 and includes a lock housing indicated generally at 20, formed by twomembers FIGS. 3 and 4 ) forms the main housing or body ofsecurity device 1.Member 21 preferably has a rectangular shape and is formed with ahollow interior 25 to which access is obtained through a generally rectangular-shapedtop opening 26. Anelongated slot 28 is formed in each of theopposed side walls lower portion 31. A plurality ofpositioning tabs 32 are formed in theside walls 29 and endwalls 36 ofhousing member 21, the function of which are discussed below.Housing member 21 preferably is formed of a rigid plastic material and can be formed in various colors and have printed indicia thereon, depending upon the desires of a particular retail merchant. - The other main component of
housing 20 is alock member 23. Member 23 (FIGS. 5 and 6 ) is a one-piece member preferably formed of a rigid plastic material, and has a generally rectangular-shapedtop closure portion 39 and a lockingleg 41 extending outwardly therefrom. A generally semicircular elongated arcuate-shapedslot 43 is formed in the underside surface oftop closure portion 39 and aligns withslot 31 ofhousing member 21 to form acircular opening 44 when the twohousing members FIG. 7 , for receiving and trappinglinear portion 11 ofrod 3 therein. A plurality ofnotches 37 are formed intop closure portion 39 for receivingtabs 32 when the two housing members are in a closed locked position. The diameter ofrod receiving opening 44 can vary and need not exactly match the outer diameter ofrod section 11 as shown in the drawings, and preferably does not provide a tight clamping engagement with the rod. Preferably opening 44 is slightly larger than the rod diameter in order to accommodate rod diameters of various sizes and to enable the security device to slide alonglinear rod portion 11, but small enough to prevent it from being moved aboutbent rod end 13, preventing its removal fromrod 3. The thickness ofhousing member 23 which provides the locking component ofdevice 1, as shown inFIG. 6 , is complementary to the internal thickness ofhousing interior 25, as well as the width thereof as shown inFIG. 5 in order to fit snugly within interior 25 as shown inFIG. 7 , when lockingmember 23 is slidably inserted intohollow interior 25 oflock housing 21. - In accordance with one of the features of the invention as shown particularly in
FIG. 7 , analarm actuation device 45 is secured within analarm compartment 46 formed within a portion ofhousing interior 25.Compartment 46 is formed by one of thehousing end walls 36 and apartition wall 47.Alarm actuation device 45 can be a radio frequency (RF) coil as shown in the drawings, or a magnetic sensitive (AM) type of device, such as an EAS tag or various other alarm actuating means, all of which are well-known in the security art. This device is sensed by the electronic circuitry located at a secured gate such as the exit of a retail establishment, and will actuate the gate alarm ifsecurity device 1 approaches or passes through the secured gate indicating that an unauthorized movement ofrod 3 and attachedmerchandise 9 is occurring. - As shown in
FIGS. 7 and 10 , lockingleg 41 has a length generally equal to the length ofhousing member 21 and is formed with a pair of spaced lockingnotches 51 extending along aside 49 of leg 41 (FIG. 6 ) which terminate in a pair of shoulders orprojections 48. End edges 50 of a pair of lockingtines 52 engageprojections 48 to secure the housing members in a locked position onrod 3.Tines 52 are lanced in a single metallic strip 54 (FIG. 7A ) which forms an integral part of the locking mechanism ofsecurity device 1.Strip 54 is retained inhousing interior 25 byends 55 thereof being received innotches 57 formed in the inside surface ofhousing end wall 36. Anotherprojection 53 is formed in the distal end ofleg 41 and engages a steppedshoulder 58 formed inpartition wall 47 ofalarm compartment 46 when lockingmember 23 is moved to an unlocked position as shown inFIG. 11 . This retainshousing member - It is readily seen that when
security device 1 is in the full open unlocked position as shown inFIG. 11 , it can be easily removed from or placed onrod 3 through anopening 56 formed betweenmembers devices 1 onlinear portion 11 ofrod 3,rod 3 will preferably rest inslot 43 ofhousing member 23 andhousing member 21 will be moved upwardly in the direction of Arrow C to the locked position as shown inFIG. 7 . This results in springbiased tines 52 automatically lockingly engaging lock shoulders 48 of lockingleg 41. In this position,notches 37 oftop closure portion 39 receivetabs 32 therein so that the lower portion oftop closure member 39 is firmly seated withintop opening 26 ofhousing member 21. As shown inFIG. 7 , this securely lockssecurity device 1 ondisplay rod 3 and retainsalarm actuation device 45 securely positioned in the interior ofhousing 20 preventing any unauthorized access thereto. - To open and unlock
device 1, a magnetic key indicated generally at 60, is properly aligned withtines 52 by placement of a pair of locatingtabs 62 formed on key 60 in positioning recesses 33 (FIG. 9 ). When in this position, a pair ofinternal magnets 64 will align with lockingtines 52 moving them from the locked position ofFIG. 7 to the unlocked position ofFIG. 10 , afterwhich lockhousing 21 is moved easily in the direction of Arrow D (FIG. 11 ) to the unlockedposition exposing opening 56, enablingdevice 1 to be removed fromrod 3. - In accordance with another feature of the invention as shown in
FIG. 1 ,device 1 will be placed on the elongatedlinear section 11 ofrod 3 between a number ofmerchandise items 9 so that one or more merchandise items will be betweenlock mechanism 1 anddistal end 13 enabling the merchandise item or items to be easily removed fromrod 3 by a customer without the assistance of a clerk. However, many of themerchandise items 9 will be betweenrod attachment 7 anddevice 1 preventing their removal by a customer. Thus, the merchant will usually have a large number ofmerchandise items 9 in a secure locked position betweensupport 5 andlock mechanism 1, with one or more of themerchandise items 9 being on the unsecured portion ofrod 3 enabling a customer to easily remove the same fromdistal end 13. This enables the customer to take one or several of the items from the display rack for subsequent purchase at a checkout station, but will prevent a shoplifter from stealing an excessively large number of the items fromrod 3 by a sweeping motion of the items therefrom. This limits the possible loss to only one or several of the displayed items, but not the entire displayed stock thereof. - The merchant upon seeing that the number of
available merchandise items 9 unsecured onrod 1 not being sufficient to satisfy current customer's demand, will easily unlockdevice 1 by use of magnetic key 60, and then movedevice 1 to another position between the remaining previously secureditems 9, thereby making several more items available to the customer in an unsecured manner. Also,device 1 can be easily removed enabling the entire rod to be restocked withitems 9, afterwhich it is reapplied somewhere between the plurality of merchandise items permitting only one or several to be unprotected and permitting a customer to remove one or several of the items for purchase at the checkout counter. - As shown in
FIG. 1 ,device 1 will have a sufficiently large thickness or other configuration, which will prevent the device from being removed from the bent end ofrod 3. Thus, even though a shoplifter could slidedevice 1 toward the distal end ofrod 3, it cannot move it around the one or more bends or projections formed thereon to prevent removal of the device from the rod without requiring it to be tightly clamped thereon. The end ofrod 3 could have other types of bends than that shown inFIG. 1 or projections from thereon, without departing from the concept of the invention, so long as the bend or projection is sufficient to prevent removal ofdevice 1 fromrod 3 by sliding it along the rod and offend 13. Likewise, the merchant after unlocking and movingdevice 1, merely moves the twomembers tines 52 will automatically snap-fit into locking engagement withlock projections 48 formed on lockingleg 41 requiring very little manipulation of the lock mechanism. Likewise,device 1 can be used with various diameters of rods since it does not require that it tightly grip the rod so long as it has sufficient length or diameter to prevent it from sliding off the end of the rod. - Thus,
security device 1 is easily attached to adisplay rod 3 to facilitate the display of items ofmerchandise 9 thereon preventing a large number of items to be unlawfully removed from the rod, while enabling a customer to have free access to one or several of the items of merchandise for purchase.Device 1, since it incorporates analarm actuation device 45, need not have the moreexpensive attachment mechanism 7 as shown in the drawings, to retard shoplifting, enabling a less expensive attachment arrangement to be utilized since it prevents removal of the entire rod from a protected retail establishment. Depending upon the type of attachment mechanism used for mountingrod 3 onsupport structure 5, it will have some type of bent end as shown at 70 (FIG. 1 ), which will prevent the sliding movement ofdevice 1 fromrod 3. Thus,security device 1 will remain onrod 3 even should the rod be removed from thesupport structure 5 andalarm device 45 will actuate a security gate alarm if a thief attempts to removerod 3 with the entire content ofitems 9 thereon. - Also,
housing 20 is formed of only twomain components metal 54 retained therein to provide the locking mechanism therefor. Likewise, oncedevice 1 is assembled,leg projection 53 and offset wall portion 58 (FIG. 11 ) maintain thehousing components - In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
- Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/391,614 US20070062890A1 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2006-03-28 | Display rod security device |
JP2008531250A JP2009509240A (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2006-09-12 | Display rod security device |
EP06814505A EP1933674A2 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2006-09-12 | Display rod security device |
PCT/US2006/035475 WO2007035329A2 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2006-09-12 | Display rod security device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US71770705P | 2005-09-16 | 2005-09-16 | |
US11/391,614 US20070062890A1 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2006-03-28 | Display rod security device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070062890A1 true US20070062890A1 (en) | 2007-03-22 |
Family
ID=37883002
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/391,614 Abandoned US20070062890A1 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2006-03-28 | Display rod security device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070062890A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1933674A2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2009509240A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007035329A2 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070289344A1 (en) * | 2006-06-16 | 2007-12-20 | Alpha Security Products, Inc. | Lock mechanism for display rod |
US20100223965A1 (en) * | 2009-03-06 | 2010-09-09 | Invue Security Products Inc. | Reversible locking device for merchandise display hooks |
US20100300992A1 (en) * | 2009-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | Se-Kure Controls, Inc. | Theft deterrent system |
US8267363B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 | 2012-09-18 | Waterloo Industries, Inc. | Wall storage mounting arrangements |
US20130105419A1 (en) * | 2011-10-26 | 2013-05-02 | Joseph F. Kologe | Security hook for product display |
WO2014201091A1 (en) * | 2013-06-12 | 2014-12-18 | Invue Security Products Inc. | Merchandise display hook alarm |
US20150001167A1 (en) * | 2013-07-01 | 2015-01-01 | Tracfone Wireless, Inc. | Security hook device and method |
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- 2006-03-28 US US11/391,614 patent/US20070062890A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-09-12 WO PCT/US2006/035475 patent/WO2007035329A2/en active Application Filing
- 2006-09-12 EP EP06814505A patent/EP1933674A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2006-09-12 JP JP2008531250A patent/JP2009509240A/en not_active Withdrawn
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070289344A1 (en) * | 2006-06-16 | 2007-12-20 | Alpha Security Products, Inc. | Lock mechanism for display rod |
US7392673B2 (en) * | 2006-06-16 | 2008-07-01 | Invue Security Products Inc. | Lock mechanism for display rod |
US8528871B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 | 2013-09-10 | Waterloo Industries, Inc. | Wall storage mounting arrangements |
US8267363B2 (en) | 2007-10-09 | 2012-09-18 | Waterloo Industries, Inc. | Wall storage mounting arrangements |
US20100223965A1 (en) * | 2009-03-06 | 2010-09-09 | Invue Security Products Inc. | Reversible locking device for merchandise display hooks |
US8286454B2 (en) * | 2009-03-06 | 2012-10-16 | Invue Security Products Inc. | Reversible locking device for merchandise display hooks |
US8307995B2 (en) * | 2009-06-02 | 2012-11-13 | Se-Kure Controls, Inc. | Theft deterrent system |
US20100300992A1 (en) * | 2009-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | Se-Kure Controls, Inc. | Theft deterrent system |
US20130105419A1 (en) * | 2011-10-26 | 2013-05-02 | Joseph F. Kologe | Security hook for product display |
US8794453B2 (en) * | 2011-10-26 | 2014-08-05 | Trion Industries, Inc. | Security hook for product display |
WO2014201091A1 (en) * | 2013-06-12 | 2014-12-18 | Invue Security Products Inc. | Merchandise display hook alarm |
US20160117897A1 (en) * | 2013-06-12 | 2016-04-28 | inVue Secruity Products Inc. | Merchandise display hook alarm |
US20150001167A1 (en) * | 2013-07-01 | 2015-01-01 | Tracfone Wireless, Inc. | Security hook device and method |
US9247833B2 (en) * | 2013-07-01 | 2016-02-02 | Tracfone Wireless, Inc. | Security hook device and method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2007035329A2 (en) | 2007-03-29 |
WO2007035329A3 (en) | 2007-07-12 |
JP2009509240A (en) | 2009-03-05 |
EP1933674A2 (en) | 2008-06-25 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ALPHA SECURITY PRODUCTS, INC., NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:NAGELSKI, KEITH C.;FAWCETT, CHRISTOPHER J.;MARSILIO, RONALD M.;REEL/FRAME:017735/0367 Effective date: 20060306 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: INVUE SECURITY PRODUCTS INC., NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:ALPHA SECURITY PRODUCTS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:020134/0669 Effective date: 20071101 Owner name: INVUE SECURITY PRODUCTS INC.,NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:ALPHA SECURITY PRODUCTS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:020134/0669 Effective date: 20071101 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |