Merchandise display hook having interlocking time delay arms

Abstract

A display hook for supporting items of merchandise includes a rod assembly and a pair of mechanically interlocked time delay arms medially disposed on the rod assembly. The time delay arms are sequentially movable to permit a potential purchaser to manipulate an item beyond the time delay arms for removal from the display hook. The time delay arms include a guide tube slidingly disposed on the rod assembly, a first arm rotatably mounted on the guide tube and a second arm spaced outwardly from the first arm and fixedly mounted on the guide tube. The first arm is spaced-apart from the second arm sufficiently to permit at least one of the items to be disposed between the arms. The first arm has a circumferentially extending groove and the guide tube has a key that cooperates with the groove to permit limited rotation between the guide tube and the first arm.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 979,945, filed Oct. 15, 2007.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to display hooks for supporting items of merchandise, while preventing rapid removal of the items from the display hook. More particularly, the invention relates to a merchandise display hook having interlocking time delay arms for increasing the amount of time needed to remove items of merchandise from the display hook.[0003]It is common practice for retailers to display relatively small, relatively expensive items of merchandise on display hooks mounted to a display structure, such as a pegboard, slat board, slat wall or wire grid. The display hook allows a potential purchaser to closely examine a product, oftentimes through transparent protective packaging, prior to purchasing the item. At the same time, the display hook permits the retailer to place several of the item...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a method for preventing the rapid removal of a plurality of items of merchandise from a display hook. The method includes providing a display hook for supporting items of merchandise on a display structure, the display hook including a rod assembly and a time delay assembly medially disposed on the rod assembly, the time delay assembly including at least a first arm and a second arm spaced outwardly from the first arm. The method further includes positioning the time delay assembly on the rod assembly of the display hook with the first arm disposed outwardly of the items of merchandise in an initial orientation. The method further includes rotating the first arm relative to the second arm about a longitudinal axis defined by the rod assembly sufficiently to position at least one of the items of merchandise on the rod assembly between the first arm and the outwardly spaced second arm. The method further includes rotating the first arm relative to the second arm about the longitudinal axis back to the initial orientation. The method further includes rotating the second arm relative to the first arm about the longitudinal axis sufficiently to position the at least one item of merchandise on the rod assembly outwardly of the second arm. The method further includes removing the at least one item of merchandise from the rod assembly of the display hook.

Problems solved by technology

It is common practice for retailers to display relatively small, relatively expensive items of merchandise on display hooks mounted to a display structure, such as a pegboard, slat board, slat wall or wire grid.

The relatively small size and expense of the items, however, increases the possibility that the merchandise will be stolen or removed from the display area by an unauthorized person.

This feature, however, is only somewhat effective since shoplifters and thieves have developed improved dexterity and / or tools for manipulating the merchandise over the series of bends.

Otherwise, a potential purchaser may become frustrated if all of the items of merchandise on the display hook are locked on the support rod between the display structure and the locking device.

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