Patent Application
20190099015
The present invention relates to earring display hangers, and more particularly, to earring security display hangers with a theft deterrent locking mechanism.
Earrings are commonly displayed for sale in retail stores on racks or in display cases where the earrings are hung. A variety of different hangers and tags have been used to secure small articles and to be suspended on a hook or the like, such as a pegboard hook for retail display. Because of earring's relative small size, it is hard to track each of them and can easily be stolen by consumers without security tags. The security tags can be enclosed in or attached to a variety of different devices, such as holder or housing, which accommodate the electronic tag and are used to attach the tags to article. This presents both manufacturing and assembling issues, which increase the cost and product complexity.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved earring display hanger to prevent theft by consumers.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an earring security display hanger includes a generally flat body member, first and second arms, and first and second closure members. The body member has a first end, a second end, first and second sides extending from the first and second ends, a first edge, and a second edge. The first and second arms extend longitudinally from the first and second edges of the body member, respectively. The first and second closure members, having a plurality of closure apertures, are connected to the body member by the first and second arms, respectively. A plurality of first closure hooks and a plurality of second closure hooks are formed integrally from the first side of the body member and are configured to engage with the plurality of closure apertures to provide a locking mechanism.
These and other aspects of the present invention will be better understood in view of the drawings and following detailed description.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, referring to
Referring again to
A plurality of first ribs 46 and a plurality of second ribs 48 are also formed integrally from the first side 26 of the body member 12 adjacent to the plurality of first closure hooks 36 and the plurality of second closure hooks 38, respectively, and protrude outwardly therefrom. The body member 12 defines first and second earring holes 50, 52, which are positioned close to the plurality of first ribs 46 and the plurality of second ribs 48, respectively, through which an earring hook 54 could be inserted. In addition, first and second curved ribs 56, 58 are formed integrally from the second side 28 of the body member 12 immediately above the first and second earring holes 50, 52, respectively, and protrude outwardly therefrom.
The first and second arms 14, 16 extend longitudinally approximately from the middle of the first and second edges 30, 32 of the body member 12, respectively. Each of the first and second arms 14, 16 includes a foldline 60 such as crease, to allow each closure member 18, 20 to be folded along the foldline 60 to transition the earring security display hanger 10 between open/unlocked (
Referring to
The plurality of first and second closure apertures 40, 42 are defined on the sidewall 62, through which the plurality of first and second closure hooks 36, 38 could be inserted, respectively. Contours of the plurality of first and second closure apertures 40, 42 and the plurality of first and second closure hooks 36, 38 are designed and configured such that, when engaged, they provide a locking mechanism, with a tip 76 of each closure hook 36, 38 protruding outwardly from each closure aperture 40, 42 and engaging tightly with the flange 70, as illustrated in
It is contemplated that a security tag or marker 78 may be applied to the first or second side 26, 28 of the body member 12. In addition to the security tag 78, other pictures such as logos or text (including product descriptions) may be printed on, embossed in, or otherwise attached to the first or/and second side(s) 26, 28 of the body member 12.
The security tag 78 attached to the earring security display hanger 10 has a wide variety of uses, including tracking, inventory control, and security. The security tag 78 can also provide electronically readable information pertaining to the earrings 44. The security tag 78 is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device or the like. The security tag 78 is firmly secured to the earring security display hanger 10 such that it remains with the earrings 44 until after the time of purchase.
Referring to
Referring to more particularly to
The earring security display hanger 10, 10′ is made out of one or more materials having suitable properties for a desired application, including strength, weight, rigidity, etc. Plastic is generally preferred. It will be appreciated that other designs and configurations, such as a square cross section, could be used for the first and second closure members 18, 18′, 20, 20′, as deemed suitable for a given application factors such as earring type.
In use of the earring security display hanger 10, 10′, first, in the open/unlocked position, earrings 44, 96 are placed to the first side 26, 26′ of the body member 12, 12′ by inserting earring hooks 54 through the earring holes 50, 52 or inserting stud earring posts 88 through the post receivers 80, 82. Then, by folding the first and second arms 14, 14′, 16, 16′ and first and second closure members 18, 18′, 20, 20′ along the foldlines 60, 60′, and locking the first and second closure members 18, 18′, 20, 20′ by engaging each of the plurality of closure hooks 36, 36′, 38, 38′ with corresponding closure aperture 40, 40′, 42, 42′, the earring security display hanger 10, 10′ is ready for suspension on a display hook or the like, such as a pegboard hook for retail display. Once a consumer purchases the earrings 44, 96, the consumer can remove them from the earring security display hanger 10, 10′ by cutting or clipping the foldlines 60, 60′ such that the closure members 18, 18′, 20, 20′ can be opened.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that an earring security display hanger according to the present invention may be used for anti-theft, tracking and inventory control, while providing the design that is convenient for merchants to display their goods.
In general, the foregoing description is provided for exemplary and illustrative purposes; the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional modifications, as well as adaptations for particular circumstances, will fall within the scope of the invention as herein shown and described and of the claims appended hereto.
