Patent Application
20250057335
This invention relates generally to a peg hook and, more particularly, to a theft deterrent peg hook to hinder removal of multiple items simultaneously.
A growing problem for retail stores is theft of high value inventory directly from shelves. Such shelves may include traditional store shelves stocked with multiple products or peg hooks which are likewise stocked with hanging rows of product. Thieves target retail stores to “sweep” shelves of valuable product by quickly assembling and removing as much of the product as possible. They then exit the store with the product before store personnel or law enforcement have an opportunity to react. The product is either later returned for cash or sold outright.
Solutions to this problem have included locking down high value product in vaults or cabinets that require store personnel to unlock and physically provide the product to the consumer. Other solutions include security wires that physically connect the product to store shelves or each other. These solutions also require store personnel to unlock and untether such product for the consumer. These solutions tend to discourage customers from purchases because of the extra effort and time required to examiner and attain a product for purchase.
Other solutions utilize mechanical dispensers connected to shelves that are configured to mechanically dispense one product at a time before resetting for dispensing another product. These solutions do not provide open access to the product to consumers and are not flexible for a variety of inventory.
A need therefore exists in a retail system to slow suspected thieves down, maintain inventory while also enabling shoppers to examine and purchase individual products unencumbered by lock and key solutions.
The invention generally relates to a theft deterrent system that can be used on a retail shelf peg hooks to protect certain goods from theft.
The general object of the invention can be attained, at least in part, through a theft deterrent peg hook that includes a mount and a rod extending from the mount. A tip is pivotally affixed to a distal end of the rod and is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position.
When a user removes a product from the peg hook, the tip preferably pivots between the extended position and the retracted position as the product is removed. Such pivoting action thereby prevents multiple products from being removed simultaneously. The throttling of product removal thereby mitigates the potential for a thief to “sweep” the peg hook, i.e., remove multiple or all products at once.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended claims and drawings.
The peg hook 10 preferably includes a mount 20. The mount 20 may comprise a mounting plate, such as shown in the figures; one, two or more prongs for engaging with a peg board; or other suitable mount 20 for attaching the peg hook 10 to the desired fixture, such as a store shelf, an endcap, or similar retail display.
A rod 30 extends from the mount 20. The rod 30 includes a proximal end affixed to the mount 20 and a distal end. The rod 30 is preferably generally straight but may include an elevated portion at the distal end. In this way, products may be hung from the rod 30 and not slide off the end.
As shown in the figures, a tip 50 is pivotally mounted to the distal end of the rod 30. The tip 50 preferably includes a diameter approximately equal to the rod 30. Together, the rod 30 and the tip 50 provide a generally continuous surface for hanging multiple hanging products from the peg hook 10.
The tip 50 preferably includes a generally straight end 60 and an arcuate body 70. The tip 50 is preferably affixed to the rod 30 in a pivotable fashion such as through a pin 80. The tip 50 preferably pivots between an extended position whereby the straight end 60 faces outward from the fixture and a retracted position whereby the straight end 60 is angled away from outward facing.
In one preferred embodiment, the tip 50 includes a flat portion 55 and the rod 30 includes a flat portion 40. The respective flat portions 40, 55 are preferably pinned to each other to create the pivoting action of the tip 50 relative to the rod 30.
In a preferred embodiment the flat portion 55 is a D cut and preferably comprises removal of approximately half of the rod 30. Likewise, the flat portion 55 is approximately a half of the cross-section of the tip 50.
As shown in the figures, the tip 50 is connected to the rod 30 at their corresponding flat portions 40, 55. In this connection, the arcuate body 70 of the tip 50 preferably extends across the flat portion 40 of the rod 30. The generally straight end 60 of the tip 50 is generally a consistent diameter and corresponds with the diameter of the majority of the length of the rod 30.
The tip 50 is preferably pinned to the rod 30 at a transition between the arcuate body 70 and the generally straight end 60. A pin 80 may be fastened between the rod 30 and the tip 50 to enable the connection and rotation between the extended position and the retracted position. In this pinned arrangement, the tip 50 is configured to rotate between an extended position and a retracted position during removal of products from the peg hook 10. Specifically, the tip 50 is preferably configured to rotate between an extended position wherein the arcuate body 70 extends above the rod 30 and a retracted position wherein the arcuate body 70 extends below the rod 30. This extended position is best shown in
In use, when a user removes a product from the peg hook 10, the tip 50 preferably pivots between the extended position and the retracted position as the product is removed. Such pivoting action thereby prevents multiple products from being removed simultaneously as the arcuate body 70 and the straight end 60 of the tip 50 combine to block successive product from removal. The throttling of product removal thereby mitigates the potential for a thief to “sweep” the peg hook 10, i.e., remove multiple or all products at once.
The peg hook 10 is preferably configured so the tip 50 is elevated from the rod 30. In addition, the distal end of the rod 30 is preferably elevated from a remaining length of the rod 30 and specifically the proximal end of the rod 30 at the mount 20.
According to an embodiment shown in
The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element, part, step, component, or ingredient which is not specifically disclosed herein.
While in the foregoing detailed description this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.
