Patent Application
20150189999
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to article displays and, more particularly, to a display with an elongate rod from which articles can be hung for display.
2. Background Art
A multitude of different articles are displayed at point of purchase in a hanging position from vertical walls. In one well-known construction, a base component is secured to a wall in a manner whereby the base is either fixed or is movable selectively into different positions. In each case, the base is mounted so that it cannot be readily separated from the wall by a would-be thief.
A first elongate rod is cantilever mounted to the base. The free end of the rod can be directed through fully surrounded openings in the articles themselves and/or in packaging or hangers associated with the individual articles such that the articles can be serially hung from the rod and slid along its length. To prevent inadvertent shifting and separation of the articles from the rod, as when they are placed in bulk into a display state, the distal free end of the first rod is typically provided with some sort of a blocking arrangement. In one form, an enlargement is formed at the free end. Alternatively, or in conjunction with an enlargement, a slight bend may be formed in the rod so that unimpeded sliding of the articles to and past the free end is precluded.
In one design, a second rod is cantilever mounted to the base and projects substantially parallel to, and in a spaced relationship with, the first rod. The second rod, which is typically placed above the first rod, supports product information such as name, descriptive qualities, UPC codes, price, etc.
While this type of display structure is convenient from the standpoint of being easily set up and capable of supporting a large number of articles, it is, in the absence of some additional security measure, an easy target for thieves. This has been well known in the industry, and as a consequence security systems have been developed for use in conjunction with this basic system.
A common form of security system has a housing with a clamshell arrangement with halves movable around a hinge location collectively towards each other to a closed state and away from each other to an open state. The halves cooperatively define a receptacle that has a shape that is complementary to a cooperating rod. With this arrangement, the halves can be placed in the closed state with the rod captive therebetween.
To effect locking of the halves, one of the halves has a spring-loaded metal component that moves in one direction to reside in a receptacle in the other of the halves with the halves in the closed state. This structure positively maintains the halves in their closed state. Store personnel are provided with a magnet that is strategically placed relative to the housing to attract the metal component and draw it oppositely to the first direction to allow the halves to be changed from their closed state into their open state.
With the system set up with the housing halves in their closed state, the housing is slidable along the length of the first rod but is blocked from being separated by moving past the free end thereof by a locally formed enlargement.
In the absence of an enlargement at the rod end, these systems are not practically usable in the sense that they afford no article security. If this type of security system is used on rods with a slight offset angle, and no enlargement, the dimensional relationship between the rod and a receptacle for the rod on the housing is such that the housing can still be slid up to and past the angled end region to be separated from the rod.
As an alternative to using the above-described system, it is also known to wrap a flexible component around the separate rods adjacent their free ends after the articles have been placed for display. This flexible component, which may be a flexible wire, blocks passage of the articles past the free end of the first rod.
However, it is difficult to devise any type of wrapped component that can effectively be secured to both rods so that it might not be readily defeated by a thief.
Further, in the event that the wrapped component cannot be simply and quickly installed, there may be a temptation on the part of store personnel to skip this part of the setup process, as an incident of which the articles become virtually unprotected in the display state and vulnerable to theft.
While the above type of hanger systems abound in all types of stores worldwide, and are used for a wide range of products from very inexpensive to very expensive, the industry has not devised a system that effectively affords reliable security while at the same time being practical to use and affordable to the point that it justifies the investment therein after potential losses have been evaluated for displays without any security feature.
In one form, the invention is directed to a securable article display system having a base configured to be operatively maintained on a support and an elongate rod having a length and cantilever mounted to the base. The elongate rod has a free end remote from the base and a substantially straight length portion between the base and free end. The straight length portion terminates at a first lengthwise location remote from the base. The elongate rod has a retention portion between the first location and the free end. The elongate rod is configured to pass through an enclosed opening on an article so that the article can be suspended for display from the elongate rod and moved along the straight length portion. The system further includes a blocking assembly which has an engaged state and a release state. The blocking assembly defines a receptacle for a part of the elongate rod and is configured so that with the blocking assembly in the engaged state: a) the blocking assembly cannot be separated from the elongate rod by movement relative to the elongate rod transversely to the length of the elongate rod; and b) the blocking assembly is movable along the straight length portion of the elongate rod to block an article suspended from the elongate rod from moving from the straight length portion to and past the free end. The elongate rod and blocking assembly are configured to interact in a manner whereby the elongate rod binds with the blocking assembly as the blocking assembly moves away from the base towards the free end so as to thereby prevent the blocking assembly from moving past the free end to become separated from the elongate rod.
In one form, the rod has a cross-sectional shape transversely to its length. The cross-sectional shape is substantially the same over the straight length and the retention portion.
In one form, the retention portion is substantially straight between the first location and the free end and has a length that is at an obtuse angle to a line along which the straight length portion extends.
In one form, the blocking assembly includes a housing having first and second parts that are movable relative to each other by pivoting around an axis.
In one form, the housing parts are relatively movable around the axis into the engaged state wherein a part of the elongate rod between the base and first location is captive between the first and second parts.
In one form, with the blocking assembly in the release state, a part of the elongate rod between the base and first location and the housing can be relatively moved in a direction transversely to the length of the elongate rod between: a) a first relationship wherein the housing is fully separated from the elongate rod; and b) a second relationship wherein the part of the elongate rod resides between the first and second parts.
In one form, with the housing parts in the engaged state, the housing parts cooperatively define a receptacle for the part of the elongate rod. The receptacle is configured so that with the housing part in the engaged state the part of the rod can move guidingly within the receptacle parallel to the length of the elongate rod.
In one form, the blocking assembly further includes a locking system for releasably maintaining the housing parts in a relationship wherein the blocking assembly is in the engaged state.
In one form, the locking system includes a locking component that is provided on the first housing part and is changeable between: a) a first position, wherein the locking component blocks relative movement of the housing parts with the blocking assembly in the engaged state; and b) a second position wherein the locking component permits relative movement of the housing parts to permit the blocking assembly to be changed from the engaged state into the release state. The locking system is in a locked state with the locking component in the first position and in an unlocked state with the locking component in the second position.
In one form, the locking component is directed into a receptacle on the second housing part with the blocking assembly in the engaged state and the locking system in the locked state.
In one form, the housing blocks access to the locking component with the blocking assembly in the engaged state and the locking system in the locked state.
In one form, the locking component moves in a path between the first and second positions and is normally urged by a biasing force toward the first position.
In one form, the article display system as described above is provided in combination with a locking system actuator. The locking system actuator includes a component that can be placed strategically adjacent to the housing so as to draw the locking component against the biasing force from the first position into the second position under a magnetic attraction force.
In one form, the receptacle has a length substantially parallel to a length of the straight length portion of the elongate rod with the blocking assembly in the engaged state on the straight length portion. The straight length portion has an outer surface that engages an inner surface bounding the receptacle. The inner and outer surfaces cooperate to guide relative movement between the blocking assembly and rod along the length of the straight length portion.
In one form, the housing bounds the receptacle over the length of the receptacle between first and second housing locations. The housing has a first length between the first and second housing locations. The housing engages the elongate rod at the first and second housing locations with the blocking assembly in the engaged state.
In one form, the first length is at least ⅞ inch.
In one form, the first length is at least 1 inch.
In one form, the securable article display further includes an elongate component that is attached to the base and projects in cantilever fashion from the base. The elongate component has a length substantially parallel to the length of the elongate rod. The elongate component has information thereon relating to a product to be suspended for display on the elongate rod.
In one form, the article display system described above is provided in combination with at least one article suspended for display through the elongate rod.
In one form, with the blocking assembly in the engaged state, the housing parts meet at a parting line. One of the parts has a shield structure that overlies a portion of the parting line.
In one form, the inner and outer surfaces are substantially cylindrical. The inner surface has a diameter slightly greater than a diameter of the outer surface to allow the blocking assembly to be guided along the length of the straight length portion without substantial interference.
In
The display system further has an elongate rod 16 with a length as indicated by the double-headed arrow L. The elongate rod 16 is cantilever mounted to the base 12.
The elongate rod 16 has a free end 18 remote from the base 12 and a substantially straight length portion 20 extending from the base 12 toward the free end 18. The straight length portion 20 terminates at a first lengthwise location 22 remote from the base 12. A retention portion 24 is located between the first lengthwise location 22 and free end 18.
The elongate rod 16 is configured to pass through an enclosed opening 26 so that an article 28 can be supported for display from the elongate rod 16, as shown in
The retention portion 24 projects upwardly from the straight length portion 20 and prevents inadvertent sliding of the articles 28 away from the base 12 and past the free end 18 so as to be separated from the elongate rod 16. It is contemplated that the usable portion of the elongate rod consists of at least a majority of the straight length portion 20 upon which the articles 20 can be supported for sliding movement therealong.
The display system 10 further includes a blocking assembly 32 to prevent unauthorized separation of articles 28 from the elongate rod 16. The blocking assembly 32 is configured to move guidingly lengthwise along the straight length portion 20 with the blocking assembly 32 in an engaged state, as shown in
More specifically, the blocking assembly consists of a housing 34 with first and second parts 36, 38 joined by a pin 40 for guided relative movement around an axis 42. This produces a clamshell arrangement.
The housing parts 36, 38 cooperatively define a receptacle 44 for a part of the elongate rod 16 that becomes captive between the parts 36, 38 with the blocking assembly in the engaged state. The receptacle 44 is configured to extend around an outer surface 46 on the elongate rod 16. Typically, the outer surface 46 will be cylindrical in shape, though this is not a requirement. Most commonly, the entire elongate rod 16 is made from elongate stock having a constant cross-sectional shape and dimension along its entire length.
The housing 34 has an inner surface 48 bounding the receptacle 44. The inner surface 48 is defined cooperatively by curved inner surface portions 50, 52, respectively on the first and second parts 36, 38. With the blocking assembly 32 in the engaged state, as shown in
The first and second housing parts 36, 38 can be repositioned relative to each other, from the relationship they have with the blocking assembly in the engaged state, to a relative position as shown in
On the other hand, with the blocking assembly 32 in the engaged state, the blocking assembly 32 cannot be separated from the elongate rod 16, that the housing 34 captively engages, by movement relative to the elongate rod 16 transversely to the length of the elongate rod 16. Rather, the blocking assembly 32 is limited to moving guidingly along the straight length portion 20 of the elongate rod 16 between the base 12 and the retention portion 24.
To set up the display system 10, the blocking assembly 32 is placed in the first relationship with the elongate rod 16 wherein it is fully separated therefrom. Once the articles 28 are placed, the housing 34 is moved from the first relationship with the elongate rod 16 into a second relationship, as shown in
To prevent repositioning of the parts 36, 38 and separation of the blocking assembly 32 from the elongate rod 16, with the blocking assembly 32 in its engaged state, a locking system is provided at 54. The locking system 54 consists of a locking component 56 that is provided on one of the first and second housing parts 36, 38, and in this case the second part 38. The locking component 56 is changeable between: a) a first position, as shown in
The locking component 56 is directed into a receptacle 58 on the first housing part 36 with the blocking assembly 32 in the engaged state and the locking system 54 in the locked state.
While other designs are contemplated, in this embodiment, the locking component 56 moves in a straight line path, as indicated by the double-headed arrow 60, between its first and second positions, as shown in
The receptacle 58 for the locking component 56 is formed on a block 64 on the housing part 36. The block 64 has a cantilevered wall portion 66 that resides in the path of the locking component 56 as the housing parts are changed from their
The housing parts 36, 38 are configured so that the housing fully blocks access to the locking component 56 with the blocking assembly 32 in its engaged state and the locking system 54 in its locked stated.
To effect separation of the blocking assembly 32 with the blocking assembly in the engaged state and the locking system in the locked state, a locking system actuator 70 is required. The locking system actuator 70 has a component 72 that can be placed strategically adjacent to the housing 34 so as to draw the locking component 56 against the biasing force produced by the spring 62, thereby to draw the locking component 56 from its first position into its second position. Preferably this attraction is magnetic attraction. That is, the locking component 56 and actuator component 72 are constructed so that they are mutually attractive. Preferably, the component 72 is magnetized so that the locking component 56 will not reposition in response to exposure to any metal.
With the blocking assembly 32 in the engaged state, the housing parts 36, 38 meet at a parting line 74. To prevent access to the parting line 74 as might permit wedging of the parts 36, 38 away from each other with the blocking assembly 32 in the engaged state therefor, a shield structure 76 is provided on the housing part 36 and overlies at least a portion of the parting line 74 with the locking assembly 32 in the engaged state therefor.
The basic construction described above is typical to prior art structures, as described in further detail hereinbelow. The primary distinction between the inventive blocking assembly 32 and those in the prior art resides in the specific manner in which the blocking assembly 32 is constructed to interact with the elongate rod 16.
In the depicted embodiment, the elongate rod 16 is bent at the first location 22 so that the retention portion 24 is substantially straight over its extent between the first location 22 and the free end 18. A line L1 through the central axis of the retention portion 24 makes an obtuse angle θ to a line L2 through the center of the straight length portion 20.
The receptacle 44 has a length L3 that is substantially parallel to the length of the straight length portion 20 with the blocking assembly 32 on the elongate rod in the engaged state therefor. The housing surface portions 50, 52 bound the receptacle 44 over substantially its entire length L3 between opposite housing ends 78, 80. The housing is configured to surroundingly engage the elongate rod 16 at first and second housing locations 82, 84, spaced from each other a corresponding lengthwise distance L3, as well as over the region therebetween. The spacing between the surfaces 46, 48 is substantially the same over the length L3.
The length L3 is chosen in relationship to the configuration of the elongate rod 16 so that as the blocking assembly 32 is moved from right to left in
The prior art blocking assembly 94 is configured by selecting a configuration for the housing 96, including a length L4, corresponding to the length L3 in the inventive blocking assembly 32, and a receptacle 98, corresponding to the receptacle 44, that will allow the blocking assembly 32, when slightly skewed, as the leftmost blocking assembly 94 in
To prevent separation of the blocking assembly 94 from the elongate rod 16′, an enlargement 102 is provided to abut the blocking assembly 94, as shown in dotted lines in
Preferably, the housings for the prior art and inventive blocking assemblies are made from a moldable, non-metal material. Such materials will deform to some extent around the rod receptacles as the blocking assemblies are urged lengthwise towards the free ends of the associated elongate rods. However, even with this slight material deformation, the housing 32 is configured so that it cannot transition to and traverse the retention portion 24 without an excessive force that would effectively destroy the housing 32.
On the other hand, the prior art blocking assemblies 94 have been made with a short enough dimension L4, and a large enough gap between the elongate rod 16′ and the housing surface bounding the receptacle for the elongate rod 16′ that the blocking assemblies 94 can reposition and move readily along an angled end portion up to the enlargement 102, which becomes solely responsible for preventing movement of the blocking assembly 94 past the free end 106 of the elongate rod 16′.
The precise dimensions for the inventive blocking assembly 32 depend upon the configuration of the retention portion 24. Typically, the length L4 will be on the order of ⅞ inches or greater, and more preferably 1 inch or greater, using conventional elongate rod configurations. Significantly, the configuration of the housing, including the receptacle 44, is selected so that regardless of the precise configuration of the retention portion 24, the blocking assembly 32 can at best skew slightly, as shown in the transition between
The display system 10, as shown in
As indicated in schematic form in
The invention is not concerned with the precise manner in which the elongate rod 16, 16′, 16″ is mounted upon the support 14. It is conceivable that the elongate rod 16, 16′, 16″ might actually be placed upon a horizontal surface to project vertically. Further, the component 104 is not required for the display system 10.
The schematic showing of components in
As an example, while in the
The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.
