PILFER PROOF DISPLAY UNIT FOR PACK MERCHANDISE

• US 3,786,927 A
• Filed: 09/07/1971
• Issued: 01/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jay Manheim
• Original Assignee: Jay Manheim
• Inventors: Manheim, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holko, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US05/178,039
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 211/4,40,41,165,168,169,169.1 70/62 312/107.5,9,13,14,20 206/DIG.36,75,76 40/104.06,104.09,104.13
• US Class Current: 211/4
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/0246 for rectangular articles, e.g. books, cassettes on the article itself E05B73/0023

Abstract

A display unit for merchandise in packs which is intended to prevent pilfering. The unit includes a housing for supporting a plurality of holders. Each holder is adapted to hold one of the packs and to permit its removal upon movement of the pack in a predetermined path relative to the holder. Each holder is connected with the housing for pivoting motion about a generally horizontal pivot axis, to facilitate browsing. Each pack is normally prevented from removal from its holder by a limit member connected with the housing projecting into the predetermined path of the pack from its holder when the holder is in a secured, first position, which limits movement of the pack to less than that necessary for removal. Each holder can, however, be tilted about a tilt axis generally perpendicular to the pivot axis to a released, second position in which the predetermined path of removal of the pack relative to the holder is moved out of the way of the limit member so that the pack can be removed. Tilting of the holders to the released position is normally prevented by a selectively operable, concealed keeper hidden within the housing.

Claims

1. A display unit for packs comprising, a housing having at least one tray including a longitudinally extending floor, at least one holder adapted to hold one of the packs, said holder being further adapted for removal of the pack by movement thereof along a predetermined path relative to said holder, said holder having an end wall and a pair of side walls defining a U-shaped cradle to receive a pack and an axle extending from said end wall in parallel relation to said floor of said tray in a first position of said holder in said housing and in an opposite direction from said side walls, connecting means for connecting said holder with said housing for movement relative thereto between said first position and a second position, said connecting means supporting said holder in said first position thereof for pivoting motion about said axle, limit means connected with said housing in facing relation to said U-shaped cradle to intercept the predetermined path of movement of the pack relative to said holder when said holder is in said first position thereof to prevent removal of the pack from said holder with movement of said holder to said second position being adapted to position the predetermined path of movement of the pack relative to said holder out of contact with said limit means whereby the pack may be removed;

and keeper means movably connected with said housing and selectively contacting said holder for preventing movement thereof from said first to said second position, said keeper means being selectively movable within said housing out of contact with said holder to free said holder for movement to saId second position.

2. A display unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means further supports said holder for tilting motion between said first and second positions relative to said housing about a tilt axis generally perpendicular to said pivot axis.

3. A display unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said pivot and tilt axis are disposed in generally horizontal planes.

4. A display unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said predetermined path of relative movement for removal of the pack from said holder is generally parallel to said pivot axis.

5. A display unit as defined in claim 2 further including, alarm means operatively associated with said keeper means for causing an alarm upon movement thereof out of contact with said holder.

6. A display unit for packs comprising, a housing;

at least one holder adapted to hold one of the packs, said holder being further adapted for removal of the pack by movement thereof along a predetermined path relative to said holder;

connecting means for connecting said holder with said housing for movement relative thereto between first and second positions, said connecting means supporting said holder in said first position thereof for pivoting motion about a horizontal pivot axis parallel to said predetermined path and between said first and second positions for tilting motion relative to said housing about a horizontal tilt axis generally perpendicular to said pivot axis, said connecting means including an axle fixedly connected with said holder extending axially in parallel relation to said predetermined path of relative movement for removal of the pack in an opposite direction therefrom, a first wall connected with said housing, said first wall underlying and supporting said holder and the pack when said holder is in said first position thereof; and

a second wall connected with said first wall, said second wall having an opening therein through which said axle passes, said opening supporting said axle in axial alignment with said pivot axis for pivoting motion thereabout when said holder is in said first position thereof, portions of said second wall which define said opening further providing a fulcrum for tilting motion of said axle about an axis perpendicular thereto coinciding with said tilt axis;

limit means connected with said housing adapted to intercept the predetermined path of movement of the pack relative to said holder when said holder is in said first position thereof to prevent removal of the pack from said holder with movement of said holder to said second position being adapted to position the predetermined path of movement of the pack relative to said holder out of contact with said limit means whereby the pack may be removed; and

keeper means movably connected with said housing contacting said holder for preventing movement thereof from said first to said second position, said keeper means being selectively movable out of contact with said holder to free said holder for movement to said second position.

7. A display unit as defined in claim 6 further including, alignment means connected with said housing contacting said axle for preventing rotational movement thereof about an axis perpendicular to said pivot and tilt axes.

8. A display unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said limit means includes, a third wall connected with said first wall in spaced, generally parallel relation to said second wall, said third wall adapted to be spaced closely adjacent the pack to prevent sufficient motion thereof from said holder for removal of the pack when said holder is in said first position, movement of said holder to said second position permitting the pack to clear said third wall during motion from said holder.

9. A display unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said keeper means includes, a keeper bar slidably connected with said housing for motion between first and second positions of said keeper bar, said keeper bar in said first position thereof contacTing said axle to prevent tilting motion thereof in a direction which would move said holder relatively away from said first wall;

and at least one opening in said keeper bar, said opening registering with said axle when said keeper bar is in said second position thereof, thereby freeing said holder for tilting motion to said second position thereof.

10. A display unit as defined in claim 9 further including biasing means connected with said housing for resiliently biasing said bar to said first position.

11. A display unit for packs comprising a housing having at least one tray including a longitudinally extending floor and a pair of spaced parallel walls extending upwardly from said floor;

at least one holder disposed in said tray for removably mounting one of the packs therein, said holder having an end wall and a pair of side walls defining a U-shaped cradle to receive a pack and an axle extending perpendicularly from said end wall in an opposite direction from said side walls through an aperture in one of said walls to pivotally dispose said holder relative to said one wall about an axis parallel to said one wall, said U-shaped cradle being disposed in facing relation to the other of said walls;

a keeper mechanism within said housing having movable means for selectively preventing pivoting of said axle of said holder relative to said axis; and

a release mechanism mounted in said housing for moving said keeper mechanism movable means away from said axle to permit pivoting of said axle of said holder relative to said axis.

12. A display unit as set forth in claim 11 having a plurality of apertures in said wall and a plurality of said holders mounted therein, each tray being pivotally mounted about a pivot axis perpendicularly to said wall.

13. A display unit as set forth in claim 12 having a plurality of said trays in said housing to respectively receive a plurality of said holders therein.

14. A display unit for packs comprising a housing having at least one tray including a longitudinally extending floor and a wall extending upwardly from said floor;

at least one holder disposed in said tray for removably mounting one of the packs therein, said holder having an axle extending therefrom through an aperture in said wall to pivotally dispose said holder relative to said wall about an axis parallel to said wall;

a keeper mechanism within said housing having movable means for selectively preventing pivoting of said axle of said holder relative to said axis, said movable means including a slidably mounted keeper bar having a cut-out opening in an upper edge thereof, said bar being movable into a first position to have said axle of said holder rest on said upper edge to prevent tilting of said axle and into a second position to have said axle aligned with said cut-out opening to permit pivoting of said axle; and

a release mechanism mounted in said housing for moving said keeper mechanism movable means away from said axle to permit pivoting said axle of said holder relative to said axis.

15. A display unit as set forth in claim 14 which further comprises means for biasing said keeper bar towards said release mechanism and wherein said keeper bar has an inclined edge forming said opening and said axle is pointed to engage said edge and move said keeper bar towards said biasing means upon insertion of said axle through said apertured wall with said keeper bar in said first position.