Retractor cable connector for tethered product display

• US 6,039,496 A
• Filed: 01/30/1998
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Spring & Mfg. Co.
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Spring & Mfg. Co.
• Inventors: Bishop, J. Merrill
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Harry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMPSON, KENNETH L
• Application Number:
  US09/016,059
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.2, 340/568.3, 340/568.4, 340/568.8, 340/571, 24/304, 24/130, 248/205.3, 248/500, 248/683, 403/3, 403/4, 403/187
• US Class Current: 403/4
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/024 with provisions for preventing unauthorised removal show cases with devices for prevention of theft A47F3/002; devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal E05B73/0017
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/33 having adhesive fastener

Abstract

A device for connecting the bitter end of a cable to a product in a tethered product display. The display has a panel with a small hole sized slightly larger than the diameter of the cable, and the device is secured to the cable after the cable is extended through the hole from a cable retractor located behind the panel.

Claims

1. A device for securing a retractor cable to a product in a tethered product display, comprising:

a base having a cable guideway opening into a recess for receiving a terminal end fitting of a cable and having a rear mounting surface juxtaposed with respect to said guideway and said recess, and

a locking element having a slot affording lateral engagement with said cable adjacent to said terminal end fitting and having a surface operably engagable with said recess surface when said cable is disposed in said cable guideway and tensioned such that said locking element fits within said recess but not through said cable guideway, and

means on said base for fastening said base mounting surface to said product in an abutting relationship such that said recess is closed by the product and said locking element is blocked from exiting said recess.

2. The device according to claim 1 including a fracturable web connecting said locking element to said base.

3. The device according to claim 2 when said base and locking element are of molded plastic construction.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said locking element extends from a peripheral portion of said base in its as-molded condition.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said cable guideway includes a channel in said base rear mounting surface.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said cable guideway includes an aperture opening into said recess.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means includes an adhesive layer on said base mounting surface.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said adhesive layer includes a removable protective cover.

9. The device according to claim 1 including at least one hole in said base for receiving a fastener.

10. The device according to claim 1 including a plurality of locking clips formed integral with said base as manufactured and each connected thereto by said fracturable web.

11. A device for securing a retractor cable to a product in a tethered product display, comprising:

a base plate having a front side and a rear side, said rear side having a mounting surface adapted to be fastened to a product in an abutting relationship and having a recess which is open on said rear side,

said base plate having an aperture for receiving a retractor cable with a terminal end fitting inserted through the aperture from front to rear and into said recess,

a locking clip capable of fitting into said recess but not through said aperture and having a slot laterally engaging said retractor cable inwardly of the terminal end fitting of the retractor cable for preventing said end fitting from passing reversely through the aperture from rear to front when tension is applied to the retractor cable, and

means on said plate for fastening said rear side to said product to close said recess after said locking clip has been installed so that said locking clip is prevented from exiting said recess.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said locking clip is initially formed integral with the plate and is secured thereto by a fracturable web affording a breakaway connection to facilitate assembly at the product display location.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said base plate and locking clip are of one-piece molded plastic construction.

14. A device according to claim 13 wherein said base plate has an outer periphery and said locking clip is formed integral with said periphery and connected thereto by said fracturable web.

15. A device according to claim 14 including a plurality of said locking clips similarly connected to said base plate periphery.

16. A device according to claim 11 wherein said fastening means includes a double-sided adhesive having one side secured to the rear of said base plate and its other side adapted to be secured to the product.

17. A device according to claim 11 wherein said fastening means includes a hole for receiving a fastener.

18. A device for securing a retractor cable bitter end portion to a product in a tethered product display, comprising:

a base having a periphery and planar rear mounting surface adapted to be secured to a product, said base having a recess opening into said mounting surface and a cableway channel connecting said recess to an edge of said periphery of said base, said recess having a shoulder surrounding an aperture at the front of said recess;

at least one locking element extending from said periphery, said locking element having a peripheral edge sized and shaped to fit within said recess but not through said cableway channel and said aperture,

a fracturable web connecting said at least one locking element to said base peripheral edge enabling said locking element to be separated manually from said base, and

means on said base for fastening said rear mounting surface of said base to said product in an abutting relationship after said retractor cable is placed either in said cable guideway channel or through said recess aperture with said locking element engaged therewith inwardly adjacent the cable bitter end such that said recess is closed by the product and said locking element is blocked from exiting said recess.

19. The device according to claim 18 wherein said base, clip and fracturable web are molded integral, as manufactured.

20. In a tethered product display having a panel with a hole permitting a tether having a bitter end portion to extend and retract from a retractor located behind the panel to afford manipulation of a tethered product in front of the panel, the improvement comprising:

a connector having a base adapted to be fastened to a product and a recess for receiving the tether bitter end portion, said base having a cable guideway opening into said recess for receiving the tether bitter end portion and having a rear mounting surface juxtaposed with respect to said guideway and said recess,

a locking clip engagable with said recess and said bitter end portion for securing said tether to said connector, said locking clip having a slot affording lateral engagement with said tether adjacent to said bitter end portion and having a surface operably engagable with said recess when said tether is disposed in said cable guideway and tensioned such that said locking element fits within said recess but not through said cable guideway, and

means on said base for fastening said base mounting surface to the product in an abutting relationship such that said recess is closed by the product and said locking element is blocked from exiting said recess,

said connector being larger in size than said panel hole to preclude passage of the connector through the panel from front to rear.