Inventory display lock

• US 8,534,469 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Southern Imperial Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Northrup, Robert Louis Jr., Barkdoll, Patrick J., Valiulis, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US13/286,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20130105418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 211/7, 211/8, 211/57.1, 211/59.1, 248/220.21, 248/220.22, 248/220.31, 248/220.41, 248/222.51, 70/571, 70/57, 70/58, 70/14, 70/62, 70/34, 70/46, 70/52
• US Class Current: 211/7
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0823 Article supports for peg-boards
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0861 Anti-theft means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable

Abstract

A display lock system and display lock used therein are provided. The display lock system includes a display hook having a display lock attached thereto. The display lock includes a lock body attached to a bar of the display hook and a lock bar that surrounds a second bar of the display hook. A lock arrangement operates between the lock body and the lock bar to selectively permit and prohibit movement of the lock bar relative to the lock body.

Claims

1. A retail merchandise lock for securing merchandise on a merchandise display hook of a retail display, the retail merchandise lock comprising:

a lock body defining a mounting channel for receiving a bar of the merchandise display hook therethrough;

a lock bar rotatable coupled to the lock body for rotation about a lock bar axis, the lock bar defining a lock bar aperture configured to receive a second bar of the merchandise display hook therethrough in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the lock bar axis;

a lock arrangement acting between the lock bar and the lock body, the lock arrangement having a locked state in which the lock bar is prevented from rotating about the lock bar axis relative to the lock body, and an unlocked state in which the lock bar is allowed to rotate about the lock bar axis relative to the lock body; and

wherein;

the lock arrangement includes a lock pin, the lock pin extending across a shear interface formed between the lock body and the lock bar, the lock pin engaging both the lock body and the lock bar in the locked state to prevent rotation of the lock bar relative to the lock body in the locked state;

the lock pin not extending across the shear interface and not engaging the lock bar in the unlocked state to allow rotation of the lock bar relative to the lock body in the unlocked state;

the lock pin slidable between the locked and unlocked states along a pin axis.

2. The retail merchandise lock of claim 1, further comprising an attachment pin extending through the mounting channel for securing the lock body to the bar, the attachment pin being spaced away from a bottom of the mounting channel, the attachment pin and mounting channel configured such that the attachment pin can pass through an aperture formed through the bar of the merchandise display hook.

3. The retail merchandise lock of claim 1, further including a spring member biasing the lock pin toward the locked state.

4. The retail merchandise lock of claim 1, wherein the lock pin is slidably carried in a lock pin channel formed in the lock body, the lock bar including a first pin pocket, the lock pin extending into the first pin pocket in the locked state and being removed from the first pin pocket in the unlocked state, the lock pin engaging the portion of the lock bar forming the first pin pocket in the locked state to prevent rotation of the lock bar relative to the lock body.

5. The retail merchandise lock of claim 1, wherein the lock bar includes a key slot arranged to receive a key therein in a direction extending generally parallel to the pin axis;

the key slot aligned with the lock pin providing access to the pin for axially engaging and biasing the pin to the unlocked state along the pin axis.

6. The retail merchandise lock of claim 5, wherein the key slot is non-circular such that rotation of the key within the key slot will cause rotation of the lock bar.

7. The retail merchandise lock of claim 1, wherein the lock bar is generally clevis shaped including a first leg portion and a second leg portion, the lock body being interposed between the first and second leg portions.

8. The retail merchandise lock of claim 1, wherein the lock pin is slidably carried in a lock pin channel formed in the lock body, the lock bar including a first pin pocket, the lock pin extending into the first pin pocket in the locked state and being removed from the first pin pocket in the unlocked state, the lock pin engaging the portion of the lock bar forming the first pin pocket in the locked state to prevent rotation of the lock bar relative to the lock body;

the lock bar remaining in a fixed position relative to the lock body in the locked state;

the lock bar including a second pin pocket, the lock pin extending into the second pin pocket in a second locked state, different than the other locked state, to maintain the lock bar in the second locked state relative to the lock body.

9. The retail merchandise lock of claim 8, wherein the lock bar is in a second angular orientation relative to the lock body in the second locked state.

10. A retail merchandise lock for securing merchandise on a merchandise display hook of a retail display, the retail merchandise lock comprising:

a lock body defining a mounting channel for receiving a bar of the merchandise display hook therethrough;

a lock bar rotatably coupled to the lock body for rotation about a lock bar axis, the lock bar defining a lock bar aperture configured to receive a second bar of the merchandise display hook therethrough in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the lock bar axis;

a lock arrangement acting between the lock bar and the lock body, the lock arrangement having a locked state in which the lock bar is prevented from rotating about the lock bar axis relative to the lock body, and an unlocked state in which the lock bar is allowed to rotate about the lock bar axis relative to the lock body;

wherein the lock bar is generally clevis shaped including a first leg portion and a second leg portion, the lock body being interposed between the first and second leg portions; and

further comprising an attachment pin, the attachment pin extending through a first end of the first leg portion, through the lock body and into a second end of the second leg portion, the attachment pin being co-axial with the lock bar axis, the attachment pin maintaining the lock body in a sandwiched relationship between the first and second ends.

11. The retail merchandise lock of claim 10, wherein the attachment pin includes first and second end portions, the first end of the first leg portion includes a first abutment plate through which the attachment pin extends, the first abutment plate configured to prevent passage of the first end portion of the attachment pin therethrough, the second end of the second leg portion includes a second abutment plate through which the attachment pin extends, the second abutment plate configured to prevent passage of the second end portion therethrough, the first and second abutment plates being positioned between the first and second end portions.

12. The retail merchandise lock of claim 11, wherein the attachment pin is a bolt and the first end portion is a head of the bolt and the second end portion is a nut threaded onto an end of the bolt;

the first end of the first leg being detachable from the rest of the lock bar.

13. The retail merchandise lock of claim 11, further comprising a key for transitioning the lock arrangement between the locked and unlocked states, the first end of the first leg portion includes a key receiving aperture configured to receive the key for engagement of the key with the lock arrangement.

14. The retail merchandise lock of claim 13, wherein the key includes a central aperture, the central aperture receiving the first end portion of the attachment pin when the key is inserted into the key receiving aperture.

15. The retail merchandise lock of claim 10, wherein:

the lock arrangement includes a lock pin, the lock pin extending across a shear interface formed between the lock body and the lock bar, the lock pin engaging both the lock body and the lock bar in the locked state to prevent rotation of the lock bar relative to the lock body in the locked state;

the lock pin not extending across the shear interface and not engaging the lock body in the unlocked state to allow rotation of the lock bar relative to the lock body in the unlocked state;

the lock pin slidable between the locked and unlocked states along a pin axis.

16. The retail merchandise lock of claim 15, wherein the lock pin engages the attachment pin in the locked state.

17. The retail merchandise lock of claim 16, wherein the lock pin engages the first end portion in the locked state.

18. A retail display system comprising:

a merchandise display hook having first and second bars, the second bar configured to carry merchandise;

a lock body defining a mounting channel for receiving the first bar of the merchandise display hook therethrough;

a lock bar rotatably coupled to the lock body for rotation about a lock bar axis that is generally perpendicular to the first and second bars of the merchandise display hook, the lock bar and lock body forming a complete securing loop;

a lock arrangement acting between the lock bar and the lock body, the lock arrangement having a locked state in which the lock bar is fixed relative to the lock body in a closed state relative to the second bar where the lock bar inhibits removal of merchandise from the second bar, and an unlocked state in which the lock bar is allowed to rotate about the lock bar axis relative to the lock body to an open state where the lock bar does not inhibit removal of merchandise from the second bar; and

wherein the first bar of the merchandise display hook includes a mounting aperture therethrough, further comprising an attachment pin, the attachment pin extending through the mounting channel of the lock body and the mounting aperture of the first bar of the merchandise display hook to secure the lock body and lock bar to the first bar of the merchandise display hook.

19. The retail display system of claim 18, wherein the attachment pin is co-axial with the lock bar axis.

20. The retail display system of claim 18, wherein the lock bar includes first and second leg portions that are spaced apart from one another along the lock bar axis, the first and second leg portions being coupled together by a bend, the second bar extending through a cavity formed between the first and second leg portions, the lock body and the bend when the lock bar is in the closed state, the second bar not passing through the cavity when the lock bar is in the open state.

21. A retail display system comprising:

a merchandise display hook having second bars, the second bar configured to carry merchandise;

a lock body defining a mounting channel for receiving the first bar of the merchandise display hook therethrough;

a lock bar rotatably coupled to the lock body for rotation about a lock bar axis that is generally perpendicular to the first and second bars of the merchandise display hook, the lock bar and lock body forming a complete securing loop;

a lock arrangement acting between the lock bar and the lock body, the lock arrangement having a locked state in which the lock bar is fixed relative to the lock body in a closed state relative to the second bar where the lock bar inhibits removal of merchandise from the second bar, and an unlocked state in which the lock bar is allowed to rotate about the lock bar axis relative to the lock body to an open state where the lock bar does not inhibit removal of merchandise from the second bar; and

further comprising a support structure to which the merchandise display hook is attached;

the merchandise display hook further including a metal stamping including at least one bent foot operably engaging the support structure to secure the merchandise display hook to the support structure;

further comprising a protective cover extending over the metal stamping and including a bent foot operably engaging the support structure to secure the protective cover to the support structure, the protective cover operably engaging the metal stamping to secure the metal stamping to the support structure.

22. The retail display system of claim 21, wherein the protective cover includes a cover body that is generally U-shaped defining a channel between a pair of legs, when the protective cover is engaged with the metal stamping, the top and bottom bars are positioned between the pair of legs.

23. The retail display system of claim 22, wherein the metal stamping includes first and second wings that are positioned proximate a front face of the support structure when mounted thereto, a first wall extending outward from and connected to the first wing and a second wall extending outward from and connected to the second wing, an intermediate portion extending between and connecting the first and second walls, the intermediate portion being positioned between the pair of legs of the protective cover, a gap being formed between the intermediate portion and the front face of the support structure, the at least one bent foot of the metal stamping is connected to at least one of the first and second wings.

24. The retail display system of claim 23, wherein the first and second walls include catch recesses formed in outer surfaces thereof, the protective cover including an inward extending catch on each leg, the catches cooperating with the catch recesses to create the engagement between the protective cover and the metal stamping.