Merchandise display hook with alarm

• US 9,167,916 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InVue Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Grant, Jeffrey A., Moock, Andrew W., Schultz, Gregory C., Berglund, David N., Taylor, Gary A., Sankey, James K.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US14/294,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20140352372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/568.4, 340/568.8, 340/571, 70/571, 248/551
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0006 Hangers for hanging articles on bars, tringles, bracket arms or the like dress holders, e.g. for clothing, shoes, A47G25/00; packages for hanging B65D; lockable clothing holders E05B69/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0861 Anti-theft means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1463 Physical arrangements, e.g. housings devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags A45C13/18
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5004 For antitheft signaling device on protected article

Abstract

Display hooks for displaying items of merchandise are provided. For example, the display hook includes at least one rod for supporting a plurality of items of merchandise and an end assembly coupled to the at least one rod. The end assembly includes an alarm mechanism configured to generate at least one alarming signal. The end assembly is configured to detect removal of each item of merchandise, wherein the alarm mechanism does not generate an alarming signal when at least a first item of merchandise is removed from the rod, and wherein the alarm mechanism is further configured to generate an alarming signal when a second item of merchandise has been removed from the rod within a predetermined period of time from the first item of merchandise being removed.

Claims

1. A display hook for displaying items of merchandise, the display hook comprising:

at least one rod for supporting a plurality of items of merchandise;

a sensor operably engaged with the at least one rod and configured to detect removal of the items of merchandise from the at least one rod; and

an alarm mechanism in communication with the sensor and configured to generate at least one alarming signal,

wherein the alarm mechanism is configured to not generate an alarming signal when at least a first item of merchandise is removed from the rod, and wherein the alarm mechanism is further configured to generate an alarming signal when at least a second item of merchandise has been removed from the rod within a predetermined period of time from the first item of merchandise being removed.

2. The display hook of claim 1, further comprising an end assembly coupled to the at least one rod, wherein the end assembly is operably engaged with the sensor.

3. The display hook of claim 2, further comprising an upper rod and a lower rod, wherein the lower rod is configured to support the items of merchandise, and wherein the end assembly is engaged with at least the upper rod.

4. The display hook of claim 3, wherein the end assembly is configured to be removably locked to the lower rod.

5. The display hook of claim 3, further comprising a lock mechanism operably engaged with the end assembly and configured to engage the lower rod to prevent the lower rod from being displaced away from the upper rod, the lock mechanism further configured to disengage the lower rod in response to movement of the end assembly.

6. The display hook of claim 2, wherein the at least one rod comprises a free end, and wherein the end assembly is coupled to the free end of the rod.

7. The display hook of claim 2, wherein the at least one rod comprises a free end, and wherein the end assembly is spaced away from the free end of the rod.

8. The display hook of claim 1, wherein the alarming mechanism is integrated with the end assembly.

9. The display hook of claim 1, further comprising a base assembly coupled to the at least one rod and configured to lock the rod to a display support.

10. The display hook of claim 1, wherein the alarming signal comprises an audible signal.

11. The display hook of claim 10, wherein the alarm mechanism is configured to generate a plurality of alarming signals, each alarming signal being different than one another.

12. The display hook of claim 11, wherein each alarming signal has a different volume, intensity, and/or duration.

13. The display hook of claim 1, further comprising a counter configured to count the number of items of merchandise removed and/or the elapsed time between removal of items of merchandise.

14. A display hook for displaying items of merchandise, the display hook comprising:

at least one rod for supporting a plurality of items of merchandise; and

an end assembly coupled to the at least one rod, the end assembly comprising an alarm mechanism configured to generate at least one alarming signal,

wherein the end assembly is configured to detect removal of each item of merchandise, wherein the alarm mechanism is configured to not generate an alarming signal when at least a first item of merchandise is removed from the rod, and wherein the alarm mechanism is further configured to generate an alarming signal when at least a second item of merchandise has been removed from the rod within a predetermined period of time from the first item of merchandise being removed.

15. The display hook of claim 14, wherein the end assembly comprises a sensor configured to detect removal of each item of merchandise.

16. A method for protecting an item of merchandise from theft, the method comprising:

detecting removal of at least a first item of merchandise from a rod;

detecting removal of at least a second item of merchandise from the rod; and

generating a first alarming signal when the second item of merchandise is removed from the rod within a predetermined period of time from the first item of merchandise being removed, wherein an alarming signal is not generated when the first item of merchandise is removed from the rod.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising counting a number of items of merchandise removed from the rod.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising counting an elapsed time between removal of items of merchandise from the rod.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting removal of a third item of merchandise and generating a second alarming signal when the third item of merchandise is removed from the rod within a predetermined period of time of the second item of merchandise being removed, wherein the second alarming signal has a greater volume, intensity, and/or duration than the first alarming signal.