Display fixture with tether and cross bar

• US 9,339,125 B1
• Filed: 04/01/2015
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Floersch, David J., Johnson, Blake M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Agudelo, Paola
• Application Number:
  US14/675,866
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 211/204, 211/206, 211/193, 211/190, 211/187, 211/4, 211/7, 211/119.003, 340/568.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features related to dismountability or building-up from elements A47B43/00, A47B45/00 take precedence; features for adjusting shelves or partitions A47B57/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/16 consisting of hooks coacting with openings ladder type A47B57/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/20 consisting of tongues, pins or similar projecting means coacting with openings A47B57/08, A47B57/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/30 with means for adjusting the height of detachable shelf supports
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/021 Structural features of shelf bases
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/002 Devices for protection against sunlight or theft
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0018 Display racks with shelves or receptables racks per se A47B; storage devices for warehouses B65G1/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/101 Display racks with slotted uprights
• 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: E05B 73/0029 Tags wrapped around the protected product using cables, wires or the like, e.g. with cable retraction for tensioning

Abstract

A display fixture includes a shelf and a cross bar positioned below the shelf by a distance and having an interior channel and a slot. A fence is mounted to a top of the shelf and located proximal to a front of the shelf. A winder assembly includes a winder mechanism located inside the interior channel of the cross bar and a retractable tether coupled to the winder mechanism and having a distal end. The retractable tether extends through the slot in the cross bar and around a back of the shelf, is attached to product resting on the shelf and the distal end of the retractable tether is locked to the fence.

Claims

1. A display fixture comprising:

a shelf;

a cross bar positioned below the shelf by a distance and including an interior channel and a slot;

a fence mounted to a top of the shelf and located proximal to a front of the shelf; and

a winder assembly comprising;

a winder mechanism located inside the interior channel of the cross bar;

a retractable tether coupled to the winder mechanism and having a distal end; and

wherein the retractable tether extends through the slot in the cross bar and around a back of the shelf, is attached to product resting on the shelf and the distal end of the retractable tether is locked to the fence with a lock.

2. The display fixture of claim 1, wherein the winder assembly further comprises a collar and a stop, wherein the collar is fixed to the retractable tether and the stop surrounds the retractable tether and has a dimension that is larger than a dimension of the slot in the cross bar.

3. The display fixture of claim 2, wherein the collar is fixed to the retractable tether at a location so that when the collar engages with the stop a length of retractable tether protrudes from the winder mechanism.

4. The display fixture of claim 3, wherein the length of retractable tether that protrudes corresponds with a distance between the fixed collar and the distal end of the retractable tether and is greater than the distance between the cross bar and the shelf.

5. The display fixture of claim 1, wherein the retractable tether comprises an end piece that is fixed to the distal end of the retractable tether and engages with the lock.

6. The display fixture of claim 1, wherein the cross bar comprises an elongated member having the slot and a telescopic member that fits inside the elongated member so that a length of the cross bar is adjustable.

7. The display fixture of claim 1, wherein the shelf and the cross bar are mounted to a pair of slotted uprights of a gondola using brackets.

8. The display fixture of claim 1, wherein the lock securely attaches and detaches from the distal end of the retractable tether with a key.

9. The display fixture of claim 1, wherein the fence comprises a member having an upper substantially horizontal portion and a lower substantially horizontal portion that are separated from each other by a space that is less than dimensions of the lock.

10. A display fixture comprising:

a gondola including a base deck and a back panel supported by a pair of slotted uprights;

a shelf mounted to the pair of slotted uprights;

a cross support positioned under the shelf and mounted to the pair of slotted uprights;

a fence coupled to a top of the shelf and positioned proximal to the front of the shelf; and

a retractable tether coupled to a winder mechanism located inside an interior channel in the cross support, wherein the retractable tether extends from the winder mechanism through a slot in the cross support, extends between the back panel of the gondola and a back of the at least one shelf, couples to at least one product, and is secured to the fence at a distal end of the retractable tether with a lock so that the at least one product is secured to the shelf but is still allowed to be lifted and inspected by a customer.

11. The display fixture of claim 10, wherein the tether is coupled to the at least one product on the shelf by threading the tether through respective theft protection devices wrapped around each product on the shelf.

12. The display fixture of claim 10, further comprising a collar that is fixed to the retractable tether and a stop that encircles the retractable tether, wherein fixed collar engages with the stop so that the retractable tether protrudes from the winder mechanism for a length that corresponds with a distance between the fixed collar and the distal end of the retractable tether, wherein the minimum length is long enough to extend from the winder mechanism and around the back of the shelf.

13. The display fixture of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the tether is locked to the fence by engaging a key with the lock so that the lock grips an end piece located on the distal end of the tether.

14. The display fixture of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of winder mechanisms located inside the interior channel of the cross support, each winder mechanism including a retractable tether that extends from its associated winder mechanism and between the back panel of the gondola and the back of the shelf.

15. The display fixture of claim 10, wherein the lock has dimensions that are greater than a space between a pair of substantially horizontal portions of a member that comprises the fence so that to lock the distal end of the retractable tether to the fence includes threading the retractable tether through the space between the portions of the member and placing the lock on the distal end in front of the fence.

16. The display fixture of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of shelves mounted to the pair of slotted uprights of the gondola, each shelf having a cross support mounted a distance below each shelf and each cross support housing at least one winder mechanism having a retractable tether.

17. A method of securing product to a display fixture in a retail store, the method comprising:

pulling a retractable tether from a winder mechanism located inside a cross bar positioned below a shelf on a display fixture so that the retractable tether extends around a back of the shelf;

coupling the retractable tether to at least one product on the shelf;

coupling the retractable tether to a fence mounted to a top of the shelf and being located proximal to a front of the shelf; and

locking a distal end of the retractable tether to the fence with a lock.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein coupling the retractable tether to the at least one product on the shelf comprises threading the retractable tether through a theft protection device wrapped around the at least one product on the shelf.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the retractable tether protrudes from the winder mechanism for at least a minimum length using a collar fixed to the retractable tether that engages with a stop that surrounds the retractable tether, wherein the minimum length corresponds with a distance between the fixed collar on the retractable tether and the distal end of the retractable tether.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein locking the distal end of the retractable tether to the fence with the lock comprises gripping an end piece located on the distal end of the retractable tether by engaging a key with the lock.