Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-29
2003-09-23
Baxter, Gwendolyn (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
C248S220410, C248S553000, C211S007000, C211S059100, C070S057100, C070S034000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06622979
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to wire hangers or hooks for displaying merchandise, and more particularly relates to hooks which can be locked to secure merchandise displayed on the hook.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many types of merchandise are packaged and sold in containers hanging on display hooks at stores such as supermarkets, department stores, retail stores, etc. In many stores, pegboard is used in conjunction with the projecting arm or hook to support a series of such merchandise. These types of display hooks are provided with one or more rods or bars capable of hanging merchandise by inserting the free end of the hook through holes punched in the merchandise container. The containers, therefore, can easily be removed from the hooks by simply pulling the container off the end of the bar. Accordingly, conventional display hooks have a shortcoming in that shoplifting is easily conducted.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a lock and hook assembly for securely displaying merchandise on a vertical support. The lock and hook assembly comprises a mounting bracket structured for connection to the vertical support. A hook of generally circular cross-section has an inner end fixed to the mounting bracket and projects outwardly therefrom to an outer end. The hook's outer end has a reduced diameter portion of generally semi-circular cross-section, and the reduced diameter portion includes a notch. To prevent removal of merchandise at the outer end, a lock has a semi-circular opening shaped to receive the reduced diameter portion and selectively engage the notch.
Preferably, the lock and hook assembly further includes a screw and anchor, wherein the mounting bracket includes a hole sized to receive the screw. The screw and anchor cooperate to clamp the mounting bracket to the vertical support. Also, the reduced diameter portion of the hook may further include a second notch to be engaged by the lock. Preferably, the second notch is radially spaced from the notch by 90° and is smaller than the notch. Most preferably, the first notch is upwardly opening, and the second notch is laterally opening.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an axial facing stop surface is formed where the hook portion of circular cross-section meets the reduced diameter hook portion of semi-circular cross-section. The stop surface limits the inward movement of the lock, while the semi-circular shape of the reduced diameter portion cooperates with the semi-circular opening in the lock to radially position the lock on the hook. These features allow the lock to be reliably positioned on the hook to secure the merchandise thereon and prevent pilfering.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the hook of the lock and hook assembly may comprise a stem hook or a scanning hook. The scanning hook typically includes an upper arm and a lower arm. According to the present invention, the lower arm includes the reduced diameter portion of generally semi-circular cross-section and having the first notch.
Other objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 254284 (1882-02-01), Dean
patent: 457959 (1891-08-01), Pursell
patent: 886480 (1908-05-01), Crowther
patent: 920132 (1909-05-01), Greener
patent: 1022980 (1912-04-01), Stringer
patent: 1117126 (1914-11-01), Bailey
patent: 1322728 (1919-11-01), Read
patent: 1446760 (1923-02-01), Miller
patent: 1488390 (1924-03-01), Hill et al.
patent: 1592696 (1926-07-01), Heyer
patent: 1644155 (1927-10-01), Scott
patent: 1744984 (1930-01-01), Page
patent: 1856239 (1932-05-01), Buckley
patent: 1863503 (1932-06-01), Schlitz
patent: 2073351 (1937-03-01), Osman
patent: 2089300 (1937-08-01), Schlitz
patent: 2626061 (1953-01-01), Girouard
patent: 3084802 (1963-04-01), Ittiner
patent: 3472385 (1969-10-01), Shapiro et al.
patent: 3494583 (1970-02-01), Parr
patent: 3516719 (1970-06-01), Weisblat
patent: 3525242 (1970-08-01), Young
patent: 3545711 (1970-12-01), Scheneman
patent: 3622011 (1971-11-01), Snow
patent: 3655061 (1972-04-01), Peschcke-Koedt
patent: 3763675 (1973-10-01), Hofmeister et al.
patent: 3785501 (1974-01-01), Canning
patent: 3802230 (1974-04-01), Tickett
patent: 3827569 (1974-08-01), Canning
patent: 3934727 (1976-01-01), Brefka
patent: 4155458 (1979-05-01), Moline
patent: 4217986 (1980-08-01), Bronw
patent: 4289242 (1981-09-01), Kenyon
patent: 4441619 (1984-04-01), Gibitz
patent: 4462497 (1984-07-01), Maule
patent: 4474300 (1984-10-01), Entis
patent: 4506856 (1985-03-01), Rich et al.
patent: 4513592 (1985-04-01), Aghay
patent: 4519225 (1985-05-01), Simmler et al.
patent: 4614097 (1986-09-01), Signorelli
patent: 4678151 (1987-07-01), Radek
patent: 4840049 (1989-06-01), Russo
patent: 4882868 (1989-11-01), Fast
patent: 4953371 (1990-09-01), Applebaum
patent: 5022243 (1991-06-01), Embry et al.
patent: 5024073 (1991-06-01), Lloyd
patent: 5027622 (1991-07-01), Hatch et al.
patent: 5027624 (1991-07-01), Aghay et al.
patent: 5127244 (1992-07-01), Meyers
patent: 5251767 (1993-10-01), Wiederer
patent: 5259220 (1993-11-01), Fredrickson
patent: 5269161 (1993-12-01), Stillwagon
patent: 5275027 (1994-01-01), Eklof et al.
patent: 5375802 (1994-12-01), Branham, II
patent: 5407170 (1995-04-01), Slivon et al.
patent: 5441941 (1995-08-01), Kähönen et al.
patent: 5467619 (1995-11-01), Stillwagon et al.
patent: 5493879 (1996-02-01), Bison
patent: 5509542 (1996-04-01), Simmerman et al.
patent: 5517835 (1996-05-01), Smith
patent: 5540065 (1996-07-01), Wyers
patent: 5551577 (1996-09-01), Hagopian
patent: 5588537 (1996-12-01), Hagopian
patent: 5597150 (1997-01-01), Stein et al.
patent: 5603416 (1997-02-01), Richardson et al.
patent: 5624040 (1997-04-01), Hono
patent: 5676258 (1997-10-01), Leyden et al.
patent: 5689978 (1997-11-01), Eklof et al.
patent: 6003685 (1999-12-01), Malin
patent: WO 95/31625 (1995-05-01), None
Baxter Gwendolyn
Southern Imperial, Inc.
LandOfFree
Stem and scan locking hooks does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Stem and scan locking hooks, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stem and scan locking hooks will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3092248