Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-13
2001-05-22
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
C248S220310, C248S220410, C211S059100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234436
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a display hook for point of purchase items or packages. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heavy duty display hook for insertion into a slot of a panel or into the holes of a pegboard.
The retail sales industry is now widely employing point of purchase display systems which include a fold-up display rack and product display hooks which can be prepacked with the product before shipment to the point of purchase merchant for final assembly. In such a display system, a display stand or rack is constructed of a lightweight inexpensive material, such as cardboard, which may be folded up into a rigid folded planar structure containing attractive artwork or consumer information related to the product. In order to provide a fully stocked display system which is ready for presentation to the customer, manufacturers now provide a prepacked display in which the product has already been stocked or installed on the several display hooks mounted on the partially assembled panel. In this way, upon receipt of the manufacturer's shipping container, the merchant or retailer need only assemble the stand components to achieve a fully stocked display system which is ready for presentation to the customer.
Several known forms of such display systems employ a hook mounted in a horizontal or vertical slot in a panel, such as cardboard. One particularly advantageous form of such a system is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,905 which is owned by the assignee of the instant invention. That patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. While the display hook disclosed in the '905 patent is advantageous, it has been found that the holding power of the hook employed in that display system is only on the order of 3 or 4 lbs. If the weight of packages on the hook is greater than that amount, the hook tends to break at the joint between the bridge and the back plate thereof.
Other such product display systems with hooks are also widely known. Another example of such a display system is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,417. However, the hook disclosed in this patent is similarly able to hold only 3 or 4 lbs. of merchandise before breaking.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved display hook which would overcome the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a new and improved display hook is disclosed, the hook being adapted for insertion into at least one aperture of a panel.
More particularly in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the display hook comprises a front plate which is substantially vertically disposed in use, which has an upper end and a lower end and an elongated support member which projects forwardly from and extends upwardly in slightly inclined fashion to the front plate, the support member having a longitudinal axis. At least one arm extends rearwardly from the plate. The at least one arm includes a first section having a longitudinal axis which is located above the longitudinal axis of the support member. The first section is adapted to extend through the panel aperture. A second section extends upwardly from the first section. The second section is spaced from and is generally parallel to the front plate.
Preferably, a pair of arms are provided and a slot is located between them to separate the pair of arms. If desired, the second section of each of the pair of arms is at least as thick as the front plate. The width of the pair of arms and the slot between them is slightly less than the width of the at least one aperture to prevent movement of the hook in the at least one aperture. Preferably, the pair of arms are longitudinally spaced from each other. If desired, the hook can further comprise a flange extending away from a lower edge of the first section of the at least one arm, the flange preventing the hook from falling out of the at least one aperture. Preferably, the front plate, the support and the at least one arm are of one piece and are made of a plastic material. If desired, the hook can further comprise a wing extending from the second section of the at least one arm in a direction approximately parallel to the front plate. The wing prevents the hook from falling out of the at least one aperture.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a display hook is provided for insertion into a rectangular aperture of a panel.
More particularly in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the display hook comprises a front plate which is substantially vertically disposed in use and which has an upper end and a lower end. A forwardly projecting support member extends upwardly in slightly inclined fashion from the front plate. A support section extends rearwardly from the plate and through the aperture. A pair of arms extends upwardly from the support section. The arms are generally parallel to the front plate and are spaced therefrom. A wing extends away from at least one of the arms.
A slot is preferably located between the pair of arms wherein the width of the wings, the second sections and the slot is larger than a width of the aperture. In this manner, the wing prevents the hook from becoming detached from the panel.
One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved display hook with an increased weight bearing capacity which is capable of supporting up to 9 or 10 lbs. of merchandise without breaking.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a point of purchase product display system utilizing an outwardly projecting display hook which can be preassembled to a fold-up display stand and prepacked with product for shipment to and assembly by the point of purchase merchant.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a display hook which is able to withstand the omnidirectional forces imparted to the hook during packing, shipping and assembly of the display system in which it is held without being pulled out of the display stand regardless of the attitude of the stand.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a display hook having a front plate with a forwardly extending elongated support member that has a longitudinal axis and a bridge extending rearwardly from the front plate wherein a longitudinal axis of the bridge is located above the longitudinal axis of the support member in order to strengthen the hook.
A further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a display hook having a front plate, a bridge, adapted to extend through a slot in a display panel, and a rear plate wherein the rear plate is at least as thick as the front plate in order to strengthen the hook.
A still further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a display hook in which an upper edge of the rear plate is located near an upper edge of a front plate. This relationship stiffens the hook and makes it more able to bear larger loads on a support member thereof.
A yet further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a display hook having a pair of spaced L-shaped rear legs by which the hook can be attached to a support surface such as an apertured panel or a pegboard.
An additional advantage of the present invention is the provision of a display hook with a pair of legs which are so spaced apart that they can be accommodated either in a single slot of a cardboard panel or in a pair of spaced holes in a pegboard.
Still yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a display hook with a pair of spaced legs which each have an outwardly facing wing. The wings of the legs extend past the side edges of the slot through which the legs extend. The legs need to be flexed towards each other so as to allow the wings to clear the side edges of the slot.
It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a display hook which can be inexpensively fabricated, si
Fasteners For Retail, Inc.
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
King Anita M.
LandOfFree
Heavy duty display hook does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Heavy duty display hook, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Heavy duty display hook will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2511568