Display rod security device

Abstract

A security device is mounted on a merchandise display rod to prevent the removal of some items of merchandise from the rod and contains an alarm actuation device to sound the alarm at a security gate of a retail establishment is unlawfully passed through the gate. A pair of housing members are slidably joined and move between locked and unlocked positions. Each of the members is formed with a partial slot which align with each other when in the locked position to extend about the rod. A magnetically attractable lock member is mounted within one of the members and engages a locking projection formed in the other member to secure the members in a closed locked position on the rod. A magnetic key moves the lock member to an unlocked position to enable the members to move apart to an unlocked open position. The distal end of the rod is bent at an angle sufficient to prevent sliding removal of the security device from the rod when the members are in the locked position yet enables removal of several unprotected items of merchandise located forward of the lock mechanism from the rod.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/717,707 filed Sep. 16, 2005; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to security devices, and particularly to a security device that prevents large numbers of items of merchandise from being rapidly removed from display racks, and in particular from display rods. Specifically, the present invention relates to a security device that is easily attached and locked on the display rod and which allows one or several items of merchandise to be removed from the rack at any one time, but protects a number of the items from being removed from the rack by a shoplifter, and which contains an alarm actuation device.

2. Background Information

Numerous items of merchandise are displayed for sale on long protruding rods that are supported from a piece of pegboard, slat board, or other type of supporting structure. These rods are commonly referred to in the art as pegboard rods or slat board rods. Many items of merchandise such as batteries, small tools, tool components, film, or other relatively expensive small items are displayed in areas where consumers may pick them up and take them directly to a checkout counter. These items usually are suspended on the rods by the rod passing through a single hole in the package. Unfortunately, such merchandise is an easy target for shoplifters and it has been found that shoplifters can rapidly empty all of the merchandise from a pegboard display rod and make off with merchandise without being detected, or even if detected upon passing through a checkout security gate, will be difficult to apprehend.

Various devices have been devised to prevent the removal of merchandise from these display rods such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,027,622, 5,275,027, 5,259,220, 5,689,978, 5,676,258, 6,622,979, and 6,474,748. The devices of these patents provide for some type of locking mechanism on the end of the rod preventing the removal of any items of merchandise from the rod. This has the disadvantage in that it requires the customer to contact a clerk who must unlock the lock mechanism from the end of the rod to enable the customer to remove the merchandise for purchase. It has been found that this reduces the amount of sales since many customers do not wish to wait or take the time to find a clerk to unlock the security device to enable the customer to obtain the desired item.

Other types of display rods use irregularly shaped ends on the rod which enables the customer to remove the item from the rod by moving it through a circuitous route along the various bends at the distal end of the rod. This has proven satisfactory to some extent in that it increases the difficulty of a shoplifter from rapidly removing a large number of the items from the storage rack. However, it does not prevent the shoplifter from removing all of the items of merchandise from the rod if the shoplifter uses a large amount of force upon sweeping the items from the rod or bunches the items together enabling a plurality of the items to be removed in one motion from the rod.

Another problem with such display rods is that a shoplifter may be able to remove the entire rod and items of merchandise mounted thereon from the attachment structure and unlawfully carry it from the retail establishment. To prevent this type of shoplifting, various devices have been developed which lock the display rod to its support structure. However, such preventive devices may not always be successful and they increase the cost of doing business for the merchant.

Thus, it is desired in the art to provide a security device for display rods so that large quantities of merchandise cannot be rapidly removed from the rods yet would allow legitimate customers to remove a limited number of the items from the rod without requiring a merchant or store clerk to assist the customer. Furthermore, the device will actuate the alarm at a security gate if unlawfully passed therethrough.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a security device for display racks that prevents the rapid removal of a large number of the displayed items of merchandise from display rods extending outwardly from the rack by placing a simple, compact, yet highly effective locking device on a linear length of the display rod located between a number of the items stored thereon. This will enable those items located between the security device and the distal end of the display rod to be removed by a customer yet prevents removal of those items located between the display rack and locking device until a clerk unlocks the security device and repositions it behind a number of the already stored items, or places new items in-between the security device and distal end of the rod for subsequent removal by the customer.

Another aspect of the present invention is to form the display rod security device as a simple two-piece construction in which a pair of members are slidably joined, each of which has a semicircular slot formed therein, which when in a closed locked position forms a circular opening through which the display rod extends, and which has a sufficient linear length or configuration to prevent it from being removed from a bent end of the display rod.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide one of the members of the security device with a spring biased locking member which automatically snaps into locking engagement with a locking projection formed on the other of the members when the members are moved to a closed position.

Another feature of the present invention is to form the locking member of a magnetically attractable material whereby a magnetic key when placed at a specific location on the security device will move the locking member to the unlocked position enabling the security device to be easily moved to an open position for removal of the device from the rack and subsequent reattachment thereto.

A further aspect of the present invention is to form the two members of rigid plastic material which is sufficiently strong to prevent a thief from easily prying the two members apart, and which can be constructed of a minimum number of component parts thereby enabling the security device to be mass produced relatively inexpensive encouraging the use thereof by merchants to reduce shoplifting.

Still another feature of the invention is the placement of an alarm actuation device in the security device which sounds an alarm upon passage of the security device through a security gate to prevent theft of the entire display rod and contents stored thereon.

These features and advantages are obtained by the security device of the present invention which is adapted to be attached to a rod extending outwardly from a merchandise display wherein the rod has a free end bent at an angle to an elongated portion of the rod, wherein the security device comprising first and second members slidably joined for movement between locked and unlocked positions, at least one of said members being formed with an arcuate slot which is substantially complementary to and adapted to receive the elongated portion of the rod therein to secure the security device on the elongated portion of the rod, and wherein the bent free end prevents removal of the security device from the rod when in the locked position; and a magnetically attractable lock member for locking the first and second members in the locked position about the rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the security device of the present invention mounted on an elongated linear portion of a display rod extending outwardly from a supporting structure.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the main housing member of the security device.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the housing of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the locking member of the security device removed from the main housing member of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the locking member of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7-7, FIG. 1 showing the security device in a locked position on the display rod.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the magnetically attractable locking member of the security device.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, showing a magnetic key engaged with the security device for unlocking the device.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on lines 9-9, FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7, showing the locking tines moved to an unlocked position by the magnetic key.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the security device in an open unlocked position.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The security device of the present invention is indicated generally at 1, and is shown in FIG. 1 mounted on a merchandise display rod 3 which extends outwardly in a cantilevered-like fashion from a support surface 5 and is attached thereto by an attachment mechanism 7. Attachment 7 may be of various constructions which when attached to support 5 prevents removal of the rod therefrom without considerable manipulation or sounds an alarm to prevent a shoplifter from completely removing rod 3 including all of the various items of merchandise indicated at 9, suspended therefrom. However, in accordance with one of the features of the present invention, the use of security device 1 having an internal alarm actuation device can eliminate or reduce the need for the more expensive types of attachments 7 and be of a simple hooked end or other arrangement to attach rod to support 5.

Rod 3 preferably is a rigid round metal member having a generally straight elongated linear section 11 which terminates in a curved distal end 13. The items of merchandise 9 can be blister packs 15 or other type of containers in which certain merchandise is stored. The packs are suspended from rod 3 by a flat card-like section 17 having a hole 19 formed therein through which rod 3 extends. The particular configuration of merchandise 9 can vary considerably, but usually will have some type of slotted or rounded opening formed in the upper end thereof through which rod 3 extends, which will enable the merchandise to be slid in the direction of Arrow A for removal from the free distal end 13 thereof.

Security device 1 is shown particularly in FIGS. 3-7 and includes a lock housing indicated generally at 20, formed by two members 21 and 23, which are slidably joined when in an assembled position. Housing member 21 (FIGS. 3 and 4) forms the main housing or body of security device 1. Member 21 preferably has a rectangular shape and is formed with a hollow interior 25 to which access is obtained through a generally rectangular-shaped top opening 26. An elongated slot 28 is formed in each of the opposed side walls 29 and 30 and terminates in a semicircular-shaped lower portion 31. A plurality of positioning tabs 32 are formed in the side walls 29 and end walls 36 of housing member 21, the function of which are discussed below. Housing member 21 preferably is formed of a rigid plastic material and can be formed in various colors and have printed indicia thereon, depending upon the desires of a particular retail merchant.

The other main component of housing 20 is a lock member 23. Member 23 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is a one-piece member preferably formed of a rigid plastic material, and has a generally rectangular-shaped top closure portion 39 and a locking leg 41 extending outwardly therefrom. A generally semicircular elongated arcuate-shaped slot 43 is formed in the underside surface of top closure portion 39 and aligns with slot 31 of housing member 21 to form a circular opening 44 when the two housing members 21 and 23 are in an engaged position as shown particularly in FIG. 7, for receiving and trapping linear portion 11 of rod 3 therein. A plurality of notches 37 are formed in top closure portion 39 for receiving tabs 32 when the two housing members are in a closed locked position. The diameter of rod receiving opening 44 can vary and need not exactly match the outer diameter of rod section 11 as shown in the drawings, and preferably does not provide a tight clamping engagement with the rod. Preferably opening 44 is slightly larger than the rod diameter in order to accommodate rod diameters of various sizes and to enable the security device to slide along linear rod portion 11, but small enough to prevent it from being moved about bent rod end 13, preventing its removal from rod 3. The thickness of housing member 23 which provides the locking component of device 1, as shown in FIG. 6, is complementary to the internal thickness of housing interior 25, as well as the width thereof as shown in FIG. 5 in order to fit snugly within interior 25 as shown in FIG. 7, when locking member 23 is slidably inserted into hollow interior 25 of lock housing 21.

In accordance with one of the features of the invention as shown particularly in FIG. 7, an alarm actuation device 45 is secured within an alarm compartment 46 formed within a portion of housing interior 25. Compartment 46 is formed by one of the housing end walls 36 and a partition wall 47. Alarm actuation device 45 can be a radio frequency (RF) coil as shown in the drawings, or a magnetic sensitive (AM) type of device, such as an EAS tag or various other alarm actuating means, all of which are well-known in the security art. This device is sensed by the electronic circuitry located at a secured gate such as the exit of a retail establishment, and will actuate the gate alarm if security device 1 approaches or passes through the secured gate indicating that an unauthorized movement of rod 3 and attached merchandise 9 is occurring.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, locking leg 41 has a length generally equal to the length of housing member 21 and is formed with a pair of spaced locking notches 51 extending along a side 49 of leg 41 (FIG. 6) which terminate in a pair of shoulders or projections 48. End edges 50 of a pair of locking tines 52 engage projections 48 to secure the housing members in a locked position on rod 3. Tines 52 are lanced in a single metallic strip 54 (FIG. 7A) which forms an integral part of the locking mechanism of security device 1. Strip 54 is retained in housing interior 25 by ends 55 thereof being received in notches 57 formed in the inside surface of housing end wall 36. Another projection 53 is formed in the distal end of leg 41 and engages a stepped shoulder 58 formed in partition wall 47 of alarm compartment 46 when locking member 23 is moved to an unlocked position as shown in FIG. 11. This retains housing member 21 and 23 in their assembled condition preventing separation of the two members.

It is readily seen that when security device 1 is in the full open unlocked position as shown in FIG. 11, it can be easily removed from or placed on rod 3 through an opening 56 formed between members 21 and 23 when in the open unlocked position. After placement of devices 1 on linear portion 11 of rod 3, rod 3 will preferably rest in slot 43 of housing member 23 and housing member 21 will be moved upwardly in the direction of Arrow C to the locked position as shown in FIG. 7. This results in spring biased tines 52 automatically lockingly engaging lock shoulders 48 of locking leg 41. In this position, notches 37 of top closure portion 39 receive tabs 32 therein so that the lower portion of top closure member 39 is firmly seated within top opening 26 of housing member 21. As shown in FIG. 7, this securely locks security device 1 on display rod 3 and retains alarm actuation device 45 securely positioned in the interior of housing 20 preventing any unauthorized access thereto.

To open and unlock device 1, a magnetic key indicated generally at 60, is properly aligned with tines 52 by placement of a pair of locating tabs 62 formed on key 60 in positioning recesses 33 (FIG. 9). When in this position, a pair of internal magnets 64 will align with locking tines 52 moving them from the locked position of FIG. 7 to the unlocked position of FIG. 10, afterwhich lock housing 21 is moved easily in the direction of Arrow D (FIG. 11) to the unlocked position exposing opening 56, enabling device 1 to be removed from rod 3.

In accordance with another feature of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, device 1 will be placed on the elongated linear section 11 of rod 3 between a number of merchandise items 9 so that one or more merchandise items will be between lock mechanism 1 and distal end 13 enabling the merchandise item or items to be easily removed from rod 3 by a customer without the assistance of a clerk. However, many of the merchandise items 9 will be between rod attachment 7 and device 1 preventing their removal by a customer. Thus, the merchant will usually have a large number of merchandise items 9 in a secure locked position between support 5 and lock mechanism 1, with one or more of the merchandise items 9 being on the unsecured portion of rod 3 enabling a customer to easily remove the same from distal end 13. This enables the customer to take one or several of the items from the display rack for subsequent purchase at a checkout station, but will prevent a shoplifter from stealing an excessively large number of the items from rod 3 by a sweeping motion of the items therefrom. This limits the possible loss to only one or several of the displayed items, but not the entire displayed stock thereof.

The merchant upon seeing that the number of available merchandise items 9 unsecured on rod 1 not being sufficient to satisfy current customer's demand, will easily unlock device 1 by use of magnetic key 60, and then move device 1 to another position between the remaining previously secured items 9, thereby making several more items available to the customer in an unsecured manner. Also, device 1 can be easily removed enabling the entire rod to be restocked with items 9, afterwhich it is reapplied somewhere between the plurality of merchandise items permitting only one or several to be unprotected and permitting a customer to remove one or several of the items for purchase at the checkout counter.

As shown in FIG. 1, device 1 will have a sufficiently large thickness or other configuration, which will prevent the device from being removed from the bent end of rod 3. Thus, even though a shoplifter could slide device 1 toward the distal end of rod 3, it cannot move it around the one or more bends or projections formed thereon to prevent removal of the device from the rod without requiring it to be tightly clamped thereon. The end of rod 3 could have other types of bends than that shown in FIG. 1 or projections from thereon, without departing from the concept of the invention, so long as the bend or projection is sufficient to prevent removal of device 1 from rod 3 by sliding it along the rod and off end 13. Likewise, the merchant after unlocking and moving device 1, merely moves the two members 21 and 23 together whereupon tines 52 will automatically snap-fit into locking engagement with lock projections 48 formed on locking leg 41 requiring very little manipulation of the lock mechanism. Likewise, device 1 can be used with various diameters of rods since it does not require that it tightly grip the rod so long as it has sufficient length or diameter to prevent it from sliding off the end of the rod.

Thus, security device 1 is easily attached to a display rod 3 to facilitate the display of items of merchandise 9 thereon preventing a large number of items to be unlawfully removed from the rod, while enabling a customer to have free access to one or several of the items of merchandise for purchase. Device 1, since it incorporates an alarm actuation device 45, need not have the more expensive attachment mechanism 7 as shown in the drawings, to retard shoplifting, enabling a less expensive attachment arrangement to be utilized since it prevents removal of the entire rod from a protected retail establishment. Depending upon the type of attachment mechanism used for mounting rod 3 on support structure 5, it will have some type of bent end as shown at 70 (FIG. 1), which will prevent the sliding movement of device 1 from rod 3. Thus, security device 1 will remain on rod 3 even should the rod be removed from the support structure 5 and alarm device 45 will actuate a security gate alarm if a thief attempts to remove rod 3 with the entire content of items 9 thereon.

Also, housing 20 is formed of only two main components 21 and 23, easily and economically formed of a rigid plastic material having a strip of metal 54 retained therein to provide the locking mechanism therefor. Likewise, once device 1 is assembled, leg projection 53 and offset wall portion 58 (FIG. 11) maintain the housing components 21 and 23 in an assembled, slidably joined relationship.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. A security device for attaching to a rod extending outwardly from a merchandise display, said rod having a free end bent at an angle to an elongated portion of the rod; said lock mechanism comprising:

first and second members slidably joined for movement between locked and unlocked positions, at least one of said members being formed with an arcuate slot which is substantially complementary to and adapted to receive the elongated portion of the rod therethrough to secure the security device on the elongated portion of said rod, and wherein said bent free end prevents removal of the security device from the rod when in the locked position;

a lock mechanism for locking the first and second members in the locked position about the rod; and

an alarm actuation device for actuating a remote alarm when brought into the vicinity of said alarm.

2. The security device defined in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second members is formed with a generally semicircular slot which form the arcuate slot; and in which said semicircular slots align with each other when the security device is in the locked position to form a generally circular opening for receiving the elongated portion of the rod therethrough.

3. The security device defined in claim 2 wherein the first and second members are elongated; and in which the semicircular slots are formed in said members generally adjacent an upper end thereof whereby said security device is suspended on the rod with a majority of the elongated members extending below the rod.

4. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the first member is a generally rectangular-shaped housing having an internal lock compartment; and in which the second member includes a top closure portion and an elongated locking leg extending from said top closure portion, said locking leg being located in the lock compartment of said first member.

5. The security device defined in claim 4 wherein the lock mechanism includes a magnetically attractable lock member mounted in the lock compartment of the first member and is biased toward locking engagement with the locking leg of the second member.

6. The security device defined in claim 5 wherein lock member is a strip of metal having an at least one tine extending outwardly therefrom; and in which the locking leg is formed with a projection engageable with an end of the tine when in the locked position to prevent movement of the members toward the unlocked position.

7. The security device defined in claim 6 wherein the metal locking strip is a single piece member having a pair of metal tines formed integrally from said strip and projecting outwardly therefrom; and in which the locking leg of the second member is formed with a pair of projections, each engageable with a respective one of the locking tines.

8. The security device defined in claim 4 wherein the housing of the first member has an open top; and in which the top closure portion of the second member is complementary to the open top of the first member and encloses said open top when in the locked position.

9. The security device defined in claim 8 wherein the top closure portion of the second member forms an opening between the housing of the first member and said top closure portion of the second member which connects with the arcuate slot when in the unlocked position to enable passage of the elongated portion of the rod through said opening.

10. The security device defined in claim 4 wherein the lock compartment includes a wall having an offset portion; and in which the locking leg engages said offset portion of the wall to retain the second member within the first member when the first and second members are in the unlocked position.

11. A method of displaying items of merchandise on a display rod extending outwardly from a support, said method comprising the steps of:

providing the display rod with an elongated portion terminating in a bent end;

providing a security device having a pair of joinable members moveable between locked and unlocked positions, said bent end preventing removal of the security device from the rod when in the locked position thereon;

suspending a plurality of the items on the elongated portion of the rod;

placing the security device on the elongated portion of the rod and moving it to a closed locked position whereby at least one of the items is between the lock mechanism and bent end permitting removal of said at least one item beyond the bent end without interference from the security device and whereby a plurality of the items are located between the security device and support preventing their removal from the rod; and

providing the security device with an alarm actuator device for actuating a remote alarm when the security device is brought into proximity to said alarm.

12. The method defined in claim 11 including the step of unlocking the security device and repositioning it on the elongated portion of the rod between the plurality of items previously located between the lock mechanism and support thereby providing at least one other item of merchandise between the lock mechanism and bent end for subsequent removal from the rod without interference from the lock mechanism.

13. The method defined in claim 11 including the steps of providing the security device with a magnetically attractable locking mechanism; placing a magnet on at least one of the members; and moving the locking mechanism located within said one member to the unlocked position.

14. The method defined in claim 13 including the step of slidably moving the pair of members to an open position after the step of moving the locking mechanism to the unlocked position.

15. In combination, a security device and a rod extending outwardly from a merchandise display, said rod having an elongated portion terminating in a distal end, and said security device being mounted on the elongated portion of the rod;

said security device comprising first and second members slidably joined for movement between locked and unlocked positions, each of said members being formed with a partial slot which align with each other when in the locked position to form an opening through which the elongated portion of the rod extends through to secure the security device on the elongated portion of said rod, said distal end of the rod having an irregular shape which prevents removal of the lock mechanism from the rod when in the locked position; a magnetically attractable locking member mounted within a hollow interior of one of the members for locking the members in the locked position about the rod; and

an alarm actuation device located within one of the members for actuating a remote alarm when brought into the vicinity of said alarm.

16. The combination defined in claim 15 wherein the first member has a hollow interior forming an internal locking chamber; in which the second member has an elongated locking leg slidably received within the locking chamber; in which the partial slots each have a semicircular configuration which form a generally circular opening for trapping the elongated portion of the rod therein when the members are in the locked position whereby said lock mechanism is suspended on the rod; and which the alarm actuation member is an RF coil contained within the hollow interior of the first member.

17. The combination defined in claim 15 wherein the locking member includes at least one spring biased tine mounted in the first member which lockingly engages a locking projection formed on the second member.

18. The combination defined in claim 15 wherein the second member has an elongated locking leg slidably received within the locking chamber, said leg having a stop formed thereon engageable with the first member to prevent removal of the second member from within the first member when in the unlocked position.

19. The combination defined in claim 15 wherein the first member has a hollow interior forming a locking chamber; in which the second member has an elongated leg slidably received within the locking chamber, said leg being formed with at least one locking projection; in which the locking member is a metal strip mounted within the locking chamber and extending along the locking leg when in the locked position, said metal strip having a spring biased tine adapted to engage the locking projection when in the locked position.

20. The combination defined in claim 15 including a key for moving the locking member to the unlocked position, said key containing at least one magnet for moving said locking member to the unlocked position.