Theft-proof display fixture

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled display fixture including a series of merchandise retaining tabs in locked position and a mounting bracket having hooks secured to the fixture barrel for insertion within a conventional pegboard;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 2—2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the fingers of the lock rod in registration with the slots of the barrel locking the merchandise tabs in place; ⁶

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the display fixture , spring, pin and mounting

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the display fixture illustrating the first step of s securing a second embodiment tab thereto;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the display fixture illustrating twisting of the second embodiment tab about the barrel; and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the display fixture illustrating the second embodiment tab locked in place by the registration of the locking fingers and slots.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like nu. -------------—, ™ merals indicate like elements throughout the several views responding in number to the number of articles to be dis- 35 ^the foeftproof display fixture of the -present invention is -------- .......... generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

As seen in FIG. 3, fixture 10 consists of an outer cylindrical 12 containing a plurality of spaced slots 14. While barthl k ’^nustrated ® cylindrical, as will be readily apparent, .. _ - . ---------_r—in cross section. The end 16 of barrel 12 is closed while the opposite enlarged end 18 is provided with internal threads (not shown). Finally, a right angle slot 20 is provided, the purpose of which as vl * ^b>^{e explained} hereinafter. Slidably mounted within barrel 12 is lock rod 22 of complementally shaped cross section contaming spaced fingers 24 and a threaded opening 26, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

Assembly of the components of fixture 10 is as follows.

⁸ ^L’⁸⁸^?¹⁵' Phoned within barrel 12 so as to abut

-.--7--.--— *s slid within barrel 12 compressing spring 28 until slot 20 and threaded opening 26 are in juxtaposition, after which pin 30 is inserted through slot 20 and threaded within opening 26. As will now be apparent, movement of pin 30 within slot 20 controls movement of lock rod 22 within barrel 12 and, accordingly, the position of fingers 24 in relation to slots 14. When pin 30 is positioned within portion 20' of slot 20, the force of spring 28 moves lock rod 22 to the right moving fingers 24 out of registration with slots 14. When pin 30 is moved downwardly within portion 20 of slot 20, lock rod 22 is moved still further against the force of spang 28 and fingers 24 register with slots 14, as depicted in FIG. 2.

A representative mounting bracket 32 is provided with arms or hooks 34 and is secured to barrel 12 by threading screw 36 through opening 38 within bracket 32 into the internally threaded portion of end 18 of barrel 12. In this manner the components of display fixture 10 are assembled as illustrated in rl(j. 1.

A plurality of merchandise retaining tabs 40 are illustrated * ^HG; .¹ ®^{ach ,ncludin}8 an upper opening 42 near the top tiiereof defining a slender neck 44 dimensioned to fit beneath fingers 24 of lock rod 22, as seen in FIG. 2.

THEFT-PROOF DISPLAY FIXTURE

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a fixture designed to display articles of merchandise and provided with a locking mechanism for preventing their unauthorized removal.

Merchants are constantly harassed by shoplifters, who over a penod of time account for losses of merchandise involving substantial sums. This problem is particularly acute where the vended goods have substantial value.

This poses something of a dilemma, since the merchant wants to display his goods in the hope of interesting a legitimate customer, but he cannot maintain a constant watch over the displayed goods. In order to aleviate this problem, racks have been designed for displaying merchandise which include means for locking the display article to the rack in an inconspicuous manner, to prevent its unauthorized removal. Most of these racks are specifically designed to display jewelry such as rings mounting precious gems, watches, etc. Examples of ₂₀ UliXft such racks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos 989 571· 2 935 202 ²° !* ,^{r U g Its barre1}· ^lockmg rod, and 3,024,774. ’ bracket components;

The racks disclosed in these patents are adapted to display precious articles of merchandise although the need exists to display and protect articles of merchandise of less value. 25 Furthermore, the locking mechanisms utilized involve complicated structures having high maintenance and fabrication costs, or their operation is readily discernable to the expenenced eye, rendering them ineffective.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,8121 have disclosed a theft-proof dis- 30 play rack employing a locking mechanism simple in construction but not readily apparent to the naked eye.

The rack disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,812 includes an article support surface provided with a series of slots corplayed. Beneath the support surface is a slidable locking plate having a plurality of lock fingers corresponding to the number of slots, each lock finger being adapted to be disposed in intersecting registration with a corresponding slot and pass through ------------a senes of clips to which the articles of merchandise are at- fo^e barrel is capable of having other polygonal shapes ii tached. A finger pull is provided to push the locking plate out —-·«— ·---^J ·' ' ..-. .

of abutment with the pin so as to enable a spring to move each lock finger out of intersecting registration with its respective slot permitting removal of the article of merchandise and its associated retainer clip.

In the present invention, principles similar to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,812 are employed but with refinements permitting more widespread use in stores.

The theftproof display fixture of the present invention fea- ,_n -r·-» — ~ μν_ΜΙΝtures a barrel within which is slidably mounted a lock rod, the ^{30 end} 16- Then, lock rod 22 i; barrel and rod being provided with a series of slots and lock fingers, respectively, for securing and locking in place individual, spaced tabs. Articles of merchandise are slid onto the barrel and disposed between the individual tabs and cannot be removed except upon removal of the tabs in front of it. A spring is mounted within the barrel urging the rod and its lock fingers out of registration with the slots of the barrel. The barrel is further provided with a slotted portion through which protrudes a pin secured to the lock rod such that by moving ₆₀the pin by hand the lock rod can be forced against the pressure of the spring so as to move the lock fingers into registration with the barrel slots, after which the pin is moved downwardly following the contour Of the slotted portion within the barrel to lock the fingers in registration with the slots securing the 65 tabs in spaced relation, with merchandise therebetween.

A mounting bracket is secured to the barrel and in the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings is provided with hooks for insertion within a conventional pegboard, although the bracket can be wall mounted, for exam- 70 pie. In this manner, the merchandise can be conveniently displayed on a wall while providing easy access to the store clerk and customer.

Twist-type tabs are also provided enabling an individual tab

3,622,011 is slid along the barrel 12 and dropped into a selected one of slots 14. Pin 30 is then moved downwardly within portion 20” of slot 20 moving lock rod 22 and fingers 24 into registration with each slot 14 fastening the tab or tabs 40 in place by overlying neck 44 of each tab, as seen in FIG. 2. An article of merchandise consisting of bag B (FIG. 4) or handle H of a cooking utensil (FIG. 1) may hang from barrel 12 behind any one of tabs 40. Bag B or handle H cannot be removed from rack 10, except by removal of any other articles of merchandise and tabs 40 in front of it on barrel 12 and the rack 10 is therefore pilferproof.

In order to overcome the possible objection of having to remove a number of tabs 40 and other merchandise from rack 10 to remove a desired article, a second embodiment twisttype tab 48 is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 and includes connected sides SO and 52 containing oppositely disposed semicircular openings 54 and 56 through which fingers 24 pass in locking relation, as seen in FIG. 6. Oppositely extending lateral openings 58 and 60 are provided through which barrel 12 passes.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate how the tabs 48 are twisted into engagement with barrel 12 of fixture 10. Initially, as illustrated in FIG. 4, opening 58 is positioned about barrel 12 after which tab 48 is twisted, as illustrated in FIG. 5, folding down side 52. After continuous twisting, as illustrated in FIG. 6, side 52 regains its upright position and opening 60 is fitted over barrel 12, from the opposite direction. Finally, openings 54 and 56 are positioned within a selected slot 14 after which pin 30 is moved downwardly and to the left within slotted portion 20 causing fingers 24 to pass through semicircular openings 54 and 56 into registration with slot 14.

An article of merchandise is adapted to be directly secured to tab 48 and tied about the bend between sides 50 and 52. While this does not provide for a pilferproof arrangement, as in the case of using tabs 40, it will not be readily apparent to a prospective shoplifter that the article might be removed without removal of tab 48, which is locked to barrel 12. Accordingly, the second embodiment of the invention is intended merely as a pilfer deterrent, while enabling selected merchandise to be removed by the unlocking of twist tabs 48.

While a specific embodiment of my invention has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.