초록 ▼

A merchandise locking device for retrofit attachment to a product display hook installed on a merchandise display panel. The locking device attaches without tools to the upper wire arm of the display hook for pivoting movement between “lock” and “open” positions. A laterally opening recess in the lo

A merchandise locking device for retrofit attachment to a product display hook installed on a merchandise display panel. The locking device attaches without tools to the upper wire arm of the display hook for pivoting movement between “lock” and “open” positions. A laterally opening recess in the locking device receives the lower arm of the display hook and a locking arm, rotatably mounted in the body of the locking device by a rotor element, closes the recess to lock the device to the lower arm and prevent the removal of merchandise therefrom. A simple key carried by store personnel enables the rotor to be released to free the locking device from the lower arm and permit the removal of merchandise. The locking device consists of four elements, including the key, and can be manufactured at very low cost, suitable for mass merchandise applications. Simple changes in rotor components enable the locking device to be operated by different keys, which may be color coded with the locking devices or components thereof. A bracket is also provided for retrofit attachment to the display hook, to prevent bodily removal of the hook and its contents from the display panel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A product locking device for use in connection with a product display hook, where the product display hook comprises upper and lower wire arms having outer end portions arranged in vertically spaced relation and wherein at least one of said outer end portions has an obstructive element associated

1. A product locking device for use in connection with a product display hook, where the product display hook comprises upper and lower wire arms having outer end portions arranged in vertically spaced relation and wherein at least one of said outer end portions has an obstructive element associated therewith, and wherein said lower arm is adapted to support merchandise items for display, which comprises(a) a lock body having means at an upper portion thereof for attaching said lock body to said upper arm at a position inward of said obstructive element for pivotal movement about an axis of said upper arm,(b) said lock body having a locking slot therein having an open side and being sized and positioned to receive said lower arm,(c) said lock body having a generally circular recess therein adjacent said locking slot,(d) a rotor element received in said circular recess and rotatable therein through a predetermined angle of rotation,(e) a locking arm fixed to and extending outward from said rotor element, and rotatable therewith between “lock” and “open” positions of said rotor element,(f) said locking arm having an end portion arranged, when said rotor element is in said “lock” position, to close the open side of said locking slot for securing said lower arm within said slot,(g) said rotor element having a locking recess in an outer portion thereof,(h) said lock body having a resiliently biased stop element thereon tending normally to project into said generally circular recess,(i) said resiliently biased stop element being received in said locking recess in said rotor element, when said recess and said stop element are rotationally aligned in the “lock” position of said rotor element, to normally prevent rotation of said rotor element out of said “lock” position,(j) said rotor element having an axially extending slot therein for reception of a key, and(k) a key insertable in said axially extending slot and having an outer surface portion engageable with said resiliently biased stop element to displace said element outwardly of said recess to enable rotation of said rotor element to said “open” position in which said locking slot is open at the side thereof to permit pivotal movement of said lock body away from said lower arm to enable removal of a displayed product therefrom.2. A product locking device according to claim 1, wherein(a) said locking arm has a first portion extending laterally outward from said rotor element and having a hook portion extending at an angle from an outer end of said first portion for closing the open side of said locking slot when said rotor element is in a “lock” position.3. A product locking device according to claim 2, wherein(a) a portion of said lock body forming one side of said locking slot has a recess therein opening toward said locking slot, and(b) said hook portion is formed with a projecting tab at an end extremity thereof which is received in said last mentioned recess when said rotor element is in a “lock” position.4. A product locking device according to claim 1, wherein(a) said axially extending slot comprises diametrically opposed key slot portions in said rotor element, at least partially separated by a central, axially extending pedestal portion,(b) said key having first and second ends, with said first end being insertable into said axially extending key slot portions and said second end projecting out of said rotor element for manual engagement,(c) said first end having an axially extending recess therein for closely receiving said pedestal portion.5. A product locking device according to claim 4, wherein(a) said lock body has a diametrically opposed pair of resiliently biased stop elements, and said rotor element has a pair of diametrically opposed locking recesses therein for reception of said stop elements,(b) said key slot portions intersection radially with said locking recesses,(c) the outer contours of said key serving to displace said stop elements outwardly out of said locking recesses to accommodate rotation of said rotor element out of a “lock” position.6. A product locking device according to claim 1, wherein(a) said means at the upper portion of said lock body for attaching said lock body to said upper arm comprising a slot in said lock body having an open end for the reception of said upper arm, and(b) a clip adapted for snap-on attachment to said lock body to close the open end of said slot and secure said lock body to said upper arm for pivoting movement about an axis of said upper arm.7. A product locking device according to claim 1, wherein(a) said lock body is formed with a laterally opening slot for the reception of said locking arm during rotary movements of said rotor element,(b) said lock body further includes an assembly slot, opening in an axial direction, for reception of said locking arm during axial assembly of said rotor element into said circular recess.8. A product locking device according to claim 7, wherein(a) said lock body and said rotor element include cooperating anti-rotation elements to prevent rotation of said rotor element to align said locking arm with said assembly slot, to prevent disassembly of said rotor element and lock body.9. A product locking device for use in connection with a product display hook, where the product display hook comprises upper and lower wire arms having outer end portions arranged in vertically spaced relation and wherein at least one of said outer end portions has an obstructive element associated therewith, and wherein said lower arm is adapted to support merchandise items for display, which comprises(a) a lock body having means at an upper portion thereof for attaching said lock body to said upper arm at a position inward of said obstructive element for pivotal movement about an axis of said upper arm,(b) said lock body having a locking slot therein having an open side and being sized and positioned to receive said lower arm,(c) a rotor element received in said lock body and rotatable therein through a predetermined angle of rotation,(d) a locking arm fixed to and extending outward from said rotor element, and rotatable therewith between “lock” and “open” positions of said rotor element,(e) said locking arm having an end portion arranged, when said rotor element is in said “lock” position, to close the open side of said locking slot for securing said lower arm within said slot,(f) one of said rotor element and said lock body having a locking recess therein,(g) the other of said rotor element or said lock body having a resiliently biased stop element thereon resiliently biased toward said locking recess,(h) said resiliently biased stop element being received in said locking recess when said recess and said stop element are rotationally aligned in the “lock” position of said rotor element, to normally prevent rotation of said rotor element out of said “lock” position,(i) said rotor element having an axially extending slot therein for reception of a key, and(j) a key insertable in said axially extending slot and having an outer surface portion engageable with said resiliently biased stop element to displace said element out of said recess to enable rotation of said rotor element to said “open” position in which said locking slot is open at the side thereof to permit pivotal movement of said lock body away from said lower arm to enable removal of a displayed product therefrom.10. A product locking device according to claim 9, wherein(a) said rotor element is formed with at least one locking recess, and(b) said lock body is formed with at least one resiliently biased stop element.11. A product locking device according to claim 9, wherein(a) a retaining bracket is attached to said product display hook,(b) said retaining bracket comprising front and back panels connected by an intermediate panel,(c) said front panel having an opening for receiving said lower arm,(d) said back panel having at least one opening therein aligned with an opening a display panel mounting said product display hook, and(e) a plunger actuated push pin inserted in said last mentioned openings for securing said retaining bracket to said display panel.12. A product locking device according to claim 9, wherein(a) said lock body is formed with a slot for axially directed reception of said locking arm when said rotor element is assembled with said lock body.13. A product locking device for use in connection with a product display hook, where the product display hook comprises upper and lower wire arms having outer end portions arranged in vertically spaced relation and wherein at least one of said outer end portions has an obstructive element associated therewith, and wherein said lower arm is adapted to support merchandise items for display, which comprises(a) a lock body having means at an upper portion thereof for attaching said lock body to said upper arm at a position inward of said obstructive element for pivotal movement about an axis of said upper arm,(b) said lock body having a locking slot therein having an open side and being sized and positioned to receive said lower arm,(c) a movable locking member received in said lock body and movable therein through a predetermined range of movement between “lock” and “open” positions,(d) said movable locking member including a locking element operative, in the “lock” position of said locking member, to close the open side of said locking slot for securing said lower arm within said slot,(e) one of said movable locking member and said lock body having a locking recess therein,(f) the other of said movable locking member or said lock body having a resiliently biased stop element thereon resiliently biased toward said locking recess,(g) said resiliently biased stop element being received in said locking recess when said recess and said stop element are aligned in the “lock” position of said movable locking member, to normally prevent movement of said locking member out of said “lock” position,(i) one of said movable locking member or said lock body having a key slot therein for reception of a key, and(j) a key insertable in said key slot and having an portion engageable with said resiliently biased stop element to displace said stop element out of said locking recess to enable movement of said movable locking member to said “open” position in which said locking slot is open at the side thereof to permit pivotal movement of said lock body away from said lower arm to enable removal of a displayed product therefrom.14. A product locking device in accordance with claim 13, wherein(a) said movable locking member comprises a rotor element rotationally mounted by said lock body, and(b) said locking element comprises a locking arm rotatable with said rotor element and having a hook portion at its outer end for closing the open side of said locking slot.15. A product locking device in accordance with claim 13, wherein(a) said means for attaching said lock body to said upper arm comprises an open-sided slot in an upper portion of said lock body,(b) a clip is pivotally attached to said lock body below said open-sided slot,(c) said clip having a tab at a free end thereof, and(d) said lock body is formed with a shoulder for snap-on engagement with said tab for securing said lock body to said upper arm.16. A product locking device for use in connection with a product display hook, where the product display hook comprises upper and lower wire arms having outer end portions arranged in vertically spaced relation and wherein at least one of said outer end portions has an obstructive element associated therewith, and wherein said lower arm is adapted to support merchandise items for display, which comprises(a) a lock body having means at an upper portion thereof for attaching said lock body to said upper arm at a position inward of said obstructive element for pivotal movement about an axis of said upper arm,(b) said lock body having a locking slot therein having an open side and being sized and positioned to receive said lower arm,(c) a movable locking member received in said lock body and movable therein through a predetermined range of movement between “lock” and “open” positions,(d) said movable locking member including a locking element operative, in the “lock” position of said locking member, to close the open side of said locking slot for securing said lower arm within said slot,(e) one of said movable locking member and said lock body having a locking recess therein,(f) the other of said movable locking member or said lock body having a stop element thereon movable toward and away from said locking recess,(g) said movable stop element being received in said locking recess when said recess and said stop element are aligned in the “lock” position of said movable locking member, to normally prevent movement of said locking member out of said “lock” position,(i) one of said movable locking member or said lock body having a key recess therein for reception of a key, and(j) a key insertable in said key recess and having an portion engageable with said movable stop element to displace said stop element out of said locking recess to enable movement of said movable locking member to said “open” position in which said locking slot is open at the side thereof to permit pivotal movement of said lock body away from said lower arm to enable removal of a displayed product therefrom.17. A product locking device for use in connection with a product display hook, where the product display hook comprises upper and lower wire arms having outer end portions arranged in vertically spaced relation and wherein at least one of said outer end portions has an obstructive element associated therewith, and wherein said lower arm is adapted to support merchandise items for display, which comprises(a) a lock body having means at an upper portion thereof for attaching said lock body to said upper arm at a position inward of said obstructive element for movement with respect to an axis of said upper arm while being retained on said upper arm,(b) said lock body having a locking slot therein having an open side and being sized and positioned to receive said lower arm,(c) a movable locking member received in said lock body and movable therein through a predetermined range of movement between “lock” and “open” positions,(d) said movable locking member including a locking element operative, in the “lock” position of said locking member, to close the open side of said locking slot for securing said lower arm within said slot,(e) one of said movable locking member and said lock body having a locking recess therein,(f) the other of said movable locking member or said lock body having a stop element thereon movable toward and away from said locking recess,(g) said movable stop element being received in said locking recess when said recess and said stop element are aligned in the “lock” position of said movable locking member, to normally prevent movement of said locking member out of said “lock” position,(i) one of said movable locking member or said lock body having a key recess therein for reception of a key, and(j) a key insertable in said key recess and having an portion engageable with said movable stop element to displace said stop element out of said locking recess to enable movement of said movable locking member to said “open” position in which said locking slot is open to permit movement of said lock body away from said lower arm to enable removal of a displayed product therefrom.