Anti-pilferage device

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an anti-pilferage display device. The device comprises upper and lower bars which are parallel to each other. The lower bar contains a 900 upward bend at its outer end while the upper bar has a tab holder for product identification or other information at its outer end. The upper and lower bars may be one continuous rod which is bent at its inner end. Means for affixing the bar to the store wall or shelf are provided at the inner end of the bars. Items being displayed hang on the lower bar.

Description: The present invention is directed to a device for reducing pilferage of items which are on retail display and, in particular, to a device which allows effective display of retail items yet prevents the easy removal and pilferage of many displayed items at one time. Many items, such as razors, film and batteries, are commonly displayed in retail stores on peg rack displays. These displays, which have been in use for over fifty years, commonly comprise a bar which extends outward from the wall of the store. The product hangs on the bar via holes or cutouts in the package of the product and is removed by sliding the package off of the peg. Generally, the items such as razors which are displayed in this manner have a high retail value. Consequently, theft of items displayed in such a manner has long been a problem in that such products can be easily stolen and resold at a high profit to the thief and a great loss to the retailer. US patent No. 4,976,058 discloses a snap on label holder which includes an elongated arm, a plate for a label at the outer end of the arm, and a mounting bracket at the inner end of the arm. The mounting bracket includes multiple sets of notches which enable the holder to be used universally with all wire display hangers, with two piece display hangers and with loop type display hangers. French patent application No. 2 489 792 discloses a device for packaging, presentation and distribution of ring-shaped objects. The device includes a first component 2 including arms 3, 4 and a second component or tongue 6 for holding ring-shaped objects such as clamps 7. The front end 9 of the tongue 6 is bent back towards the top to form pawl and ratchet mechanism 10 in a notch 8 formed in a front end 5 of the first component 2. One technique used by thieves interested in stealing items from a peg display is called "sweeping". Sweeping involves the mass removal of all (or many) of the items from a bar via a "sweep" of the arm. Efforts to combat sweeping have been either ineffective or inefficient; one tactic is to only display such items behind the store's counter where the product has to be requested by the customer and then delivered by the retail employee. Such a tactic is inefficient in that it reduces customer access to product and increases the retail employee's responsibilities. Another tactic is to provide large wire rack systems with permanent locations for products. These systems are inefficient in that they consume a great deal of shelf space and provide no flexibility to the retailer. Consequently, it would be advantageous to provide an anti-pilferage device which addresses the concerns regarding pilferage in a manner which is efficient and inexpensive. The present invention is defined in the appended claims and is directed to an anti-pilferage display device. The device comprises upper and lower bars which are parallel to each other. The lower bar contains a 90° upward bend at its outer end while the upper bar has a tab holder for product identification or other information at its outer end. The upper and lower bars may be one continuous rod which is bent at its inner end. Means for affixing the bars to the store wall or shelf are provided at the inner end of the bar. Items being displayed hang on the lower bar. In a broad aspect the invention is as defined in Claim 1, Any of the features of the preferred embodiment described hereinbelow may be employed in conjunction with the invention as defined in Claim 1. There now follows a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the anti-pilferage device. Figure 2 is a front view of the anti-pilferage device. Figure 3 is a back view of the anti-pilferage device. Figure 4 is a top view of the anti-pilferage device. Figure 5 is a side view of the anti-pilferage device. Figure 6 is a bottom view of the anti-pilferage device. Figures 1 - 6 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the anti-pilferage device of the present invention. As illustrated, the device comprises a lower bar 1 and an upper bar 2. While the two bars may be placed at any angle to each other, they are preferably substantially parallel to each other. In another preferred embodiment, the lower bar is tapered downward so that its outer end is further away from the upper bar than its inner end. This embodiment allows displayed items to easily slide toward the front of the display. The lower bar 1 has, at its outer portion, an angle section 3 which is bent upward at a substantially 90° angle toward the upper bar. The angle portion is preferably sufficiently long so as to prevent the simultaneous removal of multiple items from the lower bar. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the upper and lower bars comprise one integral unit which is bent to form the upper and lower bars. An opening 6 exists between the endpoint of the angle section 3 and the upper bar 2. A second opening 7 exists between angle section 3 and the end of the upper bar 2. Means 4 for affixing the device to a shelf or rack are located at the inner ends of the upper and lower bars. These means may be of any type sufficient for affixing the device to the desired surface. A preferred means is the two prong clamp 4 which allows the device to be affixed to a pegboard. Tab holder 5 is located on the outer end of the upper bar 2. Preferably, advertising, price or other product information may be placed within the tab holder 5. Loading of product onto the device is accomplished in the following manner. Holes which are sufficient for accommodating the lower bar 1 are created on the packages of product to be displayed. The holes in the packages are then aligned with and placed over the endpoint of the angle section 3. The packages are then slid down angle section 3 and backward along lower bar 1 until they are in the proper display location. To remove a product for purchase, the consumer must undertake a three-part procedure. First the consumer must slide the package to the front of lower bar 1 and then up angle section 3. The product must then be removed through the opening 6 between the endpoint of the angle section and the upper bar 2. Finally, the product must be removed through the opening 7 between the angle section and the tab holder 5. The device of the invention makes it extremely difficult to remove more than one item at a time, and because of the angle section and the relative narrow openings between the end of the angle section and the upper bar and the tab holder, it is impossible to remove multiple items by sweeping. At the same time, the products are clearly and openly displayed and the device is inexpensive and versatile such that the retailer may freely move it between different locations. While there have been described what are presently believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will realize that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims: A device for displaying objects comprising: an upper bar (2) having an inner end and an outer end; a lower bar (1) having an inner end and an outer end; and means (4) for affixing the upper bar and the lower bar to a base; wherein the outer end of the upper bar comprises a tab holder (5) and the outer end of the lower bar comprises an angle section (3) characterized in that the angle section extends at a substantially 90° angle from the lower bar toward the upper bar. A device for displaying objects according to Claim 1, wherein the upper bar (2) and the lower bar (1) are substantially parallel to each other. A device for displaying objects according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the outer end of the lower bar (1) is tapered away from the outer end of the upper bar (2). A device for displaying objects according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper bar (2) and the lower bar (1) are integrally formed. A device for displaying objects according to any preceding claim, wherein the angle section (3) is sufficiently long as to prevent the simultaneous removal of a plurality of items from the lower bar. A device for displaying objects according to any preceding claim, wherein the means (4) for affixing the upper bar and the lower bar comprises a two-prong clamp. A device for displaying objects according to any preceding claim, wherein the angle section (3) has an endpoint which is sufficiently distant from the upper bar (2) as to allow for removal of objects from the lower bar (1). A device for displaying items according to any preceding claim, wherein an opening exists between the angle section (3) and the tab holder (5) and wherein the opening is sufficiently large to allow for removal of the objects from the lower bar (1). A method of preventing simultaneous removal of a plurality of displayed items comprising the steps of: providing a device having an upper bar (2) and a lower bar (1) wherein the lower bar has inner and outer ends and wherein the outer end of the lower bar comprises an angle section (3) which extends at a substantially 90° angle toward the upper bar; placing items to be displayed on the lower bar in a manner so that a plurality of the items may not be simultaneously removed from the lower bar. The method according to Claim 9, wherein the displayed items are placed on the lower bar (1) or removed from the lower bar via an opening between the angle section and the upper bar. The method according to Claim 10, wherein a tab holder (5) is placed on the outer end of the upper bar. The method according to Claim 11, wherein the displayed items are placed on the lower bar (1) or removed from the lower bar via an opening between the angle section and the tab holder. A device for displaying objects according to Claim 1, wherein: the outer end of the upper bar (2) extends beyond the outer end of the lower bar (1), the said bars (1, 2) at their said respective outer ends extending generally parallel to one another to define a labyrinthine opening for addition of a said article to or removal of a said article from the second bar.

Inventors: LABANARA DAVID JOSEPH, LABANARA, DAVID JOSEPH
Applicants: WARNER LAMBERT CO, WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47F5
IPC codes: A47F5