Patent Publication Number: US-11647850-B2

Title: Anti-sweep merchandise display hook

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure generally relates to retail merchandise display hooks that support items of merchandise for evaluation by potential customers. More particularly, the present invention relates to display hooks that are configured to prevent the rapid removal of plural items of merchandise therefrom, which is also referred to as “product sweeping”. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Merchandise display hooks have been employed by retailers for many decades, as a convenient way to support and display plural items of merchandise, typically from a gondola shelving unit. Such display hooks are designed to be cantilevered from a retail display unit, or other support structure such as a display peg board or a display rack. In this method of display, items of merchandise are commonly supported on protruding bars or rods attached to such a support structure, which may be a peg board, a slat board, a cross bar, a wire rack, or other suitable arrangement for support. These protruding rods are commonly referred to in the art as display hooks, peg board hooks, or slat board hooks. Typically, the items of merchandise are relatively small and relatively valuable, such as batteries, small tools, cosmetic products, health care products, and other valuable products. Such merchandise is an easy target for shoplifters because they can rapidly remove all the items from a display hook and leave the store without being detected, which is referred to as product sweeping in the trade. Alternately, the shoplifter can remove the entire display hook with the merchandise and leave the store. Thus, there is a need in the art for a retail merchandise display hook configured to prevent or reduce product sweeping in retail displays. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure teaches a display hook this is attached to a retail display for presentation of merchandise packaged with hang tab apertures. The display hook includes a bar assembly with a mounting bracket for attaching to the retail display, a hang bar for hanging the merchandise by the hang tab apertures, and an access bar. The hang bar extends outwardly from the mounting bracket along a straight portion, through an upwardly peaked portion, and followed by an upwardly angled portion that terminates at a distal end thereof. The access bar also extends from the mounting bracket, and terminates with a lateral hinge pin located above and adjacent to the distal end of the hang bar. The display hook also includes an access flap that has a hinge barrel, a display face, an arrester extension and a blocker extension, all of which are in fixed orientation with each other. The hinge barrel pivotally engages the lateral hinge pin to allow rotation of the access flap between a display position and an access position. The blocker extension is oriented to interfere with removal of merchandise from the distal end of the hang bar along the upwardly angled portion while the access flat is at the display position, and also oriented to not interfere with removal of merchandise while the access flap is at the access position. The arrester extends from the access flap to interfere with movement of the merchandise over the upwardly peaked portion of the hang bar while the access flap is at the access position. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the access bar and the straight portion of the hang bar are aligned substantially parallel to one another. In a refinement to this embodiment, the access bar and the straight portion of the hang bar are inclined upwardly from the mounting bracket at an angle between ten and thirty degrees. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the arrester extension and the blocker extension are aligned horizontally and are substantially parallel to one-another while the access flap is at the display position. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the access flap rotates in a range of angles between thirty degree and sixty degrees between the display position to the access position. In a refinement to this embodiment, the access flap engages the hang bar at the display position to prevent rotation of the access flap beyond the range of angles while at the display position. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the upwardly peaked portion of the hang bar includes an upwardly inclined portion in the range of sixty to seventy degrees above the horizontal, and a downwardly inclined portion in the range of forty to fifty degrees below the horizontal, and the upwardly angled portion is in the range of forty-five to fifty-five degrees above the horizontal. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the hang bar and the access bar are fabricated from number five, America Wire Gauge, metallic wire, and the hinge pin is formed by bending a distal end of the access bar at a right angle. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the display face is oriented vertically while the access flap is at the display position, to thereby present display graphics in front of the distal end of the hang bar. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the display face is oriented horizontally while the access flap is at the display position, to thereby present display graphics above the distal end of the access bar. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the access flap is assembled from two portions that snap together, to thereby capture the lateral hinge pin and retain the access flap on the bar assembly. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the hang bar is finished with a textured material that resists sliding movement of the merchandise hang tab apertures along the hang bar, to thereby slow the removal of the merchandise from the hang bar. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the retail display is a peg board, and the mounting bracket is formed of wire to engage the peg-board. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the retail display includes a cross bar, and the mounting bracket is formed with an inverted slot to rest upon the cross bar of the retail display. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the mounting bracket includes a set-screw for securing the display hook to the retail display. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the mounting bracket includes a spring loaded button clip for securing the display hook to the retail display. 
     In a specific embodiment of the foregoing display hook, the mounting bracket includes a ratchet clip for securing the display hook to the retail display. 
     The present disclosure teaches a method of displaying and accessing merchandise packaged with hang tab apertures using a display hook that includes a bar assembly with a mounting bracket, a hang bar, and an access bar, where the hang bar extends outwardly from the mounting bracket along a straight portion, through an upwardly peaked portion, and followed by an upwardly angled portion, and where the access bar extends from the mounting bracket and terminates with a lateral hinge pin located above and adjacent to the distal end of the hang bar, and where the display hook also includes an access flap that includes a hinge barrel, a display face, an arrester extension and a blocker extension, all of which are in fixed orientation with each other. The method includes pivotally engaging the hinge barrel about the lateral hinge pin, thereby facilitating rotation of the access flap between a display position and an access position. The method also includes orienting the blocker extension to interfere with removal of merchandise from the distal end of the hang bar along the upwardly angled portion while the access flat is at the display position, and also orienting the blocker extension to not interfere with removal of merchandise while the access flap is at the access position. Further, orienting the arrester extension from the access flap to interfere with movement of the merchandise over the upwardly peaked portion of the hang bar while the access flap is at the access position. 
     In a further refinement, the foregoing method includes attaching the display hook to a retail display by engaging the mounting bracket with the retail display unit, and hanging plural items of merchandise from the hang bar. Then, positioning the access flap at the display position, and rotating the access flap to the access position, and then sliding a first item of merchandise off the distal end of the hang bar, to thereby retrieve the first item of merchandise. And, rotating the access flap to the display position, and sliding a second item of merchandise over the upwardly peaked portion of the hang bar, thereby preparing for retrieval of the second item of merchandise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view drawing of an anti-sweep display hook in the display position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view drawing of an anti-sweep display hook in the access position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  3 A,  3 B, and  3 C  are side view drawing, a top view drawing, and a front view drawing, respectively, of an anti-sweep display hook according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a drawing of an item of merchandise including a hand tab aperture. 
         FIGS.  5 A,  5 B, and  5 C  are side view drawings illustrating merchandise advancement, merchandise display, and merchandise access, respectively, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view drawing of an anti-sweep display hook according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  are side view drawings of a bar assembly according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  8 A and  8 B  are perspective view drawings of a first portion of an access flap according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  are perspective view drawings of a second portion of an access flap according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  10    is process flow diagram of the use of an anti-sweep merchandise display hook according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view drawing of an anti-sweep display hook in the display position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  12    is a side view drawing of an anti-sweep display hook in the display and access positions according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view drawing of an anti-sweep display hook in the display position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  14 A,  14 B, and  14 C  are a side view drawing, a front view drawing, and a top view drawing, respectively, of an anti-sweep display hook in the display position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  15 A and  15 B  are a perspective view drawing and a side view drawing, respectively, of an anti-sweep display hook in the display position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Illustrative embodiments and exemplary applications will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to disclose the advantageous teachings of the present invention. 
     While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope hereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility. 
     In considering the detailed embodiments of the present invention, it will be observed that the present invention resides primarily in combinations of steps to accomplish various methods or components to form various apparatus and systems. Accordingly, the apparatus and system components, and method steps, have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the disclosures contained herein. 
     In this disclosure, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, upper and lower, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. 
     The present disclosure presents a range of novel retail display hooks that exhibit plural features which resist threats of product sweeping, while still providing a conveniently accessible display for ordinary customers who typically purchase products one unit at a time. The intended products are merchandise of the type packaged on a substrate, clamshell, card or such, which has a hang tab aperture, such as a hole punched therethrough. A hang bar on the display hook supports the merchandise by the hang tab aperture, and plural units of merchandise may be placed on each hang bar, which are then removed in sequence from the front. The hang bar of the illustrative embodiment has a serpentine, or sawtooth, formed distal end, such that the merchandise must be rotated a bit and routed up and down to be removed from the distal end of the hang bar. This design requires a coordinated effort on the part of the consumer to remove, and also makes it particularly challenging to remove more than one package at a time. This feature of the display hook is augment by employing a textured finish, such as spattered paint or powder coating finish, or one that is mechanically formed on the hang bar surface, which serves to provide some resistance to the rapid removal, by sliding, of the merchandise. These security features are further augmented by the incorporation of an access flap at the distal end of the display hook. 
     The access flap is hinged to a distal end of an access bar, and located adjacent the distal end of the hang bar. The arrangement is such that the access flap naturally rests, under the force of gravity, or under spring force, at a display position. A blocker extension fixed to the access flap extends to a location where the path of the packaged merchandise is blocked near the distal end of the hang bar, and cannot be removed. In order to access the merchandise, the customer must manually rotate the access flap to an access position. At the access position, the blocker extension is rotated away from the distal end of the hang bar such that the package merchandise can easily be slid off the end of the hang bar. Simultaneously, as the access flap is rotated, an arrester extension is positioned to block movement of the next merchandise package through the serpentine portion of the hang bar. Thus, a second unit of merchandise cannot be slid off the end of the hang bar until the access flap is returned to the display position and that items is routed over the serpentine portion of the hang bar. In this manner, the advancement and removal of each unit of packaged merchandise is cyclical, requiring two operations by the customer. First, rotation to the access position and removal of the front-most item, followed by return to the display position where the next item can be advanced, and so forth. 
     In addition the aforementioned security features, the access flap of the illustrative embodiment is provided with a display face where product information and price may be placed. This information can be attached with an adhesive arrangement, or may be sandwiched between a support surface and a transparent display surface. The orientation of the display face may be vertical, horizontal, and any angle in between. This enables retailers to select a display angle most suitable for comfortable viewing by customers. For example, on a lower display unit, a horizontal display may be preferred. And, at a higher position, such at eye-level, a vertical display position may be preferred. 
     In a particular illustrative embodiment, an anti-theft peg display hook is taught, which comprises a hook assembly that is attached to a shelving system, and an access flap assembly that is attached to the hook assembly. The hook assembly has a peg connector at a proximal end, with an upper bar and a lower bar extending therefrom. The upper bar terminates with a cross bar bend at its distal end, and the lower bar terminates with a sawtooth bend at its distal end. The two bars are closely spaced, one above the other, and may be provided with a coarse-textured finish. The access flap assembly comprises a left hand portion and a right hand portion that snap together to retain them on the upper bar crossbar end, and together present a display face. The access flap includes a pivot that engages the crossbar to define a lateral axis of rotation such that the access flap assembly can pivot during loading and unloading of product onto the lower bar, the two positions referred to as the display position and the access position. The access flap assembly includes two rearward extensions from a display face, these extensions include an arrester and a blocker. In the display position, both extension align horizontally. In the access position, both extensions rotate to approximately 45° downwardly from the horizontal. In the display position, the arrester allows movement of product along the lower bar and over the sawtooth portion, however, the blocker prevents removal of any product until the access flap assembly is rotated. Once rotated, the blocker moves away from the end of the lower bar such that the front most product may be removed from the end of the lower bar. As the access flap assembly is rotated, the arrestor moves downwardly and interferes with forward movement of the next product hung from the lower bar, thereby preventing its movement over the sawtooth portion until the flipper assembly is again rotated to the display position. In this manner, only a single product may be removed with each cycling of the flipper assembly. 
     In this disclosure, reference is made to the horizontal, and this means horizontal with respect to the force of gravity. That is a plane orthogonal to the direction of gravity, such as the surface of a still liquid. Angular measure herein are taken with respect the horizontal plane. The terms above and below are taken with respect to the direction of gravity as well, such as an item above another would fall down to the item below by force of gravity. Where the terms proximal and distal are employed, they are taken with respect to the support structure to which and access hook is attached, where proximal means the end closest to the support structure and distal means the end further away from the support structure. 
     Reference is directed to  FIG.  1   , which is a perspective view drawing of an anti-sweep display hook  2  in the display position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The display position, as illustrated, is the normal, resting, position for display of merchandise (not illustrated), as a customer would experience when first approaching the retail display. The display hook  2  includes a bar assembly  4 , which is comprised of a mounting bracket  6 , a hang bar  10 , and an access bar  8 . Note that in this embodiment, the mounting bracket  6  is a peg board mount fabricated from metal wire bent into the shape illustrated. The hang bar  10  and access bar  8  are also fabricated from bent metallic wire and finished with a textured surface (not illustrated). At the distal end of the bar assembly  4  is an access flap  20 , which pivotally engages the distal end of the access bar  8 . The access flap  20  includes a display surface  24 , which is vertically oriented at the display position in this embodiment, as illustrated. Extending to the rear of the display surface  24  is an arrester extension  22  and a blocker extension  26 . In the display position, the arrester extension does not interfere with movement of merchandise (not illustrated) along the hang bar  10 . The blocker extension  26  does prevent removal of merchandise from the distal end of the hang bar  10 , and this will be more fully detailed hereinafter. 
     Reference is directed to  FIG.  2   , which is a perspective view drawing of an anti-sweep display hook  2  in the access position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. This  FIG.  2    corresponds with  FIG.  1   , where  FIG.  2    shows the access flap  20  rotated to the access position, as illustrated, which would be manually accomplished by a customer seeking to remove and item of merchandise (not illustrated). In the access position, the display face  24  is angled upwardly while the arrester extension  22  and blocker extension  26  are rotated downwardly. By this rotation, the blocker extension  26  is moved away from the distal end of the hang bar  10  such the that front most item of merchandise (not illustrated) can be slid off the distal end of the hang bar  10  and retrieved for purchase by the customer. On the other hand, the arrester extension  22  is rotated to interfere with movement of the next item of merchandise (not illustrated) forward from removal. 
     Reference is directed to  FIGS.  3 A,  3 B, and  3 C , which are side view drawing, a top view drawing, and a front view drawing, respectively, of an anti-sweep display hook  2  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The display position is illustrated in these views, which is the normal resting position. The balance of the access flap  20  is such that gravity will hold this position naturally, although a light spring may be employed to urge the access flap  20  to this position if needed. The display hook  2  includes the bar assembly  4 , which is comprised of a mounting bracket  6 , a hang bar  10 , and an access bar  8 . The display hook to also includes the access flap  20 , which is pivotally engaged with the distal end of the access bar  8 . Note that the hang bar  10  includes an upwardly peaked bend  12  and an upwardly angled portion  14  at its distal end. Further note that the access bar  8  has a lateral hinge pin  16 , which is formed by bending the distal end of the access bar at a right angle. The access flap  20  includes a display surface  24 , which is vertically oriented at the display position in this embodiment, as illustrated. Extending to the rear of the display surface  24  is an arrester extension  22  and a blocker extension  26 , which are aligned horizontally and in parallel with one another in this embodiment. In the display position, the arrester extension does not interfere with movement of merchandise (not illustrated) along the hang bar  10 . The blocker extension  26  does prevent removal of merchandise from the distal end of the hang bar  10 , and this will be more fully detailed hereinafter. 
     Reference is directed to  FIG.  4   , which is a drawing of an item of merchandise including a hand tab aperture. This illustrates a typical item of merchandise that may be displayed on a display hook of the present disclosure. The merchandise  32  is displayed on a substrate or package  30  that includes a hang tab aperture  30 , which may be a hole punched therethrough. An example is a pack of four size AA electric batteries near the checkout aisle of the big box retailer. 
     Reference is directed to  FIGS.  5 A,  5 B, and  5 C , which are side view drawings illustrating merchandise advancement, merchandise display, and merchandise access, respectively, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. In all three figures, the display hook  2  is illustrated in side view, and show the hang bar  10 , the access bar  8 , and the access flap  20 . Plural items of merchandise  30  are hung from the hang bar  10 . The front most item of merchandise is labeled as item  36 , and the second to the front most time of merchandise is labeled as item  44 . The hang bar  10  includes an upwardly peaked portion  12  and an upwardly angled portion  14 , as illustrated. The access flap  20  includes rearward extending arrester extension  22  and blocker extension  26 . 
     In  FIG.  5 A , the display hook is illustrated in the display position where the access flap  20  rests with the blocker and arrester extensions  22 ,  26  in a horizontal orientation. The arrester extension  22  has no effect on merchandise  30 ,  36  movement, however, the blocker extension  26  interferes with movement of merchandise  36  off the end of the upwardly angled portion  14  of the hang bar  10 . The front most item of merchandise  36  may be rotated  38  over the upwardly peaked portion  12 , and moved forwardly to rest between the upwardly peaked portion  12  and the upwardly angled portion  14 , which is presented in  FIG.  5 B . This is the action needed to ready the display after a previously removed item of merchandise (not illustrated) has been removed by a prior customer. 
     In  FIG.  5 C , a customer has elected to retrieve the front most item of merchandise  36  from the display hook  2 . In order to do this, the access flap  20  is rotated  40  upwardly, which simultaneously rotates the blocker extension  26  and the arrester extension  22  downwardly, as illustrated. Rotation of the blocker extension  26  moves it away from the distal end of the upwardly angle portion  14  such that the merchandise  36  may be removed  42  from the display hook  2  and taken for purchase. At the same time, rotation of the arrester extension  22  interferes with movement of the next item of merchandise  44  over the upwardly peak portion  12 . In order to advance the next item  44 , it would necessary to release the access flap  20 , allowing it to rotate back the the display position, essentially returning to the condition illustrated in  FIG.  5 A . And so forth. 
     Reference is directed to  FIG.  6   , which is an exploded perspective view drawing of an anti-sweep display hook  2  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The bar assembly  4  and access flap  20  are illustrated. The bar assembly  4  consists of a mounting bracket  6  as described hereinbefore, the hang bar  10  and the access bar  8 . The hang bar  10  extends from the mounting bracket  6  in a substantially horizontal direction along a straight portion  9 , through an upwardly peaked portion  12 , and through an upwardly angled portion  14  terminating at a distal end  15 . Note that the upwardly peaked portion  12  includes an upwardly inclined portion  11  and a downwardly inclined portion  13 , which together define the upwardly peaked portion  12 . The access bar  8  also extends horizontally from the mounting bracket  6  and terminates at a distal end with a lateral hinge pin  16 , which if formed by bending the access bar  8 , as illustrated. The location of the hinge pin is above and adjacent to the distal end  15  of the hang bar  10 . 
     The access flap  20  in  FIG.  6    is comprised of two portions, a left-hand portion  50  and a right-hand portion  52 , which join together to form a complete access flap  20 . The two portions  50 ,  52  join together with ratchet pawl clips in one side the engage slots formed in the other side, which will be more fully detailed hereinafter. The two portions  50 ,  52  join together about the hinge pin  16  at the distal end of the access bar  8 , which is captured by a hinge boss  66  on the left-hand portion  50 . The right-had portion  50  comprises a portion of a display backing  54 , and the left-hand portion comprises the display window  24 , as illustrated. The display window  24  may be fabricated from transparent plastic to facilitate viewing graphic materials captured between the display backing  54  and the display window  24 . The left-hand portion  50  includes a portion  56  of the arrester extension  22 , and, the right-hand portion  52  includes a portion  60  of the arrester extension  22 . When the two portions  50 ,  52  are joined, the two arrester extension portions  56 ,  60  define a gap therebetween, which provides a space for the arrester extension  22  to straddle the access bar  8  and the hang bar  10 , thereby enabling the blocking functionality described elsewhere herein. The same applies to the blocker extension  26 , however only one of the portions  62  is visible in this perspective view drawing. 
     Reference is directed to  FIGS.  7 A and  7 B , which are side view drawings of a bar assembly  4  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. As with the prior descriptions the mounting bracket  6  is located at the proximal end of the assembly  4 , and the hang bar  10  and access bar  8  extend therefrom in cantilever. The access bar  10  is generally straight and terminates at its distal end with a lateral hinge pin  16  formed by bending the bar. In the illustrative embody, the access bar  8  and hand bar  10  are formed of number  5 , America Wire Gauge, metallic wire. The hang bar  10  extends from the boating bracket  6  along a straight portion  9  to the upwardly peaked portion  12 , which is comprised of an upwardly including portion  11  followed by a downwardly inclined portion  13 . This is then followed by an upwardly angled portion  14  to a distal end  15 . Note the lengths and angles of these portions illustrated in  FIGS.  7 A and  7 B , which represent the preferred embodiment. Although a broader range of angles are operative, including the range of sixty to seventy degrees above the horizontal for the upwardly inclined portion  11 , a the range of forty to fifty degrees below the horizontal for the downwardly inclined portion  13 , and range of forty-five to fifty-five degrees above the horizontal upwardly angled portion  14 . 
     Reference is directed to  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , which are perspective view drawings of a left-hand (LH) portion of an access flap  20  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  8 A  showing a rear view perspectives and  FIG.  8 B  showing a front view perspective. The LH portion  50  includes the display face  24 , which may be fabricated from transparent plastic, and which is fabricated in fixed relation with a LH portion  56  of the arrester extension, and a LH portion  58  of the blocker extension. A hinge boss  66  is provided to capture the lateral hinge pin of the access bar (not illustrated) when the LH portion  50  and RH portion  52  of the access flap  20  are joined thereabout. The LH portion  50  also presents a pair of ratchet clip extensions  68 , which engage corresponding assembly slots (item  70  in  FIGS.  9 A and  9 B ) when assembled. 
     Reference is directed to  FIGS.  9 A and  9 B , which are perspective view drawings of a right-hand (RH) portion  52  of an access flap  20  according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  9 A  showing a rear view perspectives and  FIG.  9 B  showing a front view perspective. The RH portion  52  includes the display backing  54 , which is fabricated in fixed relation with a RH portion  60  of the arrester extension, and a RH portion  62  of the blocker extension. A hinge barrel  64  is provided to pivotally engage the lateral hinge pin of the access bar (not illustrated, item  16  in  FIG.  6   ) when the LH portion  50  and RH portion  52  of the access flap  20  are joined thereabout. The RH portion  52  also presents a pair of assembly slots  70 , which engage the ratchet clip extensions  68  in  FIGS.  8 A , when assembled. When the two portions  50 ,  52  are joined, the two arrester extension portions  56 ,  60  define a gap therebetween, which provides a space for the arrester extension to straddle the access bar  8  and the hang bar  10 , thereby enabling the blocking functionality described elsewhere herein. Likewise, when the two portions  50 ,  52  are joined, the two blocker extension portions  58 ,  62  define a gap therebetween, which provides a space for the blocker extension to straddle the access bar  8  and the hang bar  10   
     Reference is directed to  FIG.  10   , which is process flow diagram of the use of an anti-sweep merchandise display hook according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The process begins at step  74  and proceeds to step  76  where plural items of merchandise are hung upon the hang bar of the display hook, thus ‘loading’ the display for retail customers. At step  78 , the customer inspects the display hook to determine if the front-most item has been moved over the upwardly peaked portion of the hang bar. If so, flow precedes to step  82 . In not, flow proceeds to step  80  where the customer manually moves the front-most item over the upwardly peaked portion to advance it for removal. In either case, at step  82 , the customer rotates the access flap from the display position to the access position, which effects the requisite changes in the function of both the arrester extension and the blocker extension. This enables the operation at step  84 , with the blocker extension out of the way, for the customer to slide the front-most item off the distal end of the hang bar. At step  86 , the customer releases the display flap, which falls back to the display position. At step  88 , the customer may optionally slide the second-most product forward over the upwardly peaked portion of the hang bar to ready it for the next customer. The process then returns to step  88 . 
     Reference is directed to  FIG.  11    and  FIG.  12   , which are a perspective view drawing and a side view drawing, respectively, of an anti-sweep display hook in the display position, and showing the access position, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is directed to an alternative mounting bracket for attachment to a retail display cross bar  104 , as are known to those skilled in the art. In this embodiment, the bar assembly  90  supports the access flap  92  in the manner previously described herein. Where it differs is in the mounting bracket  96  and the use of an inclined bar assembly  90 . With respect to the bar assembly  90 , the bars are inclined upwardly from the mounting bracket  96  at an angle of approximately twenty degrees above the horizontal. This is useful in the presentation and stacking the the merchandise (not illustrated), as will be appreciated by those skilled in the presentation of retail merchandise. Note that the function of the access flap  92  is essentially unchanged, regardless of the the display position, including the access position shown in phantom as item  94 . With respect to the voting bracket  96 , it is formed in the shape of an inverted ‘U’ for placement over the display cross bar  104 , which carries the loads involved. An added measure of security is provided in the form of a set screw  102 , which is inserted into a threaded fitting  100 , such as a press-nut, in a lower portion of the bracket  96 . This screw  102  extends far enough to prevent removal of the bracket  96  from the cross bar  104 , thereby preventing threat of the entire display hook and all of its merchandise. 
     Reference is directed to  FIGS.  13 ,  14 A,  14 B, and  14 C , which are a perspective view drawing, a side view drawing, a front view drawing, and a top view drawing, respectively, of an anti-sweep display hook  105  in the display position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is directed to another alternative mounting bracket  110  for attachment to a retail display cross bar (not illustrated). In this embodiment, the bar assembly  106  supports the access flap  108  in the manner previously described herein. Where it differs is in the mounting bracket  110  and the use of an inclined bar assembly  106 . With respect to the mounting bracket  110 , it is formed in the shape of an inverted ‘U’ for placement over the display cross bar, which carries the loads involved. An added measure of security is provided in the form of a spring loaded push button  116 , which extends to interfere with removal of the bracket  110  from the cross bar (not illustrated). A strap of spring metal  112  is fixed to the bracket  110  using a rivet, screw, or the like  114 . The spring  112  extends to a push button  116  in form of a boss that extends to secure the display hook  105  in place until the button  116  is pressed out of the way for removal. This arrangement prevents theft of the entire display hook  105  and all of its merchandise (not illustrated). 
     Reference is directed to  FIGS.  15 A and  15 B , which are a perspective view drawing and a side view drawing, respectively, of an anti-sweep display hook  119  in the display position according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is directed to another alternative mounting bracket  124  for attachment to a retail display cross bar (not illustrated). In this embodiment, the bar assembly  120  supports the access flap  122  in the manner previously described herein. Where it differs is in the mounting bracket  124  and the use of an inclined bar assembly  120 . With respect to the mounting bracket  124 , it is formed in the shape of an inverted ‘U’ for placement over the display cross bar, which carries the loads involved. An added measure of security is provided in the form of a ratchet clip  126 , which extends to interfere with removal of the bracket  124  from the cross bar (not illustrated). To effect removal, the bracket  124  is flexed to clear the ratchet clip  126  out of the way to remove the display hook  119  from the cross bar (not illustrated). This arrangement prevents theft of the entire display hook  119  and all of its merchandise (not illustrated). 
     Thus, the present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof. 
     It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.