Patent Publication Number: US-9404290-B2

Title: Securable article display

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to article displays and, more particularly, to an article display having a cantilever-mounted, elongate hanger that extends through an article and/or packaging therefor to suspend the article for display. 
     2. Background Art 
     A multitude of different configurations of securable article displays are currently in use in retail establishments worldwide. One form of display utilizes a cantilever-mounted, elongate hanger upon which articles are serially placed for display. The elongate hanger has a free end that can be directed through a fully surrounded opening on either the particular article and/or on packaging therefor. Once the articles are placed in a display state, the free end of the elongate hanger is blocked with one or more lockable components that prevent unauthorized separation of the articles from the display. 
     As theft of even relatively inexpensive items becomes more rampant, retail business owners are faced with either projecting potentially significant losses or taking steps to minimize loss. The latter approach involves an analysis that requires balancing a number of different factors. 
     First of all, the investment in the security system must be warranted by the anticipated thefts that would occur in the absence thereof. Accordingly, with relatively inexpensive items, the security systems generally must be inexpensive. At the same time, such inexpensive systems are not feasible if they are not effective in terms of preventing theft and capable of being readily and consistently set up by store personnel at sites where they are used. 
     If a security system is prone to breaking or malfunctioning, its use is not practical. Further, if store personnel cannot easily set up the security systems on such displays and release articles for customer inspection, there is a temptation on the part of store personnel to bypass the security systems. Thus, the investment in the securable display system may have a limited return. 
     The industry continues to seek out better and more practical security system designs that are affordable, functionally reliable and effective, and capable of being easily operated by store personnel so that they will be consistently used in their intended manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one form, the invention is directed to a securable article display with a main base fixedly mounted upon a support, with the article display operatively positioned, and a first elongate hanger projecting in cantilever fashion from the main base. The first elongate hanger has a length between the main base and a free end. The length of the first elongate hanger extends substantially in a horizontal line with the article display operatively positioned. The first elongate hanger is configured so that the free end is directed through a fully surrounded opening in an article, or packaging for an article, to place the article in a display state suspended from the first elongate hanger. A blocking system has a U-shaped component with a base portion and spaced first and second legs projecting away from the base portion. The first leg on the U-shaped component has a slot. The U-shaped component is movable relative to the main base between: a) a first position wherein a portion of the first elongate hanger resides between the first and second legs and the horizontal line extends through the base portion so that the U-shaped component prevents separation of an article in the display state by movement of the article towards the free end of the first elongate hanger; and b) a second position wherein the portion of the first elongate hanger does not reside between the first and second legs so that an article in the display state can be separated from the first elongate hanger by being moved along the length of the first elongate hanger up to and past the free end of the first elongate hanger. The portion of the first elongate hanger moves through the slot as the U-shaped component is changed between the first and second positions. The securable article display further has a locking system with a blocking assembly that is changeable between: a) a locked state wherein the blocking assembly blocks movement of the portion of the first elongate hanger through the slot with the U-shaped component in its first position; and b) an unlocked state wherein the portion of the first elongate hanger is allowed to move through the slot to allow the U-shaped component to move from its first position into its second position. The locking system further includes an actuator to change the state of the blocking assembly. The actuator is provided on the base portion of the U-shaped component. 
     In one form, the actuator is operated through a removable key that is inserted into an operative position at the base portion. 
     In one form, the blocking assembly has a blocking component that translates in a horizontal path as the blocking assembly is changed between its locked and unlocked states. 
     In one form, the actuator has a cam component that moves the blocking component as the actuator changes the state of the blocking assembly. 
     In one form, the cam component is turned around a horizontal axis as the actuator changes the state of the blocking assembly. 
     In one form, the blocking component has facing wall surfaces between which the cam component resides and against which the cam component acts as the actuator changes the state of the blocking assembly. 
     In one form, the horizontal axis extends through the base portion. 
     In one form, the securable article display is provided in combination with a belt having a buckle. The belt is in the display state with the first elongate hanger projecting through an opening that is fully surrounded by the belt buckle. 
     In one form, there is a second elongate hanger that projects from the main base and cooperates with the blocking assembly in the same way that the first elongate hanger cooperates with the blocking assembly. 
     In one form, the blocking component is in the form of a strip. At least one of the facing wall surfaces is defined by an L-shaped piece that is attached to the strip. 
     In one form, the actuator for the blocking assembly is a keyed tumbler that is mounted on the base portion. 
     In one form, the U-shaped component is changed between its first and second positions by pivoting movement around an axis. 
     In one form, the U-shaped component is connected directly to the base. 
     In one form, the blocking component is in the form of an elongate strip with a length. The elongate strip has a flat body with a central plane. The flat body has a bent edge that projects transversely to the central plane and extends along the length of the strip to reinforce the flat body. 
     In one form, the bent edge extends to adjacent at least one of the facing wall surfaces. 
     In one form, the invention is directed to a securable article display with a main base fixedly mounted upon a support, with the article display operatively positioned, and a first elongate hanger projecting in cantilever fashion from the main base. The first elongate hanger has a length between the main base and a free end. The length of the first elongate hanger extends substantially in a horizontal line with the article display operatively positioned. The first elongate hanger is configured so that the free end is directed through a fully surrounded opening in an article, or packaging for an article, to place the article in a display state suspended from the first elongate hanger. The securable article display further includes a blocking system with a U-shaped component. The U-shaped component has a base portion and spaced first and second legs which project away from the base portion. The first leg on the U-shaped component has a slot. The U-shaped component is movable relative to the main base between: a) a first position wherein a portion of the first elongate hanger resides between the first and second legs and the horizontal line extends through the base portion so that the U-shaped component prevents separation of an article in the display state by movement of the article towards the free end of the first elongate hanger; and b) a second position wherein the portion of the first elongate hanger does not reside between the first and second legs so that an article in the display state can be separated from the first elongate hanger by being moved along the length of the first elongate hanger up to and past the free end of the first elongate hanger. The portion of the first elongate hanger moves through the slot as the U-shaped component is changed between the first and second positions. The securable article display further has a locking system with a blocking assembly that is changeable between: a) a locked state wherein the blocking assembly blocks movement of the portion of the first elongate hanger through the slot with the U-shaped component in its first position; and b) an unlocked state wherein the portion of the first elongate hanger is allowed to move through the slot to allow the U-shaped component to move from its first position into its second position. The locking system further includes an actuator to change the state of the locking assembly. The actuator is a cam component that is turned around a horizontal axis to change the blocking assembly between the locked and unlocked states. 
     In one form, the blocking assembly has a blocking component that translates in a horizontal path as the blocking assembly is changed between its locked and unlocked states. The blocking component has facing wall surfaces between which the cam component resides and against which the cam component acts as the actuator changes the state of the blocking assembly. 
     In one form, the blocking component is in the form of an elongate strip with a length. The elongate strip has a flat body with a central plane. The flat body has a bent edge which projects transversely to the central plane and extends along the length of the strip to reinforce the flat body. 
     In one form, the bent edge extends to adjacent at least one of the facing wall surfaces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a securable article display, according to the present invention, and with a component on a blocking system in a first position to confine articles in a display state; 
         FIG. 2  is a view as in  FIG. 1  wherein the blocking system component has been changed to a second position wherein articles can be loaded onto and separated from the display; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the display in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view as in  FIG. 1  and showing a locking system with a blocking assembly on the display in an unlocked state; 
         FIG. 5  is a view as in  FIG. 4  wherein the blocking assembly is in a locked state; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of part of the blocking assembly, that makes up part of the locking system, and that moves as the blocking system is changed between the locked and unlocked states; 
         FIG. 7  is a view as in  FIG. 1  and showing a prior art securable article display; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the display in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a view as in  FIG. 7  and showing a blocking assembly on the display in an unlocked state; and 
         FIG. 10  is a view as in  FIG. 9  wherein the blocking assembly is in a locked state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In  FIGS. 1-6 , one form of securable article display, according to the present invention, is shown at  10 . The article display  10  consists of a main base  12  fixedly mounted upon a support  14  with the article display operatively positioned. In this embodiment, the support  14  is shown schematically to encompass virtually any type of structure to which the main base  12  might be stably mounted. In this embodiment, the main base  12  has a pair of spaced brackets  16  suitably connected to the support  14 . 
     A plurality of elongate hangers  18  project in cantilever fashion from the main base  12 . The elongate hangers  18  have the same configuration, however this is not necessary. Each elongate hanger  18  has a length L between the main base  12  and a free end  20 . 
     In this embodiment, each of the elongate hangers  18  has an upwardly opening U-shape. Each elongate hanger  18  is configured to support a plurality of articles to be displayed. In the figures, an exemplary displayed article is in the form of a belt  22  having a buckle  24  that defines a fully surrounded opening  26 . To place the article/belt  22  in a display state, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the free end  20  of an elongate hanger  18  is directed through the opening  26  in the article/belt  22  that is thereafter slid guidingly along a straight length  28  of the elongate hanger  18  rearwardly towards the main base  12 . The article/belt  22  is thus suspended on the elongate hanger  18  by the buckle  24  for display. A number of the articles  22  can be placed in a display state upon the elongate hanger  18  by serially placing them in the display state in the same manner. 
     The straight length  28  defines the usable display portion of the elongate hanger  18 . By making the elongate hangers  18  with the “U” shape, defined by spaced vertically extending legs  30 ,  32  projecting away from the straight length  28 , a receptacle at  34  is defined for the articles  22  with fore-and-aft movement thereof confined between the legs  30 ,  32 . Thus, the articles  22  do not tend to slide off of the hangers  18 . 
     As an alternative form, the elongate hangers  18  could each be made with a simple straight shape between locations where they depart from the main base  12  and the free ends  20 . For purposes of the description hereinbelow, the elongate hangers  18  will be treated as simplified straight components without the built in “U” configuration wherein the lengths L thereof project horizontally with the main base  12  operatively positioned as shown in the figures upon the support  14 . 
     It should also be understood that articles  22  might be displayed by directing the elongate hangers  18  through a fully surrounded opening in packaging  36  therefor, as shown schematically in  FIG. 5 . 
     While a horizontal arrangement for the projecting length L of an elongate hanger  18  is most common, different orientations are contemplated, in which event the relationship between the components as described and claimed herein would be accordingly changed. 
     To selectively and controllably confine articles  22  in the display state on the various elongate hangers  18 , a blocking system at  38  is employed. The blocking system  38  has an elongate component  40  that is “U”-shaped in cross-section as defined by a base portion  42  and spaced first and second legs  44 ,  46 , respectively, projecting away from the base portion  42 . 
     Spaced arms  48 ,  50  are fixed at the lengthwise ends of the elongate component  40  and cooperatively straddle the main base  12  and are connected thereto through one or more pivot pins  52 . Through the pivot pin(s)  52 , the component  40  is guided for pivoting movement relative to the main base  12  around a horizontal axis  54  between a first position, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 , and a second position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     With the component  40  in the first position, a portion  56  of each of the elongate hangers  18  resides between the first and second legs  44 ,  46  and a horizontal line L 1 , through the center of each portion  56  and an aligned rear portion  58 , that is parallel to the length of the straight lengths  28 , extends through the base portion  42 . As a result, the “U”-shaped component prevents separation of articles  22  in the display state by movement of the articles towards the free end  20  of the associated elongate hanger  18 . 
     With the “U”-shaped component moved from the first position into the second position, the portion  56  of each elongate hanger  18  does not reside between the first and second legs  44 ,  46  so that an article  22  in the display state can be separated from its respective elongate hanger  18  by being moved along the length thereof up to and past its free end  20 . 
     To allow movement of the component  40  between its first and second positions, the first leg  44  has a series of slots  59  that align one each with the portions  56  on the elongate hangers  18 . As the component  40  moves between the second position into the first position therefor, each of the portions  56  passes through a slot  59  to thereby reside between the first and second legs  44 ,  46 . 
     To maintain the component  40  in its first position so that articles  22  are blocked in the display state, a locking system  60  is provided. The locking system  60  consists of a blocking assembly  62  that is changeable between locked and unlocked states, shown respectively in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In the locked state therefor, the blocking assembly  62  blocks movement of the portions  56  of the elongate hangers  18  through the slots  59 . In the unlocked state therefor, the portions  56  of the elongate hangers  18  are allowed to move through the slots  59  to allow the component  40  to move from its first position into its second position. 
     More specifically, the blocking assembly  62  consists of a blocking component  64  that translates back and forth in a horizontal path, as indicated by the double-headed arrow  66 , as the blocking assembly is changed between its locked and unlocked states. The blocking component has a body  68  in the form of a flat strip with one flat surface  70  that facially engages an oppositely facing flat surface  72  on the first leg  44  of the component  40 . The body  68  has slots  74  formed therein that are substantially the same in shape and dimension as the slots  59 . The slots  74  correspond in number to the slots  59  and are registrable one each with the slots  59  with the blocking assembly  62  in its unlocked state. 
     With the blocking assembly  62  in its unlocked state, translation of the body  68  in the path indicated by the arrow  66  a slight distance causes the slots  59 ,  74  to move out of registration with each other. In other words, a solid portion of the body  68  blocks the slots  59  so that the portions  56  are not allowed to pass through the slots  59  with the component  40  in the first position therefor. 
     The locking system  60  additionally includes an actuator  76  through which the blocking assembly  62  is changed between its locked and unlocked states. The actuator  76  includes a cam component  78  that is repositioned to translate the blocking component  64  in its operating path, as indicated by the double-headed arrow  66 . The cam component  78  is repositionable through a tumbler  80  in a cylinder  82 . The tumbler  80  is controlled by a key  84  that is directed into the tumbler  80  in a front-to-rear line, as indicated by the arrow  86 . The tumbler  80  is turned through the key  84  about a fore-and-aft, horizontal axis  88  that extends through the base portion  42 . 
     With this cylinder location, the tumbler slot  90  for the key  84  is readily visible with the system in the  FIG. 1  state, thereby alerting both would-be thieves and store personnel to its presence. The key  84  and tumbler  80  are also situated to be conveniently accessed and operated with this construction. 
     The cam component has an edge  92  that interacts with facing wall surfaces  94 ,  96  on the blocking component  64  between which the cam component  78  resides. In this embodiment, each of the wall surfaces  94 ,  96  is defined on an L-shaped piece  98 ,  100 , respectively. Exemplary piece  98  is made from flat stock with one leg  102  secured to a flat underside surface  104  on the body  68 . A transverse leg  106  has the surface  94  defined thereon. 
     A “U”-shaped reinforcing piece  108  straddles the leg  106  and a corresponding leg  110  on the “L”-shaped piece  100  and is secured, as by welding, to the separate pieces  98 ,  100 . 
     Turning of the key  84  in one direction around the axis  88  bears the cam edge  92  against the surface  96  to move the body  68  in its translational path in a left-to-right direction in  FIG. 3 . Opposite turning of the key  84  shifts the body  68  to move oppositely in translation. 
     The body  68  has an integrally formed reinforcing edge  112  bent out of the central plane of the flat body  68 , in this case at the front edge thereof to project transversely/vertically therefrom. In this embodiment, the edge  112  extends over substantially the full lengthwise extent of the body  68 , with the exception of where the body  68  is interrupted by a cutout  114  that accommodates the upwardly projecting legs  106 ,  110 . The bent edge  112  extends to adjacent each of the wall surfaces  94 ,  96 . Accordingly, relatively thin stock can be used for the body  68  but will be adequately rigidified by this construction, as will the associated legs  106 ,  110 . 
     The body  68  is maintained in its operative position by spaced fasteners  114 ,  116  that extend through elongate openings  118 ,  120  respectively and into accommodating openings  122 ,  124 , respectively in the first leg  44 . The fasteners  114 ,  116  abut the ends of their respective openings  118 ,  120  to limit the back-and-forth movement of the blocking component  64  within its path, as indicated by the double-headed arrow  66 . 
     In  FIGS. 7-10 , a prior art securable article display is shown at  130 . The display  130  has a main base  132 , corresponding to the main base  12  in the inventive display  10 . The display  130  further has an elongate, “U”-shaped component  134 , corresponding to the elongate, “U”-shaped component  40  on the display  10 . The component  134  cooperates with elongate hangers  136 , projecting from the main base  132 , in the same manner that the elongate, “U”-shaped component  40  cooperates with the elongate hangers  18 . 
     The primary difference between the displays  10 ,  130  resides in the construction of the locking systems shown at  138  on the display  130 , corresponding to the locking system  60 . 
     The locking system  138  uses a translating body/flat strip  140 , that corresponds in function to the body/flat strip  140  on the display  10 . The body/flat strip  140  has slots  142  that can be selectively registered with, and misaligned to block, slots  144  on the “U”-shaped component  134 . The body/flat strip  140  moves in a space bounded by a base portion  146  and spaced legs  148 ,  150 , making up the “U”-shaped component  134 . 
     The upper surface  152  of the body/flat strip  140  supports a spaced arrangement of paired blocks  154 ,  156 ;  158 ,  160 . The paired blocks  154 ,  156  and  158 ,  160  define spaced edges  162 ,  164 , respectively, that interact with a cam component  166  on an actuator  168  that makes up part of the locking system  138 . 
     The actuator  168  has a tumbler  170  that is operated by a key  172  that is advanced into the tumbler  170  downwardly parallel to the tumbler axis  174  to effect operation thereof. By turning the key  172  around the axis  174 , the cam component  166  acts alternatively against the edges  162 ,  164  to translate the body/flat strip  140  back and forth in a path indicated by the double-headed arrow  176 . 
     With long belts or other articles  22 , the leg  148 , upon which the actuator  168  is mounted, may reside a substantial distance above the floor upon which the articles  22  are displayed. Consequently, the user may be required to blindly seek the location of the slot  178  that accommodates the key  172 . The manipulation of the key may be somewhat awkward from this position. Further, the actuator  168  may not be readily visible to store personnel who may overlook the need to effect locking of the display. Still further, would-be thieves may not be aware that the display  130  is locked and may attempt to tamper therewith. 
     The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.