Abstract:
A merchandise display hook assembly is comprised of a wire hook for suspending display merchandise, and a specially molded plastic back plate, which is formed with multiple mounting sockets at different elevations, for varying the vertical position of the display hook relative to the back plate. In one embodiment, the back plate also accommodates laterally adjustable positioning of the display hook relative to the back plate. The arrangement enables in-store display areas to be configured for greater density of display items, leading to significant cost advantages.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Small merchandise items are frequently displayed for sale by means of apertured panels on which are mounted outwardly extending display hooks. The merchandise items, typically packaged on cards or other special packaging is suspended on the display hooks such that the merchandise can be easily viewed by a customer and individual items can be easily removed by the customer for purchase. 
     Modern mass merchandising stores place a very high value upon display panel area, and pay close attention to the amount of sales derived from a given area of display wall. In this respect, suppliers seeking to have their product displayed for sale in a large chain store system, for example, may be required to pay very large sums of money in order to have access to relatively small product display area in each of the stores outlets. As a result, the suppliers of merchandise are very concerned with the layout of the display area provided to them, to accommodate the display of a maximum number of articles within the limits of such space. The display board itself provides only a limited range of adjustability. Typically, for example, openings in the board are provided at one inch spacing, such that adjustment of the position of the back plate of the hooks is necessarily done in one-inch increments. In many cases, however, an optimized package spacing may require a much smaller adjustment of the packaging position, possibly as little as an eighth or a quarter of an inch, for example, to avoid interference between side by side displays. 
     The nature of the above problem was recognized in the Thalenfeld et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,683, which provided a back plate consisting of a metal base and a plastic socket for mounting a display hook, in which the plastic socket is mounted on the metal base for limited lateral sliding movement. While providing some improvement in display density, this proposal had certain disadvantages, among which was the additional cost of a two-part structure for the metal base and the laterally movable plastic socket. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a novel and improved hook back plate is provided, which is a one-piece molding of plastic material, and which incorporates multiple hook-mounting sockets at different vertical levels on the back plate. While the back plate itself may be repositioned only in one inch vertical increments, the hook supported by the back plate may be selectively positioned in one of the multiple vertical sockets such that, for a given position of the back plate, the hook may be located at two or three different vertical positions on the display panel. The adjustable vertical positioning of the hook, relative to available back plate positions on the perforated panel board, provides a high degree of flexibility in the arrangement of the display space, which is particularly significant in view of the high degree of variability in the length of displayed packages. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the one-piece back plate is designed to provide multiple vertical hook-mounting positions, while at the same time being capable of high speed injection molding with relatively uncomplicated molds, such that the back plate may be manufactured at a suitably low cost. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the display hook is adapted for mounting in one of a multiple vertical locations on the back plate, while being substantially fixed in its lateral positioning. In another embodiment, the multiple hook-mounting sockets at the several vertical locations on the back plate also provide for a significant lateral adjustment of the hook relative to the back plate such that both vertical and lateral positioning adjustment of the hook is enabled for a given back plate position on the display panel. The arrangement allows the display space allotted to a given supplier to be easily optimized for maximum product display. 
     For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, and to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one advantageous embodiment of an adjustably positionable display hook assembly according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a back plate element, forming part of the assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view as taken generally on line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and back elevational views respectively of the back plate member of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a modified form of back plate member, constructed in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view, with parts broken away, illustrating a further modified form of the invention for accommodating both lateral and vertical positional adjustment of a display hook. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view as taken generally on line  8 — 8  of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5 thereof, the reference numeral  10  designates generally a display hook assembly according to the invention. The display hook assembly consists of two principal components, a back plate  11  and a hook  12 . In the illustrated and preferred form of the invention, the hook  12  is formed of metal wire and comprises a lower merchandise support arm  13  and an upper label support arm  14  arranged to mount a label holder  15  at its outer end. 
     The two arms  13 ,  14  of the display hook are formed of a single length of wire, and are joined by a generally vertical connecting portion  16 . 
     A short cross bar  17 , typically formed of the same wire material as the body of the hook  12 , is welded to a forwardly facing surface of the vertical connecting element  16 , generally in FIGS. 1 and 3. The cross bar  17  is disposed at right angles to the vertical connecting portion  16  and extends horizontally in both directions. 
     The construction of the wire hook portion  12  is, per se, known and is used in other types of display hook assemblies. The new display hook assembly differentiates from the known devices in providing for a back plate member  11  arranged to mount the hook portion  12  in a plurality of positions in relation to the back plate, so as to accommodate variable positioning of the hook in relatively small increments with respect to an overall merchandise display structure. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, the reference numeral  21  designates an apertured panel board of a type widely used throughout the trade for the display of merchandise. The panel board  21  is provided with multiple rows and columns of openings  22 , typically of about ¼ inch in diameter and spaced throughout the panel  21  on one inch centers, both vertically and horizontally. 
     In the illustrated and preferred form of the invention, the back plate  11  is a single piece molding of plastic material and comprises a back wall  23  and (typically) a pair of spaced apart L-shaped lugs  24 . In the illustrated arrangement, the lugs  24  extend rearwardly from an upper edge portion of the back wall  23  and are comprised of rearwardly extending portions  25  and upwardly extending portions  26 . The described arrangement of the L-shaped lugs  24  is typical and in widespread use. However, it is also possible for the mounting lugs  24  to be of an inverted L-shaped configuration as, for example, is described in my copending application Ser. No. 10/138,131, filed May 2, 2002 (0094-122P). 
     In accordance with the invention, the back plate  11  is provided with a plurality of pairs of socket-forming elements  27 . These also are of generally L-shaped configuration, with generally horizontal portions  28  extending forwardly from the back wall  23  and generally vertical portions  29  extending upward from forward extremities of the horizontal portions  28 . In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, there are two vertically spaced pairs of socket-forming elements  27 , which are vertically separated a distance of, for example, ½ inch. 
     As reflected in FIG. 3, the corner areas formed by the upper surfaces of horizontal portions  28  and inwardly facing surfaces of vertical portions  29  of the socket-forming elements are provided with arcuate recesses  30  of a size and shape to receive and seat a portion of the cross bar  17 . Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, when the back plate  11  is properly mounted in the display panel  21 , the hook member  12  may be supported in either one of two vertically spaced positions relative to the back plate by seating the cross bar  17  selectively seating into the upper pair or lower pair of socket-forming elements  27 . When the cross bar  17  is seated in one of the pairs of socket-forming elements, a back surface portion  31  adjacent the lower end of the connecting portion  16 , bears against a front surface  32  of the back wall. The cross bar  17  is fixed to the connecting portion  16  at a point spaced vertically above the back surface portion  31 , such that the natural tendency of the hook to pivot in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 3) under its own weight as well as the weight of any display product, tends to urge the cross bar  17  firmly into the recesses  30  in which it is seated. 
     It is advantageous and desirable to lock the cross bar  17  in its installed position, to prevent accidental dislodgment. To this end, the back plate  11  of the invention includes a pair of abutment rails  33  which extend vertically down the front face of the back wall  23 , at least in regions thereof directly opposite the upward extensions  29  of the socket-forming elements, and preferably continuously from top to bottom of the back plate. The forwardly facing abutment surfaces  34  of the abutment rails are spaced behind the upward extensions  29  of the socket-forming elements a distance slightly less than the diameter of the cross bar  17 . Accordingly, in order to seat the cross bar in a selected pair of socket-forming elements  27 , the cross bar must be pressed downwardly, deflecting the upward extensions  29  sufficiently to accommodate passage of the cross bar, and enabling the cross bar to be seated in the recesses  30  with somewhat of a snap action. Thus, once the cross bar  17  is snapped into the recesses  30 , it is tightly and semi-permanently retained therein, and will remain assembled with the back plate  11  until intentionally separated therefrom. 
     As will be evident in FIG. 3, with the back plate  11  mounted in a fixed position on the apertured panel board  21 , the hook  12  may be mounted in two different positions, separated by, for example, ½ inch, effectively doubling the number of possible vertical hook positions on a given display panel. This additional flexibility, under appropriate circumstances, enables a particular display panel to be more densely populated with display merchandise, which is an economically important objective of both store owners and their suppliers. 
     As reflected in FIGS. 2 and 4, a space  35  is formed between the respective socket-forming elements  27  of each pair. The width of the space  35  (between inside edges of the socket-forming elements) is typically slightly greater than the diameter of the largest size hook element  12  to be accommodated in the back plate  11 . In this respect, the wire hook elements typically come in a variety of wire sizes, depending upon the projecting length of the hook, the expected weight of the merchandise intended to be displayed thereon, etc. When the wire of largest diameter is mounted in the backing plate, as reflected in FIGS. 1 and 2, the generally vertical connecting portion  16  is confined laterally within the space  35 . Additionally, it is customary for the back portions  36  of the spaces  35  to be somewhat convergently contoured, so there is a tendency to automatically center wires of a diameter smaller than the largest. This frequently is desired in order to maintain an orderly appearance. Nevertheless, as will be explained hereinafter, it may be important and desirable in certain instances to provide for intentional lateral displacement of the hook member relative to the base plate. 
     In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the back plate  11  is preferentially formed of a one-piece plastic molding of suitable structural plastic material. In order to accommodate mass production molding of the back plates without requiring costly multiple separation mold configurations, it is desirable that the back wall  23  be formed with openings  37  (FIG. 5) having a height and width at least equal to the height and width of the upwardly extending portions  29  of the socket-forming elements. With this arrangement, mold elements (not shown) for forming the rearwardly facing surfaces of the upward extensions  29  can be projected through the back wall  23  of the back plate and then withdrawn through the back wall  23  after molding has been completed, leaving the openings  37 . The other features at the front of the back plate  11  are such as to provide a clear space between the openings  37  and the rearwardly facing surfaces of the upward extensions  29  of the socket-forming elements  27 , in order to accommodate the presence of the retractable mold parts during the molding operation. Employing this construction feature greatly simplifies the mold structure and thus the mold cost, and therefore results in important cost reductions in the production of the part itself. 
     The form of the invention shown in FIG. 6 is in most respects similar to the described embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, however, there are three sets of vertically spaced socket-forming elements  127 , which can be configured basically in the same manner as socket-forming elements  27  of FIGS. 1-5. The back plate member  111  of FIG. 6 is of somewhat greater vertical height overall than the back plate of FIGS. 1-5, in order to accommodate the three sets of socket-forming elements. Otherwise, the design and functioning of the back plate  111  is in all respects the same as that of the back plate  11  of FIGS. 1-5. The elements designated by the reference numerals  123 ,  133  and  137  in FIG.  6 . correspond to the elements designated by reference numerals  23 ,  33  and  37  in FIGS. 1-5. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, a back plate  211  is formed with multiple pairs of socket-forming elements  227 , similar to the modification of FIG. 6, but as shown in FIG. 7, the socket-forming elements are spaced apart laterally a much greater distance than is required for the accommodation of the wire hook member  12 . The elements designated by the reference numerals  237  in FIG. 7 and 230 in FIG. 8 correspond to the elements designated by the reference numerals  37  and  30  in FIGS. 1-5. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the mounting lugs  224  of the back plate are spaced apart the same distance as the lugs  24  of the previously described embodiment, the spacing of course being dictated by the spacing between openings in the apertured panel board. Spaced apart, vertically extending abutment rails  233  extend along the side edge extremities of the back wall  223 , providing a substantial space, for example around 0.94 inch, between their respective inside surfaces  240 . The socket-forming elements  227  of each pair are positioned tightly against the inside surfaces of the abutment rails  233 . These socket-forming elements  227  have a typical width of for example about 0.205 inch, resulting in a space between socket-forming elements of each pair of slightly over ½ inch. 
     A wire hook  12 , mounted in the back plate  211  of FIG. 7, may have a wire diameter of perhaps ⅛th inch, {fraction (3/16)}th of an inch, or in cases ¼ inch. Thus, there is substantial free space between the side edges of the vertical portion  16  of the hook and the inside edges  241  of a pair of socket-forming elements  227 . This allows the frictionally gripped cross bar  17  to be adjustably positioned laterally to any position within the limits defined by the inside edges  241 , as is evident in FIG.  7 . The length of the cross bar  17  must be such, of course, as to remain engaged in the socket-forming elements  227  in any lateral position of the hook. 
     In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the back wall member  223  is constructed such that its overall width is the same as the spacing between outside edges of the mounting lugs  224 . It would be possible, of course, to construct the back wall  223  to be somewhat wider than that, in order to provide an even greater degree of lateral adjustability of the metal hook  12 . 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the space between inside edges  241  of the socket-forming elements preferably has no convergent contours at the back, as is the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, for example. This assures that the hook will have a full range of lateral adjustment. 
     The display hook assembly of the invention, in any of its embodiments, provides a simple and inexpensive way to achieve a high degree of flexibility in display hook positioning on an aperture panel board, allowing positional adjustment in amounts significantly less than the one inch increments normally resulting from the standard spacing of the panel apertures. A back plate element may be constructed to provide a plurality of pairs of socket-forming elements, for mounting of a wire hook at several vertical locations on the back plate. Vertically adjacent pairs of socket-forming members may be quite closely spaced, as long as there is sufficient room between to insert the cross bar element  17 . 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the back plate provides not only for a variety of vertical positions of the hook member in relation to the back plate, but also accommodates substantial lateral adjustment of the position of the hook relative to the back plate. This assures that in a given store display area, the density of displayed merchandise will be optimal, to maximize sales opportunity per a given area of panel display. 
     In addition to the above indicated functional advantages, the device of the invention, in its preferred embodiments, is capable of mass production by inexpensive injection molding techniques, with relatively simplified mold configurations. This provides for attractive economies in the manufacturing process, enabling the device to be marketed on a basis attractive to mass merchandisers. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.