Abstract:
A retail merchandise hook which includes a hook for hanging retail merchandise therefrom and a security frame including a front stop which is separate from and arranged in a spaced relation to the hook, wherein the security frame is designed to prevent the theft of the retail merchandise. The retail merchandise hook also includes a pusher moveable relative to the hook and operable to bias retail merchandise hanging from the hook into engagement with the front stop.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to retail display systems and more specifically to pusher systems for facing retail merchandise. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well established that presenting merchandise in a neat, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing manner can increase sales. Retailers typically employ a variety of retail display systems to accomplish effective merchandise presentation. Many of these methods are aimed at automation as well as security. Indeed, loss prevention, i.e. the reduction or prevention of retail theft, is a design parameter often contemplated in the design of retail display systems. 
     One such retail display system, a pusher system, is used to “face” merchandise, i.e. bias the merchandise to the leading edge of a retail shelf. A general description of a typical pusher system may be found at U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2007/0267364 A1, the teachings and disclosure of which are hereinafter incorporated by reference. 
     A typical pusher system contains merchandise in an organized line or row. As a front most item is removed, a pusher of the pusher system biases the entire line or row forward such that the next item in the line or row, now the front most item, is biased forward until it engages a stop of the pusher system that prevents further movement of the item. As a result, the pusher system presents retail merchandise in a neat and accessible manner by maintaining the same in a linear row upon a shelf while also locating the merchandise at a highly accessible point. 
     Increasing retail sales through effective presentation has created a demand for the incorporation of pushers and like in retail displays not otherwise incorporating a shelf. However, certain displays have presented challenges to incorporating a pusher. One example is the retail display hook. Retail display hooks typically include a rod or wire extending away from a support structure in a cantilevered manner. Merchandise is hung from the hook, and can be removed by sliding the merchandise off an end of the hook. 
     Unfortunately, a pusher system used with a retail hook presents several problems. As one example, the biasing action of the pusher can create an undesirable outward lean in the merchandise situated on the hook. The outward lean of the merchandise tends to make the merchandise appear disorganized. As another example, several items of retail merchandise hanging from the hook are more easily removed in a single operation under the assistance of the pusher, allowing for a heightened vulnerability to retail theft. 
     The present invention is directed toward an improved retail hook that may or may not employ self facing technology that improves upon one or more deficiencies in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has several aspects that may be claimed and stand as patentable independently and individually or in combination with other aspects. Some aspects are summarized below, while others may be developed in the remainder of the disclosure. 
     In one aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a retail merchandise hook that self faces retail merchandise situated thereon. The retail merchandise hook includes a hook for hanging retail merchandise therefrom and a front stop separate from and arranged in spaced relation to the hook. The retail merchandise hook also includes a pusher movable relative to the hook and operable to bias retail merchandise hanging from the hook into engagement with the front stop. 
     In another aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a retail merchandise hook that offers enhanced security by reducing or eliminating the ability to remove multiple items simultaneously therefrom. The retail merchandise hook includes a hook for hanging retail merchandise therefrom, and a security structure configured to restrict side removal of retail merchandise from the hook to removal from an end of the hook. The security structure includes at least one product retainer disposed on at least one lateral side of the hook and that extends at least partially below the hook. The product retainers are arranged to prevent or limit lateral movement of product hanging on the hook while permitting forward and backward movement of product on the hook. 
     In yet another aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a retail merchandise hook that self faces retail merchandise while offering enhanced security. The retail merchandise hook includes a hook for hanging retail merchandise therefrom, and a front stop arranged to stop retail merchandise proximate a front end of the hook. The retail merchandise hook also includes a pusher assembly comprising a support structure either above or below the hook, a housing surrounding the support structure, and a pusher housing a spring therein. The housing defines a track with a slide surface along which the pusher is linearly translatable. The pusher is acted upon by the spring to urge the pusher toward the front stop. A mounting bracket is also provided that commonly carries the wire hook and the wire structure. 
     In yet another aspect, an embodiment of the invention provides a retail merchandise hook that incorporates an adjustable pusher. The retail merchandise hook includes a hook for hanging retail merchandise therefrom, and a pusher movable relative to the hook and operable to bias retail merchandise forward. The pusher is adjustable such that a portion of the pusher has a variable length. 
     Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a retail display hook in the form of a pusher hook for front facing retail merchandise according to the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the pusher hook of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pusher of the pusher hook of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side cross section of a front portion of the pusher hook of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a paddle and paddle extension of the pusher hook of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an interior view of a first half of a housing of the pusher hook of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an interior view of a second half of a housing of the pusher hook of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front cross section view of a track of the housing of the pusher hook of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a merchandise hook, support wire, and security frame commonly mounted to a mounting bracket of the pusher hook of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the pusher hook of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the pusher hook of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the pusher hook of  FIG. 1  situated between two adjacent pusher hooks of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 13  is perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the pusher hook of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, exemplary embodiments of a retail merchandise hook in the form of a pusher hook are illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a pusher hook  10  is mounted upon a retail support structure  12 . Retail merchandise  14  is situated on a merchandise hook  18  of the pusher hook  10 . 
     The pusher hook  10  includes a pusher assembly that comprises the pusher  16 , and a housing  20  carrying or forming a track that the pusher  16  slidably rides upon. The pusher hook  10  also includes a wire assembly that includes the hook  18 , a support wire  24  for supporting the housing  20 , and a security frame  26  that restricts removal of the merchandise  14  from the merchandise hook  18  to an end thereof. 
     As will be explained in greater detail below, the pusher assembly of the pusher hook  10  biases, i.e. self faces, a linear row of the retail of merchandise  14  toward a distal end of the merchandise hook  18 . As the leading item of retail merchandise  14  is removed from a distal end of the hook  18 , the pusher  16  biases the remaining items of retail merchandise  14  forward so that the next item of retail merchandise  14  is now the leading item of retail merchandise  14 , and is situated at or approximate to the distal end of the hook  18 . The leading item makes contact with a front stop  27 . The pusher  16  biases the row of merchandise  14  into the front stop  27  such that the merchandise  14  is presented in a generally vertical or upright fashion, and generally without an undesirable forward lean. Moreover, the pusher assembly and front stop  27  cooperate to ensure that a generally minimal amount of retail merchandise  14  may be removed from the hook  18  in a single operation. 
     The support wire  24 , security frame  26 , and merchandise hook  18 , are commonly mounted to a mounting bracket  28 . It will be recognized from the following that one advantage of commonly mounting the support wire  24 , security frame  26 , and merchandise hook  18  to the mounting bracket is the ability to quickly install the pusher hook  10  on a retail structure  12  using a minimal amount of assembly operations. Moreover, the mounting bracket  28  can take numerous forms depending on the retail support structure  12  that the pusher hook  10  will mount upon. For example, it is understood that the pusher hook  10  can be configured to mount to slat walls, peg boards, wire structures, point of purchase displays, etc., depending upon the particular design selected for the mounting bracket  28 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  11 , certain types of retail merchandise packaging typically has a hole (see  FIG. 1 ) used to hang the retail merchandise from the hook  18 . Certain other types of retail merchandise packaging incorporate a hook shape (see  FIG. 11 ) also used to hang the retail merchandise from the hook  18 . When the latter is used, there is a risk that multiple items can quickly be removed laterally from a side of the hook  18 , as opposed to one by one from the end of the hook  18 , during a particular type of retail theft known as “sweeping”. 
     The security frame  26  incorporates at least one product retainer  25  that reduces or prevents the ability to sweep multiple items from the hook  18 . More specifically, and with particular reference to  FIG. 11 , a pair of product retainers  25  generally restrict removal of retail merchandise  14  to removal from an end of the hook  18  as opposed to a side of the hook. The biasing force created between the pusher assembly and the front stop  27  generally reduces the amount of retail merchandise that may be removed from the hook  18  in a single removal operation. For example, in one embodiment, the front stop  27  and pusher assembly may cooperatively operate to restrict removal of merchandise  14  to a single item at a time. However, in other embodiments, removal of more than one item of merchandise  14  is contemplated. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pusher assembly includes a pusher  16 . The pusher  16  rides along the housing  20  and is biased towards a distal end of the merchandise hook  18  by a biasing element  34 . As the pusher  16  is biased by the biasing element  34 , retail merchandise  14  situated on the retail hook  18  ahead of the pusher  16  is biased forward, thereby presenting a consumer with a neat and organized arrangement of retail merchandise. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 , the pusher  16  has a base  40  and a paddle  42  that extends away from the base  40 . The paddle  42  slidably receives a paddle extension  44 . The paddle extension  44  is adjustable to selectively increase the overall length of the pusher  16 . By selectively adjusting the length of the pusher  16 , the pusher hook  10  can operate upon various sizes of retail merchandise. More particularly, the overall length of the pusher  16  can be varied such that a substantial portion of the retail merchandise  14  (see  FIG. 1 ) is in contact with the pusher  16 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the base  40  has a bottom wall  46  and a pair of side walls  48  extending therefrom. Each side wall  48  has a guide rib  50  formed therein. As will be explained in greater detail below, the guide ribs  50  function to guide the pusher  16  relative to the housing  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     A plurality of slides  52  extend upwardly from the bottom wall  46 . The slides  52  contact an outer surface of the housing  20  (see  FIG. 2 ) during normal operation. The slides  52  function to reduce the surface contact between the pusher  16  and the housing  20 , and more particularly, function to reduce the surface contact between the base  40  and the housing  20 . 
     A T-shaped track retainer  54  extends upwardly away from the bottom wall  46  of the base  40 . The track retainer  54  guides the pusher  16  relative to the housing  20 . The track retainer  54  has a neck portion  56  and a flange  58  generally wider then the neck portion  56 . As will be explained in greater detail below, the neck portion  56  extends through a channel of the housing  20 , and the flange  58  is disposed within the housing  20  during normal operation. 
     The paddle  42  has a front wall  60  and a plurality of vertical support webs  62  and horizontal support webs  64  extending away from the front wall  60 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the outer most vertical support webs  62  define the exterior side walls of the paddle  42 . A chamber  66  is formed proximate to the base  40  and between adjacent vertical support webs  62 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the chamber  66  houses the biasing element  34  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , the biasing element  34  is contained within the chamber  66 . An end of the biasing element  34  extends through a slot  68  and is fixed to the second half  32  of the housing  20 . As the pusher  16  is moved away from the distal end of the merchandise hook  18 , the biasing element  34  uncoils and is fed out through the slot  68 . When unwound, the biasing element  34  will attempt to recoil and pull the pusher  16  back towards the distal end of the merchandise hook  18 . As will be explained in greater detail below, the pusher  16  will move back toward the distal end of the merchandise hook  18  until the paddle  42  and/or the paddle extension  44  engages the security frame  26  as illustrated. As a result, the security frame  26  also functions as a front stop of the pusher hook  10 . 
     Although illustrated as a coil spring, the biasing element  34  can take numerous forms. For example, the biasing element could be a resilient member such as an elastic band or belt and provide the same advantages and benefits described herein. 
     As illustrated, the retail hook  18  is situated below the housing  20 . The pusher  16  has an opening  36  therethrough to allow the merchandise hook  18  to freely pass through the pusher  16 . The opening  36  allows the pusher  16  to move relative to the merchandise hook  18  and bias retail merchandise  14  (see  FIG. 1 ) forward. As an additional result of the placement of the opening  36 , a substantial portion of the pusher  16  is situated below the hook  18 . 
     More specifically, a substantial portion of the paddle  42  and the paddle extension  44  are situated below the hook  18 . One particular advantage of the above configuration is that the pusher  16  can remain in contact with a substantial amount of the retail merchandise  14  hanging from and below the hook  18 . As a result, the force exerted by the pusher  16  upon the retail merchandise  14  is generally uniform along the length of the merchandise  14 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , the paddle extension  44  is slidably received by the paddle  42 . To facilitate this functionality, the paddle  42  includes a pair of flanges  80 . The paddle extension  44  includes a pair of channels  86  configured to receive the flanges  80  of the paddle  42 . The flanges  80  and grooves  86  together cooperate to allow the paddle extension  44  to move linearly relative to the paddle  42  to increase the overall length of the pusher  16 . 
     The paddle  42  also includes an adjustment region  82 . The adjustment region  82  has a plurality of grooves  84 . The plurality of grooves  84  are arranged in a linear array and extend inwardly into the front wall  60  of the paddle  42 . The plurality of grooves  84  define a range of discrete adjustment locations of the paddle extension  44  relative to the paddle  42 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the paddle extension  44  includes a rib  88  extending from an inner surface  90  of the paddle extension  44 . The rib  88  is dimensioned to resiliently interlock with a select one of the plurality of grooves  84 . The rib  88  and plurality of grooves  84  cooperate such that once the rib  88  is seated within a particular groove  84 , the paddle extension  44  will not move relative to the paddle  42 . However, the rib  88  and grooves  84  are dimensioned such that the rib  88  may be selectively placed into adjacent ones of the plurality of grooves  84  by applying a sufficient enough force to the paddle extension  44  to bias it from one groove  84  to another groove  84 . 
     It will be recognized that the plurality of grooves  84  and the rib  88  can have various geometrical shapes and are not necessarily limited to those illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . For example, the paddle extension  44  and paddle  42  could incorporate a detent and catch arrangement. Moreover, whatever configuration is used, the cooperating structures could be reversed. As another example, the paddle extension  44  could include a plurality of grooves  84  and the paddle  42  could include a rib  88 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the housing has a first and second half  30 ,  32 . The first half  30  of the housing  20  has a plurality of support structures  92  extending from an inner surface  94  of the first half  30 . Each support structure  92  has a pair of openings  96 . As will be explained in greater detail below, the openings  96  are dimensioned to receive the support wire  24  (see  FIG. 1 ). Each support structure  92  also includes a pair of connection points  98 . The connection points  98  correspond to similar connection points of the second half  32  of the housing  20 . 
     The first half  30  of the housing  20  also includes a front support rib  100 . The front support rib  100  has an opening  102  therethrough also dimensioned to receive the support wire  24 . As a result, the openings  96  of the support structures  92  and the opening  102  of the front support rib  100  together allow the first half  30  of the housing  20  to receive the generally loop-shape of the support wire  24 . 
     The first half  30  of the housing  20  also includes a guide rib  104  extending from the inner surface  94  of the first half  30 . The guide rib  104  structurally reinforces the first half  30 , while also guiding the track retainer  54 . Although illustrated as extending along a portion of the length of the first half  30 , the guide rib  104  may be longer or shorter than that illustrated. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 7 , the interior of the second half  32  of the housing  20  is illustrated. Similar to the first half  30 , the second half  32  also has a plurality of support structures  110 . Each support structure  110  has a pair of openings  114 . The openings  114  are dimensioned to receive the support wire  24  (see  FIG. 1 ) in a similar manner as the openings  96  of the support structures  92  of the first half  30  (see  FIG. 6 ). Each support structure  110  also includes a pair of connection points  118 . The connection points  118  of the second half  32  correspond to the connection points  98  of the first half  30  (see  FIG. 6 ). The connection points  98 ,  118  align the first half  30  and second half  32  of the housing  20 . 
     The second half  32  of the housing  20  also includes a front support structure  124 . The front support structure  124  has an opening  126  therethrough to receive the generally loop-shaped support wire  24  (see  FIG. 2 ). With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 7 , an interior front stop  95  is formed proximate the front support structure  124 . In some embodiments, the interior front stop  95  may be located within the housing  20  such that it engages the track retainer  54  to prevent further forward movement of the pusher  16 . In other embodiments, the front stop  27  of the wire assembly (see  FIG. 1 ) prevents further forward movement of the pusher  16 . The front support structure  124  also includes a mounting point  128 . The mounting point  128  receives a fastener for fastening the biasing element to the bottom half  32  of the housing  20  as discussed above. 
     The second half  32  also has a channel  140  forming a slide surface. The channel  140  has a slot  142  and an opening  144  extending through the inner surface  112  of the second half  32 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the slot  142  is dimensioned to receive the neck  56  of the track retainer  54  (see  FIG. 4 ). Similarly, the opening  144  of the channel  140  is dimensioned to receive the flange  58  of the track retainer  54 . With reference to  FIG. 8 , the neck  56  extends through the slot  142  after the flange has been installed through the opening  144 . Once installed, the neck  56  of the track retainer  54  is slidable within the slot  142 . However, the flange  58  retains the track retainer  54  within the channel  140  of the bottom half  32  of the housing  20 . As a result, the pusher  16  is linearly slidable relative to the housing  20  while being guided by the track retainer  54  and channel  140 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 8 , the first and second halves  30 ,  32  of the housing  20  collectively surround the support wire  24 . As discussed above, each half  30 ,  32  includes openings  96 ,  114  respectively to allow the support wire  24  to pass therethrough. Also as illustrated, the connection points  98 ,  118  align and are joined by a fastener to retain the housing  20  upon the support wire  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, the connection points  98 ,  118  together form counter bored holes for a threaded fastener or the like. However, other fasteners are contemplated, e.g. rivets or an adhesive. 
     The housing  20  also includes a pair of longitudinally extending guide grooves  150 . The guide grooves  150  receive the guide ribs  50  of the pusher  16 . The guide ribs  50  are slidable within the grooves  150 . Accordingly, the grooves  150  and guide ribs  50  as well as the track retainer  54  and slot  142  act to linearly guide the pusher  16  relative to the housing  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the slides  52  of the pusher  16  contact the bottom half  32  of the housing  20  to further encourage this sliding functionality with a reduced amount of drag due to the reduced surface contact therebetween. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 9 , the pusher hook  10  may include a wire assembly having three separate wire structures including the retail hook  18 , the support wire  24  forming a support structure, and the security frame  26  forming a security structure, each commonly extending away from the mounting bracket  28 . The support wire  24  is generally disposed above the retail merchandise hook  18 , and a portion of the security frame  26  is generally below the merchandise hook  18 . The hook  18 , support wire  24 , and security frame  26  are commonly mounted to the mounting bracket  28 . As a result, the pusher hook  10  may be quickly installed on a particular retail structure  12  (see  FIG. 1 ) as a single unit, without the need to mount multiple components on the retail structure  12 . 
     The merchandise hook  18  has an elongated segment  160  and a weld segment  162  extending transversely away from the elongated segment  160 . The weld segment  162  is welded in place to the mounting bracket  28 . 
     Similarly, the support wire  24  has a pair of parallel elongated segments  164  joined by a loop  166 . A weld segment  168  extends transversely away from each parallel elongated segment  164  of the support wire  24 . Similar to the merchandise hook  18 , the weld segments  168  are welded in place to the mounting bracket  28 . Although illustrated and described as being welded in place, the support wire  24  and merchandise hook  18  may be joined to the mounting bracket by various other means including fasteners, clamps, adhesives, etc. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the security frame  26  may include at least one product retainer  25 . In the illustrated embodiment, the security frame  26  has a pair of laterally spaced product retainers  25  and a front wire segment  172  between the product retainers  25  forming the front stop as describe above. In the illustrated embodiment, a wire structure forms each laterally spaced product retainer  25  and the front stop  27 , however other structures are contemplated, as described below. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the wire structures have a back segment  174  and a bottom wire segment  176  extending transversely away from the back segment  174 . A top wire segment  178  extends between the back segments  174  and bottom wire segment  176  such that the product retainers  25  have a diminishing span. Although, the product retainers  25  are illustrated as converging with a diminished span, the top wire segments  178  may extend the full length of the bottom wire segments  176  in other embodiments. Similar to the merchandise hook  18  and support wire  24 , the security frame  26  is welded in place to the mounting bracket  28 . However, in other embodiments, various other means of mounting the security frame to the mounting bracket  28  are contemplated. For example, the security frame  26  may be attached to the mounting bracket  28  by fasteners, clamps, adhesives, etc. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the merchandise hook  18  extends beyond the front wire segment  172  relative to the mounting bracket  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , retail merchandise  14  situated on the merchandise hook  18  will contact the front wire segment  172  before reaching the end of the merchandise hook  18 . As a result, the pusher  16  cannot freely bias the merchandise  14  off the end of the merchandise hook  18 . As a further result, the merchandise  14  is maintained in a generally vertical or upright position. The front wire segment  172  and the distal end of the merchandise hook  18  are spaced apart such that generally one item of merchandise  14  may be removed from the merchandise hook  18  at a time. However, in other embodiments the merchandise hook  18  and front wire segment  172  spacing may be such that more than one item may be removed at a time. 
     It will be recognized from inspection of  FIG. 10  that the wire structures forming the laterally spaced product retainers  25  generally encompass a substantial portion of the merchandise. As a result, the laterally spaced product retainers  25  prevent or substantially reduce the ability to remove the merchandise  14  laterally or from a side of the hook  18  as opposed to removing it from the distal end of the hook  18 . For example, if one would attempt to push merchandise  14  laterally off the hook, the wire structures forming the product retainers  25  would prevent the merchandise  14  from removal, as shown by the dashed lines in  FIG. 11 . 
     The spacing of the product retainers  25  is such that lateral movement of the merchandise  14  relative to the merchandise hook  18  is reduced or restricted entirely. As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , each laterally spaced product retainer  25  will engage the merchandise  14  when an attempt is made to move it laterally relative to the merchandise hook  18 . As a result, the retail merchandise  18  is removable from a distal end of the merchandise hook  18  as discussed above. Accordingly, the ability to remove multiple items by grabbing them simultaneously and removing them laterally from the hook during a retail theft incident is reduced or prevented entirely by the security frame  26  and more particularly the laterally spaced product retainers  25 . 
     Although illustrated as a wire frame, the security frame  26  can take various other forms. Indeed, and as will be more fully understood from the following, the security frame  26  can have various structural configurations not limited to a wire structure and still achieve the benefits of a security structure as described herein. For example, and with reference to  FIG. 13 , an alternative embodiment of a retail merchandise hook  310  is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the security frame is a bin or other similar structure having solid and continuous side walls  325  forming product retainers and a bottom  323 . The bin also has a front wall  327  forming a front stop. Such a configuration would still provide the front stop capability as well as the lateral removal constraints as described above. The bin could be made of plastic or any other rigid material. Accordingly, various structures are contemplated that will provide a product retainer and a front stop and are not limited to the illustrations provided. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  9 ,  10 , the illustrated mounting bracket  28  has at least one mounting prong  29  extending from a base plate  33 . In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of mounting prongs  29  are utilized, however in other embodiments more or fewer mounting prongs  29  are contemplated. Additionally, the mounting prongs  29  may take a variety of forms to facilitate mounting to a given support structure  12 . 
     The base plate  33  of the mounting bracket  28  has a generally flat, rectangular shape. The weld segments  162 ,  168  and the back segment  174  are welded to the base plate  33 . However, and as described above, other fastening means are contemplated. The mounting bracket  28  may also incorporate a security feature, such as a screw  31  used to lock the mounting bracket  28 , and accordingly the entire pusher hook  10  due to the common mounting of the hook  18 , support wire  24 , and security frame  26  to the mounting bracket  28 , to a particular retail structure  28 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 12 , an alternative embodiment of a pusher hook  210  is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the pusher has at least one product retainer  225 , and a front stop  227  extending way from the product retainer  225 . The product retainer  225  functions in a similar manner to the product retainers  25  described above in that it generally restricts lateral movement of retail merchandise carried by the pusher hook  210 . 
     The wire segment forming the front stop  227  has a generally L-shaped profile. However, other configurations of the front stop  227  are contemplated. For example, the front stop  227  could be a horizontal member such as the adjacent front stops  27  of  FIG. 12 . 
     Upon examination of  FIG. 12  it will be recognized that security and loss prevention is enhanced when the pusher hook  210  is situated between two adjacent pusher hooks  10  as described above. More particularly, the product retainers  25 ,  225  will cooperate such that merchandise carried by the pusher hook  210  is generally restricted from lateral removal from the pusher hook  10 . 
     As described herein, the pusher hook  10  provides an accessible and aesthetically pleasing arrangement of merchandise on a retail hook  18 . The pusher hook  10  further incorporates a security frame  26  to reduce or eliminate the ability to remove items of merchandise laterally from the retail hook  18 . Furthermore, the security frame  26  also holds the retail merchandise  14  in a generally vertical or upright orientation such that it does not have an undesirable forward lean. 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.