U.S. patent application number 11/895956 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-05 for merchandise display with time delay mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to Alpha Security Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Brian V. Conti, Andrew W. Moock, Nicholas M. Sedon, Ningsheng Zhang.
Application Number | 20090057244 11/895956 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40125850 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090057244 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Conti; Brian V. ; et
al. |
March 5, 2009 |
Merchandise display with time delay mechanism
Abstract
A merchandise display system for displaying items of merchandise
on a support has vertically spaced first and second rods extending
outwardly from the support. A time delay mechanism is mounted on
the upper rod and includes a pair of pivotally mounted plates which
are selectively moveable into and out of blocking engagement with
the lower plate on which the items of merchandise are slidably
supported. An item of merchandise is moveable past the forwardmost
plate from a space between the plates for removal from a free end
of the lower rod while the rearward plate prevents movement of
another item of merchandise into the intervening space until the
forward plate moves to the blocking position and the rear plate
moves to an unblocking position. A magnetically actuated lock
mechanism locks the rear plate in an adjusted linear position with
respect to the front plate to adjust the intervening space.
Inventors: |
Conti; Brian V.; (Matthews,
NC) ; Moock; Andrew W.; (Brecksville, OH) ;
Sedon; Nicholas M.; (Weddington, NC) ; Zhang;
Ningsheng; (Charlotte, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ADAMS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW, P.A.
Suite 2350 Charlotte Plaza, 201 South College Street
CHARLOTTE
NC
28244
US
|
Assignee: |
Alpha Security Products,
Inc.
Charlotte
NC
|
Family ID: |
40125850 |
Appl. No.: |
11/895956 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/0861
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/7 |
International
Class: |
A47F 1/00 20060101
A47F001/00 |
Claims
1. A system for displaying items of merchandise from a support
comprising: spaced first and second rods adapted to extend
outwardly from the support for carrying the items of merchandise; a
time delay mechanism requiring a progression of manual operations
to enable an item of merchandise to progress forward towards a free
end of the first rod for subsequent removal of the item from said
first rod; said time delay mechanism including first and second
blocking devices moveably mounted on the second rod and operatively
engageable with the first rod to block movement of the items of
merchandise toward the free end of the first rod and providing a
space between said blocking devices along the first rod; said first
blocking device being moveable out of blocking engagement with the
first rod enabling at least one item of merchandise to move forward
on the first rod toward the free end and into the space between
said blocking devices with the second blocking device remaining in
blocking engagement with the first rod until the first blocking
device is returned to blocking engagement afterwhich said second
blocking device is moveable to an unblocking position enabling the
item of merchandise to move toward the free end of the first
rod.
2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second rods
extend in a cantilever fashion outwardly from the support with the
second rod being spaced vertically above the first rod.
3. The system defined in claim 1 including a lock mechanism for
locking the first and second rods to the support.
4. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the free end of the first
rod is irregularly shaped to prevent rapid removal of the item of
merchandise.
5. The system defined in claim 1 wherein a display placard is
mounted on a free end of the second rod.
6. The system defined in claim 1 including a stop mounted on the
second display rod to stop movement of the pair of blocking devices
toward the free end of the first rod.
7. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second
blocking devices are mounted on a shaft telescopically slidably
rotatably mounted on the second rod.
8. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the shaft is hollow for
slidably receiving the second rod therethrough; and in which a
plurality of arcuate grooves are formed in the shaft for adjustably
positioning one of the blocking devices along the shaft to adjust
the space between said blocking devices.
9. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the second blocking device
is fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith; and in which the
first blocking device is rotatably mounted on the shaft for limited
rotational movement thereon.
10. The system defined in claim 8 including a lock mechanism
operatively engageable between the first blocking device and the
shaft securing the first blocking device in a linear fixed adjusted
position in one of the grooves of the shaft.
11. The system defined in claim 10 wherein the lock mechanism
includes a spring biased plunger adapted to selectively engage one
of the shaft grooves and a plunger carrier formed of a magnetically
attractable material.
12. The system defined in claim 11 including a magnetic key for
placement adjacent the plunger carrier for overcoming the spring
bias to attract the plunger carrier toward the key and disengage
the plunger from the shaft groove.
13. The system defined in claim 6 wherein the stop includes a bore
for telescopically mounting the stop on the second rod; and in
which the stop has a projection which is received within a notch
formed in the second rod to position the stop on said second
rod.
14. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the shaft includes a
retainer engageable with the first blocking device to secure said
first blocking device in a second unblocking position with respect
to the first rod.
15. The system defined in claim 14 wherein the retainer is an
angular projection on the shaft which is slidably received in a
recess formed in a portion of the first blocking device.
16. The system defined in claim 1 wherein each of the first and
second blocking device is a plate formed with a recess for
receiving the first rod therein when said plate is in the blocking
position; and in which a magnet is mounted on each of said plates
adjacent said recess to assist in retaining the plates in the
blocking positions.
17. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft is formed with
a linear rib; in which said rib is received in a notch formed in
the second blocking device to fix said second blocking device on
the shaft for rotation with the shaft; and in which the rib is
received in an arcuate recess formed in the first blocking device
providing for limited rotational movement of the first blocking
device on the shaft for moving between the blocking and unblocking
positions.
18. A time delay device for controlling the removal of an item of
merchandise from a pair of display rods, said device requiring a
progression of manual operations to enable the item of merchandise
to progress forward towards a free end of a first rod of the pair
of rods for subsequent removal of the item from said first rod;
said time delay mechanism comprising front and back blocking
devices adapted to be moveably mounted on a second rod of the pair
of rods for operational engagement with the first rod to block
movement of the item of merchandise toward the free end of the
first rod and providing a space between said blocking devices along
the first rod; said back blocking device being moveable out of
blocking engagement with the first rod enabling at least one item
of merchandise to move forward on the first rod toward the free end
and into the space between said blocking devices with the front
blocking device remaining in blocking engagement with the first rod
until the back blocking device is returned to blocking engagement
afterwhich said front blocking device is moveable to an unblocking
position enabling the item of merchandise to move toward the free
end of the first rod.
19. The time delay device defined in claim 18 wherein the front and
back blocking devices are mounted on a shaft adapted to be
telescopically slidably rotatably mounted on the second rod;
wherein the shaft is hollow for slidably receiving the second rod
therethrough; and in which a plurality of arcuate grooves are
formed in the shaft for adjustably linearly positioning the back
blocking device along the shaft to adjust the space between said
blocking device.
20. The time delay device defined in claim 19 wherein the front
blocking device is fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith; and
in which the back blocking device is rotatably mounted on the shaft
for limited rotational movement thereon.
21. The time delay device defined in claim 19 including a lock
mechanism operatively engageable between the back blocking device
and the shaft securing the back blocking device in a fixed linear
adjusted position in one of the arcuate notches of the shaft.
22. The time delay device defined in claim 21 wherein the lock
mechanism includes a spring biased plunger adapted to selectively
engage one of the shaft arcuate grooves and a plunger carrier
formed of a magnetically attractable material.
23. The time delay device defined in claim 20 wherein the shaft is
formed with a linear rib; in which said rib is received in a notch
formed in the front blocking device to fix said front blocking
device on the shaft for rotation with the shaft; and in which the
rib is received in an arcuate recess formed in the back blocking
device providing for limited rotational movement of the back
blocking device on the shaft for moving between the blocking and
unblocking positions.
24. A method for controlling the removal of an item of merchandise
from a display rod comprising the steps of: mounting a pair of
blocking devices on a first rod spaced from and operatively
engageable with the display rod and moveable between blocking and
unblocking positions with said display rod; blocking movement of
the item of merchandise from a free end of the display rod by the
pair of blocking devices when said blocking devices are in the
blocking position; moving a first of said pair of blocking devices
from the blocking position to the unblocking position; moving the
item of merchandise toward the free end of the display rod past the
first blocking device to a space formed between the pair of
blocking devices; returning the first blocking device to the
blocking position to capture the item of merchandise in the space
between the pair of blocking devices; moving a second of said
blocking devices to an unblocking position; moving the item of
merchandise forwardly from the space toward the free end of the
display rod past the second blocking device for subsequent removal
therefrom; and returning the second blocking device back to the
blocking position enabling the first blocking device to be moved to
the unblocking position enabling another item of merchandise to
move into the space between said blocking devices.
25. The method defined in claim 24 including the steps of mounting
the pair of blocking devices on a shaft telescopically rotatably
mounted on the first rod; fixing the second blocking device on the
shaft for rotation with said shaft; moveably mounting the first
blocking device on the shaft for limited rotational movement of
said first blocking device on the shaft; and locking the first
blocking device on the shaft to adjust the space between the pair
of blocking devices.
26. The method defined in claim 25 including the steps of unlocking
the first blocking device from the shaft; and moving said first
blocking device axially along the shaft for adjusting the space
between the pair of blocking devices.
27. The method defined in claim 25 including the steps of unlocking
the first blocking device from the shaft; and moving both of the
blocking devices to the unblocking position for loading items of
merchandise onto the display rod.
28. A system for displaying and protecting items of merchandise
comprising: a support rod having a free outer front end and adapted
to extend outwardly from a support for carrying the items of
merchandise; first and second interconnected blocking devices
mounted on the rod and forming a time delay area therebetween, each
of said blocking devices being moveable between blocking and
unblocking positions but prevented from being in the unblocking
positions at the same time; said first blocking device providing a
rear storage area for items of merchandise and when in the
unblocking position enables an item of merchandise to move forward
from the storage area toward the free end of the rod and into the
time delay area with said second blocking device preventing removal
of said item of merchandise from the time delay area; and said
second blocking device when in the unblocking position and the
first block device in the blocking position enabling the item of
merchandise to be removed from the time delay area and off the free
end of the rod with the first blocking device preventing forward
movement of another item of merchandise from the storage area and
into the time delay area until the second blocking device returns
to the blocking position and the first blocking device returns to
the unblocking position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The invention relates to systems for displaying items of
merchandise on rods extending outwardly from a support structure.
More particularly, the invention relates to such a merchandise
display system which includes a time delay mechanism mounted on the
rods which requires a progression of manual operations by a
customer to remove one of the items of merchandise from the rods to
retard theft of the displayed merchandise.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] Items of merchandise are commonly displayed for sale on long
protruding rods supported from pegboard or slatboard. These
protruding rods are commonly referred to in the art as pegboard
hooks or slatboard hooks. Similar rods may also protrude from a
wire display rack for the same purpose. Usually the items of
merchandise are of a smaller range such as batteries or small tools
or other components. Such merchandise is an easy target for
shoplifters because they can rapidly remove all of the items from
the display rod and remove the merchandise from the store without
being detected. Alternately, the entire display rods with the
merchandise supported thereon can be removed from the support
structure if the rods are not locked thereon. Therefore, it is
desirable in the art to provide display rods that prevent the rapid
removal of the items of merchandise from the display rods and
prevent the removal of the display rods from the support structure.
It is also desirable that the display rods prevent the rapid
removal of a plurality of the stored items from the rod, yet enable
the customer to remove one of the items conveniently from the
display rod for purchase at a checkout station.
[0005] Thus, a needs exists for a display system which prevents the
sweeping of the stored items from the display rod, yet which
enables the customer to easily remove the items of merchandise one
at a time from the display rod for subsequent purchase and which
prevents the complete removal of the rods from the supporting
structure.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a display
system having a pair of display rods which are lockable to a
support structure preventing removal of the display rods and
supported merchandise from the support structure.
[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a time
delay mechanism which is mounted on one of the rods which prevents
rapid removal of the stored items of merchandise, yet enables the
items of merchandise to be removed one at a time from the support
rod by a customer for subsequent purchase.
[0008] Another feature of the present invention is to provide the
time delay mechanism with a spaced pair of pivotally mounted
plates, wherein the space between the plate is adapted to receive
one or more of the items of merchandise, and which requires a
progressive manipulation of the plates for removal of one of the
items of merchandise from within the space and from the support
rod.
[0009] Another feature of the present invention is to provide the
time delay mechanism with a lock device which sets a predetermined
spacing between the pair of plates for receiving one or more of the
items of merchandise, which item then can then be removed from
within the space by manipulation of the forwardmost plate.
[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide the
time delay mechanism with a lock mechanism which enables the
rearmost plate to be moved to a retracted unblocking position for
loading the lowermost rod with the items of merchandise for
subsequent dispensing therefrom.
[0011] Still another aspect of the present invention is to enable
the lock mechanism to temporarily disengage the rearmost plate from
a supporting shaft for repositioning along the rod to adjust the
spacing between the plates.
[0012] Another feature of the present invention is to key the pair
of plates to each other through a shaft which is telescopically
rotatably mounted on one of the rods on which the plates are
pivotally mounted to allow 90.degree. of rotation of the plates
relative to each other, and wherein both plates cannot be moved to
the unblocking positions at the same time unless the lock mechanism
is actuated.
[0013] These features and objectives are obtained by the
merchandise display system of the present invention, the general
nature of which may be stated as including spaced first and second
rods adapted to extend outwardly from the support for carrying the
items of merchandise; a time delay mechanism requiring a
progression of manual operations to enable an item of merchandise
to progress forward towards a free end of the first rod for
subsequent removal of the item from said first rod; said time delay
mechanism including first and second blocking devices moveably
mounted on the second rod and operatively engageable with the first
rod to block movement of the items of merchandise toward the free
end of the first rod and providing a space between said blocking
devices along the first rod; said first blocking device being
moveable out of blocking engagement with the first rod enabling at
least one item of merchandise to move forward on the first rod
toward the free end and into the space between said blocking
devices with the second blocking device remaining in blocking
engagement with the first rod until the first blocking device is
returned to blocking engagement afterwhich said second blocking
device is moveable to an unblocking position enabling the item of
merchandise to move toward the free end of the first rod.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the
best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles,
is set forth in the following description and is shown in the
drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set
forth in the appended claims.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the merchandise display
system of the present invention supporting a plurality of items of
merchandise on a support surface.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front sectional view taken
on line 2-2, FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 2A is a fragmentary front plan view of the upper
portion of the front blocking plate.
[0018] FIG. 2B is a fragmentary front plan view of the upper
portion of the rear blocking plates.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the time
delay mechanism of the merchandise display system as shown in FIG.
1.
[0020] FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on
line 4-4, FIG. 3, showing both of the plates of the time delay
mechanism in blocking position.
[0021] FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the support shaft of
the time delay mechanism.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the support shaft as
shown in FIG. 5.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a left side elevational view looking in the
directions of Arrows 7-7, FIG. 6.
[0024] FIG. 8 is right side elevational view looking in the
direction of Arrows 8-8, FIG. 6.
[0025] FIG. 9 is an enlarged rear sectional view taken on line 9-9,
FIG. 3, with both plates being in the blocking position.
[0026] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 with the rear plate
being moved into the unblocking position.
[0027] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 with the front plate
being moved into the unblocking position and the rear plate in the
blocking position.
[0028] FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing a magnetic key
moving the locking mechanism to the unlocked position.
[0029] FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing
the rear plate of the time delay mechanism moved from its locked
operative position of FIG. 4 to a rearmost unlocked position.
[0030] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view, portions of which are in
section, showing both of the plates in the unblocking position when
the lock mechanism is unlocked as shown in FIG. 13 for loading
items of merchandise onto the lower rod.
[0031] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing
the blocking plates in their retracted inoperable positions as
shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.
[0032] FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on
line 16-16, FIG. 15.
[0033] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The merchandise display system of the present invention is
indicated generally at 1, and is shown in FIG. 1. The system
includes upper and lower vertically spaced rods 3 and 5 which
extend in a cantilever arrangement outwardly from a support
structure 7 for slidably suspending a plurality of items of
merchandise 9 from lower rod 5. Rods 3 and 5 preferably are formed
of metal and have a circular cross-sectional configuration with a
product display placard 11 being fixedly mounted on the distal end
of upper rod 3. The free distal end 13 of lower rod 5 has a
plurality of bends and angles providing a circuitous path that
merchandise 9 must transverse when being removed from distal end
13. Preferably the items of merchandise will be contained in a
blister pack or the like on a card 15 which has a hole 17 formed
therein through which rod 5 extends for slidably supporting
merchandise 9 thereon.
[0035] Rods 3 and 5 preferably are secured to support 7 by a lock
mechanism 19 which securely locks the rods to support 7 preventing
a thief from removing the rods and stored merchandise from the
support. Lock 19 may have various configurations such as shown and
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,659,291, 7,007,810 and 7,131,542, the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. However,
other types of locking mechanisms well-known in the merchandise
display art can be utilized for locking rods 3 and 5 on support
7.
[0036] In accordance with the invention, a time delay mechanism
indicated generally at 21, is mounted on upper rod 3 and
operatively engages lower rod 5. Mechanism 21 includes first and
second blocking devices 23 and 25 respectively, which are
operatively mounted on a carrier shaft 27. Blocking devices 23 and
25 are shown in the drawings and are described below as plates but
can have other configurations without affecting the concept of the
invention. Shaft 27 is telescopically slidably mounted on rod 3
which extends through a bore 29 formed therethrough (FIGS. 5-8).
Shaft 27 is an elongated hollow member which is formed with a
plurality of arcuate grooves 31, each of which extends throughout
an arcuate length slightly greater than 90.degree.. Shaft 27 has a
front end 33 provided with a pair of notches 35 and an end cap 37
having an arcuate projection 39 extending a short distance along
shaft 27. A rib 41 extends linearly or longitudinally along the
outer surface of shaft 27 from adjacent front end 33 to a distance
slightly beyond the rearmost slot 31A. The function of these
various features of shaft 27 are discussed further below with
respect to plates 23 and 25 and their manner of operation.
[0037] Each of the plates 23 and 25 may have a generally triangular
configuration, and preferably are formed of a plastic material.
However, other configurations and types of materials can be used
for the plates without affecting the concept of the invention. Each
of the plates is provided with a U-shaped recess 43 formed in a
vertical edge 44 thereof, which recesses align with each other and
trap lower rod 5 therein when both of the plates are in a blocking
position such as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 9. Each of the plates have
a magnetic 45 mounted adjacent U-shaped recess 43, so that when the
plates are in the blocking position closely adjacent lower rod 5,
the metal rods are attracted toward the magnets to assist the
plates to remain in their blocking positions. Front plate 25 (FIGS.
2 and 2A) is formed with a circular opening 47 adjacent the apex 49
of the plate and has a small recess 51 formed therein into which
shaft rib 41 is slidably received when plate 25 is telescopically
mounted thereon which ensures that plate 25 is fixed to shaft 27
for rotation directly with the shaft. A pair of projections 52 and
54 are formed adjacent opening 47 which engage notches 35 formed in
end 33 of shaft 27 to secure plate 25 on shaft 27. Rear plate 23
also is formed with a circular opening 55 adjacent the apex thereof
for telescopically slidably receiving shaft 27 therein. An
arcuate-shaped notch 57 communicates with circular opening 55 and
also receives shaft rib 41 therein to provide limited rotational
movement of shaft 27 with respect to rear plate 23. A circular
depression 53 may be formed in the lower outer corners of each of
the plates to provide a convenient area for the customer to grasp
for pivoting the plates between blocking and unblocking positions
as described further below.
[0038] A lock mechanism 59 is formed integrally with rear plate 23
and extends upwardly therefrom and includes a generally
rectangular-shaped housing 61 which preferably has a D-shaped
key-receiving recess 63 formed in the top thereof. A shuttle 65 is
slidably mounted within the hollow interior of housing 61 and has a
generally inverted trident-shaped configuration with two end legs
67 and a central leg 69. A coil spring 71 is mounted about central
leg 69 and within the space between the two end legs for biasing
shuttle 65 towards a locking position within one of the arcuate
grooves 31 of shaft 27 as shown in FIG. 4. A lock plunger 73 which
forms the shaft of the trident-shaped shuttle passes through an
aligned opening 75 formed at the bottom of housing 61 and into a
selected one of the arcuate grooves 31. Shuttle 65 is formed of a
magnetic attractable material such as metal, so that when a magnet
77 is inserted into recess 63 (FIG. 12) it will attract shuttle 65
moving it toward disengagement from shaft groove 31 in the
direction of Arrow A. This enables rear plate 23 including the
integrally formed lock mechanism 59, to be moved linearly or
longitudinally along shaft 27, as shown by Arrow B in FIG. 4,
enabling the spacing S, which forms a time delay area, which is the
distance between plates 23 and 25, to be adjusted in order to
accommodate different sizes of cards 15 or other packages or items
of merchandise suspended from lower rod 5, or to enable more than
one of the items of merchandise to be trapped within time delay
space S. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, rear plate 23 forms a rear
storage area for the items of merchandise with support structure 7.
Also, as shown in FIG. 13, after lock plunger 73 has been removed
from the selected groove 31, plate 23 can be moved further
rearwardly along shaft 27 as shown by Arrow C, until lock plunger
73 rides along the outer surface of shaft 27. This enables rear
plate 23 to be freely rotatably mounted on the shaft. Also, as
shown in FIG. 13, further rearward movement of plate 23 when
rotated to an unblocking position as shown in FIG. 14, will enable
shaft end cap 39 to move into an arcuate-shaped opening 81 formed
in lock housing 61. This enables plate 23 to be maintained in an
unblocking position as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 for loading a
plurality of the items of merchandise onto lower rod 5 as shown in
FIG. 15, without requiring any further manipulation of plates 23
and 25.
[0039] Magnet 77 preferably is a dipole magnet having a unique
magnetic pole arrangement with a D-shaped configuration. This makes
it more difficult for a thief to use a standard bar magnet for
actuating the lock mechanism. Magnet 77 may be reciprocally mounted
in a housing 79 and preferably is of a type shown and described in
copending patent application Ser. No. 60/879,852, filed Jan. 11,
2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0040] As shown particularly in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a stop 85,
preferably formed of a plastic-type material and having a central
bore 87, is slidably telescopically mounted on upper rod 3. A
one-way projection 89 formed within bore 87 is received within a
notch 91 formed in rod 3 for positioning stop 85 adjacent the free
end of rod 3. This positions time delay mechanism 21 adjacent the
ends of rods 3 and 5 and prevents its removal from the free ends of
the rods. After plates 23 and 25 have been slidably inserted onto
upper rod 3 and lock mechanism 59 actuated to position rear plate
21 on shaft 27 and set time delay spacing S at the desired
distance, the time delay mechanism is moved forward into stopping
engagement with stop 85. The time delay mechanism then becomes
operational for retarding the sweeping movement of a plurality of
the items of merchandise 9 or displayed products from lower rod 5
as discussed below.
[0041] Rear plate 23 is free to rotate through 90.degree. on shaft
27 due to the engagement of lock plunger 73 within a selected
groove 31 and engagement of rib 41 in notch 57, whereas front plate
25 is only rotatable directly with shaft 27 due to the engagement
of shaft rib 41 in complementary-shaped notch 51 formed in plate
25. Although shaft 27 is freely rotatable on upper rod 3, it has
limited movement due to the engagement of one or both of the plates
23 and 25 with lower rod 5. Plates 23 and 25 will assume their
blocking position when at rest as shown in FIGS. 2-4 and in FIG. 9,
wherein lower rod 5 is received within aligned U-shaped recesses 43
with magnets 45 assisting in the plates maintaining this position.
To move an item of merchandise into space S, rear plate 23 is
rotated counterclockwise 90.degree. as shown by Arrow D, FIG. 10,
until shaft rib 41 engages the end of notch 57. Shaft 27 cannot
rotate since it is secured to front plate 25 by rib 41 and notch
51, and plate 25 is prevented from rotation since it is engaged
with lower rod 5. Merchandise 15A is then moved from the rear
storage area into space S as shown in FIG. 1. After returning rear
plate 23 to its blocking position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, front
plate 25 can be rotated 90.degree. to the unblocking position of
FIG. 11 where merchandise 15A can be removed easily by a customer
from free end 13 of rod 5 for purchase at a checkout. Shaft 27
rotates 90.degree. with front plate 25 in a clockwise position from
its blocking position of FIG. 9 to its unblocking position of FIG.
11. Rib 41 moves freely in notch 57 of rear plate 23 and lock
plunger 73 moves freely in arcuate groove 31 of shaft 27 enabling
rear plate 23 to remain in its blocking position of FIGS. 2 and 11
preventing any of the items of merchandise from being moved
forwardly and off rod 5. The engagement of shaft rib 41 in the
arcuate-shaped notch 57 of rear plate 23 will enable shaft 27 to
rotate 90.degree., which will automatically rotate front plate 25
90.degree. since it is coupled directly thereto by rib 41 being
engaged with plate notch 51. This ensures that front plate 25 is in
a blocking position when rear plate 23 is in the unblocking
position enabling one or more of the items of merchandise to be
moved from the rear storage area into space S, afterwhich rear
plate 23 can be rotated 90.degree. from the unblocking position of
FIG. 10 to the blocking position of FIG. 9 without causing any
movement of shaft 27 and correspondingly of front plate 25 since
rib 41 of shaft 27 moves freely within arcuate-shaped notch 57 of
rear plate 23. Thus, rear plate 23 is free to rotate 90.degree.
from its unblocking to the blocking position without causing
rotation of shaft 27 while front plate 25 when moving from the
blocking position to the unblocking position must rotate shaft 27
through an approximately 90.degree. rotation without moving rear
plate 23 due to rib 41 moving through arcuate-shaped notch 57.
Since lock plunger 73 is engaged in one of the selected grooves 31
of shaft 27, it restricts shaft 27 to only a rotation of
approximately 90.degree.. This ensures that so long as lock plunger
73 is engaged in a selected groove 31, plates 23 and 25 can only
move in their restricted 90.degree. motions and that one of the
plates will always be in the blocking position.
[0042] As discussed above, movement of lock plunger 73 out of a
selected arcuate groove 31, enables rear plate 23 to move
rearwardly to a position as shown in FIG. 13 wherein lock plunger
73 is not engaged in any of the grooves 31. This enables rear plate
23 to be moved further along shaft 27 to a fixed unblocking
position as shown in FIGS. 14-16, in which position arcuate
projection 39 of shaft end cap 37 enters into arcuate notch 57 to
secure rear plate 23 on shaft 27, to enable lower rod 5 to be
loaded by a clerk, or if desired, all of the products easily
removed from the distal end of lower rod 5 by an authorized
clerk.
[0043] In summary, time delay mechanism 21 once installed on upper
rod 3 provides a time delay for removing products from lower rod 5
by requiring a progression of manual operations of the pair of
plates to access one or more of the products trapped within
intervening space S. The two plates progressively rotate to allow
the item of merchandise to be moved forward and off of rod 5. Since
the plates are keyed to each other through shaft 27 it only allows
90.degree. of rotation relative to each other and prevents both
plates from being moved out of blocking engagement so long as lock
mechanism 59 is engaged in an arcuate groove 31. Furthermore, the
spacing or time delay area between the plates is adjustable by use
of magnetic key 79 to allow for various widths of products and
number of products trapped within space S. The use of magnetic key
79 enables rear plate 23 to be linearly adjusted to a position
where it is no longer keyed to shaft 27 as shown in FIG. 13, for
further movement rearwardly to the position of FIGS. 14-16, for
easy loading of the products on rod 5 after both plates are rotated
to the full unblocking position of FIG. 14.
[0044] Time delay mechanism 21 does not prevent a thief from
removing products from lower rod 5, but prevents the sweeping of a
plurality of the products from the rod. Thus it is impractical and
undesirable for a thief to constantly manipulate the time delay
mechanism to take more than one product from the rod. Also, the
locking of rods 3 and 5 to support 7 by lock mechanism 19, prevents
a thief from taking both display rods and supported merchandise
from the support structure. Although the above movement and
operation of time delay mechanism 21 is described in detail above,
it requires only several seconds for actuation by a purchaser of
the merchandise to remove one or more of the items from lower rod
5. Thus, security device 1 provides a simple yet effective device
for retarding and discouraging shoplifting without unduly burdening
a perspective purchaser for obtaining one or more of the items from
the support rod.
[0045] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used
for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of
the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes
and are intended to be broadly construed.
[0046] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention
is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details
shown or described.
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