HK1147118B - Display hook assembly having a secure free end - Google Patents

Description

Display hook assembly with fixed free end

This application is a divisional application of the chinese patent application entitled "display hook assembly with fixed free end" filed on the filing date of 2008/1/4 and having the application number of 200880002055.9.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to merchandise display hooks that are attached to a display board or wire display stand. More particularly, the present invention relates to display hooks that prevent the quick removal of merchandise therefrom. In particular, the present invention relates to a securing device for locking a merchandise display device to prevent unauthorized removal of merchandise displayed thereon and a system incorporating the same.

Background

Sales items are often displayed on long, extended poles supported by peg boards or trough boards. These extension rods are commonly referred to in the art as hitch plate hooks or channel plate hooks. Similar rods may also extend from the wire display stand for the same purpose. Typically, the goods are of a smaller size, such as batteries, gadgets, or other similar components. Such merchandise is an easy target for shoplifters to steal because they can quickly remove all of the merchandise from the display and take the merchandise out of the store without detection. Sometimes the entire display device with all of the merchandise displayed thereon is taken off the peg board by a thief.

Several devices have been proposed in the prior art to securely display merchandise thereon. U.S. patent No.1,022,980 issued to Stringer discloses a suspendable rod including a lock for securing it and preventing theft of items suspended therefrom. The first end of the lever is provided with a chain, the opposite end of which is firmly connected to a lug formed on the lock body. The lock is locked and unlocked using a key that is rotated in the lock to engage and disengage it.

U.S. patent No.1,856,239 issued to Buckley shows a display system comprising two rods, both fixed at one end to a base plate. The opposite end of the upper bar is provided with a latching mechanism comprising downwardly extending legs that engage the sides of the lower bar. The legs are pivotally connected to the latch mechanism and pivot out of the way to allow an item to be positioned on the lower bar. The latch is released and swings back into place by gravity. This display system is not locked and thus cannot be protected from theft. The display system is merely latched to prevent the item from sliding off the rod.

U.S. patent No.4,462,497 to Maule discloses a display stand including an elongated upstanding post secured to a vertical surface with screws. The first ends of the two parallel bars are connected to the bracket and extend outwardly therefrom. A cross member extends between the second ends of the two rods and is pivotally connected to the second end of the first rod. The cross member is received in a slot located on the free end of the second rod. The lock slides on the free end of the second rod and the key is required to lock the cross member in place. The lock is a key actuated tumbler (tumbler) type lock, which must be used to lock and unlock the device. The system is also susceptible to tampering by thieves who are able to pry open a conventional tumbler-type lock.

U.S. patent No.5,676,258 to Leyden et al discloses a display system having a Z-shaped plate with a first end of the Z-shaped plate securing the display system to a wall surface. The legs of the Z-shaped plate are positioned to grip the wall surface therebetween. The display rod extends outwardly from the Z-shaped plate and terminates in a tip. The portion of the shaft behind the tip has a reduced diameter relative to the remainder of the shaft. A lock is press fit onto the tip to prevent removal of the merchandise displayed thereon. The lock includes a pair of opposed walls having alignment holes therein. The first wall has an aperture sized to closely receive the rod therethrough. The second wall has a smaller diameter bore sized to receive a portion of the tip therethrough. The lock includes a barrel that is actuated by the key to dispose the brake pad into a position where it engages the reduced diameter portion of the rod. An undercut on the rod cooperates with the catch to prevent the lock from disengaging from the rod. When merchandise is removed from the display, the key must be inserted into the lock in order to disengage the catch from the rod. Once the disengagement is complete, the lock may be disengaged from the rod and the merchandise may be removed. Thus, such systems require the use of a key to lock and unlock the device. The system is also susceptible to tampering by thieves who are able to pry open a conventional tumbler-type lock.

U.S. publication No.2006/0157431, to Nagelski et al, and assigned to the present assignee, discloses a locking mechanism for a display rod that secures merchandise thereon and includes a dedicated magnetic key for unlocking the same. The security device includes a lock having a magnetically attractable plunger received within a chamber located within the lock. The plunger moves linearly within the chamber between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the plunger is in the locked position, it engages the display rod and prevents removal of merchandise therefrom. When the plunger is in the unlocked position, it is not engaged with the display rod and merchandise may be removed from the rod. Although the chamber is in close proximity to the outer surface of the device, its presence and location is not apparent from a simple observation from the exterior of the device. Similarly, because the key includes a magnet that is completely surrounded by a housing, a simple view from the exterior of the key would not reveal that there is a magnet inside. Even if it has been determined that a magnet is required to unlock the device, it is difficult to determine the position of the locking mechanism without spending a significant amount of time operating the device and the magnetic bar. The time taken makes it more likely that the thief will be caught on site. The publication discloses a specially designed magnetic key for use by authorized personnel that has a locating tab that must be engaged in a locating slot located on the exterior surface of the security device. This properly positions the magnet on the outer surface of the device and adjacent to the locking mechanism. If the locating tab is not engaged in the locating slot, the magnet will not be properly located on the outer surface of the security device, the plunger will not move, and the device will remain locked.

Accordingly, it would be desirable in the art to provide a security device for a merchandise display system and a display system including the same that prevents the quick removal of merchandise from the display.

Disclosure of Invention

The device of the present invention is an end assembly for securing the free end of a merchandise display rod to prevent the removal of merchandise from the rod. The end assembly is slidable along the rod between an unlocked position in which the merchandise is independently removable therefrom and a locked position in which the merchandise cannot be removed therefrom. The end assembly is locked to the rod by a locking mechanism that is linearly movable within an interior chamber of the end assembly. The end assembly defines a specially shaped recess in its outer wall that extends inwardly into the interior of the housing and is perpendicular to the linear movement of the locking mechanism. The recess receives a complementary shaped dipole magnet key internally to unlock the locking mechanism. When inserted into the shaped recess, the key applies a strong magnetic force to the locking mechanism and moves it linearly within the chamber from the locked position to the unlocked position, thereby releasing the lever. Removal of the key from the recess on the end assembly causes the spring biased locking mechanism to return to its locked position. This system requires only a dipole magnet key to engage the end assembly in order to remove the merchandise from the rod. When the system is to be locked after removal of the merchandise, the end assembly need only be pushed along the rod until the notch on the rod is aligned with the spring biased locking mechanism. At this point, the locking mechanism automatically locks the device, thereby preventing further removal of the merchandise from the display. Since the locking device is housed inside the end assembly, it cannot be quickly accessed by a potential thief. In addition, the complementary nature of the shaped recess and the shaped dipole magnet key also discourages potential thief theft by making it more difficult to access the locking mechanism to disengage it. The locking mechanism itself prevents immediate access by the magnet and is positioned in such a way that the force field of a conventional magnetic bar does not allow the locking mechanism to move easily within the device interior chamber.

Drawings

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the following description, drawings and claims, and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the descriptive sense for illustrating the best mode in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a merchandise display device of the present invention connected to a display board and having a plurality of pieces of merchandise hanging therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the end assembly taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the end assembly taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the end assembly being opened with a special key;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the end assembly with one of the rods of the rod assembly disengaged therefrom;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the display showing an item of merchandise removed therefrom;

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of a merchandise display system including an end assembly, a rod assembly, and a base assembly; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a key engaged with the base assembly to unlock the same.

Detailed Description

A merchandise display system of the present invention is shown generally by the numeral 100 in fig. 1-8. The display system 100 is used with a display board 102 (peg board or slat board) to support merchandise 104 for display in a retail environment. Display system 100 includes rod assembly 106 and end assembly 112. Rod assembly 106 includes first and second substantially parallel rods 116, 118 and a connecting rod 120 disposed therebetween. Rod assembly also includes an end 110 having one or more upwardly extending members that are receivable through holes in display board 102 to removably mount rod assembly 106 thereto in a cantilevered fashion. The article of merchandise 104 is slidably engaged on the second rod 118 and the end assembly 112 is provided to lockably secure the article of merchandise 104 to the second rod 118.

The inventors have also filed a U.S. patent application directed to a security device that lockably secures a rod assembly to a display board. The concurrently filed application is named "Security Device for Attachments a Peg Hook to a Peg Support". A second application related to a magnetic key for unlocking both end assembly 112 and a security device for attaching the rod assembly to a display board has also been filed concurrently herewith. The second application is named "Magnetic Key for use with a Security Device". The entire contents of both related applications are incorporated herein by reference. The present application is particularly directed to end assembly 112 and a merchandise security system incorporating the same.

Rod assembly 106 includes an upper rod 116 and a lower rod 118 that are connected together by a connecting rod 120. The end 110 extends outwardly from the connector 108 adjacent an inner end 122 of the upper rod 116. All of these rods 116, 118, 120 and 108 are generally cylindrical in cross-section. Upper rod 116 is smaller in length than lower rod 118 and terminates in a hooked free end 124 (FIG. 3) that is disposed inwardly of free end 118a of lower rod 118. The free end 124 of the upper rod 116 is preferably permanently secured within the end assembly 112. The free end 118a of the lower rod 118 extends outwardly beyond the end 124 of the upper rod 116 and terminates in an angled and forwardly extending tip 126. Lower stem 118 defines a downwardly facing notch 128 (fig. 5) located inwardly of tip 126. The notch 128 is defined by side edges 130, 132.

In accordance with a particular feature of the invention, end assembly 112 is configured to lockably secure free end 118a of lower rod 118 therein, thereby preventing removal of merchandise 104 from rod 118. End assembly 112 is movable along upper rod 116 between a locked position (fig. 1 and 3) and an unlocked position (fig. 4 and 6). When end assembly 112 is in the unlocked position, merchandise 104 may be removed from lower rod 118. When end assembly 112 is in the locked position, article of merchandise 104 cannot be removed therefrom.

End assembly 112 includes a housing 134 having a front 134a and a rear 134 b. Front portion 134a of end assembly 112 includes an upper wall 157 (fig. 3) having a display board 164 secured thereto. The panel 164 is configured to display advertising or pricing information associated with the items 104 held on the display system 100. The plate 164 may also be used to indicate to the consumer whether the end assembly 112 is in the locked position. The housing 134 defines a first interior chamber 136 that is accessible through an aperture 138 in the rear 134b of the housing 134. Upper rod 116 enters housing 134 through aperture 138 and free end 124 of rod 116 is disposed within first chamber 136 and permanently retained therein. Housing 134 is slidable along rod 116 between an unlocked position and a locked position. As the housing 134 slides along the rod 116, the rod free end 124 moves within the first chamber 136 between a first position and a second position. Fig. 3 illustrates end assembly 112 in a locked position, wherein free end 124 is disposed against an outer end wall 139 inside housing 134. Fig. 5 illustrates end assembly 112 in an unlocked position, wherein free end 124 is disposed against inboard shoulder 140. The free end 124 is preferably hook-shaped, and the leg of the hook has a length substantially equal to the depth "A" (FIG. 4) of the cavity 136. The relative size between the legs and the depth of the chamber substantially prevents the end assembly 112 from wobbling about the upper rod 116.

End assembly 112 further defines a first passage 142 that is located a distance below and parallel to first chamber 136. The channel 142 is sized to receive the free end 118a of the lower rod 118 therein. The passageway 142 begins at an aperture in the rearmost wall of the end assembly 112 and terminates at a wall 144 proximate the front 134a of the housing 134. The range of travel of lower rod 118 in channel 142 is limited by wall 144. End assembly 112 further defines a second interior chamber 146 that communicates with passageway 142 and is disposed substantially perpendicular thereto. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a second interior chamber 146 extends downwardly from the channel 142. When end assembly 112 is in the locked position on lower rod 118, end 126 of lower rod 118 is disposed against wall 144 and notch 128 on rod 118 is aligned with the second chamber (fig. 4).

According to another particular feature of the invention, a locking mechanism 148 is disposed within second interior chamber 146 of end assembly 112. Locking mechanism 148 is configured to lock end assembly 112 and rod assembly 106 together. The locking mechanism 148 includes a compression spring 150 disposed in a shuttle assembly 152. Shuttle assembly 152 is shaped and dimensioned to reciprocate within second chamber 146 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of upper and lower rods 116, 118. The bottom 154 of shuttle assembly 152 is shaped and dimensioned to be received within notch 128 of lower rod 118 and retained between side edges 130, 132 thereof. Shuttle assembly 152 and base 154 thereof are biased by spring 150 to extend from second chamber 146 and into passage 142. When notch 128 is aligned with second chamber 146, spring 150 urges base 154 of shuttle assembly 152 into notch 128, thereby locking lower rod 118 and end assembly 112 together. Shuttle assembly 152 is preferably fabricated from a metal that is susceptible to a magnetic force field. The base 154, on the other hand, is fabricated from an insulating material, such as plastic, to substantially prevent the rod 118 from being attracted to the magnet 162.

As shown in fig. 3, the second interior chamber 146 is located a distance inward from and generally parallel to the front and back surfaces of the end assembly 112. Additionally, second interior chamber 146 is positioned a distance inward of the top and bottom surfaces of end assembly 112. The orientation and distance of second interior chamber 146 in close proximity to the outer wall of end assembly 112 helps prevent locking mechanism 148 from being unlocked by a conventional magnetic bar in contact with the outer surface of end assembly 112. The locking mechanism in end assembly 112 can only be unlocked by a specially designed magnetic key 114, as described below.

According to another particular feature of the invention, the front housing portion 134a has a lower portion internally defining a shaped recess 156 for receiving the magnetic key 114 for unlocking the locking mechanism 148. The recess 156 is substantially parallel to the first chamber 136 and the channel 142. Recess 156 is also perpendicular to second chamber 148 and generally at right angles to each of the front and rear surfaces of end assembly 112. Recess 156 is accessible only through an opening 160 located on the front surface of end assembly 112. This opening 160 has a cross-sectional shape that is preferably irregular and non-circular. Furthermore, the opening 160 preferably has at least one straight side and is generally D-shaped. The magnetic key 114, which forms part of the security system, comprises a housing 115 in which a dipole magnet is slidably mounted. The dipole magnet is extended from the housing 115 by depressing a button 117 on the housing 115, thereby sliding a portion thereof outward from the housing 115. The magnet extension forms a shaped protrusion 162 having a complementary cross-sectional shape to the recess 156. The recess 156 terminates in an inboard end wall 159 and is separated from the second chamber 148 by a horizontal inner wall 158. The end wall 159 limits the entry of the protrusion 162 into the end assembly 112. A metal plate 161 is enclosed within a wall 159 adjacent to the recess 156. Plate 161 is made of a magnetically attractable metal to help retain key 114 in a locked position with end assembly 112.

However, it is contemplated that end assembly 112 and key 114 may be used for factory or store specific purposes. Likewise, each factory or store will have a security system that includes a specifically shaped recess 156 in the end assembly 112. End assembly 112 can only be unlocked with a customized key 114 having a complementary cross-sectional shape to the recess. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the recess 156 and the opening 160 thereto may have various cross-sectional shapes, preferably having an irregular and non-circular cross-section. Furthermore, the opening 160 preferably has at least one straight side and is generally D-shaped. However, the recess 156 may have other shapes, such as trapezoidal, hexagonal, or triangular, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. This arrangement substantially reduces the likelihood of a potential thief unlocking the end assembly 112 with any commonly used magnetic bar because the magnetic bar cannot be inserted into the recess 156.

Furthermore, the dipole magnet used in the key 114 is preferably fabricated from an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron (NdFeB), and more specifically, a sintered neodymium-iron-boron magnet that is nickel-plated. The dipole magnet is also specifically manufactured to have a particular magnetic pole at its arcuate surface 162a and an opposite magnetic pole at its planar surface 162 b. Arcuate surface 162a is complementary to the rounded portion of D-shaped recess 156 and planar surface 162b is complementary to the planar portion of D-shaped recess 156. Thus, the magnet may be fabricated such that the N pole is on the arcuate surface 162a and the S pole is on the planar surface 162b, or vice versa. When projection 162 is inserted into recess 156, arcuate surface 162a is closer to shuttle assembly 152 and planar surface 162b is farther from shuttle assembly 152. Thus, the magnetic field emanating from protrusion 162 is proximate to second chamber 146. In a typical bar magnet, the magnetic force field extends outward away from the end of the magnet and only a minimal force field is detected near the side of the magnet. If a regular magnetic bar could be inserted into recess 156, the side of the bar would be disposed against the wall separating recess 156 from second chamber 146. The magnetic field lines generated at the sides of the bar magnet are not sufficient to attract the locking mechanism 148 toward the bar magnet. The dipole magnet used in the present invention is specially manufactured to ensure that the strongest field of force emanating therefrom is in the region immediately adjacent the wall between the recess 156 and the second chamber 146. Thus, the area of greatest magnetic attraction on protrusion 162 is adjacent shuttle assembly 152. In addition, the force field is oriented such that the magnetically attractable metal of shuttle assembly 152 is strongly attracted toward protrusion 162. Furthermore, if (for some reason) shuttle assembly 152 itself comprises a magnetic metal, only the correct magnetic pole reaching the vicinity of second chamber 146 will attract shuttle assembly 152 toward protrusion 162. The wrong pole on key 114 will push away shuttle assembly 152 and firmly secure lower rod 118 within end assembly 112.

Referring to fig. 1-6, end assembly 112 is used in the following manner to securely lock the free end of rod assembly 106 to prevent removal of merchandise 104 from lower rod 118. Fig. 3 shows end assembly 112 and rod assembly 106 in a locked position. In this locked position, free ends 124, 118a of upper and lower rods 116, 118 extend into housing 134 and are secured therein. The free end 124 of the upper rod 116 is retained in the chamber 136 and is disposed against the inner surface of the end wall 139 of the chamber 134. Free end 118a of lower rod 118 extends through passage 142 and tip 126 of rod 118 is positioned against wall 114. Locking mechanism 148 in end assembly 112 is in a locked position with bottom 154 of shuttle assembly 152 engaged in notch 128 and retained between side edges 130, 132 of lower rod 118. When locking mechanism 148 is in this locked position, compression spring 150 is fully extended and base 154 of shuttle assembly 152 is spring biased to extend outwardly from second chamber 146, into passage 142 and into engagement with lower rod 118. End assembly 112 cannot slide along upper and lower rods 116, 118 toward or away from display board 102. Thus, end assembly 112 is securely fastened to rod assembly 106 and cannot be removed therefrom without using key 114 to open end assembly 112. Furthermore, because the free end 118a of lower rod 118 is locked within end assembly 112, merchandise 104 cannot slide off of free end 118a of lower rod 118. Thus, the article 104 is locked to the rod assembly 106 and cannot be removed therefrom.

When a consumer wishes to purchase one of items 104, end assembly 112 must be unlocked and slid away from display board 102 in the direction of arrow "Y" (FIG. 4) until free end 118a of lower rod 118 is spaced a distance from end assembly 112. To open end assembly 112, key 114 must be engaged therewith. This is accomplished by depressing a button 117 on the key 114 to slidably extend a portion of the dipole magnet contained in the housing 114 from the housing 114. A protrusion 162, protruding and having a particular shape, is inserted into the opening 160 of the recess 156 and slides along the recess 156 until the protrusion end engages the wall 159. As previously described, protrusion 162 is positioned in recess 156 such that arcuate surface 162a abuts wall 158 separating recess 156 from second chamber 146. The magnetic force field emanating from the dipole magnet attracts the metal portion of shuttle assembly 152 downward in the direction of arrow "X" (fig. 4) and toward protrusion 162 within second interior chamber 146. This downward movement compresses the spring between shuttle assembly 152 and wall 158 and causes base 154 to be removed from recess 128 on lower rod 118. Once bottom portion 154 is unobstructed by side edges 130, 132 of lower rod 118, locking mechanism 148 is in the unlocked position, and end assembly 112 is free to slide along rod assembly 106 in the direction of arrow "Y" (FIG. 4).

At the same time, the magnetic field from the protrusion 162 attracts the metal plate 161 toward itself. This attraction is strong enough to keep key 114 engaged in end assembly 112 and to enable a user to easily slide end assembly 112 along rod assembly 106 with key 114. When end assembly 112 is slid along rod assembly 108 to an extent sufficient to clear free end 118a of lower rod 118 from channel 142, merchandise 104 may be slid off of rod 118. However, this causes shuttle assembly 152 to slide in a direction opposite arrow "X" such that it blocks passageway 142. To eliminate this blockage, the key 114 must be reinserted into the recess 156. Alternatively, key 114 may remain engaged with recess 156, in which case end assembly 112 will remain in the unlocked position. It is noted that the extent to which end assembly 112 slides along upper rod 116 when end assembly 112 is unlocked is limited by the length "D" of chamber 136 (FIG. 3). When the end 124 of the upper rod 116 abuts the shoulder 140, the sliding movement along the rod 116 stops. At this point, the distance "E" (FIG. 6) between tip 126 of lower rod 118 and inner wall 170 of housing 134 is relatively small. Distance "E" limits the space for items of merchandise 104 to slide off of lower rod 118. Thus, even if a clerk opening end assembly 112 does not notice a potential pickpocket for several minutes, the likelihood that a person will be able to remove multiple items of merchandise 104 from rod 118 at once is greatly reduced.

When a clerk wishes to lock end assembly 112 to rod assembly 106, end assembly 112 is slid along rod assembly 106 toward display board 102. Tip 126 of lower rod 118 enters channel 142. Movement in the direction opposite arrow "Y" continues until notch 128 on lower rod 118 is positioned over locking mechanism 148. Key 114 is removed from recess 156 (if this is not done) because notch 128 is positioned above shuttle assembly 152 and spring 150 is extended, causing shuttle assembly 152 to slide upward toward lower rod 118. The bottom 154 of shuttle assembly 152 enters recess 128 and is sandwiched between side edges 130, 132. Thus, the locking mechanism is automatically moved from the unlocked position to the locked position, thereby moving rod assembly 112 from the unlocked position to the locked position.

When an item of merchandise 104 is to be placed on lower rod 118, end assembly 112 and locking mechanism 148 must be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position by key 114, as described above. The items 104 are then individually placed onto the lower rod 118. This is accomplished by placing the upper end 104a of the item of merchandise 114 in the gap "E" between the inner wall 170 of the housing 134 and the tip 126 of the lower rod 118. Upper end 104a is positioned so that an internally located slot (not shown) is proximate tip 126, and merchandise 104 is moved toward display board 102 so that tip 126 passes through the slot. The merchandise 104 is then slid along lower rod 118 in the direction of the display board. When all of the items 104 are placed on lower rod 118, end assembly 112 is slid along rod 118 toward display board 102. End assembly 112 and locking mechanism 148 are then moved from the unlocked position to the locked position by sliding protrusion 162 of key 114 out of recess 156. The free end 118a of lower rod 118 is securely locked into end assembly 112 and merchandise 104 can no longer be removed from display system 100.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention shows free end 124 of upper rod 116 permanently secured within housing 134, it should be understood that free end 124 may alternatively be removable therefrom and selectively secured or locked therein as desired in a manner similar to the locking mechanism applied to lower rod 118. Further, it should be understood that the channel 142 within the housing is shown terminating within a wall 144 in the housing. However, the passage 142 may extend completely through the housing 134, and the end 118a of the rod 118 may extend completely through the passage 142 and emerge on the other side of the housing 134. Notches 128 may also be formed on an upper or side surface of lower rod 118 to interact with a locking mechanism disposed at a complementary location within housing 134.

End assembly 112 is an improvement over the prior art in many respects. First, locking mechanism 148 remains inside housing 134 and cannot be unlocked by using a magnetic bar on the outer surface of housing 134. Second, the specially designed shape and size of recess 156 on end assembly 112 substantially limits the attempted insertion of various non-complementary shaped magnets into recess 156. In addition, the combination of the insulating bottom 154 and inner wall 158 thicknesses of the locking mechanism 148 (which are also made of an insulating material) provide sufficient isolation to prevent the magnetic force field of the non-dipole magnet from affecting and unlocking the locking mechanism 148. If a would-be thief attempts to insert a non-dipole magnet into recess 156, the magnetic force field of such a magnet would make it difficult to sufficiently remove shuttle assembly 152 from notch 128 to unlock locking mechanism 148. Furthermore, the manufacturing specificity of the dipole magnet polarity also reduces the likelihood that any other magnet may be used to unlock the locking mechanism 148, even if the magnet may be inserted into the recess 156.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the merchandise display system may further include a base assembly 200 for securely locking rod assembly 106 to display board 102. Because the base assembly 200 includes a locking mechanism 250, both the base assembly 200 and the end assembly 114 can be opened using the key 114, which is housed in a chamber 252 located inside the device. The locking mechanism 250 is prevented from direct contact with the key 114 by a wall 254. Likewise, the locking mechanism 250 cannot be opened directly, for example, by being adjacent to the outer surface of the security device 200 or engaging a conventional key or switch. The locking mechanism 250 includes a metal shuttle assembly 256 biased by a spring 258 into a passage 260 through which the rod 116 passes. When the locking mechanism 250 extends into the channel 260, it is received in a notch 262 on the rod 116, thereby locking the rod 116 and the base assembly 200 together. The metal in locking mechanism 250 is attracted to magnet 162 to move locking mechanism 250 from the locked position to the unlocked position in substantially the same manner as end assembly 112. The base assembly 200 forms the basis of the patent application first filed concurrently by the present applicant, which has been described above.

In the foregoing, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, 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.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims (18)

1. A security device for locking a merchandise display rod having an upper rod and a lower rod to prevent unauthorized removal of an item of merchandise displayed on the lower rod, the security device comprising:

a housing defining a substantially horizontally oriented channel having a length and adapted to receive the upper stem therein, the housing further defining an interior chamber disposed perpendicular to the channel and having a magnetically attractable locking member biased by a spring in the chamber toward a notch formed on the lower stem and movable within the chamber against the biasing force of the spring between a locked position in which the locking member engages the notch on the lower stem and an unlocked position in which the locking member does not engage the notch on the lower stem; and

a recess formed within the housing and extending substantially parallel to the channel, the recess extending inwardly from an outer surface of the housing into an interior of the housing and terminating proximate the chamber, the recess adapted to receive a dipole magnet therein for moving the locking member against the biasing force of the spring from the locked position to the unlocked position such that the housing is movable a distance substantially equal to the length of the channel, thereby allowing removal of an item of merchandise displayed on the lower pole.

2. The security device of claim 1, wherein the recess extends perpendicularly relative to the linear movement of the locking member.

3. The security device of claim 1, wherein the recess has an irregular cross-sectional shape and the dipole magnet is a complementary cross-sectional shape.

4. The security device defined in claim 1 wherein the recess has a D-shaped cross-section and is adapted to receive a complementary D-shaped dipole magnet therein.

5. The security device of claim 4, wherein the D-shaped recess is defined by a substantially planar inner wall and an arcuate inner wall that abuts the chamber in which the locking member is retained and extends perpendicular to linear movement of the locking member.

6. A security system for locking a merchandise display rod having an upper rod and a lower rod to prevent unauthorized removal of an item of merchandise displayed on the lower rod, the security system comprising:

a security device comprising a housing defining a substantially horizontally oriented channel having a length and adapted to receive the upper stem therein, the housing further defining an interior chamber disposed perpendicular to the channel and having a magnetically attractable locking member movable within the chamber between a locked position in which the locking member engages a notch formed on the lower stem and an unlocked position in which the locking member does not engage the notch formed on the lower stem;

a recess formed within the housing and extending substantially parallel to the channel, the recess extending inwardly from an outer surface of the housing into an interior of the housing and terminating proximate the chamber, the recess having a predetermined cross-sectional shape; and

a dipole magnet sized and shaped to be insertable into the recess for moving the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.

7. The security system of claim 6, wherein the recess is oriented perpendicularly with respect to linear movement of the locking member.

8. The security system of claim 6, wherein the dipole magnet and the recess are complementary in cross-sectional shape.

9. The security system of claim 8, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the dipole magnet and the recess is irregular.

10. The security system of claim 8, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the dipole magnet and the recess comprises at least one straight side.

11. The security system of claim 8, wherein the dipole magnet and the recess are substantially D-shaped in cross-section.

12. The security system of claim 11, wherein the dipole magnet has a planar surface and an arcuate surface, and wherein the dipole magnet comprises neodymium, iron, and boron.

13. The security system of claim 12, wherein the recess is oriented such that the arcuate surface of the magnet is closer to the locking member than the planar surface of the magnet.

14. A securable merchandising system for displaying an item of merchandise thereon; the merchandise system includes:

a lower rod having a first end adapted to be disposed adjacent the display board and a second free end at a distal end;

an upper rod disposed generally parallel to and spaced apart from the lower rod, the upper rod having a first end proximate the display board and a second hooked end;

a secure straightening engageable with the free end of the lower rod and the hooked end of the upper rod to prevent unauthorized removal of a displayed merchandise item from the lower rod, the security device including a housing defining a first substantially horizontally oriented channel for receiving the free end of the lower rod internally and a second substantially horizontally oriented channel generally parallel to the first channel for receiving the hooked end of the upper rod internally, the housing further defining an internal chamber disposed perpendicular to the first and second channels, the housing having a magnetically attractable locking member movable within the chamber between a locked position in which the locking member engages a notch formed on the lower rod and an unlocked position in which the locking member does not engage the notch formed on the lower rod, the locking member is biased in the chamber toward the lower stem;

a recess formed within the housing and extending substantially parallel to the first passage, the recess extending inwardly from an outer surface of the housing to an interior of the housing, the recess terminating proximate the chamber; and

a dipole magnet sized and shaped for insertion into said recess for moving said locking member from said locked position to said unlocked position such that said housing is movable to withdraw said free end of said lower rod from said first passage sufficiently to permit removal of an item of merchandise from said lower rod.

15. The merchandising system as defined in claim 14, wherein the recess is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the linear movement of the locking member.

16. The merchandising system as defined in claim 15, wherein the dipole magnet and the recess have complementary cross-sectional shapes and include at least one straight side.

17. The merchandising system as defined in claim 16, wherein the dipole magnet and the recess have generally D-shaped cross-sections and have a planar surface and an arcuate surface, the magnet comprising neodymium, iron and boron.

18. The merchandising system as defined in claim 14, wherein the upper bar is shorter than the lower bar and the hooked end is permanently retained in the second channel for sliding over the upper bar.