Anti-sweep assembly and apparatus

Abstract

An anti-sweep apparatus for engagement with a wire which holds articles is disclosed. The anti-sweep apparatus includes a camming surface, a distal tab and a proximal tab. The camming surface is engagable by a portion of an article on the wire to cam the anti-sweep apparatus between an enabling orientation where a lead article is removable from the wire and a blocking position where a trailing article is substantially prevented from being removed from the wire. The distal tab disposed distally of a portion of the camming surface. The proximal tab disposed proximally of the distal tab. One of the distal tab and the proximal tab is configured to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the enabling orientation, and the other of the distal tab and the proximal tab is configured to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the blocking orientation.

1 . An anti-sweep apparatus for engagement with a wire which holds articles, the anti-sweep apparatus comprising:
 a camming surface engagable by a portion of an article on the wire to cam the anti-sweep apparatus between an enabling orientation where a lead article is removable from the wire and a blocking position where a trailing article is substantially prevented from being removed from the wire;   a distal tab disposed distally of a portion of the camming surface; and   a proximal tab disposed proximally of the distal tab;   wherein one of the distal tab and the proximal tab being configured to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the enabling orientation, and wherein the other of the distal tab and the proximal tab being configured to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the blocking orientation.   
   
   
       2 . The anti-sweep apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal tab is disposed proximally of a portion of the camming surface. 
   
   
       3 . The anti-sweep apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-sweep apparatus is configured to fit onto an unmodified wire. 
   
   
       4 . The anti-sweep apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tab laterally extends from both sides of a portion of the camming surface. 
   
   
       5 . The anti-sweep apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal tab laterally extends from both sides of a portion of the camming surface. 
   
   
       6 . The anti-sweep apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tab includes a radiused portion, the radiused portion of the distal tab configured to engage the wire. 
   
   
       7 . The anti-sweep apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal tab includes a radiused portion, the radiused portion of the proximal tab configured to engage the wire. 
   
   
       8 . The anti-sweep apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein only one of the distal tab and the proximal tab is configured to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the enabling orientation. 
   
   
       9 . The anti-sweep apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein only one of the distal tab and the proximal tab being is to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the blocking orientation. 
   
   
       10 . The anti-sweep apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal tab is configured to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the enabling orientation. 
   
   
       11 . The anti-sweep apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal tab is configured to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the blocking orientation. 
   
   
       12 . An anti-theft assembly, comprising:
 a wire capable of holding a plurality of articles thereon including a lead article and a second article disposed distally of the lead article;   an anti-sweep apparatus configured to mechanically engage the wire, the anti-sweep apparatus including:
 a curved surface engagable by a portion of an article on the wire to move the anti-sweep apparatus between an enabling orientation where a lead article is removable from the wire and a blocking position where a trailing article is substantially prevented from being removed from the wire; 
 a distal tab disposed distally of a portion of the curved surface, the distal tab being configured to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the enabling orientation; and 
 a proximal tab disposed proximally of the distal tab, the proximal tab being configured to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the blocking orientation. 
   
   
   
       13 . The anti-theft assembly of  claim 10 , further including an anti-theft device positionable adjacent a distal portion of the wire and which hinders the removal of the wire from a structure. 
   
   
       14 . The anti-theft assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the wire is a peg hook. 
   
   
       15 . The anti-theft assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein only one of the distal tab and the proximal tab is configured to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the enabling orientation. 
   
   
       16 . The anti-theft assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein only one of the distal tab and the proximal tab being is to contact the wire when the anti-sweep apparatus is in the blocking orientation.