Merchandise display hook including anti-sweep mechanism

Abstract

A merchandise display hook and method for dispensing one or more items of merchandise from a merchandise display hook and/or for loading one or more items of merchandise onto the display hook are provided. The display hook may include at least one rod configured to be mounted to a display fixture and to receive one or more items of merchandise thereon. The display hook may also include a helix disposed about the rod and extending at least partially along a length of the rod. The helix is configured to rotate in a dispensing direction for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the rod and/or an opposite loading direction for loading the one or more items of merchandise onto the rod.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A merchandise display hook comprising:
 a support structure configured to be secured to a display fixture and to support one or more items of merchandise thereon; and   an anti-sweep mechanism operably engaged with the support structure and comprising an actuator configured to be actuated for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure in a first mode,   wherein the anti-sweep mechanism comprises a time delay mechanism configured to disable the actuator in a second mode such that the one or more items of merchandise are prevented from being dispensed from the support structure in the second mode.   
     
     
         2 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to be manually actuated for dispensing one or more items of merchandise from the support structure. 
     
     
         3 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to be actuated for dispensing a single item of merchandise at a time. 
     
     
         4 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to be linearly actuated for dispensing one or more items of merchandise from the support structure. 
     
     
         5 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a loading mechanism for loading one or more items of merchandise onto the support structure in a third mode. 
     
     
         6 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 5 , wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be actuated for storing energy to be used to dispense the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure. 
     
     
         7 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 6 , wherein the loading mechanism is configured to load a spring in response to actuation thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 6 , wherein the loading mechanism is configured to be linearly actuated. 
     
     
         9 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 1 , wherein the time delay mechanism comprises a damper mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a helix disposed about at least one rod, the helix extending at least partially along a length of the at least one rod, the helix configured to rotate in a dispensing direction for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the at least one rod in the first mode. 
     
     
         11 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one rod comprises an upper rod and a lower rod, and wherein the helix is disposed only about the lower rod. 
     
     
         12 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 10 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism is configured to bias the helix for rotating in the dispensing direction. 
     
     
         13 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-sweep mechanism further comprises a cable for dispensing the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The merchandise display hook of  claim 1 , wherein the time delay mechanism is configured to disable the actuator for a predetermined period time following actuation of the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . A method for dispensing one or more items of merchandise from a merchandise display hook, comprising:
 securing a merchandise display hook to a display fixture, the merchandise display hook comprising a support structure and an anti-sweep mechanism operably engaged with the support structure; and   actuating an actuator of the anti-sweep mechanism such that the anti-sweep mechanism dispenses at least one item of merchandise from the support structure in a first mode, wherein the anti-sweep mechanism comprises a time delay mechanism configured to disable the actuator in a second mode such that the one or more items of merchandise are prevented from being dispensed from the support structure in the second mode.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism comprises manually actuating the actuator for dispensing one or more items of merchandise from the support structure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising actuating the anti-sweep mechanism for loading at least one item of merchandise onto the support structure in a third mode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein actuating the anti-sweep mechanism in the third mode comprises actuating the anti-sweep mechanism for storing energy to be used to dispense the one or more items of merchandise from the support structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein actuating comprises actuating the actuator for rotating a helix. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein actuating comprises actuating the actuator such that the anti-sweep mechanism biases the helix for rotating in the first mode.