Anti-sweep mechanism for merchandise display hook

Abstract

An anti-sweep mechanism for controlling removal of merchandise items from a forward dispensing end of a merchandise display hook the anti-sweep mechanism comprising a body having a first blocking portion and a second blocking portion, the body being rotatable between a first position and a second position wherein when the body is in the first position, the first blocking portion blocks forward movement towards the forward dispending end of merchandise items, and when the body is in the second position, the second blocking portion blocks forward movement of merchandize items behind a second blocking location that is spaced behind the first blocking location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anti-sweep mechanism for controlling removal of merchandise items from a forward dispensing end of a merchandise display hook, the anti-sweep mechanism comprising:
 a body;   an anchor mechanism configured to releasably secure the body at different locations of the merchandise display hook behind the forward dispensing end; and   the body being rotatable between a first position and a second position when secured to the merchandise display hook by the anchor mechanism, the body having a first blocking portion that is configured to, when the body is in the first position, block forward movement towards the forward dispensing end of merchandise items located behind a first blocking location of the merchandise display hook, and a second blocking portion that is configured to, when the body is in the second position, block forward movement of merchandize items located behind a second blocking location that is spaced behind the first blocking location.   
     
     
         2 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 1  comprising an audible sound generator that is configured to generate an audible sound when the body rotates between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         3 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 2  wherein the audible sound generator comprises a resilient member that rotates with the body and interacts with a surface of the anchor mechanism to generate the audible sound, the audible sound providing a repetitive audible indication that the anti-sweep mechanism is being rotated. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 1  in combination with the merchandise display hook, the merchandise display hook comprising a merchandise display rod for supporting the merchandise items, and a support rod extending substantially parallel to the merchandise display rod for supporting the anti-sweep mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 4  wherein the merchandise display rod comprises first and second parallel bars that terminate at the forward dispensing end. 
     
     
         6 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 5  wherein the first and second parallel bars are joined by a U-shaped member at the forward dispensing end. 
     
     
         7 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 4  wherein the support rod is secured to the merchandise display rod by a releasable mounting assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 4  wherein the anchor mechanism is configured to, when secured to the support rod, engage the support rod to prevent axial sliding of the body relative to the merchandise display rod. 
     
     
         9 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the body is configured so that when the body is mounted to the support member and rotating between the first position and the second position at least one of the first blocking portion and the second blocking portion block forward movement of merchandize items along the merchandise display rod. 
     
     
         10 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the anchor mechanism comprises: a threaded member having a slot for receiving a portion of the merchandize display hook; and a set screw configured to engage threads of the threaded member and engage the merchandize display hook to secure the anchor mechanism to the merchandize display hook, wherein the threaded member is positioned within a cavity of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the body includes a central portion that rotatably engages the anchor mechanism, a first arm extending rigidly in a first radial direction from the central portion and forming the first blocking portion, and a second arm axially spaced from the first arm and extending rigidly in a different, second radial direction from the central portion and forming the second blocking portion. 
     
     
         12 . A merchandise display hook system comprising:
 a merchandise display hook having a forward dispensing end for dispensing merchandise items; and   an anti-sweep mechanism for preventing sweeping of merchandise items from the dispensing end of the merchandise display merchandise display hook, the anti-sweep mechanism comprising a body with a first blocking portion and a second blocking portion fixed relative to each other, the body being mounted to the merchandise display hook and rotatable relative to an elongate axis of merchandise display hook between a first position and a second position, wherein:   the first blocking portion is configured to: (i) block forward movement of merchandise items suspended from the merchandise display hook behind a first blocking location when the body is in the first position or within a first angular range of the first position, and (ii) not block movement of merchandise items along the merchandise display hook when the body is in the second position or within a second angular range of the second position, wherein the first blocking position is located behind the forward dispensing end merchandise display hook;   the second blocking portion is configured to: (i) block forward movement of merchandise items suspended from the merchandise display hook behind a second blocking location that is located further from the dispensing end than the first blocking location, when the body is in the second position or within the second angular range, and (ii) not block movement of merchandise items along the merchandise display hook when the body is in the first position or within the first angular range;   the body being configured so that one or both of the first blocking portion and the second blocking portion will, when the body is rotated within an angular range that is between the first angular range and the second angular range, block movement of merchandise items along the merchandise display hook towards the dispensing end.   
     
     
         13 . The merchandise display hook system of  claim 12  wherein the merchandise display hook comprises a merchandise display rod for supporting the merchandise items, and a support rod extending substantially parallel to the merchandise display rod and supporting the anti-sweep mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The merchandise display hook system of  claim 13  wherein the merchandise display rod comprises first and second parallel bars for supporting the merchandise items. 
     
     
         15 . The merchandise display hook system of  claim 12  wherein the support rod is secured to the merchandise display rod by a releasable mounting assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The merchandise display hook system of  claim 12  comprising an audible sound generator that is configured to generate an audible sound when the body rotates between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         17 . An anti-sweep mechanism for controlling removal of merchandise items from a merchandise display hook when the anti-sweep mechanism is mounted to the merchandise display hook, the anti-sweep mechanism comprising:
 a body configured to be rotatable about an axis between a first position and a second position to provide metered removal of merchandise items from the merchandise display hook; and   an audible sound generator that is configured to generate an audible sound when the body rotates between the first and second positions.   
     
     
         18 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 17  wherein the audible sound generator comprises a resilient member that rotates with the body and interacts with a surface of an anchor mechanism that secured the body to the merchandise display hook, the interaction between the resilient member and the anchor member generating the audible sound. 
     
     
         19 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 18  wherein the audible sound provides a repetitive audible indication that the anti-sweep mechanism is being rotated. 
     
     
         20 . The anti-sweep mechanism of  claim 17  wherein when the body is in the first position a first portion of the body blocks forward movement of merchandise items along on the merchandise display hook behind a first blocking location that is behind the forward dispensing end of the merchandise display hook, and when the body is in the second position a second portion of the body blocks forward movement of merchandise items along on the merchandise display hook behind a second blocking location that is located behind the first blocking location.